New York, New York, February 15, 2005 – Continuing its effort to provide fresh, innovative, and timely programming to the movie obsessed community, AMC announced today the production of a new entertainment interview series of specials called THE SUITE. Hosted by ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY senior writer and TODAY show regular Dave Karger, the half-hour program will spotlight an upcoming theatrical release by inviting the director and several cast members to discuss their experiences making the film. THE SUITE, completely unrehearsed and unscripted, will be the only entertainment show to exclusively feature group cast interviews. Production begins in second quarter 2005 in both New York and Los Angeles.
Dave Karger has been covering movies, music and television for ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY since 1995, most recently writing cover stories on Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, Elton John and the cast of OCEAN'S TWELVE. Since 2000, Dave Karger has also been a regular guest on NBC's TODAY where he discusses box office, the Oscars, Emmys, and entertainment trends.
The series is created and produced by Karger, Tommy Crudup and Julie Yaeger. Crudup currently runs the talent department for "THE TONY DANZA SHOW" and has booked guests for both "THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW" and "THE WAYNE BRADY SHOW." He started with MGM as a publicist. Julie Yaeger is a former Vice President at MIRAMAX films as well as the PR firms Huvane, Baum, Halls and Baker/Winoker/Ryder. The series will be produced in conjunction with CITY LIGHTS TELEVISION.
THE SUITE has been assured a valuable spot on AMC's 2005 original programming roster. It joins AMC's successful slate of celebrity talk shows, SUNDAY MORNING SHOOTOUT and MOVIE CLUB WITH JOHN RIDLEY, which have provided viewers with an 'exclusive all access pass' to Hollywood 's inner domain and have helped reinvent the celebrity talk show format.
"2004 has been tremendously successful for AMC, and THE SUITE adds another innovation to our Hollywood based original programs, " stated Rob Sorcher, AMC's Senior Vice President of Programming and Production. "Dave Karger brings both credibility and cool to our movie obsessed viewers."
"How many times have you read an article, or seen a picture, with all these big stars sitting around, talking and laughing together, and you think to yourself, 'Wow, I wish I could be in that room right now," said Dave Noll, President of City Lights Television. "That's what 'The Suite' is. We take you right inside that room," Noll added. Dave Karger is the perfect host for the show, not only is he intelligent and very funny, but also very good looking, so I am told."
At the close of the 2004, Nielsen Media released its final year-end data, giving AMC its strongest year ever. In the findings, AMC experienced household and key demo growth year to year with delivery records set for Prime, Late Night, Fringe, and Total Day.
About AMC
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media's Entertainment Services, which also includes WE: Women's Entertainment and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 86,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including 14 Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."
About City Lights Television
City Lights Television was launched just two years ago as a division of City Lights Media Group. City Lights' latest reality series, FilmFakers, airs in primetime on AMC. Upcoming series for Fit TV and Discovery Home will premiere later in 2005. For over 20 years, City Lights Media Group has been one of New York City's largest and most well respected full-service production companies. City Lights' film division, City Lights Pictures recently executive produced John Waters' A Dirty Shame through Fine Line Features. City Lights Pictures' next film, supernatural thriller Tamara, distributed through Lions Gate, will be released later this year. In addition, City Lights Post is New York's largest Avid postproduction facility with 25 Avid and Symphony rooms.