Post date: Feb 17, 2014 4:5:43 PM
Last October, I wrote a piece about how I would run a broadcast television network – at least from a programming standpoint. I lamented the current state of broadcast television and made several brilliant suggestions to the broadcast networks for remaining just ahead of TV’s evolutionary curve.
Shortly thereafter, I thought about how I would run a cable network – at least from a programming standpoint. But instead of taking an existing network and reprogramming it, I created one of my own. Granted, there are already hundreds in existence, but despite that proliferation, there is still a void not being filled since a lot of them seem to go after a similar demographic with exploitative, combative reality programming.
I call my new cable network Net90s -- aimed at, but not directly or entirely, products of the 1970s who grew up in the 1980s and came of age in the 1990s.
We’ll launch with a mix of acquired programs hailing from the early, middle and late 1990s and, unlike most cable networks, original scripted programming – which will hearken back to that 1990s style of television comedies and dramas about families, characters and their interrelationships as they face relatable situations.
ORIGINAL COMEDIES
Terrence and Doris Logan – a long-married fortysomething couple send their youngest son off to college – and now their marriage truly begins.
Twins of Anarchy – time-jumping stories about a family with twin boys based on the blog of the same name.
My Mother and Me – an early thirtysomething woman has to adapt to the evolving relationship between her and her newly teenaged son.
Just Us Guys – a gay thirtysomething has an unorthodox relationship with his straight teenage son.
The Two of Us- an unlikely friendship forms between a gay black man from the northeast and a straight white man from Texas when they become roommates in the East Bay.
I Am Erick Davidson - a long-single gay early thirtysomething who finally, but tentatively, enters into a relationship.
On Her Own – a 22-year-old young woman fresh out of college lands a job, moves out of her parent’s house and into an apartment with two girlfriends from high school.
The Happy Homemaker – an interracial gay couple raises an adopted son.
This Life – a sixtysomething retired from a long career as a teacher tries to find his way in a changing world and a family that’s all grown up.
Thirty-plus & Some – a thirtysomething moves in with his mother and her mother, who don’t like each other.
The Stag – a broken-hearted straight guy takes solace with a group of gay men.
Lockwood Drive - a close-knit Italian family lives on the same street in the same archetypal New England town.
ORIGINAL DRAMAS
Anthology – a series of dramatic adaptations and original works featuring an array of guest-starring actors and actresses as well as a revolving door of reperatory players.
The Shepherd – a young man steps out from the apprenticeship of a veteran pastor to take over a church of his own.
Extended Family – a young man has a dubious relationship with his large family.
Open Road – two men, unsatisfied with their dead-end lives, decide to pool their money and embark on an extended road trip.
ACQUIRED COMEDIES
In Living Color – weeknight strip
Wings - weekday strip
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – weekday strip
Blossom – weekend strip
Home Improvement – weeknight strip
Roc – weekends
Mad About You – weekday strip
Martin – weekends
Ellen – weekday strip
Grace Under Fire – weekday strip
Living Single – weekends
Caroline in the City - weekends
Cybill - weekends
3rd Rock from the Sun – weekday strip
Moesha – weekends
Suddenly Susan - weekends
Cosby – weekday strip
Veronica's Closet - weeknight strip
Sports Night - weekends
ACQUIRED DRAMAS
Northern Exposure – weekday strip
Sisters – weekday strip
Picket Fences – weekday strip
Homicide: Life on the Street – weekday strip
New York Undercover – weekday strip
My So-Called Life – weekends
Murder One - weekends
Chicago Hope – weekday strip
ACQUIRED YOUTH PROGRAMMING (Saturday and Sunday Mornings)
Saved by the Bell
Tiny Toon Adventures
Fifteen
Doug
Rugrats (first nine seasons only)
Welcome Freshmen
Salute Your Shorts
Animaniacs
PRIME (MON-FRI 8:30-11:30P, SAT-SUN 8PM-12M)
(January-April, July-October)
MONDAY
830pm Terrence and Doris Logan (Previous week’s episode)
9pm Twins of Anarchy (Previous week’s episode)
930pm Terrence and Doris Logan (New episode)
10pm Twins of Anarchy (New episode)
1030pm Terrence and Doris Logan (Encore)
11pm Twins of Anarchy (Encore)
TUESDAY
830pm My Mother and Me (Previous week’s episode)
9pm Just Us Guys (Previous week’s episode)
930pm My Mother and Me (New episode)
10pm Just Us Guys (New episode)
1030pm My Mother and Me (Encore)
11pm Just Us Guys (Encore)
WEDNESDAY
830pm On Her Own (Previous week’s episode)
9pm I Am Erick Davidson (Previous week’s episode)
930pm On Her Own (New episode)
10pm I Am Erick Davidson (New episode)
1030pm On Her Own (Encore)
11pm I Am Erick Davidson (Encore)
THURSDAY
830pm The Shepherd (Encore)
930pm Anthology (New episode)
1030pm Anthology (Encore)
FRIDAY
830pm The Happy Homemaker (Repeats)
9pm The Stag (Repeats)
930pm Thirty-plus & Some (Repeats)
10pm The Two of Us (Repeats)
1030pm This Life (Repeats)
11pm Lockwood Drive (Repeats)
SATURDAY
8pm Terrence and Doris Logan (Repeats)
830pm Twins of Anarchy (Repeats)
9pm My Mother and Me (Repeats)
930pm Just Us Guys (Repeats)
10pm On Her Own (Repeats)
1030pm I Am Erick Davidson (Repeats)
11pm Anthology (Repeats)
SUNDAY
8pm The Shepherd (Previous week’s episode)
9pm Anthology (Previous week’s episode)
10pm The Shepherd (New episode)
11pm The Shepherd (Encore)
(April–July, October–January)
MONDAY
830pm The Happy Homemaker (Previous week’s episode)
9pm The Stag (Previous week’s episode)
930pm The Happy Homemaker (New episode)
10pm The Stag (New episode)
1030pm The Happy Homemaker (Encore)
11pm The Stag (Encore)
TUESDAY
830pm Thirty-plus & Some (Previous week’s episode)
9pm The Two of Us (Previous week’s episode)
930pm Thirty-plus & Some (New episode)
10pm The Two of Us (New episode)
1030pm Thirty-plus & Some (Encore)
11pm The Two of Us (Encore)
WEDNESDAY
830pm This Life (Previous week’s episode)
9pm Lockwood Drive (Previous week’s episode)
930pm This Life (New episode)
10pm Lockwood Drive (New episode)
1030pm This Life (Encore)
11pm Lockwood Drive (Encore)
THURSDAY
830pm Extended Family (Encore)
930pm Open Road (New episode)
1030pm Open Road (Encore)
FRIDAY
830pm Terrence and Doris Logan (Repeats)
9pm Twins of Anarchy (Repeats)
930pm My Mother and Me (Repeats)
10pm Just Us Guys (Repeats)
1030pm On Her Own (Repeats)
11pm I Am Erick Davidson (Repeats)
SATURDAY
8pm The Happy Homemaker (Repeats)
830pm The Stag (Repeats)
9pm Thirty-plus & Some (Repeats)
930pm The Two of Us (Repeats)
10pm This Life (Repeats)
1030pm Lockwood Drive (Repeats)
11pm Open Road (Repeats)
SUNDAY
8pm Extended Family (Previous week’s episode)
9pm Open Road (Previous week’s episode)
10pm Extended Family (New episode)
11pm Extended Family (Encore)
M-F DAYTIME
3rd Rock from the Sun 6-7A
Cosby 7-8A
Living Single 8-9A
Mad About You 9-10A
Grace Under Fire 10-11A
Ellen 11A-12N
Wings 12N-1P
New York Undercover 1-2P
Homicide: Life on the Street 2-3P
M-F EARLY FRINGE
Northern Exposure 3-4P
Sisters 4-5P
Picket Fences 5-6P
Chicago Hope 6-7P
M-F PRIME ACCESS
In Living Color 7-830P
M-F LATE FRINGE
Sports Night 1130P-12M
Caroline in the City 12M-1A
Suddenly Susan 1-2A
SATURDAY MORNING YOUTH BLOCK
Tiny Toon Adventures/Animaniacs 6-7A
Rugrats/Doug 7-8A
Salute Your Shorts 8-9A
Welcome Freshmen 9-10A
Fifteen 10-11A
Saved by the Bell 11A-12N
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Blossom 12N-2P
Moesha 2-4P
My So-Called Life 4-5P
Cybill 5-7P
SATURDAY ACCESS
“Acquired Plus” Programming 7-8P
SATURDAY OVERNIGHT
Paid Programming 12M-6A
SUNDAY MORNING YOUTH BLOCK
Tiny Toon Adventures 6-7A
Animaniacs 7-8A
Rugrats 8-9A
Doug 9-10A
Fifteen 10-11A
Saved by the Bell 11A-12N
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Martin 12N-2P
Living Single 2-4P
Roc 4-6P
SUNDAY ACCESS
In Living Color 6-8P
MON-SUN OVERNIGHT
Paid Programming 2-6A
You might be wondering how this network and its programming would be financed. The answer is...that's not my problem. I'm the idea guy, not the money guy.