TCA: Bravo announces expanded lineup

PASADENA, Calif. – Jan. 10, 2010 — Having just celebrated its fourth consecutive best year ever in 2009 — ranked as the No. 18 cable entertainment network among adults 18-49 in primetime, and the fastest growing cable entertainment network among women in that demo (No. 10 up from No. 21 two years ago), according to Nielsen Media Research — Bravo announced today that it will expand its high quality, addictive programming by an additional 20 percent in 2010. The announcement was made by Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Bravo Media.

Bravo continued to grow its coveted audience in 2009 — the most affluent and engaged in cable entertainment — delivering its 17th consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth among adults 18-49, while lowering its median age. Additionally, Bravo retained the most engaged audience in cable entertainment among adults 18-49 for four consecutive years, every year that Nielsen IAG has measured.

Underlying this engagement, Bravo’s digital offerings also produced their best year ever in video streams and unique visitors, with double digit increases in those categories, as well as a fourth consecutive year of growth in uniques. And, in mobile, the network posted triple digit page view increases, up 327 percent from 2008.

Focused on the network’s “passion groups” of Food, Fashion, Beauty, Design and Pop Culture, Bravo unveiled a number of new and returning programs as well as premiere dates for its successful series. Previously in development, Bravo announced series pick-ups for two docu-series featuring women well-known and loved by the network’s audience — Bethenny’s Getting Married? featuring The Real Housewives of New York City‘s Bethenny Frankel, and Thintervention with Jackie Warner, featuring the celebrity trainer from Work Out.

“Bravo continues to grow our highly engaged audience, powered by the network’s signature characters, talented experts and their aspirational lifestyles,” said Berwick. “Developing shows around these addictive personalities is the secret sauce in allowing us to nearly double our original hours over the past three years, and to feed that passion across all consumer touchpoints.”

Bravo confirmed new season orders for a third season of The Rachel Zoe Project as the noted celebrity stylist works awards season, fashion weeks around the world and welcomes a new member to her team. Returning for a sixth season of unpredictable hilarity is the two-time Emmy award-winning Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List. Griffin has also signed on for two new stand-up comedy specials in 2010 with the network. Additionally, Bravo announced a fourth season of its successful docu-series Flipping Out featuring OCD house-flipper Jeff Lewis, and a third season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which retains the crown as the network’s highest rated Real Housewives franchise ever.

Top Chef judge Gail Simmons will serve as host of the network’s newest culinary competition series Top Chef: Just Desserts, a spin-off of the popular Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning franchise Top Chef. The series, produced by the Magical Elves, will consist of pastry chefs competing against one another in a series of challenges.

Freshman series 9 By Design will premiere on Monday, April 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, Double Exposure will premiere in April and Work of Art: The Next Great Artist premieres in June. The anticipated third season of The Real Housewives of New York City premieres Thursday, March 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and the second season of Bravo’s successful culinary spin-off Top Chef Masters premieres Wednesday, April 7 at 11 p.m. ET/PT and moves to its regular 10 p.m. time period on April 14. The network’s first topical live series, Watch What Happens: Live returns for its winter season with Oscar nominee Liam Neeson and actor Cheyenne Jackson on Thursday, Jan. 14 at midnight ET/PT.

Following are the new, returning and in development programming announcements:

SERIES PICK-UPS

Bethenny’s Getting Married?: As one of the breakout characters of The Real Housewives of New York City, Bethenny Frankel has shared her social life with millions, and in her new docu-series fans will get an up close and personal look at her career. Viewers will follow the outspoken New York City socialite as she juggles her happy love life, plans a wedding and prepares for baby while managing her insanely busy schedule and career as a natural foods chef. Somewhere in her schedule she found time to write two books on healthy living — Naturally Thin: Unleash Your Skinny Girl & Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting (that quickly became a New York Times bestseller) and The Skinnygirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life — and continues to manage her line of “Skinny Girl” cocktails. The series is produced by Shed Media U.S. for Bravo. Jennifer O’Connell, Matt Anderson and Nick Emmerson serve as executive producers.

Thintervention With Jackie Warner: An emotional new docu-series inspired by renowned fitness expert Jackie Warner’s life mission to change lives through healthy habits, “Thintervention” will give viewers an even closer look at what Warner does best ? kick butt and inspire drastic lifestyle changes for her overweight clients who are struggling to lose weight and get healthy for good. The series will track the stories of people struggling with ongoing weight issues as Warner works with them in their real lives surrounded by the every day distractions and stresses of family and work. Each episode of the one hour series will feature a grueling workout pushing clients to their emotional and physical limits, a therapy session to get to the root of their weight issues, and a life lesson in nutrition such as grocery shopping or surprise raids of their home kitchens. “Thintervention with Jackie Warner” is produced by Shed Media U.S. for Bravo. Jennifer O’Connell, Jackie Warner and Nick Emmerson serve as executive producers.

NEW SERIES/SPECIALS

9 By Design
Monday, April 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
An eight-episode docu series that chronicles husband and wife design team, Robert and Cortney Novogratz, 9 by Design follows the owners of Sixx Design, a renovation and design firm in New York that specializes in creating unique living spaces. They have made it their business to seek out abandoned buildings across Manhattan and transform them into multi-million dollar living spaces. The name of their company relates to the number of kids the Novogratzs had at the time the firm was founded.  Today, parents Robert and Cortney have seven kids ranging in age from six months to 12 years old and including two sets of twins. New York City may not be the typical place to raise a large and growing family, but for the Novogratzs there’s no place they’d rather be as the large family lives in each of the homes Bob and Cortney flip. 9 by Design is produced by Left/Right, Inc. with Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver serving as executive producers.

Double Exposure

Premieres April 2010
Double Exposure follows photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani, along with high-end stylist GK Reid, giving viewers a taste of the world of high fashion and celebrity photography. From album covers for David Bowie and Beyoncé, to prize-winning photographs of celebrities like Lady Gaga and Lindsay Lohan, Markus and Indrani have shot virtually every contemporary boldface name and countless other iconic images for fashion campaigns and magazines. With a former couple working together 18 hours a day in incredibly high-stress environments, filled with deadlines, stretched budgets, expensive locations and demanding talent, it’s not unusual for sparks to fly both on camera and outside the frame. Double Exposure is produced by Juma Entertainment for Bravo. Bob Horowitz and Lewis Fenton serve as executive producers.

Kell on Earth

Monday, Feb. 1, at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Bravo takes a no holds barred look at the high-powered and fast-paced world of fashion PR through the eyes of renowned and feared executive, Kelly Cutrone, as she balances running her wildly successful fashion PR company, People’s Revolution, juggling Fashion Weeks in New York and London, with being a single mother and one of New York’s most notable women about town. Cutrone has been called one of the “coolest, most intimidating persons ever,” and, judging from her frank demeanor and fashion world credibility, it’s easy to see why. Kell on Earth is produced by Magical Elves for Bravo. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Kelly Cutrone and Billy Taylor serve as executive producers.

Top Chef: Just Desserts
A spin-off of the Emmy-nominated and James Beard Award-winning successful Bravo franchise, Top Chef: Just Desserts, hosted by Gail Simmons features pastry chefs competing against one another in a series of challenges. The Emmy-nominated Magical Elves will produce Top Chef: Just Desserts, with Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz (Top ChefTop Chef Masters, Project Runway, Top Design) and Casey Kriley as executive producers.

Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
Premieres June 2010
Bravo’s latest stroke on the reality canvas brings Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker and her production company, Pretty Matches, together with the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Magical Elves (Top Chef, Project Runway) and Eli Holzman, to produce Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, an hour long creative competition series among contemporary artists.  The series brings together fourteen aspiring artists to compete for a solo show at a nationally recognized museum and a cash prize. Hosting this colorful new series is art enthusiast China Chow, alongside world-renowned art auctioneer, Simon de Pury. Joining them on the judging panel are experts Bill Powers, a New York Gallery owner and literary art contributor, Jerry Saltz, current art critic for New York magazine, and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, esteemed curator and owner of Salon94 gallery. Work of Art: The Next Great Artist is produced by Pretty Matches and Magical Elves for Bravo. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alison Benson and Eli Holzman serve as executive producers.

RETURNING SERIES

Flipping Out — Season 4
The fourth season of Bravo’s popular docu-series Flipping Out returns with everyone’s favorite obsessive-compulsive house-flipper, Jeff Lewis. Lewis makes his living with the help of a group of diverse and often disgruntled employees he counts as friends. These include his incredibly patient assistant Jenni Pulos, who still dreams of making it as an actress, despite seven years at Jeff’s side, and his beloved housekeeper Zoila. With the total collapse of the real estate market, last season Lewis found himself in the uncomfortable position of having to take on design clients, while taking orders and being nice to people. Flipping Out‘s third season was its highest rated ever across all key demos, averaging 957,000 adults 18-49 and 1.27 million total viewers, up double digits from season two. The series was also the No. 1 real estate show on cable for the year among adults 18-49. Flipping Out is produced by Authentic Entertainment. Lauren Lexton, Tom Rogan and Billy Taylor serve as executive producers.

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List — Season 6
Bravo’s two-time Emmy award-winning series “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” returns for a sixth season as the comedienne, best-selling author, Grammy nominee and part-time bikini model steps up her game in an effort to increase her star status and land that coveted A-list position. As always she will be joined by her partners in crime, Team Griffin ? assistant Tiffany Rinehart, tour manager Tom Vize, mom Maggie Griffin and untamed dogs Chance and Pom Pom. “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” is produced by Picture This Television for Bravo. Bryan Scott, Lisa Tucker, Kathy Griffin, and Danny Salles serve as executive producers.

The Millionaire Matchmaker — Season 3
Premieres Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT
The Millionaire Matchmaker follows Patti Stanger and her dogged staff as they give their big-bucks clients complete transformations with the help of personal shoppers, date coaches and therapists. In each episode, two wealthy clients are set up on dates hand-picked by Stanger based upon their beauty and intelligence. In the series’ third season, Stanger will stop at nothing to build her matchmaking empire — her business is flourishing, she has a successful book under her belt and is now hosting her own radio advice show.  But after years of helping others find love, Stanger herself finally seals the deal.  She and her longtime love, Andy Friedman, are engaged at last. The second season of The Millionaire Matchmaker averaged 824,000 adults 18-49 and 1.14 million total viewers, up double digits in all key demos versus its freshman season. Intuitive Entertainment and Bayonne Entertainment produce the series for Bravo. Kevin Dill, Mechelle Collins, Rob Lee and Patti Stanger serve as executive producers.

The Rachel Zoe Project — Season 3
The hottest stylist in Hollywood is back and offers an all access pass to fabulous fashion as The Rachel Zoe Project returns for a third season. The fashion-forward docu-drama delves further into the inner workings of Team Zoe as they jet from coast to coast attending store openings, fashion weeks around the world, and laboring to find the perfect gowns to adorn the red carpet during award season. This season Rachel parts ways with longtime employee and friend Taylor and Rachel and Brad welcome a new member to Team Zoe. The series’ sophomore season was its highest rated yet, averaging 740,000 adults 18-49 and 1.01 million total viewers, up 25 percent and 32 percent respectively from season one. “The Rachel Zoe Project” is produced by Original Media for Bravo. Charlie Corwin, Jamie Patricof and Rachel Zoe are executive producers.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta — Season 3
An up-close and personal look at life in Hotlanta, The Real Housewives of Atlanta follows five glamorous southern belles as they balance motherhood, demanding careers and a fast-paced social calendar, and shows what life is like in the most exclusive areas of city. These driven and ambitious women prove that they’re not just “housewives,” but entrepreneurs, doting mothers and classy southern women. These ladies show the world what it takes to live large in some of the hottest zip codes in the south. Consistently ranked as the No. 1 series in its Thursday 10 p.m. time period among adults 18-49, the second season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta was Bravo’s highest rated Real Housewives franchise season ever, averaging 2.32 million adults 18-49 and 3.26 million total viewers. Versus its freshman season, the series was up 106 percent among adults 18-49 and up 119 percent among total viewers.

The Real Housewives of New York City — Season 3
Premieres Thursday, March 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City follows the busy lives of a group of driven and ambitious Manhattan women as they juggle their demanding careers and motherhood and navigate the wonderful world of jam-packed social calendars, children and city life. The Real Housewives of New York City are Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Bethenny Frankel, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Alex McCord, Ramona Singer and Jill Zarin. As previously announced, the third season will also feature two new recurring women, Sonja Morgan and Jennifer Gilbert. A special sneak peek at the series’ third season will air this Thursday, Jan. 14, at 10 p.m. during The Real Housewives of Orange County. The Real Housewives of New York City‘s sophomore season averaged over 2 million total viewers, up 60 percent from its first cycle. The Real Housewives of New York City is produced by Shed Media U.S. Jennifer O’Connell, Matt Anderson and Nick Emmerson serve as executive producers.

Shear Genius — Season 3
Premieres Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 11 p.m.  ET/PT
Bravo’s creative hair-styling competition series Shear Genius is back for its third season with a whole new look. International model and handbag designer Camila Alves makes her hosting debut alongside new series judge Jonathan Antin, celebrity stylist and former star of Bravo’s hit series Blow Out. Famed stylist Kim Vo returns as a judge for his second season, and new to the series, accomplished stylist Orlando Pita adds his voice of expertise as mentor to the contestants.

In each episode, the stylists compete in a short cut challenge — testing technical hairstyling skills, and in the elimination challenge they test creativity and advanced skills. From styling a risqué runway show where the hair must artfully cover areas the outfit does not, to a romance novel shoot that begs for the hairstyles to evoke fantasy, the competition gets. In its second season, Shear Genius averaged 1.32 million adults 18-49 and 2.08 million total viewers, up 80 percent and 91 percent, respectively from its freshman season. Shear Genius is produced by Reveille for Bravo. Mark Koops, Howard T. Owens and Teri Kennedy serve as executive producers.

Top Chef Masters
Premieres Wednesday, April 7, at 11 p.m. ET/PT, Moves to its regular time period on April 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Top Chef Masters is back for season two and once again the judges’ table will be turned, and viewers will see what happens when world-renowned chefs compete against each other in a series of weekly challenges and revert back to basics. Only one chef will make it to the finals to compete for the title of Top Chef Master and a prize for the charity of their choice. Food journalist Kelly Choi returns as series’ host, alongside renowned restaurant critic Gael Greene, culinary expert James Oseland and food critic Jay Rayner who are back on the Critic’s Table.  Top Chef series judge Gail Simmons will also serve as a judge this season. Top Chef Masters, was Bravo’s highest rated first season competition show, averaging 1.53 million adults 18-49 and 2.22 million total viewers. Top Chef Masters is produced by the Emmy-nominated Magical Elves. Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz serve as executive producers. “Top Chef” head judge, renowned culinary figure and chef/owner Craft Restaurants Tom Colicchio serves as consulting producer.

Watch What Happens: Live
Premieres Thursday, Jan. 14, at midnight ET/PT
Bravo’s first topical series Watch What Happens: Live, hosted by Andy Cohen, features guests from some of the network’s most popular series, as well as from the world of entertainment, politics and pop culture. The series includes lively debates on everything from fashion, the latest Housewives drama, to what celebrity is making headlines that week. add the new names we just announced this week e.g. Cheyenne Jackson, Liam Neeson, Kelly Ripa etc. Past guests include Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelly Ripa, Anderson Cooper, Congressman Barney Frank, Matthew Broderick, Jimmy Fallon and Lance Bass. Watch What Happens: Live saw significant gains over the course of its fall season, with an average of 738,000 total viewers, and with a 54 percent increase among adults 18-49 and a 22 percent increase among total viewers since its premiere. Watch What Happens: Live is produced by Embassy Row for Bravo. Michael Davies serves as executive producer.