Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 03/20/23

UPtv springing forward. As spring arrives today, “UPbeat” and “inspiring” may be the best descriptions of UPtv’s seasonal fare. Seems like a good bet. As Deadline reports, recent box office results (whether from faith-based films like Jesus Revolution or more secular movies like Top Gun: Maverick) suggest that theater audiences are thirsting for inspiration and optimism. There’s no reason to think the same isn’t true for TV audiences, many of whom are tired of the dour offerings being presented to them by most of the big broadcasters, cablers and streamers.

“UPtv is the place every year to celebrate the true meaning of Easter,” says UPtv Sr. VP for Content & Acquisition Hector Campos, adding “We invite our viewers to celebrate the promise of new beginnings and the renewal that comes with the start of spring as we celebrate ‘Bring the Spring’ with contemporary movie premieres and series, the highly-anticipated Whitney Houston music special and classic Bible favorites (i.e. Good Friday showings of The Passion of the Christ and Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday airings of The Ten Commandments). Bring your family together to celebrate the Easter season, feel uplifted, and have a chance at winning prizes.” The “chance at winning prizes” he refers to is a viewing sweepstakes where viewers can win gift cards through interactive watch parties that include polls and quizzes.

Here’s a brief rundown of some highlights of UPtv’s spring slate:

I Go to the Rock: The Gospel Music of Whitney Houston (TV premiere on Friday, March 24 at 8:00 PM ET) is a visual journey into Whitney’s faith and love of gospel music. Hosted by Grammy Award-winning gospel singer CeCe Winans and produced by Barry Jennings, the documentary intimately and comprehensively explores the steadfast faith that accompanied Whitney to stardom. The documentary will take viewers on a journey from her first-ever performance in front of an audience, to her many classic appearances at such venues as the NAACP Image Awards, the American Music Awards and Ebony’s 50^th Anniversary TV special, through her recording of 1996’s The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack which went on to become the best-selling gospel album of all time.

The Confession Musical (TV premiere on Sunday, March 26 at 7:00 PM ET), based on the popular book series The Heritage of Lancaster County by New York Times best-selling author Beverly Lewis, features performances by Chonda Pierce and John Schneider in the story of two worlds colliding as a young Amish woman seeks to find her birth mother. Music is under the direction of Dove Award-winner Dan Posthuma and songwriter Wally Nason.

The Chosen Season Two will make its UPtv premiere as part of an all-day marathon on Palm Sunday, April 2, from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM ET. The Chosen is a crowd-funded drama series created, directed and co-written by Christian filmmaker Dallas Jenkins. It is the first multi-season series about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The second season focuses on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and what happens as word of His ministry begins to spread. The series stars Jonathan Roumie as Jesus.

Southern Gospel (TV premiere on Easter Sunday, April 9 at 7 p.m. ET) tells the inspirational true story of a rock ‘n’ roll star/preacher Samuel Allen (Max Ehrich).

Note: To keep track of upcoming movies, series and specials, viewers can download The My UPtv app.

John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.