Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts is taking her talents to cable. But don’t worry, it won’t effect her morning gig.
Today at Television Critics Association’s summer press tour in L.A. Lifetime announced that it signed a major production deal with Roberts, for a series of movies and documentaries “that inspire and educate audiences.” The programming will be under the banner Robin Roberts Presents, and will debut next year.
Lifetime has partnered with Robin Roberts to produce a series of movies and specials. First one out of the gate will be a special about gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. #TCA18
Advertisement— Jason Lynch (@jasonlynch) July 26, 2018
From Lifetime’s press release:
ROBIN ROBERTS PRESENTS
Robin Roberts will executive produce a series of movies and documentaries for Lifetime under the banner, Robin Roberts Presents. Based on true events, the movies and documentaries will explore stories that inspire and educate audiences. The first of these projects will focus on African American Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson whose inspirational music and unwavering faith were a great support for Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Robin Roberts executive produces the movie alongside Linda Berman of Lincoln Square Productions. The script is written by Bettina Gilois.The second project focuses on the true story of Alexis Manigo, who at age 18, discovers her real name is Kamiyah Mobley and that she had been abducted as a baby from a Jacksonville, Florida hospital. Robin Roberts executive produces alongside Linda Berman of Lincoln Square Productions, Gary Randall, Michele Samit and Richard Kletter. Samit and Kletter also serve as writers for the script.
Each movie will be followed by a companion documentary, featuring some of the real-life characters depicted in the films. The docs will be executive produced by Robin Roberts and John R. Green as a production collaboration between Rock’n Robin and Lincoln Square Productions for Lifetime.
Roberts isn’t the only TV newser working with the network. Back in April, former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson signed a deal with Lifetime to create and host a series of Lifetime documentary specials to be developed by A+E Originals, the newly launched non-fiction content development company.
Lifetime announced today that it is growing its original unscripted programming partnership with the former Fox News anchor:
From the press release:
LIVE PD PRESENTS: WOMEN ON PATROL
20 Additional Episodes Ordered – Mondays, at 9pm ET/PT
As the anchor for Justice for Women with Gretchen Carlson’s Monday night programming block, Lifetime orders an additional 20 episodes of the series, making the season a total of 40 episodes. From Big Fish Entertainment, LIVE PD Presents: Women on Patrol follows female officers featured in Live PD and several new cities. Narrated by Carlson, viewers are provided an unfiltered and unfettered look at the female officers on the frontline of some of the busiest police forces in the country as they patrol their communities. Police departments from a diverse mix of cities throughout the United States are featured in the series. Dan Cesareo, Lucilla D’Agostino, Joe Venafro and Rick Hankey serve and executive producers for Big Fish Entertainment. Brie Miranda Bryant and Juliet Barrack serve as executive producers for Lifetime.
Another TV newser–former ABC 20/20 co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas–signed a deal with A+E Networks earlier this year. She is hosting programming under the new A&E Investigates banner, and is developing and producing new nonfiction programming for A+E’s other networks including Lifetime, History, LMN and FYI.