Judd singers get show on Oprah's new network
LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) – Country music stars Naomi and Wynonna Judd, and father-daughter actors Ryan and Tatum O'Neal, are both getting their own reality TV shows on the upcoming Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) cable channel next year.
OWN announced the two shows this week as the cable TV venture jointly owned by the TV talk show host readies for its January 1 launch with an array of original series, advice and lifestyle shows – and lots more of Winfrey herself.
The launch weekend on January 1 and 2, will give viewers a sneak peek of the new network's range of programming, including a programme that looks behind-the-scenes of Winfrey's 25th and final season of the 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on ABC.
OWN viewers will also get a glimpse of a four-part special bringing together health, wealth and relationship experts Dr.Phil McGraw, Suze Orman and Dr. Mehmet Oz for 'Ask Oprah's All-Stars' before a live studio audience.
Network chief executive Christina Norman said the launch weekend would give audiences "sneak peeks at the kinds of shows we believe really fulfill our mission to be entertaining and inspiring."
OWN, a much-delayed joint venture between Winfrey's company Harpo Inc. and Discovery Communications Inc., will be available in 80 million homes on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.
Discovery earlier this year agreed to almost double its funding commitment to $189 million after Winfrey pledged to increase her on-air appearances. Top-rated 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on ABC will end in May 2011.
The popular talk show queen will appear later in 2011 in an OWN travel series called 'Oprah's Next Chapter', and will have an on-screen role in a reality competition series 'Your OWN Show' that looks for a next, new television producer.
'The Judds' follows mother and daughter Wynonna and Naomi Judd as they prepare for their first tour in ten years. 'Ryan and Tatum: The O'Neals' will trace the attempts by the father and daughter actors to reconcile after a 25-year estrangement.
Former 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' fashion guru Carson Kressley is getting a show called 'Carson-Nation' in which he travels to small US towns giving viewers make-overs.
Other OWN programmes previously announced include a daytime talk show from Rosie O'Donnell due later in 2011.