Summer Block Party Returns to MSG Network
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Two New Original Series, Historic Sports Shows, Concerts and Movies Highlight New Theme Nights Starting the Week of May 24
"TXT MSG" - Premieres Monday, May 24
"MSG Countdown" - Premieres Tuesday, May 25
New York – May 20, 2010 – MSG Network today announced the return of “Summer Block Party,” a celebration of summer with themed programming blocks every night starting at 8:00 p.m. The “Summer Block Party” will showcase two new original series, “TXT MSG” and “MSG Countdown,” new episodes of “MSG Vault,” “Game 365,” and “Halls of Fame,” and a lineup of hit concerts and classic movies starting at the end of May.
Beginning the week before Memorial Day, each night of the week will feature a programming block with a designated theme. The nights will consist of: Classic Mondays, Countdown Tuesdays, Boxing Wednesdays, Knicks Thursdays, Music Fridays and Cinema Weekend.
“This will be an exciting summer for the Knicks and Rangers, as well as for MSG Network,’ said Dan Ronayne, executive vice president and general manager of MSG Networks. “With two new original series, new episodes of Emmy award-winning classics, and a three-day weekend of music and movies, MSG is offering viewers a complete lineup of can’t-miss summer entertainment.”
“TXT MSG,” which premieres Monday, May 24, will feature portions of vintage moments from the MSG library, including games, press conferences and locker room celebrations. Throughout the half-hour show, quirky and entertaining details relative to each clip will appear on-screen in the form of text messages, giving viewers a contemporary look into some of their favorite moments in-and-around The Garden.
The following night, Tuesday, May 25, “MSG Countdown” will reveal the top 25 moments in different categories from Knicks, Rangers, Devils and Islanders games, including Knicks Winners & Buzzer Beaters and Rangers Fights, Brawls & Melees. Immediately following this fast-paced half-hour program, “Countdown In 60” (60-minute versions of MSG games) will feature the No. 1 moment from the preceding “MSG Countdown.”
This summer, MSG will be the place to be for music lovers as Music Fridays brings together global superstars and emerging artists. Every Friday will feature a combination of blockbuster shows from Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, and the Beacon Theater; top performances from Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza; and concerts by some of the hottest indie bands from legendary venues in New York City, in an all-new one-hour concert series called “Indie NYC – powered by Baeblemusic.”
On the weekends, it’s all about the big screen as Cinema Weekend showcases 15 movies and documentaries throughout the summer. From Academy Award winners to cult favorites, every Saturday and Sunday will be the home of movie classics, including “Hoosiers,” “Rocky,” “Vision Quest,” and “Diggstown.”
The “Summer Block Party” will also have a presence online at the all-new MSG.com, where viewers can check out exclusive video content and photo galleries from MSG Network’s summer programs, as well as interactive games, trivia, and polls. Visit www.MSG.com/summer for more information. Facebook, Twitter and mobile fans can also stay up-to-date through MSG's company-wide "Stay Connected" platform.
Below is a summary of each theme night this summer:
- “MSG Vault”: All new episodes of this MSG favorite that takes a historical look at some of the most memorable Madison Square Garden moments from MSG’s vault of over 90,000 tapes. New episodes include: “MVP! MVP! MVP! Willis Reed & 1970 NBA All-Star Game,” “The Pearl and the Magician,” and “1970 NBA Finals Game 5.”
- “TXT MSG”: (Series Premier May 24): Highlights of classic moments from the MSG library, including games, press conferences, locker room celebrations and much more. Throughout each clip, quirky and entertaining details will appear on-screen in the form of text messages, giving viewers a contemporary look into some of their favorite moments in-and-around The Garden.
- “Game 365” and “Halls of Fame”: Host Fran Healy interviews the greatest names in sports. New episodes debut in June.
- “MSG Countdown”: (Series Premiere May 25): A fast-paced countdown of the top 25 moments in different categories, including the Knicks Winners & Buzzer Beaters, Rangers Fights, Brawls & Melees, from Knicks, Rangers, Devils and Islanders games. Immediately following this half-hour program, the “Countdown In 60” that features the No. 1 moment will air.
- “Countdown In 60”: Classic Knicks, Rangers, Devils and Islanders games condensed into hour-long versions featuring the No. 1 moment from the preceding “MSG Countdown.”
- “50 Greatest Moments”: Hosted by Matthew Modine, this series relives the 50 most memorable moments that have taken place at Madison Square Garden.
- “MSG’s Fight Night Classics”: Top boxing matches at Madison Square Garden from the 1930s through the 1980s, including Rocky Marciano vs. Joe Louis in 1951 and the Floyd Patterson vs. George Chuvalo match-up which was dubbed Ring Magazine’s 1965 Fight of the Year. Each bout includes commentary from current and former boxers, trainers, referees, boxing historians and journalists.
- “Golden Gloves”: Six new bouts and 14 classics from Madison Square Garden, arguably the top Golden Gloves Tournament in the country.
- In the Ring with John Duddy: Irish boxing star John Duddy is an undefeated 9-0 at the World’s Most Famous Arena. This summer MSG will showcase eight of those fights, including thrilling victories against Ramon “Yory Boy” Campas and Anthony Bonsante.
- “Knicks Poetry Slam” (Premieres May 27): This six-part series follows the Knicks Poetry Slam spoken word competition from the open tryouts, where thousands of students attended the audition and college fair, through the final competition held in Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre, where the top 13 poets competed to win more than $350,000 in college scholarships and prizes.
- “Knicks In 60”: Classic Knicks games condensed into hour-long episodes.
- This summer, MSG is the go-to place for music, from classic concerts to an eclectic mix of emerging artists:
• Blockbuster shows from The Garden and other top venues: The Grateful Dead at Radio City Music Hall; Led Zepplin’s “The Song remains the Same;” “Woodstock;” Fuse Presents: John Mayer at the Beacon Theater; Fuse Presents The Dave Matthews Band: Live from the Beacon Theater; Frank Sinatra: The Main Event from Madison Square Garden; Fuse Presents JAY-Z Live from Madison Square Garden: Answer the Call; Fuse Presents Kanye West: Live From the Chicago Theatre.
• Unforgettable performances from Best of Bonnaroo, Fuse Fest: Bonnaroo 2008 & 2009, and Lollapalooza 2009, including: Best of Bonnaroo: Dave Matthews Band, Wolfmother, The Roots, Radiohead, Death Cab for Cutie, O.A.R., Robert Randolph, Lily Allen, Cypress Hill, Kings of Leon, Flaming Lips; Fuse Fest: Bonnaroo 2008: Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson, Mastadon; Fuse Fest: Bonnaroo 2009: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Phish, Snoop Dogg, Coheed and Cambria, Beastie Boys; Lollapalooza 2009: Jane’s Addiction, The Killers, Rise Against, The Silversun Pickups.
• The hottest emerging artists in MSG’s Indie NYC – powered by Baeblemusic: And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead at Music Hall of Williamsburg; My Brightest Diamond at Le Poisson Rouge; Bear Hands at Santo’s Party House; Camera Obscura at Music Hall of Williamsburg; The Japandroids at Piano’s; The Constantines at Music Hall of Williamsburg; Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Music Hall of Williamsburg; Cymbals Eat Guitars at The Cake Shop; The Heavy at 92nd St. Y – Tribeca; Beach House at The Bell House, Brooklyn; Dodos at Le Poisson Rouge; Super Fury Animals at The Highline Ballroom; Friendly Fires at Le Poisson Rouge.
- From cult classics to award-winners, MSG is the place for movies this summer, including: “The Boys on the Bus,” “The Endless Summer,” “Vision Quest,” That Championship Season,” “One on One,” “Hoosiers,” “Sticks and Stones,” “Code Breakers,” “Diggstown,” “Ruffian,” “Paper Lion,” “Rocky,” “Without Limits,” “Rollerball,” and “Everybody’s All American.”
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