History Creator / TurnerClassicMovies

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a [[LongRunner long-running]], commercial-free cable television network owned by Creator/WarnerMedia and dedicated to airing classic films, primarily from the Creator/WarnerBros, Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer,[[note]]both the pre-1986 library owned by Warner Bros and the post-1986 library owned by MGM themselves[[/note]] Creator/UnitedArtists, Creator/{{RKO}}, and [[Creator/TheCriterionCollection Janus]] film libraries. TCM daily airs many familiar classics (most of them pre-1980 and often pre-1970 releases), as well as tons of foreign films and obscure rarities that likely would otherwise never see the light of day -- including some stuff that nobody would think about, like trailers and even two-reel live-action comedies. The network also makes a point of airing no outside commercials, although between (never ''during'') films they will show old film trailers, short commercials for the network's merchandise, and other interstitial material.

* DoubleFeature: The ''TCM Underground'' wee-hours block of all-things-cult-cinema programs two features each weekend linked by a performer, director, or theme. With themes, this can be as broad as a pair of {{Blaxploitation}} movies or as specific as "sci-fi fantasies with ValleyGirl protagonists" (the November 2020 double bill of ''Film/EarthGirlsAreEasy'' and ''Film/AlienFromLA'').

*** ''Essentials Jr.'' was a companion series that ran during the summer months, presenting films for kids and families. Hosts included Creator/TomKenny, Creator/AbigailBreslin, Creator/ChrisODonnell, Creator/JohnLithgow, and Creator/BillHader. In 2015 it was re-branded as ''TCM Movie Camp'', co-hosted by Creator/WilliamJoyce and Brandon Oldenburg and airing on Sunday evenings.

* NetworkDecay: [[DoingItForTheArt Heroically averted thus far]], as explained in detail on [[{{NetworkDecay/NotableAversions}} this page]]. TCM has ventured timorously into the world of commercials in TheNewTens, mostly for its own products relating to the film industry (video releases, books, Hollywood bus tours, the TCM Film Festival, the TCM Classic Cruise). They also have started straight-up commercials for Creator/FrancisFordCoppola's vineyard, aka the "TCM Wine Club" (and even then there's a classic movie undertone to it considering who owns it).

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: ''Hoo, boy.'' During the three-minute or so spots for an upcoming movie they're going to air, they practically show you enough scenes that you could put together a decently accurate article about it on Website/TheOtherWiki without even seeing the movie itself.

* ArtifactTitle: The annual ''31 Days of Oscar'' marathon originally aired in March, same month as the UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardsCeremonies. When the ceremony moved to February, the marathon did too, but retained the title and the 31-day format, simply carrying over to the beginning of March.

* TrailersAlwaysSpoil: ''Hoo, boy.'' During the three-minute or so spots for an upcoming movie they're going to air, they practically show you enough scenes that you could put together a decently accurate article about it on Wiki/TheOtherWiki without even seeing the movie itself.

** In 2013 TCM introduced a new ''Friday Night Spotlight'' feature, with a guest host joining Osborne to present films based around a given subject or theme.

* ReallyDeadMontage: The channel airs a "TCM Remembers" tribute each December, showing the various film personalities (from both sides of the camera) who have died in the preceding year.

** The shot of the man sliding along a road as if he's driving an invisible car, used in a montage to introduce interstitials, is taken from 1967 short film ''Film/StopLookAndListen''.

** Amusingly, there's a small (but vocal) minority of viewers who assert that TCM ''has'' decayed, for a myriad of reasons that can seem ridiculously arbitrary to other fans of the channel; it's been charged that TCM now airs too many "modern" films, or [[ButNotTooForeign too many foreign films]], or it's being "taken over" by Creator/TheCriterionCollection, or it's [[PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad getting too politically correct]], and so on. A 2016 petition that demanded the network only show [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood Golden Age]] films made prior to 1960 was [[http://forums.tcm.com/index.php?/topic/111024-petition-asking-tcm-to-re-focus-on-pre-1960-films/ ripped apart by the denizens of the network's forum]].

* GuestHost: In 2011 Robert Osborne took a five-month sabbatical following a surgical operation, leading TCM to employ a number of guest hosts in his absence.

You can find its Web site [[http://www.tcm.com/ here.]] The official Website/YouTube channel can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/user/TurnerClassicMovies here.]]

* Creator/TheCriterionCollection: TCM airs many of its titles, and in 2016 launched a joint venture with Criterion to create a subscription online streaming service called [[http://www.filmstruck.com [=FilmStruck=]]]. This folded in 2019 to be followed by SpiritualSuccessor The Criterion Channel.

** Amusingly, there's a small (but vocal) minority of viewers who assert that TCM has decayed for a myriad of reasons that seem ridiculously arbitrary to other fans of the channel; it's been charged that TCM now airs too many "modern" films, or [[ButNotTooForeign too many foreign films]], or it's being "taken over" by Creator/TheCriterionCollection, or it's [[PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad getting too politically correct]], and so on. A 2016 petition that demanded the network only show [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfHollywood Golden Age]] films made prior to 1960 was [[http://forums.tcm.com/index.php?/topic/111024-petition-asking-tcm-to-re-focus-on-pre-1960-films/ ripped apart by the denizens of the network's forum]].

** ''The Essentials'', a weekly presentation of a selected film which airs on Saturday evenings, has featured celebrity guest hosts since its debut. Initially the feature had a single host, with Creator/RobReiner (2001–03), Creator/SydneyPollack (2004) and Creator/PeterBogdanovich (2005) doing the honors. In 2006 Robert Osborne assumed primary hosting duties, teaming up with Molly Haskell (2006), Creator/CarrieFisher (2007), Creator/RoseMcGowan (2008), Creator/AlecBaldwin (2009–11), Creator/DrewBarrymore (2012–14), and Creator/SallyField (2015). After a two-year interregnum (and following Osborne's death), Baldwin took over as the primary host in 2017, variously teaming that year with Creator/DavidLetterman, Creator/TinaFey, and Creator/WilliamFriedkin. The series took another break in 2018 before Ben Mankiewicz took over the following year, co-hosting with Creator/AvaDuvernay (2019) and Creator/BradBird (2020).

** ''The Essentials'', a weekly presentation of a selected film which airs on Saturday evenings, has featured celebrity guest hosts since its debut. Initially the feature had a single host, with Creator/RobReiner (2001–03), Creator/SydneyPollack (2004) and Creator/PeterBogdanovich (2005) doing the honors. In 2006 Robert Osborne assumed primary hosting duties, teaming up with Molly Haskell (2006), Creator/CarrieFisher (2007), Creator/RoseMcGowan (2008), Creator/AlecBaldwin (2009–11), Creator/DrewBarrymore (2012–14), and Creator/SallyField (2015). After a two-year interregnum (and following Osborne's death), Baldwin took over as the primary host in 2017, variously teaming that year with Creator/DavidLetterman, Creator/TinaFey, and Creator/WilliamFriedkin. The series took another break in 2018 before Ben Mankiewicz took over in 2019, co-hosting with Creator/AvaDuvernay (2019) and Creator/BradBird (2020).

*** ''Essentials Jr.'' was a companion series that ran during the summer months, presenting films for kids and families. Hosts included Creator/TomKenny, Creator/AbigailBreslin, Chris O'Donnell, Creator/JohnLithgow, and Creator/BillHader. In 2015 it was re-branded as ''TCM Movie Camp'', co-hosted by Creator/WilliamJoyce and Brandon Oldenburg and airing on Sunday evenings.

** ''The Essentials'', a weekly presentation of a selected film which airs on Saturday evenings, has featured celebrity guest hosts since its debut. Initially the feature had a single host, with Creator/RobReiner (2001–03), Creator/SydneyPollack (2004) and Creator/PeterBogdanovich (2005) doing the honors. In 2006 Robert Osborne assumed primary hosting duties, teaming up with Molly Haskell (2006), Creator/CarrieFisher (2007), Creator/RoseMcGowan (2008), Creator/AlecBaldwin (2009–11), Creator/DrewBarrymore (2012–14), and Creator/SallyField (2015). After a two-year interregnum (and following Osborne's death), Baldwin took over as the primary host in 2017, variously teaming that year with Creator/DavidLetterman, Creator/TinaFey, and Creator/WilliamFriedkin. The series took another break in 2018 before Ben Mankiewicz took over hosting in 2019, paired with Creator/AvaDuvernay (2019) and Creator/BradBird (2020).

** ''The Essentials'', a weekly presentation of a selected film which airs on Saturday evenings, has featured celebrity guest hosts its debut. Initially the feature had a single host, with Creator/RobReiner (2001–03), Creator/SydneyPollack (2004) and Creator/PeterBogdanovich (2005) doing the honors. In 2006 Robert Osborne assumed primary hosting duties, teaming up with Molly Haskell (2006), Creator/CarrieFisher (2007), Creator/RoseMcGowan (2008), Creator/AlecBaldwin (2009–11), Creator/DrewBarrymore (2012–14), and Creator/SallyField (2015). After a two-year interregnum (and following Osborne's death), Baldwin took over as the primary host in 2017, variously teaming that year with Creator/DavidLetterman, Creator/TinaFey, and Creator/WilliamFriedkin. The series took another break in 2018 before Ben Mankiewicz took over hosting in 2019, paired with Creator/AvaDuvernay (2019) and Creator/BradBird (2020).

* FilmNoir: Is naturally featured on the channel, including the weekly ''Noir Alley'' series hosted by "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller.

** ''The Essentials'', a weekly presentation of a selected film which airs on Saturday evenings, has featured celebrity guest hosts its debut. Initially the feature had a single host, with Creator/RobReiner (2001–03), Creator/SydneyPollack (2004) and Creator/PeterBogdanovich (2005) doing the honors. In 2006 Robert Osborne assumed primary hosting duties, teaming up with Molly Haskell (2006), Creator/CarrieFisher (2007), Creator/RoseMcGowan (2008), Creator/AlecBaldwin (2009–11), Creator/DrewBarrymore (2012–14), and Creator/SallyField (2015). After a two-year interregnum (and following Osborne's death), Baldwin took over as the primary host in 2017; he was succeeded two years later by Ben Mankiewicz, who subsequently co-hosted with Creator/AvaDuvernay (2019) and Creator/BradBird (2020).

** ''The Essentials'', a weekly presentation of a selected film which airs on Saturday evenings, has featured a celebrity guest host (or co-host with Osborne) since it debuted in 2001. Hosts have included Creator/RobReiner, Creator/SydneyPollack, Creator/PeterBogdanovich, Molly Haskell, Creator/CarrieFisher, Creator/RoseMcGowan, Creator/AlecBaldwin, Creator/DrewBarrymore, and Creator/SallyField. Following Osborne's death in 2017, Baldwin took over as the primary host; he was succeeded by Ben Mankiewicz, who subsequently co-hosted with Creator/AvaDuvernay and (as of 2020) Creator/BradBird.

* ArtifactTitle: The annual ''31 Days of Oscar'' marathon originally aired in March, same month as the UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardsCeremonies. When the ceremony moved to February, the marathon did too, but retained the title and the 31-day format, simply extending over to the beginning of March.

* ArtifactTitle: The annual ''31 Days of Oscar'' marathon originally aired in March, same month as the UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardsCeremonies. When the ceremony moved to February, the marathon did too, but retained the title and the 31-day format, simply extending over to the first three days of March.

* ArtifactTitle: The annual ''31 Days of Oscar'' marathon originally aired in March, same month as the UsefulNotes/AcademyAwardsCeremonies. When the ceremony moved to February, the marathon did too, but retained the title and the 31-day format, simply moving the remaining days over to March (April in 2021).

* ArtifactTitle: The annual ''31 Days of Oscar'' marathon originally aired on March, same month as the Academy Awards. When the ceremony moved to February, the marathon did too, but retained the title and the 31 day format, simply moving the remaining days over to March.

* SilenceIsGolden: The "Silent Sunday Nights" slot. Most every Sunday -- save for the month-long "31 Days of Oscar" marathon each spring and occasionally other special features -- TCM shows a SilentMovie at midnight Eastern, 9 pm Pacific.

* SilenceIsGolden: The "Silent Sunday Nights" slot. Most every Sunday, TCM shows a SilentMovie at midnight Eastern, 9 pm Pacific.

* SilenceIsGolden: The ''Silent Sunday Nights'' slot. Most every Sunday, TCM shows a silent film at midnight Eastern, 9 pm Pacific.

** The black-and-white clips used in ''[[https://youtu.be/rVttlzU2y9E TCM Late Night]]'' -- passenger on a bus, a woman in a corset in front of a changing mirror, a man in a ticket booth (Richard Conte) wearily selling tickets -- are from Creator/AlfredHitchcock's ''The Wrong Man'', and his ''Strangers on a Train'', and Creator/StanleyKubrick's second feature, ''Film/KillersKiss''. And the whole thing ends up with a NighthawksShot ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_df2eXP2_FA Hopper's art]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql76eTG2jDk turns up a lot]] in TCM promos).

* NighthawksShot: The "Open All Night" interstitial that TCM runs during its late night/early morning programming ends with a live-action shot staged to look just like the "Nighthawks" painting.

* NighthawksShot: The "Open All Night" interstitial that TCM runs for programs aired in very late night/very early morning slots ends with a live-action shot staged to look just like the "Nighthawks" painting.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a [[LongRunner long-running]],[[note]]launched April 14, 1994[[/note]] commercial-free cable television network owned by Creator/WarnerMedia and dedicated to airing classic films, primarily from the Creator/WarnerBros, Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer,[[note]]both the pre-1986 library owned by Warner Bros and the post-1986 library owned by MGM themselves[[/note]] Creator/UnitedArtists, Creator/{{RKO}}, and [[Creator/TheCriterionCollection Janus]] film libraries. TCM daily airs many familiar classics (most of them pre-1980 and often pre-1970 releases), as well as tons of foreign films and obscure rarities that likely would otherwise never see the light of day -- including some stuff that nobody would think about, like trailers and even two-reel live-action comedies. The network also notably airs no outside commercials, although between (never ''during'') films they will show old film trailers, short commercials for the network's merchandise, and other interstitial material.

The late Robert Osborne was the primary on-air [[TheHost Host]] for the channel from 1994 to 2016. Ben Mankiewicz (grandson of [[Film/CitizenKane Herman J.!]]) joined in 2003, handling daytime and weekend airings while Osborne continued to introduce films in prime time during the week. After Osborne's death in 2017, Mankiewicz took over as the primary host. Tiffany Vazquez served as Saturday daytime host from 2016 to 2018; since then, Alicia Malone and Dave Karger have rotated to host whichever slots Mankiewicz doesn't do. (They're occasionally joined by others; see GuestHost, below.)

[[quoteright:310:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tcm_2021_logo.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:310:''[[{{Slogan}} Where Then Meets Now.]]'']]

** Amusingly, there's a small (but vocal) minority of viewers who assert that TCM has decayed for a myriad of reasons that seem ridiculously arbitrary to other fans of the channel; it's been charged that TCM now airs too many "modern" films, or [[ButNotTooForeign too many foreign films]], or it's being "taken over" by Creator/TheCriterionCollection, or it's [[PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad getting too politically correct]], and so on. A 2016 petition that demanded the network only show films made prior to 1960 was [[http://forums.tcm.com/index.php?/topic/111024-petition-asking-tcm-to-re-focus-on-pre-1960-films/ ripped apart by the denizens of the network's forum]].

[[caption-width-right:310:''Where Then Meets Now.'']]