here! New Programming
here! gay television network, announced its Spring 2008 programming slate featuring 40 hours of original programming, including specials, new series, and feature films.
Since its founding in 2002, here! reaches all major markets via VOD and SVOD on all major cable services. The upcoming slate of original programming begins in March with the 1-hour special 11th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration hosted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, honoring programs and individuals who have advanced the cause of HIV/AIDS awareness.
Also scheduled is a succession of new film and television releases aimed at expanding here!’s growing audience, including the Outfest award-winning film Shelter; Cut Sleeve Boys; the raucously entertaining The Ben and Dave Show, and Kiss Me Deadly, starring Shannen Doherty and Robert Gant (Queer as Folk).
March
11th Annual Ribbon of Hope Celebration - Hosted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which recognizes and honors programming excellence and commitment to HIV/AIDS awareness, education and prevention. Some of the shows being honored include TLC’s Ashley Judd & YouthAIDS, Girl, Positive from Lifetime, HBO’s Life Support, and Showtime’s 3 Needles. Featured presenters include Judith Light, Bruce Vilanch, Jasmine Guy, and Dee Wallace, among many others (March 7)
The Ben and Dave Show (Series Premiere) - A funny and irreverent topical talk show that dishes on topics from posting personal ads on Craigslist to the mystery of Ann Coulter to getting a sponsor for the show (March 14)
Cover Guy (Network Premiere), a reality competition in which men from all over the country vie for a chance to win cash, modeling contracts, and of course, the coveted spot on the cover of various gay men's magazines (March 21)
Sexplorations (Season Premiere), the hit series returns with weekly profiles of the world’s most unique and exotic sexual beings (March 28)
Jason Stuart: Making It in the Middle (World Premiere) - From longtime comedian Jason Stuart (Will & Grace) comes a docu-style look at is comedy tour through the middle of the country (March 28)
April
Shelter (Network Premiere) – Winner of Outfest’s ‘Best First Dramatic Feature,’ this involving romance is the debut of writer/director Jonah Markowitz, and stars Brad Rowe (National Treasure: Book of Secrets), and features a young cast including Tina Holmes (Six Feet Under) and Trevor Wright. Set against the San Pedro surfing scene, the film focuses on a young man’s coming out, and the budding relationship with his best friend’s older brother (premieres on the network April 18)
Paradise Falls (Season Premiere) - An adult soap opera (in the spirit of Desperate Housewives) now in its 3rd season. The show focuses on the lives and relationships of 10 principal characters in a small coastal town. (April 11)
Looking for Cheyenne - French filmmaker Valérie Minetto’s touching lesbian romance which the LA Times recently called “a highly venturesome and effective film” (April 11)
May
Kiss Me Deadly (World Premiere) - Stars Robert Gant (Queer as Folk) and Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills, 90210), the first of three featuring a gay action hero (May 2)
House of Usher (World Premiere) - Based on the legendary Edgar Allan Poe tale, this is a gothic horror film with a twist, brought to the screen by cult filmmaker David DeCoteau (May 9)
Nina’s Heavenly Delights (Network Premiere)- A charming lesbian comedy from Indian award-winning filmmaker Pratibha Parmar (the Frameline Award at the San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival) that combines Scottish humor with Bollywood spectacle (May 30)
here! is dedicated to bringing the LGBT audience quality-driven programming that covers a wide variety of genres, influences, and formats, and the above slate is a reflection of that commitment. Summer and Fall 2008 look to repeat the same trend of diverse programming for a diverse audience.
About here! Founded in 2002, here! airs on all major U.S. cable systems as a 24-hour subscription service. here! appears in 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets, including every top ten market. here! also was the first gay network originating in the U.S. to launch in Canada. here! offers a wide variety of groundbreaking and acclaimed original movies and series plus the world's largest collection of gay and lesbian films appealing to the broad-based, diverse LGBT audience. here! Video, the broadband portal of here! Networks found at www.heretv.com/videoplayer, provides a broad sampling of here! programming. For more information on how to subscribe to here!, www.heretv.com or 1-888-HERE-NOW.
Images:
Anthony Rapp (Kidnapped), Judith Light (Ugly Betty), Paul Colichman (Founder and CEO, here! Networks), Jasmine Guy at the 2007 Ribbon of Hope Celebration
Brad Rowe and Trevor Wright star in here!'s SHELTER
