Television
November 19, 2002
The WB Acquires Comedy Series “Grounded For Life”
(November 19, 2002 – Burbank, CA) – The WB Network has acquired the hit comedy series “GROUNDED FOR LIFE,” starring Donal Logue, it was announced today by Jordan Levin, President, Entertainment of The WB. Six new episodes will be produced this season for the network, which also acquired the rights to broadcast the series’ previously aired episodes.
"We believe ‘GROUNDED FOR LIFE’ has a tremendous upside,” said Levin. “It is one of the highest-rated shows on television in our demos, especially with young men, which is an audience we are growing. With the show’s strong retention levels, coupled with relatively low awareness, we are excited about the opportunity to recruit viewers that ‘GROUNDED FOR LIFE’ offers The WB.”
"We are absolutely elated to be joining Jordan and everyone at
The WB," said CWM partner, Caryn Mandabach. "We have been so proud of the work that the writers and actors have been doing on ‘GROUNDED FOR LIFE,’ and we think The WB is a perfect fit for this show."
“GROUNDED FOR LIFE” has been an outstanding performer in audience retention. So far this season, the comedy retained 91% of its lead-in, “That 70s Show,” in persons 12-34, and 88% in both adults 18-34 and adults 18-49. Season-to-date “GROUNDED FOR LIFE” is currently ranked #4 among all network programs in male teens (5.9/21), #15 in males 12-34 (5.5/18), #16 in men 18-34 (5.4/17), #12 in teens 12-17 (4.4/15), #15 in persons 12/34 (5.1/16) and #16 among adults 18-34 (5.4/16). The series is averaging 8/3 million viewers so far this season.
The comedy focuses on young parents Sean (Logue) and Claudia (Megyn Price) Finnerty, who are still firmly attached to their own youth as they wrestle with the importance of responsibly raising three kids Lilly (Lynsey Bartilson), Jimmy (Griffin Frazen) and Henry (Jake Burbage). Kevin Fitzgerald Corrigan also stars as Sean’s younger brother, Eddie.
For over 20 years Carsey-Werner-Mandabach has been known as the premier independent studio in the business and one of the leading suppliers in television. With such TV classics as “The Cosby Show,” “Roseanne,” “3Rd Rock From The Sun” and current hits, “That '70s Show” and “Grounded For Life,” CWM has had an unprecedented impact on the medium as a business and as an art. The studio is one of the leading distributors of off-network programming both domestically and internationally through CW Distribution. CWM currently has several series in development including one with Mark Burnett for The WB, two with producers Steve Martin and Joan Stein at HBO and ABC respectively, as well as a series co-produced with Tim Allen also for ABC.
The WB Television Network captures the elusive teen and young adult viewing audience with such acclaimed programming as “7th Heaven” and “Gilmore Girls” and new critical and viewer favorites including “Smallville” and “Reba.” The WB Network is part of Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc., an AOL Time Warner Company. # # #