The Lifetime Network announced its 2011-12 programming slate on Tuesday, revealing a slew of new series that will double the network's amount of scripted fare and more than triple the unscripted hours that it airs.
Chief among the new scripted projects is the drama pilot "Modern Love," based on a series of columns published in the New York Times. The pilot, which will be created and executive-produced by Jenny Bicks ("The Big C," "Sex & the City") will revolve around a newspaper science editor whose personal life is in disarray, and who suddenly finds himself tasked with editing the paper's relationship column. The series will use use actual columns published by the Times as fodder, and "will explore the state of our complicated and modern relationships."
On the reality front, new series include the eight-episode "Project Runway" spinoff "Project Runway All Stars," which will pit past contestants from the popular Heidi Klum-hosted competition "in a series of challenges to show they have the innovation, talent and poise that made them household names."
Joining the new series are several renewals, such as the drama "Army Wives" pictured), which is currently averaging 3.7 million total viewers in its fifth season. "Project Runway" will launch its ninth season this summer, while the comedic drama "Drop Dead Diva" kicks off its third season on June 19.
Read Lifetime's full press release below.
LIFETIME ANNOUNCES 2011-12 PROGRAMMING SLATE
New Dramas THE PROTECTOR, starring ALLY WALKER and TISHA CAMPBELL-MARTIN, and AGAINST THE WALL, with RACHAEL CARPANI, TREAT WILLIAMS and KATHY BAKER, to Premiere this Summer; DROP DEAD DIVA to Return for Third Season on June 19; ARMY WIVES Renewed for Sixth Season; Network Orders Drama Pilot MODERN LOVE
Lifetime to Triple Amount of Unscripted Hours with Pick-ups of 11 New Series,
Including PROJECT RUNWAY ALL STARS and PROJECT ACCESSORY,
THE CONVERSATION from DEMI MOORE and AMANDA DE CADENET,
LOVE HANDLES from Producer SALLYANN SALSANO, ROSEANNE’S NUTS,
THE TRACEY GOLD PROJECT and DANCE MOMS;
PROJECT RUNWAY to Return for Ninth Season in Summer 2011
PROJECT FIVE, NORA ROBERTS’ CARNAL INNOCENCE, MAGIC BEYOND WORDS:
THE J.K. ROWLING STORY, GALE ANNE HURD-Produced Action Films LAST MAN STANDING and MALIBU HEIST CLUB, THE HUNT FOR THE I-5 KILLER starring JOHN CORBETT and SARA CANNING, and ELIZABETH TAYLOR-RICHARD BURTON Biopic among 24 Original Movies to Premiere across Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network
NEW YORK (May 3, 2011) – As part of an aggressive expansion to grow its original programming stable, Lifetime today unveiled its 2011-12 programming slate featuring a powerful line-up of two all-new scripted dramas, doubling Lifetime’s number of scripted series from two to four; pick-ups of 11 unscripted programs representing more than triple the amount of reality hours on the network, including Project Runway All Stars and Project Accessory, the interview series The Conversation from executive producers Demi Moore and Amanda de Cadenet; and the weight loss/relationship program Love Handles from producer SallyAnn Salsano; as well as plans for 24 new original movies across Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network.
