The Weather Channel Starts Airing Weather Movies

I guess having weather related news just wasn’t enough for The Weather Channel. Starting October 30th, the channel will start airing weather themed movies. The first of which is Wolfgang Petersen’s The Perfect Storm. I’m not really sure if this is a good move for the channel. Isn’t the main objective of a channel like this to provide constant weather updates? Apparently, there will still be local weather broadcasted across the bottom of the screen (which should really make those intense moments that much more fun). I’m guessing this is an effort to try and drum up ratings in an area that is quickly becoming overshadowed by the internet. Why wait on the 8s? When you can check your local forecast at your leisure on your computer?

From The Weather Channel:

For the first time in its 27-year history, The Weather Channel® (TWC) will add movies to its programming schedule with “The Weather Channel Presents…” This new movie series launches Friday, October 30, with the TWC premiere of The Perfect Storm, starring George Clooney, which coincides with the anniversary of the ferocious “perfect storm” of 1991, on which the movie was based.

Following The Perfect Storm on Oct. 30, TWC will air feature films every Friday night in November. Weather plays a central role to the story, plot or overall theme in each of the movies selected.

TWC meteorologist Jen Carfagno will host the new series, introducing each film and providing relevant commentary.

“From the Nor’easter in The Perfect Storm to the tornado that takes Dorothy to Oz, weather has a long history as a film star,” said Geoffrey Darby, executive vice president of programming for The Weather Channel. “Adding films to our Friday night lineup is a great way for us to further demonstrate how weather is an all-encompassing part of our lives that entertains and inspires us.”

“The Weather Channel Presents…” will feature the following movies:

The Perfect Storm – Premieres Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m. ET (18-year anniversary of the “perfect storm” on which movie was based)

* Based on actual events and Sebastian Junger’s best-selling book, this dramatic story chronicles a group of Gloucester fishermen on their vessel’s ill-fated journey into the North Atlantic, as they ignore warnings of a monster storm brewing with winds at 50-60 knots. Their captain, played by George Clooney, tries his best to save his crew and battle the fiercest storm of the 20th century. The film also stars Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane and John C. Reilly.
* March of the Penguins – Premieres Friday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. ET

The 2006 Academy Award winner for Best Documentary Feature, this beautiful story narrated by Morgan Freeman chronicles the heroic, harrowing journey by emperor penguins amid subfreezing temperatures and violent snowstorms at the South Pole in order to hatch a new generation.

* Misery – Premieres Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. ET

When novelist Paul Sheldon, played by James Caan, crashes his car during a blinding snowstorm, he ends up writing to stay alive when “rescued” by obsessed fan Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates in an Academy Award-winning role), who is less than hospitable when she finds out he has killed off her favorite character.

* Deep Blue Sea – Premieres Friday, Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. ET

A group of medical researchers finds themselves stranded aboard a remote marine laboratory working with genetically enhanced Mako sharks. With a tropical storm swirling around the now-sinking lab, the mutant sharks strike back at those who used them as lab rats. This action thriller stars Samuel L. Jackson and LL Cool J.

During “The Weather Channel Presents…,” viewers will continue to receive their localized weather forecasts throughout the film, where it can be seen on the lower portion of the screen in addition to any severe weather alerts or warnings.

To learn more about the series and other TWC programming, visit www.weather.com/tv.