7.6 /10 1 Votes
6.8/10 TV | 8.3/10 IMDb First episode date 9 April 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cast Rose McGowan, Molly Haskell Similar 31 Days of Oscar, TCM Underground, Elvis, What About Joan?, The Story of Film: An Odyssey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Essentials is a weekly film showcase on the American cable and satellite television network Turner Classic Movies spotlighting a specific movie and containing a special introduction and post-movie discussion.
Contents
Hosts
The Essentials began airing in April 2001, and was originally hosted by Rob Reiner. Reiner was succeeded by Sydney Pollack who was succeeded by Peter Bogdanovich. In May 2006, hosting duties were taken over by Robert Osborne and Molly Haskell. Carrie Fisher replaced Haskell when The Essentials returned for its new season in March 2007 following its annual "31 Days of Oscar" festival. Rose McGowan replaced Fisher for the 2008 season starting in March after the 2008 "31 Days" festival. On October 23, 2008, TV Guide reported that Alec Baldwin would replace McGowan for the 2009 season. He remained on the program through the 2011 season. In March 2012, Drew Barrymore took over the role of co-host for the program's twelfth season. In March 2015, Barrymore was replaced by Sally Field for the program's fifteenth season.
Films featured on The Essentials
The year in parentheses indicates when the film was originally released.
Essentials, Jr.
A spin-off showcase, Essentials, Jr., aired in the summer months of 2007 through 2014, on Sunday nights at 8 pm ET. The featured films were chosen for their appeal to families with young children. The original host was Tom Kenny; he was replaced for the second season by co-hosts Abigail Breslin and Chris O'Donnell. John Lithgow hosted the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The program was hosted from 2011 through 2014 by Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live fame.