Cable Notes: TCM Adds 'Hell on Wheels' for U.K., Drew Barrymore to 'Essentials'

AMC

"Hell on Wheels"

Turner Classic Movies has picked up AMC's upcoming Western drama Hell on Wheels for U.K. broadcasting.

In a deal with Endemol Worldwide Distribution, TCM will air the series starring Anson Mount and Common in a story about revenge set against the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.

Hell on Wheels has been acquired for broadcast in Portugal, Spain, Eastern and Central Europe, and will premiere next year on TCM U.K.

In other TCM news, Drew Barrymore has been tapped to co-host the 12th season of the cable network's signature showcase The Essentials, joining TCM host Robert Osbourne each week to introduce classic films and provide commentary on the pic's cultural relevance and what makes it a must-see film.

The new season of The Essentials bows Saturday, March 3 and will feature films including Dinner at Eight, starring Barrymore's grandfather, John and her great uncle, Lionel. Other films set to screen as part of the showcase include This Is Spinal Tap and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Meanwhile, Lifetime will premiere its new unscripted series Starving Secrets With Tracey Gold on Friday, Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. immediately following the female-skewing cable network's premiere of America's Most Wanted.

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