TV Land Loves 'Raymond'

TV Land Loves 'Raymond'

TV Land PRIME Locks Up The Exclusive Primetime Broadcast Rights For "Everybody Loves Raymond" Additional Acquisitions for 2010 Include "Boston Legal," "Home Improvement" and "The Nanny"

NEW YORK, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Land has landed the primetime broadcast rights for the Emmy® Award-winning comedy, "Everybody Loves Raymond," from CBS Television Distribution beginning June 2010, it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land.

The winner of 15 Emmy® Awards, "Everybody Loves Raymond" ran in primetime for nine seasons, totaling 212 episodes and will premiere in TV Land PRIME, the network's primetime programming block designed to appeal to the attitudes, life stage and interests of people in their 40s. Additionally, the network announced three other new acquisitions to hit the airwaves in 2010: "Boston Legal," "Home Improvement" and "The Nanny."

"'Everybody Loves Raymond' is one of TV's quintessential comedies, and we are thrilled to have the Barones join the TV Land family," stated Jones. "'Raymond,' 'Boston Legal,' 'Home Improvement' and 'The Nanny' all speak to our audience of forty-somethings in different ways. From an office-based dramedy to family-oriented comedies, the themes and relationships in these series continue to make us laugh."

These four acquisitions represent a continued commitment to build TV Land PRIME, the network's primetime programming destination dedicated to 40-somethings - a vibrant group with unmatched purchasing power and living in the most dynamic stage of their lives with relationships at work, with family and with friends all thriving. All of the programming in TV Land PRIME is hand-picked to appeal to the attitudes, life stage and interests of this important demo.

"Everybody Loves Raymond" (Premieres second quarter 2010):

"Everybody Loves Raymond" was born out of Ray Romano's own life experiences of raising his children along with his wife, all while his parents and brother lived close by. In the show, Romano plays Ray Barone, father of three and a sports writer for a local newspaper. Patricia Heaton plays his wife, Debra, who endures her husband's overbearing parents played brilliantly by Doris Roberts and the late Peter Boyle. As in real life, Ray's brother Robert, played by Brad Garrett, is a policeman who lives with his parents. And in a quirky, life-imitating art moment, the Barone children - Ally and twin brothers Michael and Geoffrey - were actually played by real life siblings, Madylin, Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten. The eight seasons were filled with hilarious appearances by guest stars including Kevin James, Fred Willard, Georgia Engel and Chris Elliott.

TV Land paid its own special tribute to "Everybody Loves Raymond" in 2005, when the series wrapped its eighth and final season. TV Land pre-empted its regularly scheduled programming to honor the occasion by filling a room with guys named Raymond, each representing an episode in the series run. Each Ray introduced himself and named an episode all while TV Land continued to remind the viewers not to accidentally miss the series finale which was a truly historic television moment.

"Boston Legal" (Premieres first quarter 2010):

"Boston Legal" spent five years on broadcast television, bringing viewers fast-paced and irreverent comedy, yet at the same time providing intense and emotionally-driven plot lines. The cast included many celebrated talents including James Spader, William Shatner, Candice Bergen and John Laroquette and was created by the famed David E. Kelly. The show was nominated for numerous awards with both Spader and Shatner winning Emmys for their stellar performances. A spin-off of "The Practice," "Boston Legal" follows the professional and personal adventures of a group of attorneys at the law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. The series ran on ABC from 2004 - 2008.

"Home Improvement" (Premieres first quarter 2010):

Tim Allen starred in "Home Improvement" as Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor, an accident-prone television host and devoted family man. The series, which followed the trials and tribulations of family life, also starred Patricia Richardson as Tim's wife and Zachary Ty Bryan, Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Taran Noah Smith as his three energetic and sometimes mischievous sons. Richard Karn played Tim's best friend and co-host of "Tool Time" and Earl Hindman was Wilson, the eccentric voice of reason and the Taylors' neighbor whose face - as a running gag - was always concealed mostly behind the fence separating their yards. The series also launched the television career of Pamela Anderson who played the "Tool Time Girl" for two seasons and then by Debbe Dunning who replaced Anderson. In addition to garnering several awards, the popularity of "Home Improvement" in the 90s made the series finale the fourth highest-rated comedy series finale of the decade behind "Cheers," "The Cosby Show" and "Seinfeld."

"The Nanny" (Premieres third quarter 2010):

Fran Drescher helmed this beloved '90s sitcom as Fran Fine, a bubbly and nasal-voiced Queens native who becomes the nanny to three children of an upper-class Manhattanite. Fran's nurturing style included out of the ordinary techniques coupled with a tell-it-like-it-is attitude which made the children - and eventually her boss - fall in love with her. Fran Drescher was nominated twice for an Emmy and the show received countless awards. "The Nanny" ran on CBS from 1993-1999.

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About TV Land PRIME and TV Land

TV Land PRIME is TV Land's prime time programming destination designed for people in their mid-forties and the exclusive home to the premieres of the network's original programming, contemporary television series acquisitions and movies. TV Land PRIME is part of TV Land, a network dedicated to presenting the best in entertainment on all platforms for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Consisting of original programming, acquired shows, hit movies and full-service Web site, TV Land is now seen in over 93 million U.S. homes.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

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