CBS WKND
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2013) |
| File:CBS Dream Team 2015.png | |
| Network | |
|---|---|
| Launched | September 28, 2013 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Owner | Hearst Media Production Group |
| Format | Weekend morning educational program block |
| Running time | 3 hours |
| Original language(s) | English |
CBS Dream Team (suffixed with ...It's Epic! before October 3, 2020) is an American programming block that is programmed by Hearst Media Production Group (formerly Litton Entertainment), and airs weekend mornings on CBS under a time-lease agreement as a replacement for the WildBrain-produced animation block Cookie Jar TV. The block features six half-hour live-action documentary and lifestyle series aimed at teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16, which are designed to comply with educational programming requirements defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Children's Television Act.[2]
History
On July 24, 2013, CBS announced that it had entered into a programming agreement with Litton Entertainment to launch a new weekend morning block featuring live-action lifestyle, wildlife and documentary series aimed at teenagers between the ages of 13 and 16.[2] Litton recently programmed a Saturday morning block for ABC, Litton's Weekend Adventure, which debuted on September 3, 2011, in an agreement in which the block was syndicated to that network's owned-and-operated stations and affiliates (it subsequently began producing a similarly formatted block for CBS sister network The CW on October 4, 2014). CBS' decision to restructure the block away from the traditional fare of animated and live-action scripted series – which it had been airing at the time of the deal as part of Cookie Jar TV (which had aired on the network in various forms since 2006), a block produced by Canada-based Cookie Jar (now WildBrain) was done in part to comply to secure educational content and advertising regulations in the Children's Television Act.
The CBS Dream Team, launched on September 28, 2013, being the successor to Cookie Jar TV, this marked the second time that CBS carried an exclusively live-action block for younger audiences on weekends mornings, having previously produced an E/I-compliant block called Think CBS Kids from September 13, 1997, to September 26, 1998. The Dream Team block's initial lineup consisted mainly of newer series; however, the cooking series Recipe Rehab also migrated to the Dream Team from Litton's Weekend Adventure for its third season.[3] Shortly before the block debuted, Litton reached a distribution agreement with the American Forces Network to televise the block to provide educational content to military children overseas.[1] All of the block's programming features Descriptive Video Service for the visually impaired on the second audio program channel.
On March 20, 2018, CBS and Litton announced that the block was renewed for four more seasons, with the current contract scheduled to end in 2023.[4]
Programming
Although programs featured on CBS Dream Team are designed to meet federally mandated educational programming guidelines,[5] some CBS stations may carry syndicated educational programs to provide supplementary E/I content. Some programs aired within the block may be deferred to Sunday morning slots, or (in the case of affiliates in the Western United States) Saturday afternoons due to breaking news, severe weather coverage, or regional or select national sports broadcasts (especially in the case of college football and basketball tournaments) scheduled in earlier Saturday timeslots as makegoods to comply with the E/I regulations. Some stations may air the entirety of the Dream Team block on tape delay to accommodate local weekend morning newscasts, CBS Saturday Morning or other programs of local interest (such as real estate or lifestyle programs). This is Litton Entertainment's only block to currently air its first programs. Lucky Dog is the longest-running series on the block as of September 2021. Another series on the block, All In was in production from 2013 to 2015, but did not air for the next five seasons; it returned for reruns starting in the 2020–21 season.
Current programming
| Program | Premiere date | Replaced | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucky Dog | September 28, 2013 | See Cookie Jar TV for information. | hosted by Brandon McMillan.
Series would air twice on select stations Longest-running series on the block and the flagship series Eighth season is hosted by dog trainers Eric and Rashi Wiese starting January 2, 2021. |
[6][7] |
| All In with Laila Ali | profile series
Ended, but still airing for reruns Removed in the 2015–2016 season for 5 years |
[6][8] | ||
| The Henry Ford Innovation Nation | profiles of inventors and their efforts to create their inventions, hosted by Mo Rocca
Replaced Jamie's 15 Minute Meals |
[9] | ||
| Hope In the Wild | September 29, 2018 | Dr. Chris: Pet Vet (rebroadcast) | ||
| Mission Unstoppable | September 28, 2019 | The Inspectors | hosted by Miranda Cosgrove
profiles of female inventors in science |
[10] |
| Pet Vet Dream Team | June 1, 2019 | Dr. Chris: Pet Vet (nationally) | Premiered on April 7, 2018, on select stations; national runs premiered on June 1, 2019, replaced Dr. Chris: Pet Vet. |
Former programming
| Program | Premiere date | End date | Replaced | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamie's 15-Minute Meals | September 28, 2013 | September 20, 2014 | See Cookie Jar TV for information. | cooking series, hosted by Jamie Oliver | [6] |
| Recipe Rehab | September 26, 2015 | cooking competition series focusing on healthy alternatives to family recipes, hosted by Evette Rios and previously aired on Litton's Weekend Adventure | [6][8] | ||
| Game Changers with Kevin Frazier | September 24, 2016 | profiles of the accomplishments of athletes in and outside their sports | [6][11] | ||
| Dr. Chris: Pet Vet | May 25, 2019 | documentary series, hosted by Dr. Chris Brown | [6] | ||
| Chicken Soup for the Soul's Hidden Heroes | October 3, 2015 | June 24, 2017 | Recipe Rehab | a hidden camera series focusing on people doing good deeds; hosted by Brooke Burke-Charvet | [8] |
| The Inspectors | September 21, 2019 | All In | drama series centering on Preston Wainwright (played by Bret Green), a paralyzed teenager who helps his postal inspector mother (played by Jessica Lundy) solve crimes
First scripted program |
[12] | |
| Best Friends Furever | September 28, 2019 | September 26, 2020 | Tails of Valor | [10] |
References
- ^ a b Marc Berman (September 27, 2013). "New CBS Saturday Morning Line-Up Available Via American Forces Network". TV Media Insights. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ a b Meg James (July 24, 2013). "CBS partners with Litton Entertainment for Saturday teen block". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ Smith, Vicki (September 7, 2013). "Former Greenbrier chef now stars in 'Recipe Rehab'". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ "CBS and Litton Entertainment Extend Partnership with Five-Year Renewal of the CBS Dream Team Block" (Press release). Litton Entertainment. March 20, 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (July 24, 2013). "CBS Sets New Saturday Morning Block With Shows Hosted by Jamie Oliver, Laila Ali". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Matt Webb Mitovich (July 24, 2013). "CBS Unveils New Saturday Morning Programming Block Targeting Young Teens". TVline. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "Eighth season of "Lucky Dog," part of the "CBS Dream Team" Saturday morning lineup, to introduce new hosts Eric and Rashi Wiese in new episodes premiering Jan. 2, 2021". ViacomCBS Press Express. December 14, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ a b c Logan, Michael (July 30, 2015). "CBS Adds New Crime Drama and Some Chicken Soup to Saturday Mornings". TV Insider. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
- ^ Sherri Welch (September 27, 2014). "The Henry Ford to get national exposure with new weekly show on CBS". Crain Detroit Business. Crain Communications Inc. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ a b "The Seventh Season of "CBS Dream Team… It's Epic!" Premieres Sept. 28" (Press release). CBS Press Express. September 4, 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
- ^ "The CBS Dream Team, It's Epic!" Adds New Series to Its Saturday Morning Lineup, When the Fourth Season Premieres Oct. 1" (Press release). July 29, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- ^ |- |Tails of Valor |January 5, 2019 |September 21, 2019 |Pet Vet: Dream Team |Best Friends Furever |hosted by Kel Mitchell | Logan, Michael (July 30, 2015). "CBS Adds New Crime Drama and Some Chicken Soup to Saturday Mornings". TV Insider. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
