TCM Underground
NetworkTurner Classic Movies
LaunchedOctober 13, 2006 (2006-10-13)
ClosedFebruary 24, 2023 (2023-02-24)
Country of originUnited States
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery
Key peopleRob Zombie (former host)

Eric Weber (programmer, 2006 - 2007)

Millie De Chirico (programmer, 2007 - 2023)
HeadquartersAtlanta, Georgia
FormatCult film
Running timeAround 4 hours

TCM Underground was a weekly late-night cult film showcase airing on Turner Classic Movies.[1] Developed by former TCM marketing director Eric Weber, it was originally hosted by industrial rock/heavy metal musician and independent filmmaker Rob Zombie. The movies were programmed by Eric Weber until 2007, when TCM programmer Millie De Chirico took over the role. The block ended on February 24, 2023, following layoffs in December that included De Chirico.[2][3]

The series was launched in an attempt to attract more young viewers to Turner's older-skewing audience.[4] TCM began airing a new program titled Friday Night Spotlight and, in effect, TCM Underground was moved from its Friday time slot to Saturdays beginning April 6, 2013 (a TCM broadcast day runs from 6 am – 5:59 am EST the following day, making Underground, in fact, airing on Sunday); however, on March 10, 2018, the series returned to its original Friday night time slot. Promotional bumper material and opening credit sequences were created by Raygun. The series was periodically pre-empted by special month-long or seasonal scheduling themes, such as February's "31 Days of Oscar" film series and the month-long "Summer Under the Stars".[5] When it did not conflict with a special theme, TCM Underground aired in its usual slot early on Saturday morning.

The cult films featured in TCM Underground belonged to a number of genres, including but not limited to blaxploitation films (Coffy, Darktown Strutters, The Mack), horror, slasher, and giallo films (Let's Scare Jessica to Death, Black Christmas, Hatchet for the Honeymoon), and counterculture films (An American Hippie in Israel, Ciao! Manhattan, Blue Sunshine). Plan 9 from Outer Space was the block's first film broadcast when launched on October 13, 2006, paired with Bride of the Monster, and was also the block's final film when it closed on February 24, 2023, paired with various drug education short films.

List of feature films in the TCM Underground block

List of short films (under 45 minutes) in the TCM Underground block

See also

References

  1. ↑ New 'TCM Underground' book recommends rare cinema gems and must-see cult classics - WABE
  2. ↑ "Millie De Chirico on Twitter: Well, it's been a great 18 1/2 years, but my job was cut in a company restructure recently which means tomorrow is my last day at TCM. Very grateful to anyone who supported my programming work over the years, including @TCMUnderground. Means a lot!". Twitter. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  3. ↑ "TCM Underground on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ Dempsey, John. "TCM digs deep for database". Variety. 2005-10-23. URL retrieved 2006-12-02.
  5. ↑ "TCM 2006-2007 Programming Slate". TCM Movie News. December 1, 2006. Retrieved December 9, 2006.
  6. ↑ "Turner Classic Movies Lists Airing of Belladonna of Sadness Film on March 5".
  7. 1 2 "Archived copy". i.cdn.turner.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ American Genre Film Archive GURU, THE MAD MONK
  9. ↑ American Genre Film Archive THE PYRAMID
  10. ↑ American Film Genre Archive SCARY MOVIE (1991)
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