TLC presented another ambitious 2015-16 slate during its Upfront presentation to advertisers on Tuesday.
Of the cable’s planned 500 hours of original programming, which includes 50 new and returning shows over the next year, are new offering in its three content areas: Family, style and life’s milestones.
After the successful return of “What Not to Wear” co-host Stacy London’s makeover show “Love, Lust or Run,” TLC has greenlit a new series for her former co-host Clinton Kelly. On “Swipe Right (Working Title),” Kelly and co-host Devyn Simone consider the new world of dating via apps like Tinder and not only look to make over their guests, but will also transform their social media profile. Jane Street Entertainment will produce the series.
TLC also ventures into a couple “social experiment” shows. One in particular tests whether best friends make better spouses on “Marriage Pact (Working Title)” from “Top Chef” producers Magical Elves. Another series hands the reins to the parents on Thinkfactory Media’s “Married by Mom and Dad (Working Title).”
With the success of their series and specials about obesity, TLC venture into the weight loss game with an untitled show from 3Ball Productions in which each episode focuses on a person who’s ready to take the next romantic step — not too fast — after 90 days of slimming down and other goal seeking.
Another interesting element in the upfront slate has its roots in TLC’s focus on subcultures. Like the over the top Gypsy celebrations, “Quinceañera (working title)” goes behind the scenes of planning the elaborate birthday parties for 15-year-olds in Latin American families. High Noon Entertainment will produce.
The cable network enters the new programming season after wrapping 2014 with more than 30 series averaging more than a million viewers. In addition to new hits like “Love, Lust and Run” and “My Big Fat Fabulous Life,” the channel’s longtime favorites “Sister Wives,” “19 Kids and Counting” and “The Little Couple” have been delivering high ratings.
On the social media front, TLC has experienced a 27 percent increase in average monthly engaged users on its Facebook pages from 2013-2014 and ranked in the Top 5 most social cable networks for reality programming.
“Our viewers, who we call affectionately our ‘heart seekers,’ come to us for a sense of community – to share their own lives and the real lives of the people on TLC, said TLC general manager Nancy Daniels.
She continued, “Our characters’ lives continue outside of the traditional television season, and we want our viewers to stay connected and engaged all year long. By creating multiple ways for our audience to interact with our brand, we’re able to build a deeper connection and ensure we’re invited back into living rooms, onto tablets and all screens, and throughout social media feeds across the country,”
See TLC’s list of upcoming series and specials below:
FAMILY
Long Lost Family – New series, 1Q 2015
This series helps people reunite with the family, friends, or loved ones they’ve desperately been seeking. (Shed Media)Hardly Royal (working title) – New series, 3Q 2015
Maryland native David Drew has a story we all dream about. Several years ago, after some web surfing, this blue-collar car repair advisor discovered that he descends from a long line of British royalty. David’s discovery confirmed that he is heir and rightful King of the Isle of Mann in the United Kingdom, and now it’s time for him and his family to see if they can not only claim his
throne, but also the acceptance of both aristocrats and locals. (MAK Pictures)Quinceañera (working title) – New series, 3Q 2015
Cousins Alexis and Jarling are Miami’s premiere Quinceañera party planners and dress shop owners servicing Latin American families as they celebrate their teenager’s transition into womanhood. From the cultural traditions of finding the perfect dress and the father daughter dance to the new American traditions of shooting music videos and mid-party outfit changes – the cousins are constantly working their magic to create memories that will last a lifetime. (High Noon Entertainment)I Got You Babies (working title) – New series, 1Q 2016
We’ll follow four unique sets of parents over the course of a year as they tackle the ups and downs of being first time parents. (Magilla & Drew Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen’s Flower Films)AISLE AND STYLE
Dare to Wear – New series, 2Q 2015
Some people get locked into one sense of fashion so strongly that they identify with only one look. In every episode, host and style expert Tai Beauchamp guides two extreme fashion disasters on total opposite sides of the style spectrum. After being shocked to learn that they have to swap clothing, these women will spend time living in one another’s look and then, with new
found understanding, branch out to leave their comfort zone for a head to toe transformation. (Shed Media US)Brides Gone Styled – New series, 2Q 2015
What happens when a fashion victim’s bad taste threatens to ruin one of the biggest days of her life… her wedding day? In this exciting bridal makeover series, style experts Gretta Monahan and Robert Verdi have made it their mission to take the worst of the worst dressed brides and transform them into the most stunning brides imaginable, leaving their family and friends
speechless! (Half Yard Productions)Extreme Dream Weddings (working title) – New special, 3Q 2015
Extreme Dream Weddings follows three brides experiencing their most mind-blowing fantasy weddings in some of the unique, most extreme terrains on Earth. It’s each bride’s shot at a madeto-fit fairytale wedding. (Discovery Studios)#SaveMyStyle (working title) – New series, 3Q 2015
You’ve seen them on Facebook and Instagram – photos of friends who really shouldn’t be wearing that outfit! But finally there’s someone who can help. Celebrity stylist June Ambrose simply can’t resist bringing her distinctive styling skills to the people who reach out through her active online community. On each episode of #SaveMyStyle, June scours her social universe for a person in need of a fashion overhaul, then changes their lives forever by helping them to discover their best personal style. (Haymaker Content)Swipe Right (working title) – New series, 3Q 2015
Today’s dating world has moved beyond the boy next door, the guy at the end of the bar and the friendly set-up. Dating has gone digital by scrolling through hundreds of online photos and ‘swiping’ to show your interest. Hosted by Clinton Kelly and Devyn Simone, Swipe Right is the groundbreaking new series that brings the traditional makeover show up to date by transforming
not only the wardrobe and attitude of our contributors but their entire social media profile. (Jane Street Ent.)LIFE’S MILESTONE MOMENTS
Bad Dates, 1 Soul Mate (working title) – New special, 3Q 2015
Each episode recreates the dating misadventures of two women whose love lives play out like Hollywood rom coms, and retells each of their three dating disasters with three very different guys. Despite these seemingly doomed dates, our self-confessed Bridget Jones’ ends up marrying one of these men. (October Films)Marriage Pact (working title) – New series, 3Q 2015
It’s a cold hard fact that 50% of all marriages in the US result in divorce. It seems that you can boil down what most people deem the best foundation for wedded bliss into two things: compatibility or chemistry. In this new social experiment, we’ll put to the test if the best marriage success comes from marrying your best friend or friend with benefits. (Magical Elves
Inc.)Married by Mom and Dad (working title) – New series, 4Q 2015
In this new social experiment, men and women who have been unlucky in love have agreed to put their love lives and their futures in the hands of the people who know them best: their parents. Once their parents pick their perfect match they’ll tie the knot to find out if being married by mom and dad leads to happily ever after…or not. (Thinkfactory Media)Untitled 3Ball Weight Loss Show – New series, 1Q 2016
In each self-contained hour we’ll follow an obese person on the transformation journey of a lifetime. Their journey starts with a declaration: they will go to the object of their affection, declare their romantic intentions, and admit they want to ask them out. But not right now, in 90 days. Our hero promises to make some huge changes in their life – and after they do, they’ll
come back to meet their crush – completely transformed. (3Ball Productions).