• April 3, 2001

Bravo, The Film and Arts Network, today announced the premiere of new original weekly series, original mini-series, and special event programming. This is coming off the heels of the recent acquisitions of The West Wing and The Larry Sanders Show for its "Art of Television" strand.

"This is our most ambitious programming slate to date, and it builds on the momentum we have generated during the past couple of years," said Ed Carroll, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Bravo. "It is in keeping with our mandate of presenting the biggest arts events and completely original series that reflect contemporary arts and culture."

Here's a taste of a few of Bravo's new shows:

THE IT FACTOR: A "day in the life" series that follows a group of actors who are struggling to get their big break in New York City. The half-hour series goes behind the scenes with directors, casting directors and talent agents.

MUSICIANS: A 13-part series, hosted by a music industry professional, features musicians talking about their craft. Interviews will include close-up looks at the artists' careers, personal stories and creative inspiration, interspersed with spontaneous performances. Sessions will be taped in front of a live audience. The series is produced by Joel Gallen, whose credits include "MTV Music Awards," "VH1 Fashion Awards," "The Concert for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," "The ESPYs," "MTV Unplugged" and "Paul McCartney Up Close."

BRAVO MINI-SERIES POPULAR SONG: SOUNDTRACK OF THE CENTURY: A history of the popular music, chronicling of the development of the modern music industry on both sides of the Atlantic.

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S "ALEGRIA": A performance that depicts the transformation of society over the centuries.

CINDERELLA: It's the Cinderella story with a modern, satirical, twist, starring Kathleen Turner as Claudette, a femme fatale who knows how to use her feminine wiles to get what she wants, which is luxury. When she finds out her new husband is more pauper than prince, she's totally ruthless as she plans to dispose of him and seek husband number four.

Other new shows and specials include: STAGESTRUCK, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, AEROS, INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO MARKS 100TH EPISODE WITH GENE HACKMAN.

- Adam Bernard