When the New York Television Festival preview week starts screening new fall shows next week, CBS, the CW and HBO will be in the picture for the first time.
The premiere week series of public screenings to prod potato couchers’ interest in some of the new shows debuting during the traditional start of the TV season started three years ago with ABC, NBC and Fos participating.
“We now have all the major networks,” NYTVF spokesman Eben Russell said.
This year’s NYTVF schedule starts on Sept. 12 with a sneak preview of ABC’s “Life on Mars,” which sends Jason O’Mara as NYPD detective Sam Tyler time-traveling. Harvey Keitel and Michael Imperioli co-star in the drama debuting Oct. 9. Cast members will appear at the screening.
The following day, the cast and producers of Fox’s Sci Fi drama “Fringe” will be on hand for a discussion following that screening.
On Sept. 14, CBS screens its “Worst Week” sitcom, with star Kyle Bornheimer and creator Matt Tarses in attendance. The series airs Sept. 22. Following that, Media Rights Capital screens its “Easy Money” drama series one week before it hits the airwaves. That series, part of an MRC block on the CW, focuses on a family involved in the high interest loan business.
NBC screens its “Life” cop drama on Sept. 15, before its Sept. 29 debut date. And HBO wraps the premiere week with its new animated comedy series “The Life and Times of Tim,” about an average guy who always finds the wrong path, with the show’s creator and executive producer Steven Dildarian in attendance. The 10-episode series premieres on Sept. 28.
All of the ‘Premiere Week’ screenings are held at New World Stages in midtown Manhattan. Passes for free admission to the screenings are available at www.nytvf.com.
The NYTVF is supported by Procter & Gamble Productions, People’s Choice, MSN and the William Morris Agency.
For more coverage on entertainment marketing
Related links: