TVGN Goes Pop on Wednesday

TVGN -- also known as TV Guide Network -- is rebranding as Pop across its distribution of 80 million U.S. homes starting Wednesday, including in greater Grand Rapids.

The CBS-Lionsgate venture is unveiling a new on-air look and creative design to celebrate the fun of being a fan.

Premiering Wednesday night are "Rock This Boat: New Kids on the Block" and "The Story Behind."

"The Story Behind" premieres Wednesday night on Pop with a behind the scenes look at CBS' "Everybody Loves Raymond." (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

On "Rock This Boat: New Kids on the Block," die-hard fans take the vacation of a lifetime when they board a cruise with the sole intention of being near the members of their favorite band for a few days. That group is boy band New Kids on the Block -- Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Joey McIntyre. There are nine 30-minute episodes, with two airing back-to-back at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. EST Wednesday.

"The Story Behind" goes behind-the-scenes of some of TV’s greatest hits and most iconic shows, and how they got their start. The one-hour episodes highlight some of TV’s most treasured classics, kicking off with the now-syndicated CBS' “Everybody Loves Raymond" at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday. Future episodes are to air Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. EST, and include “Home Improvement,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Will & Grace,” “Full House,” “Friends” and “ER.”

Throwback Programs

Throwback programming starts next week:

"90210" begins airing Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. EST with its original two-hour pilot, and airs starting Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. "Beverly Hills, 90210" continues airing marathons at noon EST Tuesdays.
The original "Melrose Place" airs weekly starting Jan. 28 at noon EST.

Other New Shows

Other new series on Pop include:

The comedy "Schitt's Creek," starring Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy, premieres Wednesday on the TVGN-rebranded network, Pop. (Photo: Pop/Business Wire)

"Schitt's Creek," centering on a formerly filthy rich video store magnate Johnny Rose (portrayed by Eugene Levy), his soap star wife Moira (Catherine O'Hara), and their two kids, über-hipster son David (Daniel Levy) and socialite daughter Alexis (Annie Murphy), who suddenly find themselves broke. They are forced to live in Schitt’s Creek, a small town they once bought as a joke. The CBC-commissioned series airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST starting Feb. 11.

"Queens of Drama," a docu-series which follows former daytime and primetime soap stars as they attempt to produce a new primetime serial drama to star in. The cast includes Lindsay Hartley (“All My Children" and “Days of Our Lives”), Crystal Hunt (“Guiding Light" and “One Life to Live”), Vanessa Marcil (“Las Vegas" and "General Hospital”), Chrystee Pharris (“Passions" and "General Hospital”), Hunter Tylo (“The Bold and The Beautiful”) and Donna Mills (“Knots Landing,” “Melrose Place”). It is to debut in spring.

Alan Thicke stars in the new Pop reality series "Unusually Thicke." (Photo: Pop)

Not even seven seasons as Dr. Jason Seaver on “Growing Pains” could prepare Alan Thicke to be the patriarch of his own family. That includes his fiery, much younger Latina wife, Tanya; and his three sons –- teenaged know-it-all Carter Thicke, pop star Robin "Blurred Lines" Thicke and marijuana dispensary owner Brennan Thicke. The reality show's celebrity appearances include David Hasselhoff, Bob Saget, Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky, John Stamos, Bill Maher and Tom Green. It is to debut in spring.

"PopSugar Now" is a daily half-hour entertainment show airing weeknights at 6 p.m. EST delivering celebrity news, fashion, lifestyle and pop culture. It debuted Monday and is co-hosted by Shenae Grimes-Beech (of “90210”), Allison McNamara and Becca Frucht.

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino rose to meteoric fame as one of reality TV’s biggest stars, but his world came crashing down after a battle with addiction. The docu-comedy ensemble series "The Sorrentinos" follows life after reality as Mike makes a comeback and shares the spotlight with his family—mom Linda (mother), Marc (middle brother), Melissa (sister) and Frank (older brother). It is to debut later this year.

"Watch! TV" will go behind the scenes of CBS' "Watch! Magazine" as it takes celebrities to exotic destinations for high-end photo shoots. It premieres in summer, and will feature Michael Weatherly (“NCIS”) at the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park in London and Rachelle Lefevre (“Under the Dome”) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire, England and at Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire.

For the second year in a row, Pop will be the exclusive television destination for "Big Brother: After Dark," the live, late night companion show to CBS's "Big Brother" reality TV series. It gives fans of the popular reality series an unfiltered, late night look at life in the Big Brother House.

Pop is launching with more than 400 hours of fan-fueled original programming on tap, spokeswoman Leslie Furuta said.

TVGN is being rebranded as Pop starting Wednesday. (Courtesy Pop)