OWN ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER PREMIERES FEATURING NEW ORIGINAL SERIES AND NEW SEASONS OF RETURNING FAVORITES
August 12, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2014
OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER PREMIERES FEATURING NEW ORIGINAL SERIES AND NEW SEASONS OF RETURNING FAVORITES
Tyler Perry's New Original Drama "If Loving You is Wrong" Premieres
Comedian Steve Harvey and Parenting Expert Dr. Shefali Tsabary Join Oprah for New Episodes of "Oprah's Lifeclass"
Ali MacGraw, Paulo Coelho, Madonna Badger and Others Sit Down with Oprah for New Episodes of "Super Soul Sunday"
New Original Series "Help Desk" Hosted by Gotham Chopra Features Appearances by Iyanla Vanzant, Deepak Chopra, Rob Bell, Carolyn Myss, Michael Bernard Beckwith and Cheryl Strayed Among Others
Los Angeles, CA - OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today the network's fall premiere schedule, which includes two new original series plus all-new episodes of returning favorites beginning this September.
The fall season kicks off on Saturday, September 6 with brand new episodes of "Iyanla: Fix My Life" at 9 p.m. ET/PT followed by a new season of "Six Little McGhees" at 10 p.m. ET/PT featuring two episodes back-to-back at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
On Sunday, September 7, new episodes of the two-time Emmy award-winning "Super Soul Sunday" premiere at 11 a.m. ET/PT followed by the 12 p.m. ET/PT premiere of the new original weekly series "Help Desk" hosted by Deepak Chopra's son, Gotham Chopra, who takes to the streets to offer everyday people the opportunity to speak with some of our most celebrated spiritual counselors and talk openly about what is on their minds. As previously announced, from 2:30 - 9 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, September 7, OWN will air a marathon presentation of the groundbreaking docu-series "The Specials." Immediately following at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the Emmy award-winning "Oprah's Lifeclass" returns with all-new episodes. Comedian and talk show host Steve Harvey is Oprah's guest in the classroom on September 7 and 14 and parenting expert Dr. Shefali Tsabary will join Oprah on September 21 and 28.
As previously announced, the all-new drama series from Tyler Perry "If Loving You Is Wrong" premieres Tuesday, September 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT with two episodes back-to-back and Perry's comedy series "For Better or Worse" returns to the primetime lineup with new episodes on Wednesday, September 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Schedule (all times ET/PT):
SATURDAYS BEGINNING SEPT. 6
9 p.m. Iyanla: Fix My Life
10 p.m. Six Little McGhees
SUNDAYS BEGINNING SEPT. 7
11 a.m. Super Soul Sunday
12 p.m. Help Desk
9 p.m. Oprah's LIfeclass
* A day-long marathon of "The Specials" airs from 2:30-9 p.m. on Sept. 7
TUESDAYS BEGINNING SEPT. 9
9 p.m. If Loving You Is Wrong
WEDNESDAYS BEGINNING SEPT. 17
9 p.m. For Better or Worse
Detailed show descriptions are below:
IYANLA: FIX MY LIFE (Season Three Premiere Saturday, September 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT)
In the popular self-help series, bestselling author, spiritual life coach and television host Iyanla Vanzant goes behind closed doors to help people whose relationships and lives have broken down. Some of the emotional stories featured in the upcoming new season include Iyanla working to uncover the root cause behind the behavior of a man who has had 34 children with 17 different women, as well as helping a family in crisis, haunted by a three-generation pattern of violence towards women. The series is produced by Harpo Studios and executive produced by Jill Van Lokeren, Jon Sinclair, and Iyanla Vanzant.
SIX LITTLE MCGHEES (Second Season Premiere Saturday, September 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT)
In the all-new season of "Six Little McGhees," Columbus Ohio's first sextuplets, Josiah, Madison, Olivia, Issac, Rozonno Jr. and Elijah, aren't so little anymore. Inches taller and a whole lot more vocal and active, the kids are developing their own personalities, which means that there are bigger tantrums...and even bigger adventures. Now that the kids are older, parents Mia and Ro need to expand the size of their home to fit their growing family. Conflicts arise as the couple, who don't always see eye-to-eye, have to learn to compromise when it comes to either investing in a new home or in their ever expanding family business McGhee Carpet Cleaning. While balancing the challenges of raising the unforgettable brood, from enrolling them in new activities and searching for preschools, the McGhees prove every step of the way that "it takes a village" when it comes to their unique family and that love can overcome any obstacle. "Six Little McGhees" was most recently honored with the 2014 NAMIC Vision Award for best reality show and is executive produced by Philip Sternberg and Joe Sorge of Candor Entertainment for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
SUPER SOUL SUNDAY (Season Premiere Sunday, September 7 at 11 a.m. ET/PT)
"Super Soul Sunday" is the two-time Emmy award-winning series that delivers a timely, thought-provoking, eye-opening and inspiring block of programming designed to help viewers awaken to their best selves and discover a deeper connection to the world around them. The series features all-new conversations with Oprah Winfrey and top thinkers, authors and spiritual leaders, exploring issues including happiness, personal fulfillment, conscious living and more. Episodes this season include bestselling author of "The Alchemist" Paulo Coelho (9/7 and 9/14); author and actress Ali MacGraw (10/5); Tibetan Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön (10/12) and ad executive and survivor Madonna Badger (10/19). The series is produced by Harpo Studios and executive produced by Andrea Wishom and Tara Montgomery.
HELP DESK (Series Premiere Sunday, September 7 at 12 p.m. ET/PT)
"Help Desk" is an all-new series hosted by award-winning journalist and filmmaker Gotham Chopra, Deepak Chopra's son, as he introduces today's top thought leaders who bring their spiritual wisdom to the streets in different cities across the country, offering life-changing answers to hard-hitting questions about relationships, health, spirituality and personal transformation. These are challenging times and there is a deepening hunger among people for meaning and purpose. Where do they go for guidance? The simple truth is that spiritual advice has more impact when it's given to real people who have real questions. So, that sparked an idea; set up a desk in a busy public place, sit down with today's most celebrated spiritual teachers, and let the public ask them whatever is on their mind. Featured advisors include world-renowned pioneer of mind-body medicine and best-selling author of over 80 books, Deepak Chopra; best-selling author of "May Cause Miracles" and next-generation thought leader Gabrielle Bernstein; inspirational speaker and host of "Iyanla: Fix My Life" Iyanla Vanzant; Agape International Spiritual Center's founder and new thought minister Michael Bernard Beckwith; movie producer and Seventh Day Adventist preacher Devon Franklin; internationally renowned speaker and best-selling author of "Sacred Contracts" Carolyn Myss; contemporary thought leader and author of "Discovering Your Soul Signature" Panache Desai; best-selling author of "Wild" Cheryl Strayed; author of four consecutive New York Times best-sellers including Seat of the Soul" Gary Zukav; and progressive pastor and New York Times best-selling author of "Love Wins" Rob Bell. "Help Desk" is co-produced by Harpo Studios and Generate. Executive producers are Sheri Salata, Jon Sinclair, Gotham Chopra, Mark Rinehart, Jared Hoffman, Peter B. Aronson, Jordan Levin and Zack Smith.
THE SPECIALS (Television Premiere Event, Sunday, September 7 with 13 back-to-back episodes from 2:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT)
The groundbreaking docu-series shares the funny, honest story of five housemates with intellectual disabilities living the classic student lifestyle in England. Filmed over four years and narrated by housemates Sam, Hilly, Lucy, Lewis and Megan, all between the ages of 19-23 and close friends since childhood, "The Specials" shares the ups and downs of their daily lives from first love to heartbreak, from leaving college to finding a job, as well as the day-to-day interactions and complications of sharing a house together. The housemates live life to the max - they enjoy everything from surfing and karaoke to even competing in the Special Olympics. The award-winning series was originally produced as short form, 10-minute webisodes in England. OWN will televise fresh, newly adapted episodes following housemates as they continue to support each other through major changes in their lives -- everything from breakups, to a parents' divorce and finally an engagement. The series truly highlights that we are all more alike than different. "The Specials" is produced by Katy Lock and Daniel May for KADA Media and executive produced by Carolyn Strauss and D.B. Weiss ("Game of Thrones"), Rosie O'Donnell in association with KidRo Productions and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.
OPRAH'S LIFECLASS (New Episodes Premiere Sunday, September 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT)
The Emmy award-winning "Oprah's Lifeclass" is a richly interactive worldwide social experience for millions of students who participate in inspiring conversations with Oprah Winfrey on-air, online and via social media. For each episode, Oprah is joined by a hand-picked expert, and together they interact with viewers to share principles and tools that can help people live more meaningful and fulfilling lives. All-new episodes filmed in front of a live studio audience at Harpo Studios in Chicago feature comedian and talk show host Steve Harvey offering lessons from his latest book, "Act Like a Success, Think Like A Success: Discovering Your Gift and The Way To Life's Riches" (Sept. 7 and 14) and Dr. Shefali Tsabary, parenting expert and author of the best-selling book, "The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children," advising families, who are in the midst of a parenting crisis, by illustrating what beliefs fuel children's misbehavior (Sept. 21 and 28). "Oprah's Lifeclass" is executive produced by Harpo Studios' Jill Van Lokeren, Jon Sinclair, Dana Brooks Reinglass and Terry Goulder.
IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG (Series Premiere Tuesday, September 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT)
"If Loving You Is Wrong" is the new dramatic series created for television by writer/director Tyler Perry. With a diverse cast and storylines ranging from heartfelt to scandalous, the sexy, sleek drama takes viewers into the lives of a group of husbands, wives and friends that live and love in the same middle class neighborhood. On the surface they are true-to-life, relatable people - raising children, working jobs, finding and maintaining romance - but just below the veneer of happiness, their lives are entangled by heartbreak, deceit and lies that threaten to destroy everything. This is Tyler Perry's second scripted television drama. The season premiere opens in the middle of a torrid affair between neighbors Randal (Eltony Williams, "24") and Alex (Amanda Clayton, "John Carter"). Randal's wife Marcie (Heather Hemmens, "Hellcats") desperately wants children, but Randal's attention is focused on the wife of his best friend Brad (Aiden Turner, "All My Children"). Just down the street, divorcee Esperanza (Zulay Henao, "Single Moms Club") is trying to move on with her life, while keeping a budding relationship with Julius (Octavio Pizano, "East Los High") a secret from her vindictive ex-husband Edward (Joel Rush, "Days of Our Lives"). Meanwhile, neighbor Kelly (Edwina Findley, "Treme") longs to marry Travis (Denzel Wells) who is away on a relief mission in Haiti and who has promised to help her raise her 8-year-old son, Justice. Outside of the neighborhood, single mother Natalie (April Parker-Jones, "Jericho") struggles to raise her children in the inner city. Lushion (Charles Malik Whitfield, "Law and Order"), the father of her son Frank, has returned to town and stepped up to the plate to help. In addition, Natalie grapples with the tough decision whether or not to allow her fourth son, Joey (Matt Cook), to return home once he is released from prison. "If Loving You is Wrong" is produced for OWN by Tyler Perry Studios. It is created, written, directed and executive produced by Tyler Perry.
FOR BETTER OR WORSE (Season Four Premiere Wednesday, September 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT)
"For Better or Worse," the popular comedy series from Tyler Perry about the ups and downs of dating and marriage, returns with all-new episodes that center on Angela's (NAACP Image Award-nominated actress Tasha Smith) ongoing suspicions that her husband Marcus (Michael Jai White) is having an affair. Additionally, Richard (Kent Faulcon) and Keisha (Kiki Haynes) are working on relationship problems of their own, while Leslie (Crystle Stewart) and on-again-off-again boyfriend Joseph (Jason Olive) could be headed toward wedding bells. Meanwhile, Todd (Brad James) and Jennifer (Cocoa Brown) are each up to no good. "For Better or Worse" is produced for OWN by Tyler Perry Studios. It is created, written, directed and executive produced by Tyler Perry.
About OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey's heart and creative instincts inform the brand - and the magnetism of the channel. Winfrey provides leadership in programming and attracts superstar talent to join her in primetime, building a global community of like-minded viewers and leading that community to connect on social media and beyond. OWN is a singular destination on cable. Depth with edge. Heart. Star power. Connection. And endless possibilities. OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications. The network debuted on January 1, 2011 and is available in 85 million homes. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com. For more information, please visit http://www.oprah.com/own and http://press.discovery.com/us/own/.
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