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PEOPLE & ARTSMonday 11 January 2016
TV Critics Watch:
ABC Family network prepping to become Freeform network
DAVID BAUDER ing a heart transplant be- winter hiatus, said Paul Lee, Freeform network on Tues- up.
AP Television Writer fore it comes back on ABC. president of the ABC Enter- day.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — A The network had high tainment Group. Most attention has been BOTTOMS UP
roundup of news Saturday hopes for the adult-orient- “We didn’t quite feel it had paid to the removal of Actress Alexis Carra is mov-
from the Television Critics ed comedy featuring the the joy, the laughter and “Family” in the name ing directly from “Mixol-
Association winter meet- famed puppets on its fall the heart that we were change. “Family” was ogy,” a short-lived ABC
ing, at which TV networks schedule, hoping for,” Lee said. deemed unhip for the sitcom whose setting is one
and streaming services are but it fell flat. Co-creator BUCK’S BACK Disney-owned network night in a Manhattan bar,
presenting details on up- Bob Kushell has been re-
coming programs: placed by a new back-
stage chief, Kristin New-
PUPPETRY man, and it is being re-
“The Muppets” is undergo- vamped for its return after a
Actors Dominic Sherwood, from left, Katherine McNamara, left, and Emeraude Toubia participate
in the “Shadowhunters” panel at the Freeform 2016 Winter TCA on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, in Pasa-
dena, Calif.
(Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Makers of the upcoming that is focused on reach- to a new series for the Free-
ABC comedy “Uncle Buck” ing women aged 18 to 34, form network about trying
brushed aside concerns or the group in between to overcome substance
that the series could make “their first kiss and first kid,” abuse.
some black viewers un- said network chief Tom As- Carra said that she at-
comfortable about stereo- cheim. tended Alcoholics Anony-
typing. The sense of discovering mous meetings to prepare
The series, due on ABC something new on their for her work in “Recovery
sometime this spring, is a own is important to people Road,” which premieres
remake of the 1989 movie in this age group, and hav- Jan. 25.
of the same name. The late ing a well-known brand like The actress and some oth-
John Candy starred in the ABC or Disney in the name ers involved in “Recovery
film as a lazy, hustler-type plays against that instinct, Road” purposely didn’t
character called on by his he said. drink while the series was
more responsible brother With an eye to the future, made, she said, adding
to take care of his kids in an Ascheim said he doesn’t that she does like to have
emergency. ABC’s remake necessarily want the Free- an occasional glass of
has an all-black cast, with form brand associated just wine.
Mike Epps featured in the with a television network. “A few of us were more
lead role. In focus groups, consum- successful than others,”
“Believe it or not, there’s an ers were asked what they Carra said.
Uncle Buck in every race,” thought of the name if it
Epps said. was tied to a clothing line SCREAM TIME
The series has two white ex- or streaming service, for ex- Film producer J.J. Abrams
ecutive producers, Steve ample. isn’t likely to forget his visit
Cragg and Brian Bradley. The name change is ush- with writer Stephen King in
Bradley said more than ered in with a marathon Maine.
half of the series’ staff is of episodes of “Pretty Little After dinner, the celebrat-
composed of minorities. Liars,” ABC Family’s most ed horror writer suggested
FREEFORM popular show, and a new they go see a horror mov-
The ABC Family network is episode on Wednesday. ie, said Abrams, who has
pointedly getting rid of the Ascheim said the network just made an adaptation
“ABC” in its name when it is also working with pop of King’s novel “11.22.63”
makes the transition to the star Nicki Minaj on a com- for the Hulu streaming
edy about her life growing service.q
