TV Land Unveils Original Programming Slate of Pilots and Series to Air on Network Through 2007

TV Land Unveils Original Programming Slate of Pilots and Series to Air on Network Through 2007

Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg Returns for Season Two with Comedy Legends Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Jon Stewart and More

NEW YORK, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Land unveiled a new slate of pilots, recurring series and specials as part of its 2006-2007 original programming roll-out, it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land. The aggressive slate of originals is designed to complement TV Land's classic television offerings while underscoring the network's commitment to deepen its connection to its Baby Boomer audience, the first generation of Americans to grow up watching television.

Over the past three years, TV Land has demonstrated an increased commitment to delivering original content that complements its proven classic TV line-up and has garnered several Emmy nods along the way. From the 2005 multi-part original series Chasing Farrah to the star-studded annual TV Land Awards to this fall's Mr. T-helmed I Pity the Fool, TV Land continues to expand its Boomer-centric programming line-up.

The new slate features several notable projects and recurring series including Family Foreman, a reality show focused on the frenetic and incredible life of former heavyweight boxing champion/multi-million dollar pitchman George Foreman and his ten children; The Big 4-0, a look at the emotional and sometimes over-the-top festivities planned for and by Boomers who hit the proverbial age milestone; and the second season of Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg where comedy legends Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Ray Romano and other comic icons spin hilarious tales of their lives both on the stage and off.

"With amazing original content and talent driving TV Land, we are truly poised to make all TV Land platforms the ultimate entertainment destination for Baby Boomers," explains Larry W. Jones, President of TV Land. "Boomers want to see themselves and more people their own age accurately depicted in entertainment and we look forward to connecting them with even more great, Boomer-centric originals."

The newest slate of TV Land originals is a mixture of pilots and "six pack" episode deals. Complete descriptions are as follows:

PILOTS:

Meet Your Match is the first dating show for people who've been there and
done that. Boomers looking for love, interview potential dates with
questions that range from the ridiculously shallow to the ethically
challenging -- just like a real date. Paul Cockerill (Battlebots and Jimmy
Kimmel Live), Steve Lava (Country Fried Home Videos and Maximum Exposure),
Wendy Miller and Sue Bailey are co-creators and co-executive producers.
(30 minutes)

Family Foreman gives the audience an intimate look inside the remarkable
life of former heavyweight boxing champion/multi-million dollar pitchman
George Foreman who is a minister to many, and father to ten children --
including five sons named George. Family Foreman is produced in
partnership with New Line Productions. The executive producers are George
Foreman, Sr., George Foreman, Jr., George Foreman III, Jon Kroll and Jim
Rosenthal. (30 minutes)

The Big 4-0 is a look at the emotional and sometimes over the top
festivities planned for and by Boomers who hit the proverbial age
milestone. The Big 4-0 is produced for TV Land by 3Ball Productions
(Beauty and the Geek and The Biggest Loser).

The Story Of ... takes a fun, in-depth look at the fads, trends and pop
culture phenomena fueled by the TV Generation. From disco to physical
fitness crazes to plastic surgery, each episode will explore one pop
culture topic. David P. Levin of BrainStorm Inc. (MTV's Uncensored) serves
as the executive producer.

NEW SERIES:

TV Land Myths & Legends promises to go behind the scenes to investigate
the mysteries that have sprung from some of Hollywood's most memorable
stars, TV shows, films and music. Who was Carly Simon thinking about when
she penned the classic song, "You're So Vain"? Was Walt Disney
cryogenically frozen? Did "Superman" George Reeves really commit suicide
by leaping from a tall building? Is Gilligan's Island actually a metaphor
for hell? We'll explore these infamous mysteries and more in the six-part
series executive produced by Gay Rosenthal Productions (Behind the Music
and Little People, Big World). Premiere date January 10, 2007 at 10:00PM
ET/PT. (30 minutes)

High School Reunion finds former classmates and brings them back together
20 years later to pursue unresolved relationships, romance and rivalries.
High School Reunion is a Warner Horizon and Next Entertainment Production
with Mike Fleiss (The Bachelor) and Lisa Levinson (The Bachelor) serving
as executive producers. Premiere date summer 2007. (60 minutes)

In Celebrity Love Cruise (working title) celebrities take to the high seas
to find love in this raucous dating show. Generate TV, Greg Fitzsimmons
and Jason Carbone (The Bachelor and Run's House) serve as executive
producers. Premiere date summer 2007. (60 minutes)

Back to the Grind* allows viewers to join celebrated actors as they
perform -- in the real world -- the kind of job their characters did on
their respective hit TV series. TV luminaries like Loni Anderson, Harry
Anderson, Ed Begley Jr., Mark Curry, Bea Arthur, Betty White, Sherman
Hemsley and Erik Estrada will be required to perform the kinds of tasks
that their characters once did, only this time, it's for real. This series
is executive produced by Michael Levitt (Celebrity Duets and Billboard
Music Awards) and Eugene Pack (Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own
Words and Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team). Premiere date
June 6, 2007. (30 minutes)

RETURNING SERIES

TV Land Confidential* returns for a second season with six more episodes
delivering behind-the-scenes tales from viewers' favorite television
shows, movies and music. TV Land Confidential will give amazing insight on
a wide-ranging subjects from Motown to the film "Back to the Future" to
the finale of M*A*S*H. Told by the people who were there including the
stars, producers and others in the know, viewers will laugh again
alongside these insiders as they share their stories. This series is
executive produced by David P. Levin of BrainStorm Inc. (MTV's
Uncensored). Premiere date April 25, 2007. (30 minutes)

Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg* -- Back for a second season,
legendary comedian, producer and director David Steinberg hosts another
season of this one-on-one forum with comedy luminaries Jerry Seinfeld,
Robin Williams, Jon Stewart and Ray Romano to name a few. These celebrated
performers, who got their starts in television, offer hilarious stories
about their personal lives and careers in entertainment. Produced by Vince
Arcaro for Dark Light Pictures and David Steinberg. Premiere date February
21, 2007 at 10:00PM ET/PT. (30 minutes)

NEW SPECIALS:

The third installment in the successful annual "100 Most" franchise, this
year's five-part special, 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases* counts
down the most unforgettable TV quotes and catchphrases ever said on
television. From "You're Fired!" to "That's Hot" to "Dy-No-Mite," 100 Most
Memorable takes a fun look at those verbal barbs, taglines and
exclamations that television has fed into pop culture for years. Gay
Rosenthal Productions (Behind the Music and Little People, Big World) is
producing this multi-part special for TV Land. Premiere date December 11th
-15th, 2006 at 10:00PM ET/PT. (60 minutes)

* Previously announced project

TV Land Productions was created in 2003 to develop original programming that complements the network's successful acquired programming slate. TV Land Productions has also produced The TV Land Awards Show: A Celebration of Classic TV (March 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006), the Emmy-nominated The Dick Van Dyke Show, Revisited, the network's first original special for broadcast, which premiered on CBS in May 2004, the Emmy-nominated Still Brady ... After All These Years reunion special in September 2004 and Chasing Farrah (Spring 2005), the original reality series that followed iconic Hollywood actress and sex symbol Farrah Fawcett. Over the last year, the network premiered a variety of original series and specials including: TV Guide and TV Land Present: The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments, Living in TV Land, TV Land Confidential and Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg. For more information about TV Land's original Wednesday night line-ups, visit http://www.tvland.com/.

Now seen in over 87 million U.S. homes, TV Land's program mix features popular dramas, sitcoms, westerns, Retromercials and a TV-referential interstitial environment, all programmed with a specific audience in mind -- the first generation of Americans to grow up watching television and features all-time Classic hits like All in the Family, I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, and Bonanza.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VHI, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

About Viacom

Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics. Offering programming and content for television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom's world-class brands include MTV Networks (MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 130 networks around the world), BET Networks, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, DreamWorks and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at http://www.viacom.com/.

TV Land and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: TV Land

CONTACT: Paul Ward, +1-212-258-7704, or Vanessa Reyes-Smith,
+1-310-752-8081, both of TV Land

Web site: http://www.tvland.com/
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