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CBS Dream Team
CBS Dream Team 2015.png
Network
LaunchedSeptember 28, 2013; 9 years ago (2013-09-28)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerHearst Media Production Group
FormatWeekend morning educational program block
Running time3 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-hours live-action documentary and lifestyle series aimed at teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18, which are designed to comply with educational programming requirements defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Children's Television Act.[2]

History

Original logo, used from 2013 to 2016.
Original logo, used from 2013 to 2016.

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 preteens and teenagers between the ages of 10 and 18.[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 aired for reruns for two years until October 2022

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 including Kellyn LaCour-Conant

[10][11]
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.
Did I Mention Invention? profiles of inventors and their efforts to create their inventions, hosted by Alie Ward Premiered on October 1, 2022, on select stations; replaced ''All In with Laila Ali.

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][12]
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

[13]
Best Friends Furever September 28, 2019 September 26, 2020 Tails of Valor [10]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ writer, JUDY BERGERON | Staff. "Making a splash: Look for Baton Rouge wetlands ecologist on 'Mission Unstoppable' Saturday". The Advocate. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ |- |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.

External links

Current and former children's television blocks in the United States
Children's programming on CBS
CBS programming (current and upcoming)
Categories