Too Much TV: Your TV Talking Points For Weds., March 6th, 2024

A+E unveils an impressive lineup of new unscripted shows

Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Wednesday, March 6th, 2024.

PROGRAMMING NOTE:
I'm still fighting some sort of bug, so tonight's newsletter is once again in "I feel like I want to die" mode. Hopefully I’ll be back to my normal heavy pontificating approach tomorrow.

A+E ANNOUNCES IMPRESSIVE LINEUP OF UNSCRIPTED PROGRAMMING
A+E Networks has a unique position in the TV universe thanks to its dual ownership. It's a 50–50 joint venture between Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company through its General Entertainment Content division. And what means is that has been able to resist a lot of content and programming consolidation moves happening at the Disney corporation. It's also been able to turn into a bit of a content arms merchant that licenses to both Disney-owned Hulu as well as other streamers.

Nearly all of the original programming on A&E, History, Lifetime and LMN is either unscripted programs and movies and documentaries based on some "torn from the headlines" story and those networks have turned that into a pretty effective brand over the past decade.

Given all of that, it's not surprising to see the networks lean into their strengths when they rolled out a new lineup of originals A+E’s annual Upfront presentation today. Here are some of the highlights:

* The A&E Network has been quietly reviving its Home.Made.Nation programming hub, which runs lifestyle originals on A&E (primarily on Saturday mornings/afternoons), the linear network fyi and on several FAST channels. 

Country House Hunters follows couples as they search for the perfect country home and it will premiere in the fall. It's the first series under a new partnership deal with Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine production company.

The new series 48 Hours To Buy profiles couples who are in a housing pressure cooker - whether they're relocating unexpectedly for work, or compelled by a personal situation, their relocation is coming up and they need to find a house fast. 

And A&E is rebooting Property Virgins, which will now be hosted by Toronto realtor Wendi Wolfe. The previously aired on HGTV for 16 seasons from 2006-2016. It was previously hosted by Toronto realtor Sandra Rinomato (2006-2011) and Egypt Sherrod (2012-2016).

This is in addition to a recently announced partnership with Rachael Ray's Free Food Studio production company, which included 278 new episodes of programming over the next two years.

* A&E also announced two new series under the "Secret Of" banner: Secrets Of The Hells Angels and Houses Of Horror: Secrets Of College Greek Life.

* The History Channel also announced a big slate of originals. Here are some of the highlights:

Hosted and narrated by Tom Hanks, a new as yet-untitled 20-part untitled WWII documentary series offers a comprehensive view of World War II.

A new partnership with Derek Jeter's Cap 2 productions will include two new series: History's Greatest Warriors and The Icons That Built America.

Hosted and narrated by Danny Trejo, the new series The UnXplored With Danny Trejo examines the fascinating hidden history surrounding buried artifacts and lost civilizations.

* And lastly, Lifetime has announced some new specials, docs and bio-movies:

Robin Roberts is a new Lifetime biopic highlighting the life of two-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, and music legend Gloria Gaynor.

A new two-hour special entitled Dance Moms: The Reunion features JoJo Siwa, Chloe Lukasiak, Brooke Hyland, Paige Hyland, Kendall Vertes and Kalani Hilliker coming together as they take a look back at the show that became a worldwide pop culture sensation and made them household names. Also coming is a new compilation series Dance Moms: Epic Showdowns and nine-hours of new Dance Moms Digital Content.

Billy Zane will star in a new original movie based on the true story of the Larry Ray/Sarah Lawrence cult story. It will be executive produced and directed by Elisabeth Rohm.

ODDS AND SODS
* Season fourteen of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey premieres Sunday, May 5th on Bravo.

* In yet another Food Network series that sounds as if were cobbled together from other existing shows, Guy Fieri's Knuckle Sandwich Productions is slapping together the new series Best Bite In Town, which premieres on Friday, April 12th. Hosted by Noah Cappe, here is the official logline: "In each episode, Noah assembles a Bite Club, featuring two chefs including, Tiffani Faison, Shota Nakajima, Joe Sasto, Aarti Sequeira, and Jet Tila. Together, they explore the local food scene in cities across the country, visiting six of the most popular spots in each one. After scouring the town and tasting a wide variety of cuisines, Noah and the Bite Club nominate three exceptional dishes to present to a panel of esteemed culinary judges to determine the Best Bite In Town."

* The HBO Original comedy docuseries Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show premieres on Friday, March 29th on HBO. The series is described by the network as "a darkly funny documentary series about Jerrod's tumultuous quest for love, sex, and truth." Got it.

* Tim Allen has signed on to the ABC pilot Shifting Gears. The series revolves around Matt (Allen), a stubborn, widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. When Matt’s estranged daughter and her teenage kids move into his house, "the real restoration begins."

* OWN has a new dating series premiering on Friday, April 19th. The Never Ever Mets is described as a show where "seven couples who have been virtually dating for some time and believe they may have found lasting love – only they have never met each other in person! Now, they’re meeting face-to-face for the very first time and sharing a house together for three weeks to see if their internet love can survive off the screen and in real life. "

* MGM+ has given the green light to Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue. The series follows the tale of nine strangers who find themselves lost in a remote Mexican jungle after their small plane traveling from Guatemala to the U.S. crashes. One by one, the survivors are murdered, leaving the remaining passengers to solve the terrifying mystery before they too fall victim to the killer. Will McCormack has signed on for one of the starring roles. The show will be co-produced with a UK-based broadcast network and is based on an idea that was originally developed by Blumhouse TV for the short-form streamer Quibi.

WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6TH:
* Animal Control Season Premiere (Fox)
* Erika Jayne: Bet It All On Blonde (Bravo)
* Extraordinary Season Two Premiere (Hulu)
* Family Guy Season Premiere (Fox)
* Full Swing Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Guy's Grocery Games Season Premiere (Food)
* My 600-Lb Life Season Premiere (TLC)
* See You In Another Life Series Premiere (Disney+)
* Supersex (Netflix)
* The Amazing Race (CBS)
* The Masked Singer Season Premiere (Fox)
* The Program: Cons, Cults And Kidnapping (Netflix)

THURSDAY, MARCH 7TH:
* ARA San Juan: The Submarine That Disappeared (Netflix)
* Blackmail, Lies, And Murder (Netflix)
* Friends In Low Places Series Premiere (Prime Video) - [Garth Brooks Stars In New Prime Video Episodic Infomercial]
* Pokemon Horizons: The Series (Netflix)
* Ricky Stanicky (Prime Video) - [first look video]
* Supa Girlz Series Premiere (ALLBLK)
* The Dog House UK Series Premiere (Max)
* The Gentlemen Series Premiere (Netflix)
* The Signal (Netflix)
* The Thundermans Return (Nickelodeon)
* 31st Annual MovieGuide Awards (Great American Family)
* 2024 State Of The Union Address (CSPAN)

SEE YOU ON THURSDAY!