Showtime
With the Fourth of July falling on the calendar this week, the networks are very prudent with releasing new series with vacations and holiday festivities keeping the majority of viewiers away from the TV sets. But cable networks still provided a handful of new shows, including one groundbreaking series that ran for several seasons and one that is now better left not talked about these days. Let’s take a look at the three new premieres for this week.
1950
- No new series premiered this week in 1950.
1960
- No new series premiered this week in 1960.
1970
- No new series premiered this week in 1970.
1980
- No new series premiered this week in 1980.
1990
- No new series premiered this week in 1990.
2000
- June 28 — Drama series Soul Food: The Series premieres on Showtime. Based on the 1997 movie Soul Food, the series follows the triumphs, struggles and rivalries of the Josephs, an African American family living in Chicago. The series picks up right after the events of the movie starting with the birth of Jeremiah, Bird and Lem’s son, and the aftermath of the death of Josephine, referred to a Mama, Mother Joe or Big Mama. Irma P. Hall reprised her movie role in flashbacks. The show was the first hit drama to feature a predominantly African American cast. The show tackled hot button topics like politics, homosexuality, racism, and forms of abuse (drug, domestic and sexual). The show’s use of music served as a launching pad for several new artists and established artists like Gerald Levert, Montell Jordan, India Arie and Common made guest appearances. The regular cast included Rockmond Dunbar, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Aaron Meeks, Nicole Ari Parker, Malinda Williams, Vanessa Estelle Williams and Boris Kodjoe. Although four official seasons were produced, Season 4 was split with the network considering the second half of the season as Season 5. 74 episodes were produced. The series finale was broadcast on May 26, 2004.
2010
- June 28 — Drama series Huge premieres on ABC Family. Based on the YA novel of the same name, the series revolves around eight teens sent to a summer weight loss camp, Camp Victory. The series starred Nikki Blonsky (who made her first acting performance in the movie musical version of Hairspray), Hayley Hasselhoff (daughter of David), Raven Goodwin, Ari Stidham, Ashley Holliday, Harvey Guillén, Jacob Wysocki, Gina Torres, Zander Eckhouse, Zoe Jarman, Paul Dooley and Tia Taxada. The series ran for just a single season of 10 episodes, ending on August 30, 2010.
- June 29 — Comedy-drama series Louie premieres on FX. The series ran for five seasons and produced 61 episodes. The series had been on an extended hiatus when FX cut all ties with series star Louis C.K. after he admitted a series of sexual misconduct allegations were true.
Did you or do you watch any of these shows? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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