The Weather Channel adds movies to its lineup
Atlanta-based The Weather Channel, which has added Al Roker and documentaries to its basic bread-and-butter weather reports over the years, is now adding feature films for the first time.
No, the network isn’t funding its own tornado movie. Rather, it’s opting to buy the rights to older movies with weather themes.
The first one, the 2000 film "The Perfect Storm," starring George Clooney, airs October 30 at 8 p.m. That film (adopted from the best-selling book, based on a true story) is all about a nasty Nor'easter and a fishing boat. That makes perfect sense thematically.
The Weather Channel adding movies
- A perfect storm of an idea!
- Drown this baby. Just tell me if it's going to rain this weekend!
Films will air every Friday at 8 p.m. The documentary "March of the Penguins" is next on Nov. 6, followed by the popular thriller "Misery" starring James Caan and Kathy Bates and Samuel L. Jackson's action flick "Deep Blue Sea."
There will be scrolls every so often for weather updates.
To add value, TWC meteorologist Jen Carfagno will host the new series, introducing each film and providing relevant commentary.
This is an experiment, a spokeswoman said. If it works, the network will naturally add more.
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
