The N Becomes 24-Hour Teen TV Network Beginning Monday, Dec. 31, at 6:00 A.M.
(ET) With New Schedule and New Shows Coming in 2008
New Programming to Roll Out in 2008 Includes Three New Series; Returning
Season of Hit Original Degrassi; Documentary Special Degrassi in Kenya; and
Two Teen Acquisitions Saved by the Bell and That 70's Show
NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The N takes a monumental step forward on
New Year's Eve as the network moves onto new channel space and expands from a
12-hour programming block into a 24-hour teen network, beginning Monday, Dec.
31, at 6:00 a.m. (ET). The newly 24/7 network will feature a daytime block of
hit TEENick programming and will welcome new shows to its nighttime schedule
of originals including Queen Bees, The N's Student Body and The Assistants,
among others. To celebrate its expansion, The N will count down 24 Reasons to
Love The N in 2008 in a 12-hour programming marathon premiering Monday, Dec.
31, at 12:00 p.m. (ET).
"The N going 24 is a great opportunity to provide around-the-clock teen
programming to our growing audience as we continue to roll out new series,
specials and acquisitions," said Sarah Tomassi Lindman, Senior Vice President
and General Manager, The N. "The network's distinct perspective that reflects
the teen experience will now be available anytime and everywhere."
With a brand-new 24-hour schedule for teens, The N will roll out the
return of Degrassi (Season Seven) and South of Nowhere (Season Four); three
originals and two acquired series in 2008. Saved by the Bell will begin
airing on Monday, Jan. 14 and the award-winning That 70's Show will begin
airing in June. The N will also debut two new reality series, Queen Bees and
The N's Student Body, both scheduled to premiere in summer, 2008 as well as a
new scripted comedy, The Assistants, in the fall. Additionally, popular
favorites from the TEENick line-up including Kenan & Kel, Unfabulous and Just
Jordan will join The N's new daytime schedule.
24 Reasons to Love The N in 2008 will be hosted by Degrassi's Aubrey
Graham, Shenae Grimes and Cassie Steele, along with TEENick's Lil' JJ of Just
Jordan and Malese Jow and Raja Fenske of Unfabulous. The marathon takes a
look back at favorite episodes from the network's five-year history and gives
viewers a sneak-peek at upcoming programming for 2008 including the season
return of Degrassi: The Next Generation which premieres on Sunday, Jan. 18, at
8:00 p.m. (ET); the return of the original teen comedy, About A Girl on
Saturday, Jan. 19, at 8:00 p.m. (ET); the February premiere of Degrassi in
Kenya, a new half-hour documentary special featuring cast members from the hit
series; and the season return of the critically acclaimed series, South of
Nowhere, premiering April 2008.
At 11:30 p.m. (ET), the marathon concludes with a half-hour special
revealing the number-one reason to love The N in 2008 along with the debut of
the network's first on-air screening party. The special showcases The-N.com's
social media application where online users can chat, play games and watch The
N's video content in a virtual party environment with their friends.
The N's programming highlights for 2008 include:
-- Saved by the Bell - Premiering Monday, Jan. 14 - The N has acquired the
complete six-season library of the quintessential teen series. The
series features six enterprising, adventurous high school students with
inventive schemes and mischievous dreams. Their days at school and
their nights at their favorite hangout are the setting for an
entertaining array of conflicts, laughs and teen romances. Saved by
the Bell stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Mario
Lopez, Dustin Diamond, Elizabeth Berkley and Lark Voorhies.
-- Degrassi: The Next Generation - Season seven returns on Friday, Jan.
18, at 8:00 p.m. (ET) The new season picks up in the middle of a school
year already riddled with tragedy. A fire at Lakehurst -- the school
of JT's killer -- forces many of its students into the halls of
Degrassi, with explosive results. Amidst the newfound clutter and
chaos, Spinner and Darcy deal with dark, personal tragedies, Jimmy and
Ashley test their love, and Emma and Manny explore new, surprising
relationships, all while hurtling toward graduation. Ellie and Marco
discover that exploring their new freedom comes with dire consequences,
while Paige, fresh from flaming out of school, gets a great new job,
but learns quickly the demands of the real world.
-- About A Girl - Season one returns on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 8:00 p.m.
(ET) with original episodes - The half-hour comedy chronicles the
adventures of college sophomore Amy Ryan (Chiara Zanni, Good Luck
Chuck) after her single dorm room turns out to be a nightmare.
Desperate and homeless, she's forced to live with not one, but four
male roommates in an off-campus house where everyday courtesies such as
hygiene and privacy are out of the question.
-- Degrassi in Kenya - Premieres Feb. 2008 - A half-hour documentary
special featuring many of the cast members from the hit series as they
take a personal journey to the impoverished region to work as a team
and build a new school house for the community.
-- South of Nowhere - Season four returns April 2008 - The half-hour
series is a fictional story about a contemporary American family and
their multi-faceted journey of self-discovery. Set in Los Angeles, the
series chronicles the members of the Carlin family as they try to
define themselves and make sense of their Ohio values in big city of
Los Angeles. The family is at the heart of the series and while their
characters are unique, they reflect many American families today --
bound by their evolving identity and their close relationships.
-- That 70's Show - Premieres June 2008 - The N has acquired all eight
seasons of the award-winning series. The series revolves around the
lives of several teens living in Wisconsin in 1976 including Eric
Forman (Topher Grace), who lives under the authority of parents, the
girl next door and girlfriend Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), Fez
(Wilmer Valderrama), a foreign-exchange student soaking up American
culture, Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis), her on-again, off-again
boyfriend Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) and Steven Hyde (Danny
Masterson), the conspiracy theorist of the group. The gang spends
their time in Eric's basement, thinking of their lives, parents, and
futures, but they manage to get into funny adventures and mishaps along
the way through their teenage years.
-- Queen Bees - Premieres July 2008 - The eight-episode, half-hour reality
series is designed to rehabilitate the meanest girls from different
walks of life. Filled with big, loud characters who are so mean
they'll actually make you laugh, the show is funny but still has a big
heart. Viewers will discover the true emotional reasons behind each
contestant's meanness as each girl changes for the better. The series
is co-produced by The N and Endemol USA.
-- The N's Student Body - Premieres Aug. 2008 - The eight-episode, hour-
long series brings together two rival high schools and their local
community for a life-changing mission of personal health and wellness.
The series is hosted by accomplished motivational author, famed athlete
and champion of health and fitness, Laila Ali, and is executive
produced by The N, along with Reveille's Mark Koops, Dave Broome of
25/7 Productions and Ben Silverman, the founder of Reveille and now Co-
Chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.
-- The Assistants - Premieres Oct. 2008 - The half-hour series takes a
comedic look at four 20-something, showbiz assistants working for a
big-shot Hollywood producer as they strive to make it in the chaotic,
sometimes cruel, but always zany world of Hollywood. The series is
executive produced by The Tom Lynch Company, Will McRobb and Chris
Viscardi. McRobb and Viscardi are also the show creators and will
serve as show runners.
About The N
The N, the 24-hour TV network exclusively for and about teens, is
currently available in 64 million households via cable, digital cable and
satellite, as well on mobile, VOD and broadband. The N's distinct perspective
connects its audience to the electricity and possibilities of teendom, anytime
and anywhere, with original series and ever-popular favorites. The N's Emmy
Award-winning website, The-N.com, paired with sister site Quizilla.com, makes
The N the #1 online destination for teens. The N and all related titles,
characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
SOURCE The N
Mirian Arias of The N, +1-212-846-7653, Mirian.arias@The-N.com; or Jodi Davis
of Nickelodeon for The N, +1-212-846-5981, Jodi.davis@nick.com
