Press Release
“TO THE MAT” STARRING RICKY SCHRODER AND LAURA BELL BUNDY PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 ON CMT in the First Film To Premiere As Part Of “CMT Original Movies” Division.
Long-time television actor Ricky Schroder will share the CMT movie spotlight with Broadway star and Mercury Nashville recording artist Laura Bell Bundy in the romantic comedy “To The Mat,” premiering Wednesday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT. “To The Mat” is the first made-for-television movie to be released as part of the CMT ORIGINAL MOVIES franchise, the network’s newly-formed division of original television movies.
Written by C. Jay Cox (“Sweet Home Alabama”), “To The Mat,” tells the story of a laid-back ex-wrestler (Schroder) who’s trying to keep his family’s down-and-out southern wrestling school above water. When his mother hires an uptight Wall Street consultant from New York (Bell Bundy) to help get the books in order, these two opposites must find a way to get along and save the family business. Directed by Rob Iscove (“She’s All That”), “To The Mat” was filmed in British Columbia earlier this year.
Ricky Schroder made his Hollywood debut at nine years of age as the emotionally tortured son of a washed-up boxer in the 1979 remake of the drama “The Champ.” The performance earned him a Golden Globe® for “New Star of the Year” and launched the beginning of his successful career. When Schroder was twelve, he starred as Ricky Stratton in the hit television series “Silver Spoons” (1982-1987). Six years later, he experienced another career high when he starred as Newt Dobbs in the acclaimed 1989 television miniseries “Lonesome Dove.” In 1998, Schroder joined the cast of “NYPD Blue” as Detective Danny Sorenson. Additional television credits include recurring roles on “Scrubs” and season six of the Emmy® award-winning “24.” Schroder made his directorial debut with the 2004 feature “Black Cloud” and later that year, he won a CMA and CMT Music Award for his direction of the music video “Whisky Lullaby.” sung by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. Recently, Schroder starred in writer-director Jeb Stuart’s indie film “Blood Done Sign My Name,” based on the book by Tim Tyson and he just wrapped the feature “Wild Hearts,” which he directed and starred opposite his daughter, Cambrie, in her first role.
Laura Bell Bundy was born and raised in Lexington, KY with a dream of having a music career. Her strongest influence, her grandfather, was a radio DJ and newscaster who introduced her to Patsy Cline, Frank Sinatra, Pearl Bailey and Willie Nelson. She moved to New York at age 18 to pursue her music career, forming a duo and performing in various New York clubs. Meanwhile, she earned roles in major Broadway musicals and found it as a great means to support herself. Laura Bell originated the lead role of Elle Woods in the Broadway musical Legally Blonde, for which she received a Tony Award nomination in 2007. She also originated the role of Amber Von Tussle in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hairspray and played Glinda in the smash hit Wicked. Prior to that, she originated the role of Tina Denmark in the successful off-Broadway production Ruthless, The Musical!, for which she received the Outer-Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk nominations. After a successful run on Broadway, Bundy moved to Nashville in the fall of 2008 to continue her original pursuit of having a country music career. She was signed to Mercury Nashville and in 2010 Bundy released her debut video “Giddy On Up,” from her debut album Achin’ and Shakin’ which has since garnered over 3.2 million streams. She is currently writing and recording songs for her Mercury Nashville sophomore album.
“To The Mat” is an Entertainment One Television production. John Morayniss, Noreen Halpern, Margaret O’Brien and Ira Pincus are Executive Producers for Entertainment One Television. Lisa Silfen, Robin Palmer, Lewis Bogach and Mary Beth Cunin serve as Executive Producers for CMT.
www.cmt.com
TO THE MAT premieres Wednesday, August 17 at 8/7 Central on CMT Network