NEWS: UP Re-ups On Its Commitment to Provide Feel Good TV For You and Your Family
ENTERTAINING, HEARTWARMING, POSITIVE ORIGINAL SERIES AND MOVIES WITH FAMILY AT THE CENTER ARE THE CORE OF UP TV’S SLATE FOR EARLY 2016
UP to Present
Premiere of New Original Reality Series “Jo Frost: Nanny on Tour,”
Season 3 of Hit Series “Bringing Up Bates,” and
New Series “The McGhee Family (wt)” with Beloved Sextuplet Family
New UP Premiere Movies Love Finds You in Valentine, Starring Diogo Morgado, Michaela McManus, Lindsay Wagner and Ed Asner
The Game of Love, Starring Heather Locklear, and Much More
PASADENA, January 6, 2016 – Speaking at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour yesterday, Amy Winter, general manager and evp, UP – one of the leading family entertainment brands – unveiled an early 2016 content slate that will further drive home the network’s commitment to deliver highly watchable, feel good programming designed with the family in mind.
“At a time when other networks are either walking away from family entertainment or are ‘family networks’ in name only, UP is doubling down and refining what that means. For UP, it’s creating and curating content that adults will love and want to share with the rest of their family,” said Winter.
The network said they will premiere two new original series – reality series “Jo Frost: Nanny on Tour” and “The McGhee Family (working title)” — along with the original UP Premiere Movies Love Finds You in Valentine and The Game of Love, as well as the third season of the network’s hit Original Series “Bringing Up Bates.” In addition, UP will build on its collection of fan favorite series with new series acquisitions “Ed” and family drama “Lincoln Heights.”
To further complement its commitment to inspire positive action and leave viewers feeling good, UP will release more surprising and powerfully moving videos each quarter as part of its pro-social initiative UPLIFT SOMEONE. Over the past year the initiative has generated well over 132 million views and counting, including UP’s most recent video “The Other Christmas Gift.”
The slate of UP original programming includes:
“Jo Frost: Nanny on Tour” (UP Original Series)
Series premiere: Thursday, January 28, 8 p.m. EST
This exclusive original reality series stars and is executive produced by distinguished and beloved global parenting expert Jo Frost (“Supernanny,” “Jo Frost Family Matters,” “Family SOS”) as she helps families evolve through all stages of parenting from newborns and toddlers to tweens and teens. Each week, along with tackling all the sass and showdowns you get from unruly tots and rebellious teens, Jo will also address a different 21st century parental concern, such as technology overload, sleep deprivation, single parent stress, blended family feuds, multiple generations in a household, life-threatening allergies and much more.
“‘Jo Frost: Nanny on Tour’ reinforces our brand not only by offering dramatic transformations you’ll want to see, but also by providing help to real families in need of solutions,” Winter said. “The issues being tackled by Jo are the same ones that face so many families, so her sage advice will have an impact beyond the families featured on the series by offering real takeaways for the viewers at home.”
In the series, Jo will travel to a new city each week and work with one family that desperately needs her expertise. Before she arrives, she will monitor the family’s behavior from her mobile RV office, via surveillance cameras which the family agrees to have placed throughout their home, and then will hit the ground running. Using a combination of well-honed techniques, sincerity, love and humor, Jo will pinpoint each family’s challenges and give parents practical tools that they can implement on their own. Jo will make sure each family stays on track with the homework assignments they are given and will encourage their progress and counsel them during setbacks.
Jo Frost – one of the most recognizable and trusted parental experts and family advocates worldwide – has been in our living rooms for more than 15 years. With 20+ years in childcare, beginning as a professional nanny, she has honed her successful methods of child-rearing with hands-on, real-life experience.
“Bringing Up Bates” (UP Original Series)
Season 3 Premiere: Thursday, January 7, 9 p.m. EST
UP’s hit original reality series, “Bringing Up Bates,” returns for an all-new, never-a-dull-moment season with more big family events from America’s most loving and charming super-sized family, with 19 children, led by devoted father Gil and his wife Kelly Jo. The 13-episode new season kicks off with the lead-up to the big event — oldest daughter Michaella’s wedding. There are lots of family antics, funny and sweet moments, more romance and can’t-miss surprises.
The new season picks up with a bevy of excitement and a bit of a scare as the entire family prepares for Michaella and Brandon’s wedding in Knoxville, Tennessee. From choosing her dream wedding gown, to getting in shape to look their best on the big day, to attempted pranks and a bachelor outing that goes awry, the family comes together to make the special day eventful and memorable. Viewers will get a front-row seat at the huge but warm wedding with over 800 guests, including some very special friends that share in the beautiful ceremony. With laughter and tears, it’s a bittersweet moment for the entire family knowing they must say goodbye to Michaella as she leaves the family nest and moves to her new home in Chicago.
“The fun-loving and charming super-sized Bates family consists of individuals with very colorful and diverse personalities,” Winter said. “Like most families, they enjoy playing pranks on each other, but under all the humor and good-natured needling, what shines through every step of the way is this family’s genuine warmth and love for one another.”
Descriptions for the first four episodes of the new season are as follows:
Thursday, January 7, 2016
“Welcome Back Bates” (1 hour)
The past year has been one of enormous change and growth for the family. In the season 3 premiere, the Bates clan rallies together to help Michaella finally find the wedding dress of her dreams. Later, the family braves a stormy outdoor wedding for Kelly Jo’s sister, and celebrates Gil’s dad, Papa Bill, with an awesome 4th of July birthday party.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
“Sweet Tea & Sit Ups”
With Michaella’s wedding quickly approaching, Kelly Jo and Gil wager to see who can get in shape to look their best for the big day. While Kelly Jo enlists Tori to motivate her and help with workouts, Gil finds his coach, Lawson, uses a more hands off approach to whip him into shape.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
“15 Kids and an Empty Nest”
With the big wedding just days away the family is busier than ever. Erin hosts a laughter filled candle-making party for Michaella and her bridesmaids, while Nathan, Lawson and Trace take Brandon on an outing to the skating rink, but an accident on the ice could put the wedding in jeopardy.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
“A Big Bates Wedding” (1 Hour)
The big day that Michaella has been waiting for is here! But after months of planning, it’s a bittersweet moment for the Bates family, who realize she’ll soon be leaving home. There’s lots to do before 800 guests arrive to celebrate and see Michaella and Brandon say, “I do” and finally share their first kiss in this magical can’t-miss wedding episode.
“The McGhee Family (wt)” (UP Original Series)
Series premiere: Spring 2016
Ro and Mia McGhee tried for 10 years to have children, but they never imagined they would end up having sextuplets! Life was busy enough when taking care of six little ones, but now that their brood is five years old and in kindergarten, they are facing brand new challenges that are throwing them for a loop. Never before have they felt more outnumbered! Diaper changes and feeding schedules have been replaced by sassy opinions and chore charts.
In this all-new series, we follow this fun-loving family of eight as they embrace activities like swimming together for the first time, getting a family pet and having a pizza/karaoke night at home – all of which come with unexpected twists and turns when you’re doing them with six five-year-olds. The family also will be planning for a spring break trip – all while running the family carpet cleaning business and finding alone time for Ro and Mia. And while neither ever expected their lives to be so hectic, they wouldn’t change a thing.
“The McGhee Family” is produced by Figure 8 Films, the acclaimed producers of family reality TV content including UP’s “Bringing Up Bates,” as well as “Kate Plus 8” and many others.
“With six healthy kids packing all the energy of a five year old, we are joining the McGhee family at an overwhelmingly exciting and fun time,” Winter said. “The kids are walking and talking and have no shortage of personality or opinions. And although Ro and Mia are definitely outnumbered, somehow, the McGhees manage to maintain their sanity while raising their brood in a loving, nurturing environment.”
Love Finds You in Valentine (UP Premiere Movie)
Premieres Sunday, February 14, 7 p.m. EST
The UP Premiere Movie Love Finds You In Valentine, based on the popular book by Irene Brand, is a sweeping romantic drama starring Diogo Morgado (Son Of God, “The Messengers”), Michaela McManus (“Aquarius,” “One Tree Hill”), Lindsay Wagner (The Paper Chase, “The Bionic Woman”) and Ed Asner (Up, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”).
Building upon the popularity of UP’s highly rated Love Finds You In Sugarcreek (2014) and Love Finds You in Charm (2015), Love Finds You In Valentine finds law student Kennedy Blaine (Michaela McManus) inheriting a ranch in the small town of Valentine, Nebraska. She travels to Valentine with the intent of selling the ranch, but is drawn to the area’s beauty – and to ranch foreman, Derek Sterling (Diogo Morgado). Putting her life in L.A. on hold, she decides to spend some time at her ancestral home and, despite a long-standing feud, to reconnect with family members, including Grandfather Gabriel Morgan (Ed Asner), who she has never met. But soon Kennedy is subjected to harassment by someone who clearly wants her to leave Valentine. Depending on Derek and his mother June’s (Lindsay Wagner) assistance, she sets out to discover who is behind the offenses. But when her search reveals painful details about her family and raises questions about Derek’s own past, will Kennedy still want to know the truth?
Winter said, “UP viewers have fallen in love with our ‘Love Finds You…‘ movie franchise which has consistently delivered strong ratings. Love Finds You in Valentine will not disappoint; it’s a beautifully told story about finding yourself and finding love brought to life by our incredible cast and production team.”
The Game of Love (UP Premiere Movie)
Premieres Spring 2016
In this romantic comedy, it’s the love for a basketball team versus the simmering attraction between two long time sweethearts. Jake Cornell (Lochlyn Munro), third generation owner of the Cleveland Pioneers basketball team, has devoted his entire life to his work. He is still very attracted to his charming, smart and beautiful ex-wife Frankie (Heather Locklear) who has faithfully supported him in the past, even marrying him twice; but his strong devotion to the team overpowered and eventually ended their marriage – two times. Now that they are divorced, Jake and Frankie, along with their two adult children Barton (Tom Stevens) and Alexandria (Emily Tenant), disagree on the future of the team. Jake’s about to lose the one thing he loves the most – the Cleveland Pioneers – to the other love of his life, Frankie. Sparks fly as Frankie takes over the front office. Will the team that drove them apart actually end up being the thing that brings them together for good?
Stars Heather Locklear (“Franklin & Bash,” “Melrose Place”), Lochlyn Munro (White Chicks, Scary Movie), Tom Stevens (Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days), Emily Tennant, (Juno, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Milo Shandel (“Mr. Young”).
“Heather Locklear is perfect for this role as a smart and savvy woman who has always had her ex-husband’s number and now has controlling interest of his professional basketball team,”Winter said. “It’s a classic romantic comedy about two people who have both a spark and a history and are trying like mad to ignore them.”
New UP Acquisitions: “Ed” and “Lincoln Heights”
UP continues to build on its collection of fan favorite series, including the “Gilmore Girls,” with the acquisition of “Ed” which will air at 4 p.m. EST weekdays starting Monday, January 11. Another recent series acquisition, family drama “Lincoln Heights,” airs at 7 p.m. EST on Saturdays and at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesdays.
“UPLIFT SOMEONE” Pro-Social Initiative
“In a world where there’s so much negative and scary news out there, it’s clear that people need to see a more positive view of mankind now and again,” Winter said. “UP’s mission is to uplift, inspire, entertain and leave you feeling good, and in that manner, the response to our UPLIFT SOMEONE social outreach videos and programs has been remarkable. In 2016, we will continue our initiative to produce videos that show kindness and humanity in action and that highlight the best in all of us.”
During the past year, the network has produced three videos, which have generated a combined 132 million views to date and counting. Most recently, “The Other Christmas Gift,” which was created in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta was released on December 15 and has over 4.7 million views to date and counting. In the video kids are faced with the decision of whether to accept a gift for themselves, or one for a parent. Media outlets that covered the video include Today.com, HuffingtonPost.com, Parents.com, Cosmopolitan.com, “Inside Edition,” FoxNews, BuzzFeed.com, the Mirror UK, popsugar.com and UPworthy.com among others. Watch the video below:
UP’s previous two highly successful “UPLIFT SOMEONE” videos include: “Cop Stop,” produced in partnership with the Lowell, Michigan Police department, in which police stopped unsuspecting motorists and gave them holiday gifts, and “Stand Up Against Bullying,” which demonstrated how kids and adults can prevent others from being bullied. Media outlets showcasing the videos include, ABC News/GMA, HLN/CNN, “Inside Edition,” “Fox and Friends” yahoo.com/parenting, the Daily Mail, which is the world’s largest English language newspaper website, and many others. To view all of the UPLIFT SOMEONE videos go to www.UPtv.com.
About UP
UP is television’s trusted entertainment brand dedicated to providing viewers with “feel good TV for you and your family.” UP uplifts viewers every day with premiere movies, original reality, dramatic and comedy series filled with compelling stories and characters with character. In keeping with its brand promise, UP’s pro-social initiative, “Uplift Someone,” inspires people to do simple, everyday acts of kindness. UP can be seen in 70 million homes on cable systems and satellite providers across the United States. Based in Atlanta, UP is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC and provides sales and operations services to the ASPiRE network.
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Media Contacts:
Chelsye J. Burrows
770.692.4559
cburrows@UPtv.com
Kristina Stafford
770.692.9939
kstafford@UPtv.com
