Are You Normal America?

Top 5 Moments This Week on OWN

by patricia on July 21, 2012

Each Friday, we are taking a look back over the week and bringing you the “Top 5 Moments” of OWN programming each week.   There were plenty of moments to pick from….so much good stuff and we did our best!

  • “Oprah Builds a Network” (Behind the Scenes) – One thing OWN does really well is Behind the Scenes television.  Don’t get us wrong…there are many quality shows, but viewers can’t get enough of going behind the curtain.  The network knows they can’t put Oprah in front of the screen 24/7, but what they can do is build our love for others with more BTS programming.   This may cause employees to freak out a bit, but OWN, you know this works!  Take us inside O Magazine with assistants or tag along with Adam Glassman for shoots.  Viewers love seeing people being creative in their field and you guys rock at this!
  • “Our America with Lisa Ling”– Once again, Lisa Ling opened our eyes and broadened our world with her latest episode of “Holy Matrimony.”  Typically we think about foreign countries when we talk about arranged marriages.  With such diverse cultures within the states, it only makes sense that they are occurring every day in our own backyards.  In a society that seems to be focused on lustful love, it was interesting to see couples with diverse traditions, priorities and goals.  People marry for all sorts of reasons and it was interesting to see a different point of view.
  •  “Oprah Builds a Network” – The past couple of weeks, OWN tucked us in close with Oprah as she walked the halls of Barnard College, drove the streets of Lovetown USA and crouched down on the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live…a few of the moments that have this OWN journey so incredible for viewers and Oprah. Although she addressed the heaviness of the media’s barbs, she reminded us of what the journey was for and gave it a little perspective.
  • “Oprah’s Next Chapter” with David Copperfield - Oprah’s interview with our generation’s greatest magician was fantastic.  From the moment we arrived on one of his eleven islands, we were given an inside look into his life and his driving force.  Our favorite moment occurred when he humbly explained his work.  “My work is really a metaphor of the challenges that people have in their everyday lives.  Magic, to me, is making dreams real. Making them feel real, making them look real and, you know, giving people hope. “  This totally changed the way we see magic in our lives.
  • “Are You Normal, America?” – So they say that when you laugh, you lose weight.  If so, then we are certain to be a few pounds lighter this week with the return of OWN’s only game show.  It still amazes us what people are willing to reveal on the show!
Be Inspired! Share this with the world!

{ 0 comments }

Are You Normal, America? – Clips from the Show

by patricia on July 17, 2012

Are You Normal, America? is back! Sometimes you just need a show that takes you away from everything and gives you a chance to laugh a little. Well, a LOT! Be sure to tune in Saturday nights at 10/9c…only on OWN.  Thanks to OWN, you can enjoy a few of the questions we all played along with.  So…tell us, are you normal?

Have you ever dropped something in the toilet and went after it?

[read more…]

Be Inspired! Share this with the world!

{ 0 comments }

All Good Marks for OWN’s New Game Show

by paula on June 4, 2012

Photo from OWN TV

In a search to grow into the network vision of bringing the audience shows they want to see, Oprah and team are opening up  their bag of tricks with a new show, Are You Normal, America?  From the creators of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, this show brings a sassy and smart new twist on today’s game show genre.  With game show creator, Barry Poznick stepping in as the show’s host, his genuine excitement and charisma make him a natural choice for the stage. The show offers some lighthearted entertainment along with a few risky questions that just might make you blush.  Be warned – some of the questions contain sexual innuendos or embarrassing situations and if you are watching with others and decide to play along, be warned that you just might end up with more information than you bargained for!

So here’s how the game works. Offering the contestants a chance to win over $100,000, a team of two contestants and strangers work together and are asked a series of crazy questions from people surveyed across America.  Taking a little bit of Family Feud meets Smarter both contestants decide if the question falls to the normal side or not of everyday behavior.  While the show loosely classifies “normal” as 50 percent of those surveyed, it’s really as scientific as when the Family Feud surveyed 100 people – it all depends on who you asked and it’s meant for fun and entertainment, not for a baseline for behavior.

While the 60 minutes passed with lots of laughter and fun, the vision became a little more clear for OWN and the network. As we’ve been asking for all along, Oprah and her team are promising to bring us entertainment, fun, and live your best life television.  The game may be a little silly for a few, but the general result is the same.  It opens up some crazy questions and conversations.  It also leaves you laughing and smiling…happy to be normal or not…depending on the question.  For its first premier episode, it had great energy from the start.  Falling into its regular time slot, you can catch all new episodes of  Are You Normal, America? each Monday night at 9/8c on OWN.

 

Be Inspired! Share this with the world!

{ 0 comments }

OWN Announces Summer Primetime Lineup & Show Previews

by patricia on April 28, 2012

OWN has released their summer primetime schedule and we are SO excited!  President of OWN, Sheri Salata shared that “Our new summer series have a common thread of being fun, entertaining and meaningful…It’s important to give the audience programming that makes them feel good, or provides them with inspiration in their own lives.”  That is one thing that OWN seems to be getting right as they continue to build the network show by show.   It won’t be long until the world considers them to be the template for exceptional programming.

“We feel strongly about the current state of the channel,” added Erik Logan, president, OWN. “We’re seeing success with our original programming and are continuing to build the network one night at a time.”

Here is how the schedule lays out from OWN.  As a special treat, they have released previews to all the shows except ONC.  I included them below with the show descriptions.  Enjoy!

Fridays: (starting June 8th)
     9-10PM – “Lives On Fire”
Saturdays:  (starting June 9th)
     9-1PM “Million Dollar Neighborhood”
     10-11PM “Real Life: The Musical”
Sundays:
     9-10PM “Oprah’s Next Chapter” featuring actor Neil Patrick Harris, Spiritual Healer John of God & more.
     10-11PM “Our America with Lisa Ling” (starting June 10th)
Mondays: (starting June 4th)
     9-10PM “Are You Normal, America?”– Sneak preview after “Oprah’s Next Chapter”  on June 3rd at 10PM

Coming in…
July:“Super Saver Showdown”
August:“Lovetown, USA”

Lives on Fire highlights the journey of four women who risk their lives daily to assist in California’s most dangerous disasters. These female firefighters respond to life and death situations; battle the intense heat…all in a predominately male profession while they struggle to find the balance in work and home as mothers, daughter, wives, and girlfriends. Each of the women bring a little something different to the show as they try to balance the danger and normal everyday life.

[read more…]

Be Inspired! Share this with the world!

{ 0 comments }

Casting Call for OWN’s New Game Show, “Are You Normal, America?”

by patricia on January 31, 2012

Are you fun, outgoing and a bit of a chatter box?  If so, you may be exactly what OWN is looking for!  A new casting call has gone out looking for contestants from the Los Angeles area.

“This isn’t a typical trivia show. . .this is game show where STRANGERS will be paired up to solve riddles and must be able to work as a team. The questions will require you to share intimate details about your personal life. . .things you wouldn’t typically talk about with strangers. NOTE- this is a comedy-driven show, so it’s all in fun. . .with the goal of winning lots of cash!”

The show sounds like a lot of fun. Through juries of peers, by polling and simple man-on-the-street interviews, real life situations shot in the field and in-studio demonstrations, this show will take a look at odd behaviors and see just how common they may be in our society.  On each of the episodes, contestants will try to win big money as they learn whether they are normal or not.  In the meantime, viewers may find comfort in knowing their oddities are really normalcies….or they find out they may be a little weird.  Either way it is all in good fun!

The series is produced by Harpo Studio and Zoo Productions and with executive producers like Jill Van Lokeren and Jon Sinclair from Harpo, it is certain to be a winner!

Here is the link to the official casting call in LA.

Be Inspired! Share this with the world!

{ 4 comments }

Three New Original Shows Coming to OWN – “Lovetown, USA”, “Lives on Fire” & “Are You Normal, America?”

by patricia on January 13, 2012

Time to get excited! OWN announced today that three new shows will be coming to OWN…Lovetown, USA, Lives on Fire and Are You Normal, America?. “Each of our new shows is right on brand and aligned with Oprah’s intention to bring our audience meaningful, entertaining programming,” said Sheri Salata, president, OWN. Added Erik Logan, president, OWN, “We feel really good about the direction the network is heading in 2012 and we’re just getting started.”

Lovetown, USA follows a pair of matchmakers (“Hitch,” Paul Carrick Brunson, and “love whisperer” Kailen Rosenberg with over 200 successful marriages to her name) and eight singles as they search for love. This “social experiment” takes place in the small town of Kingsland in Georgia. For 30 days, they take up residence in this small town helping the locals to find love in their own neighborhoods. Everyone in the town is getting involved! “This one-of-a-kind social experiment is the biggest dating challenge in TV history; examining the effects love can have on the DNA of one American community.” The show will be produced by BBC Worldwide Productions for OWN.

Lives on Fire is a totally different show. The show highlights the journey of four different women who risk their lives daily to assist in California’s most dangerous disasters. These female firefighters respond to life and death situations; battle the intense heat…all in a predominately male profession. As their fight heats up against nature’s forces, they struggle to find the balance in work and home as mothers, daughter, wives, and girlfriends. Each of the women brings a little something different to the show. Nica Vasquez is a mother with 15 years’ experience in the fire field; Rosanne Grier is in her 5th year as a seasonal firefighter trying to get a foot hold in the field; Michele Dyck has 7 years’ experience who recently transferred to a more dangerous station; and Diley Greiser, a mother in her 7th year as firefighter/paramedic. The show allows viewers a look into a dangerous profession and how it impacts normal life. This show is also produced by BBC Worldwide Productions.

The final series is a game show called Are You Normal, America?. I am most excited about this show! Through juries of peers, by polling and simple man-on-the-street interviews, real life situations shot in the field and in-studio demonstrations, this show will take a look at odd behaviors and see just how common they may be in our society. Finally we will all find out if we are NORMAL. On each of the episodes, contestants will try to win big money as they learn whether they are normal or not. On their road to discovery, viewers may find comfort in knowing their oddities are really normalcies….or they find out they are bit abnormal. Either way it is all in good fun! Produced by Harpo Studio and Zoo Productions and with executive producers like Jill Van Lokeren and Jon Sinclair from Harpo, I am certain the show will be a BLAST! We’ve have been hoping for a game show…and finally it is here.

We will keep you posted on air dates as soon as we hear anything. Thanks OWN!

Be Inspired! Share this with the world!

{ 0 comments }