Paramount Network Announces Big, Bold, and Ambitious Premium Programming Lineup for First Quarter of 2018

Paramount Network Announces Big, Bold, and Ambitious Premium Programming Lineup for First Quarter of 2018
Among the other returning favorites that will premiere new seasons in the first quarter of 2018 include "Ink Master," "Bar Rescue," and Bellator MMA.

---

[via press release from Paramount]

    

PARAMOUNT NETWORK ANNOUNCES BIG, BOLD, AND AMBITIOUS PREMIUM PROGRAMMING LINEUP FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 2018
"American Woman," "Waco," "Heathers," "I Am Martin Luther King Jr." Premiere Alongside Returning Favorites "Lip Sync Battle" and More

New York, NY, March 30, 2017 - Paramount Network's highly-anticipated launch in 2018 will kick-off with a programming lineup featuring a mix of new, high-quality, premium entertainment scripted series, non-scripted returning pop-culture favorites, and original sports and specials for a broad audience. The original shows debuting during the first three months of 2018 will demonstrate the rebranded network's commitment to reaching a wide viewership with provocative, compelling storytelling featuring top notch talent both in front and behind the camera.
  
"Our mission is to establish Paramount Network as a prime destination for premium storytelling," said Kevin Kay, President, Paramount Network, TV Land, and CMT. "From Alicia Silverstone as a trailblazing independent working mother in the 1970's to Michael Shannon as an FBI negotiator during the Branch Davidians dramatic standoff and siege, Paramount Network will be the home to compelling stories, unforgettable characters, and high quality production with a distinctive global appeal."

Paramount Network will showcase the following in the first quarter of 2018:
AMERICAN WOMAN
Starring Alicia Silverstone and Mena Suvari, this new half-hour series is inspired by the real-life upbringing of co-executive producer Kyle Richards ("The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"). "American Woman" follows Bonnie (Silverstone) an unconventional mother struggling to raise her two daughters after leaving her husband amid the rise of second-wave feminism in the 70s. With the help of her two best friends, Kathleen (Suvari) and Diana (Jennifer Bartels), these three women each discover their own brand of independence in a glamorous and ever-changing world reluctant to give it.

WACO
The six-part event series "Waco" will reveal untold story exploring the true life details leading up to and chronicling the 51- day siege between the FBI, AFT and David Koresh's spiritual sect, The Branch Davidians. Told from several perspectives of those most intimately involved from both sides of the conflict, including surviving Branch Davidians which has never been shared on television before, is surprising in its stark contrast to the media narrative at the time and what is remembered of Waco almost 25 years later. The impressive cast includes Michael Shannon starring as lead FBI negotiator, Gary Noesner with the role of the infamous cult leader, David Koresh, to be played by Taylor Kitsch. John Leguizamo, Paul Sparks, Rory Culkin and Andrea Riseborough round out the "Waco" cast.

HEATHERS
Based on the 1988 cult classic film of the same name, "Heathers" is an hour-long pitch-black comedy anthology set in the present day, as heroine Veronica Sawyer (Grace Victoria Cox, "Under the Dome") deals with a very different but equally vicious group of 'Heathers.' Also starring are James Scully as JD, Melanie Field ("Wicked" National Tour) as Heather Chandler, Brendan Scannell ("Funny or Die") as Heather Duke, and Jasmine Mathews as Heather McNamara. Original "Heathers" cast member Shannen Doherty will guest star as a pivotal, unnamed character as well.

I AM MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
The latest installment in the critically-acclaimed "I Am" series from filmmaker Derik Murray focuses on the legendary American icon, Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrating the life and achievements of our country's foremost civil rights leader, the two-hour documentary gives an insightful contemporary perspective of Dr. King structured around seminal events of the Civil Rights movement.
Returning Favorites

LIP SYNC BATTLE
The worldwide hit franchise, "Lip Sync Battle" returns for a fourth season, hosted by entertainment icon and two-time GRAMMY(R) Award-winner LL COOL J and television personality, #1 NY Times Best Selling author, and model, Chrissy Teigen. Based on the pop culture phenomenon of lip sync battling, the series features celebrities going head to head - lip-syncing the song of their choice - battling for the coveted "winner's belt." "Lip Sync Battle" content has delivered close to one billion cross-platform views since launch. New season premieres in January 2018
 
Among the other returning favorites that will premiere new seasons in the first quarter of 2018 include "Ink Master," "Bar Rescue," and Bellator MMA.

About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, apps, games, consumer products, social media experiences, and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 180 countries. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Spike, BET, CMT, TV Land, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., Logo, Nicktoons, TeenNick, Channel 5 (UK), Telefe (Argentina) and Paramount Channel, reach over 3.9 billion cumulative television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom.