Buena Vista International Television (BVITV) had plenty to crow about and celebrate at its recent Fifth Annual International Upfronts event to launch to the international TV market 21 new and returning network series for the 05-06 season, the highest-ever number in the companys history. This count includes 11 returning series plus eight new scripted series and two fresh reality series.
The event May 22, 2005, at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to showcase BVITVs slate was hosted by Laurie Younger, president, Buena Vista Worldwide Television, and was attended by buyers, TV execs and press from around the world. Its portfolio boasts the current top three freshman scripted series on U.S. television, with DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, GREYS ANATOMY and LOST, which have gained enormous attention and orders outside of America as well.
Jim Belushi of ACCORDING TO JIM joined the onstage band to sing and play harmonica to kick off the presentation, which featured cast and creatives of the new and returning series, including Teri Hatcher of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, Dominic Monaghan of LOST, Patrick Dempsey of GREYS ANATOMY and Belushi, who introduced the stars of BVITVs new series such as Geena Davis, Mandy Patinkin, Kyle MacLachlan, Stuart Townsend, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ming-Na. Talent from behind the camera, including exec producers J.J. Abrams (LOST, ALIAS) and Rod Lurie (COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF).
Always an engaging presentation, the cleverly produced show reel featured well-known stars from the shows dancing in black silhouettes, a parody of the iPod commercials, which were then revealed in full live action with direct-to-camera messages for the viewers.
BVITV launched seven new dramas, one new comedy and two new reality series/formats. The new one hour dramas are COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, which stars Oscar-winner Geena Davis as the first female president of the United States; IN JUSTICE, with Kyle MacLachlan as a lawyer who is the last line of defense for the wrongly convicted and the supernatural drama THE NIGHT STALKER, with Stuart Townsend as a crime reporter haunted by his wifes brutal death. CRIMINAL MINDS stars Mandy Patinkin and is set in the FBIs Behavioral Science unit, GHOST WHISPERER features Jennifer Love Hewitt as a paranormal investigator, the ensemble drama WHAT ABOUT BRIAN is centered round a 30-something, commitment-phobic bachelor; and INCONCEIVABLE follows the lives of the staff and patients of a fertility clinic. BVITVs new half-hour comedy is CRUMBS, which follows a dysfunctional family as members reunite to look after their mother.
BVITVs two new reality series/formats are THE MIRACLE WORKERS, in which the worlds top medical practitioners give cutting edge treatment to patients in need, and WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, a show which challenges prejudices as seven very different families move in to a suburban cul-de-sac to compete for a dream home there, judged by their neighbors.
The companys returning dramas are the 04-05 series DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, LOST and GREYS ANATOMY, plus ALIAS (heading into its 5th season). The returning comedies are SCRUBS (5th season), HOPE & FAITH (3rd season), RODNEY (2nd season), ACCORDING TO JIM (5th season) and LESS THAN PERFECT (3rd season). The action-packed, reality series/format THE AMAZING RACE will also return for an eighth season, along with the reality series/format AMERICAS FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS, which will return for a 16th season.
One of the most chilling trailers and promising for vfx and sci fi fans is THE NIGHT STALKER, from THE X FILES alumni Frank Spotnitz who is exec producer/writer and Daniel Sackheim, who is exec producer/director. Inspired by the movie, the series features crime reporter Carl Kolchak, whose determination to find out the truth behind his wifes mysterious murder has led him to investigate other crimes that seem to have some kind of supernatural component. Stuart Townsend (LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN) stars as Kolchak with his series regulars Gabrielle Union (SOMETHING THE LORD MADE), Eric Jungmann (NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE) and Cotter Smith (X2).
The presentation then traveled across Hollywood Blvd. to a party venue, catered by Wolfgang Puck and featured a live performance by David Lee Roth, who still can sing, dance, strut, kick his silver glittery shoes above his head and carry off plaids, dots and floral prints together in a flashy, colored ensemble. Hopefully some of the attendees flown in from long flights had their gratis airline earplugs on hand, which the rocker was sporting in his own ears during the over-amped performance.
