- All eyes are on CTV, home to the year's biggest sporting event with the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES, beginning July 27 -
- New CTV original series SAVING HOPE premieres June 7 -
- Get a double dose of love on Thursdays with new matchmaking series TAKE ME OUT and the return of extreme dating series LOVE IN THE WILD, with new host Jenny McCarthy -
- CTV Original series THE LISTENER returns for its third gripping season, May 30 -
- SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE kicks off its ninth season, May 24 -
- Viewers call the shots in the new live interactive reality competition series THE GLASS HOUSE, beginning June 18 -
- Three new series and six returning hits set to hit CTV pre-London 2012 summer lineup -
To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/K4Ienn
TORONTO, May 3, 2012 /CNW/ - Golden days and nights are ahead as CTV announced its pre-London 2012 summer lineup. Featuring three hotly-anticipated debuts and six returning hits, it all leads up to the world's most-watched television event, the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES, airing Friday, July 27 to Sunday, August 12.
The CTV summer lineup includes all-new primetime lineups on Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Wednesdays, dance competition sensation SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE is back for its ninth season, leading into CTV's hit original series THE LISTENER, back for a third spellbinding season. Then, CTV introduces a new Thursday lineup packed with steamy reality fare and sizzling drama. Starring Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE), Michael Shanks (STARGATE ATLANTIS), and Daniel Gillies (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), the new CTV original medical drama SAVING HOPE makes its highly-anticipated debut in simulcast with NBC. Kicking off the night, it's new dating series TAKE ME OUT, hosted by beloved entertainer George Lopez. Then, CTV unearths love in the jungle with the return of the dating competition series LOVE IN THE WILD, with new host Jenny McCarthy.
Meanwhile, a fresh twist on the reality genre, the live and interactive new competition series THE GLASS HOUSE (Mondays) pits 14 contestants against one another for a shot at a $250,000 cash prize, all at the mercy and direction of their social media followers. Fans take unprecedented control, dictating everything from what contestants will wear and eat, to the games they will play and where they will sleep - ultimately determining who will rise up as the favourite and have the best shot at being the last one standing.
It's all the perfect warm-up to the biggest television event of the year, the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES. CTV's unbeatable coverage of the 2012 GAMES, as lead broadcaster of Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, will capture every twist, turn and show-stopping moment, and bring the excitement of London into the homes of viewers across Canada from the starting whistle to the finish line.
** Media Note ** Download photos at BellMediaPR.ca
Additional highlights to date:
- CTV's top-rated event programming continues with THE 2012 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS (May 20). Hosted by Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell (MODERN FAMILY), the night's lineup features performances from the biggest names in music, including Justin Bieber, Carrie Underwood and Cee Lo Green (THE VOICE).
- Multiple Academy Award®-winner Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), three-time Golden Globe® Award-winner Alec Baldwin (30 ROCK) and Emmy Award®-winner Steve Martin (The Pink Panther) star in IT'S COMPLICATED (May 27), a touching romantic comedy about midlife love gone wrong.
- Betty White and friends return with a new season of the award-winning hit comedy HOT IN CLEVELAND (Tuesdays).
- Amateur cooks rise to the challenge as MASTERCHEF (Mondays and Tuesdays) returns with all-new episodes.
- Laughter takes centre stage as original stand-up series COMEDY NOW! (Saturdays) kicks-off Season 14.
"On the heels of another outstanding season, CTV's summer lineup is set to deliver unstoppable entertainment," said Phil King, President, CTV Programming and Sports. "With the thrilling energy of the Olympic Games, along with the drama and comedy of both new and returning series, Canadians can experience every heart-stopping moment, every cheer and all the laughs that it brings their way."
All new series and new episodes of returning series (with the exception of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE) will be available on demand following the television broadcast on the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca.
ADDENDUM
NEW SERIES
SAVING HOPE - Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 7
SAVING HOPE is CTV's new original medical drama, which debuts in simulcast this summer with NBC. Starring Erica Durance (SMALLVILLE), Michael Shanks (STARGATE ATLANTIS), Daniel Gillies, (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES), Wendy Crewson (Away From Her), Huse Madhavji (COMBAT HOSPITAL), Julia Taylor Ross (ROOKIE BLUE), and Kristopher Turner (THE LISTENER), the one-hour drama is from acclaimed Gemini award-winning producers Ilana Frank and David Wellington (THE ELEVENTH HOUR, WOULD BE KINGS). When charismatic Chief of Surgery Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks) at Toronto's Hope-Zion Hospital ends up in a coma, he leaves the hospital in chaos - and his fiancée and fellow surgeon, Alex Reid (Erica Durance), in a state of shock. Along with newly-arrived star surgeon, Joel Goran (Daniel Gillies), Alex races to save Harris' life. As the action unfolds, comatose Dr. Harris explores the hospital halls in "spirit" form, not sure if he's a ghost or a figment of his own imagination. Reid, along with her fellow doctors, press on to save his life and those of their other patients, as they deal with the complicated and courageous decisions that are made in their daily struggle to keep hope alive.
TAKE ME OUT - Sneak Peek on Sunday, June 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV; Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 14
TAKE ME OUT is a hilarious and fast-paced new dating series that presents 30 single women with a series of hopeful bachelors each week and a new chance at love. Filmed in front of a studio audience, the female contestants all vie for the same bachelor and over four rounds, choose to keep the light on at their podium as long as they feel a spark, or turn it off when the attraction fizzles. Multi-talented entertainer George Lopez plays double-duty as host and matchmaker as he invites some flirtatious fun between the ladies and brave bachelor before them, who hopes to make a lasting first impression to win them over and score the ultimate dream date. Produced by FremantleMedia (AMERICAN IDOL, THE X FACTOR) and based on the widely-popular British format, this one-hour series flips the switch on love.
THE GLASS HOUSE - Mondays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 18
THE GLASS HOUSE is an exciting and interactive reality competition series where viewers are in charge of the game. In a competition for a quarter million dollars, 14 contestants will live and compete in a totally wired, state-of-the-art house, competing not just against each other, but playing to win over viewers each week. Both online and through their social networks, viewers are encouraged to support and follow their favourite contestants, with their votes helping to determine who is eliminated and who will earn the chance to return to the "glass house". Several times a week, viewers can watch a live online feed from inside the house and vote to decide everything from what they wear, eat, games they play and were to sleep. In the end, it's about who plays the best social game and the alliances they create with their fans.
RETURNING SERIES
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - Two-Hour Season Premiere Thursday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning May 30
Back for its ninth season, the Emmy®-nominated hit dance competition series, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, kicks off with a two-hour premiere Thursday, May 24. This season's auditions in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas and Salt Lake City feature host Cat Deeley and resident judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, as well as guest judges Adam Shankman, Debbie Allen, Tyce Diorio, Lil' C, Stacey Tookey and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE will air once a week and each jam-packed two-hour show will feature awe-inspiring performances, as the contestants compete to be named America's Favorite Dancer.
HOT IN CLEVELAND - Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning May 29
Betty White's HOT IN CLEVELAND is back for its third season with more adventures for the dynamic trio of best friends and their house's rather opinionated caretaker. With Valerie Bertinelli starring as Melanie, Jane Leeves as Joy, Wendie Malick as Victoria and Betty White as Elka, together, these four women create comedic magic that runs from banter to farce to physical comedy, with none of them missing a beat.
THE LISTENER - Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning May 30
In the highly-anticipated third season of CTV's hit Original Series THE LISTENER, Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, The Timekeeper) decides to ignore his telepathic abilities and live a normal life. Choosing to step away from his role as a paramedic to work more closely with the Integrated Investigative Bureau (IIB) and Sgt. Michelle McCluskey (Gemini Award-nominee Lauren Lee Smith, CSI), he puts undue pressure on himself to prove to his peers that he belongs. While his new consultant role means curtailing some of his EMS duties, the critical care team remains the emotional heart of his complicated life. This is especially true when Toby's best friend and paramedic partner, Oz (Ennis Esmer, THE L.A. COMPLEX), moves into the apartment next door and tries to work up the courage to make a commitment to St. Luke Hospital triage nurse Sandy (Tara Spencer-Nairn, CORNER GAS).
COMEDY NOW! - Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 2
Entering its 14th season, this hilarious, all-Canadian, star-making stand-up series has won awards all over North America. A TV calling card for comedic success, COMEDY NOW! has featured some of Canada's most successful comedians, including Brent Butt, Jeremy Hotz, Shaun Majumder, Gavin Crawford and Russell Peters. Starring in the all-new season are Jeff McEnery, Roman Danylo, Nathan Macintosh, Darrin Rose, Christina Walkinshaw, Eddie Della Siepe, Graham Chittenden, Perry Perlmutar, Nile Séguin, and Lars Callieou.
MASTERCHEF - Mondays and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 4
Featuring Chef Gordon Ramsay, Chef Graham Elliott and restaurateur Joe Bastianich, MASTERCHEF debuts its third season, as a new batch of amateur cooks are challenged by testing their palates, knowledge and determination to follow their dreams of making a mark in the culinary world.
LOVE IN THE WILD - Two-Hour Season Premiere Thursday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV; Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV beginning June 14
LOVE IN THE WILD returns for a second season with new host Jenny McCarthy (SINGLED OUT), a new location in the tropical paradise of the Dominican Republic, and even wilder adventures chock-full of surprises and dramatic twists. Putting relationships to the ultimate test, LOVE IN THE WILD pairs 10 single men with 10 single women, for a romantic adventure unlike anything they could have ever imagined. More hearts will be broken and catfights will abound when the new crop of singles embark on their journey to find true love.
SPECIAL EVENT TELEVISION
THE 2012 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS - Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV
CTV provides Canadians with exclusive live coverage of THE 2012 BILLBOARDS MUSIC AWARDS for its second consecutive year. Hosted by Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell (MODERN FAMILY), the Awards features performances by megawatt stars including Canada's own Justin Bieber, country music sensation Carrie Underwood, THE VOICE's Cee Lo Green, party rockers LMFAO and British-Irish boy band The Wanted. Viewers get instant access to the excitement and entertainment live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, airing Sunday, May 20 from 8-11 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. Additional broadcast details to be announced in the coming weeks.
CTV MOVIE: IT'S COMPLICATED - Sunday, May 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV
In the Golden Globe® Award-winning film IT'S COMPLICATED, brought together at a family event, Jane (Academy Award®-winner Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady) hooks up with her ex-husband, Jake (Golden Globe® Award-winner Alec Baldwin, 30 ROCK), who is married to Agnes (Lake Bell, HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA), the younger woman he left Jane for. If being your ex's mistress and hiding the affair from their kids isn't tough enough, Jane also finds herself drawn to Adam (Golden Globe Award®-nominee Steve Martin, The Pink Panther), a smitten architect. While Jane and Jake still maintain other romances, the complications cannot help but mount as the couple continues with their affair.
LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES - Friday, July 27 to Sunday, August 12 on CTV
Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium is poised to deliver viewers the greatest Summer Games experience ever, with the most comprehensive multi-platform coverage in Canadian Olympic media history. Led by CTV and its broadcast team, including Brian Williams, James Duthie, Catriona Le May Doan, and Donovan Bailey, all eyes will be on the Canadian athletes expected to generate headlines. These include hurdler Priscilla Lopes-Schliep who became a mother just eight months ago, shot putter Dylan Armstrong who missed the podium in 2008 by a centimetre, cyclist Clara Hughes who could become Canada's most decorated Olympian, Mary Spencer who is hoping to celebrate the official debut of women's boxing at the Games by winning a gold medal, and the Canadian Women's Soccer Team aiming to win the country an Olympic medal which has not been realized in a traditional summer team sport in 76 years. The two top international storylines will feature American swimmer Michael Phelps attempting to become the most decorated Olympian of all time as well as Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt striving to break his World and Olympic records.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: Twitter:
@BellMediaPR
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television
Facebook: facebook.com/ctv
About CTV
CTV, Canada's Olympic Network, is also Canada's largest private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV is Canada's most-watched television network and lead broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network's website at ctv.ca.
About CTV Two
Available from coast-to-coast, CTV Two features a dynamic mix of drama, comedy and reality programming on the second CTV conventional network. CTV Two spotlights day-to-day life in local communities in Vancouver/Victoria, Toronto/Barrie, Ottawa, London, Windsor and Atlantic Canada through its award-winning local news programming. CTV Two Alberta, the provincial educational broadcaster, features both formal educational programming and popular CTV Two series. Reaching 89% of English Canadian viewers and available in High Definition, CTV Two is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.
Tonia Addison, CTV & CTV Two, 416.384.2194 or [email protected]
Christy Sullivan, CTV & CTV Two, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]
Share this article