SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV President of Programming, Tony DiSanto unveiled today a development slate that features a wide and diverse array of projects ranging from comedy, scripted, animation, music and reality. Tapping into the undeniable talents of TV's top hit-makers, the network is developing projects with Seth Meyers, Mark Burnett, Jamie Foxx and David Katzenberg to name a few. Drawing on a host of today's top names, MTV has also signed a first-look production deal with Emma Roberts and her production company, Bossy Boots Productions. Roberts will create and produce television projects with her manager/producing partner David Sweeney.
"The most exciting thing about creating content for MTV is that you can paint across a broad canvas," said Tony DiSanto, President of Programming for MTV. "This allows us to play with different genres as our long history of hits clearly illustrates, from 'Beavis and Butthead' to 'The Real World' to 'The Hills.' MTV is always evolving, and we are spreading our creative wings even further with this slate. From animation, to scripted, to comedy, as always, MTV is a home for talent to give life to their vision behind the camera, as well as in front of it."
Featuring a broad range of genres, these innovative projects in development will help fuel MTV's already successful line-up and reflect and inspire key moments in culture. Projects range from following an aspiring wannabe superhero and his cohorts in "The Awesomes," showcasing the lives of Latino teenagers with a comedic spin in the "Adrienne Bailon Project" (working title), an adapted version of the international musical hit "Patito Feo," to chronicling the life of a desperately-unpopular teenager in "Hard Times." Jamie Foxx returns with the next generation of sketch comedy in the "Untitled Sketch Comedy Show" (working title) and drawing together horror, romance and werewolf mythology, MTV is developing a pilot based on the classic 80's movie "Teen Wolf."
Coming off the heels of the successful 2009 Movie Awards, MTV continues its proud relationship with executive producer Mark Burnett, as the network picks up his project with "Hills" star Audrina Patridge. "P Diddy's Starmaker," also executive produced by Mark Burnett, is scheduled to premiere this summer.
Finally, the network has also commissioned a presentation for "Warren the Ape," putting a comedic spin on the celebrity comeback from a down and-out puppet's point of view.
Maintaining its position as the #1, full-day ad-supported cable network for 17 years (P12-24) and coming off of the strongest Movie Awards in five years, MTV holds three of 2009's top-ten original cable series among P12-34 ("Americas Best Dance Crew," "The Hills" and "Real World XXI: Brooklyn.")
Following is a list of projects in development: MTV SERIES IN DEVELOPMENT WARREN THE APE
A spin on the "celebrity comeback" reality show, "Warren the Ape" is about the trials and tribulations of a down-and-out, D-list celebrity puppet attempting to clean up his act, patch up his relationships and scramble his way back into the Hollywood limelight.
"Warren The Ape" is produced by George Plamondon & Betsy Schechter for Picture Shack Entertainment, Kevin Chinoy & Francesca Silvestri for Freestyle, and Sean Baker, Spencer Chinoy & Dan Milano.
THE AWESOMES
From the mind of "Saturday Night Live" head writer Seth Meyers, SNL's Mike Shoemaker and Lorne Michaels' production company, Broadway Video, "The Awesomes" is an animated half hour series that follows an unassuming superhero and his cohorts as they battle evil villains, the paparazzi, and a less than desirable reputation as bumbling losers.
"The Awesomes" is executive-produced by Lorne Michaels for Broadway Video. Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker are co-creators and co-writers.
PATITO FEO
This award-winning teen drama series from Argentina chronicles the struggles of a Mexican girl from a small town thrown into the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles. Hugely popular in Latin America, the series soundtrack sold more than 200,000 copies and concerts are being held across the continent. The series won the Martin Fierro Award and received a nomination for an International Emmy Award in 2008.
"Patito Feo" is executive produced by Beatriz Acevedo and Doug Greiff of Hip TV, based on a wildly successful format produced and distributed by Grupo Televisa, the largest and most powerful Spanish language media company in the world.
HARD TIMES
Created and Executive Produced by David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith, "Hard Times" is an irreverent half-hour coming-of-age series that orbits the hilariously-hellish life of RJ Berger, a desperately-unpopular fifteen-year-old. When RJ's anatomical gift is dramatically revealed in front of the whole school, he goes from anonymous to infamous, and finds his first sliver of confidence. But with each step he takes towards popularity, RJ takes ten steps back as he deals with a best friend trying to capitalize on his newfound fame, a student body with no shortage of cruel jokes, and a truly insane home life.
"Hard Times" is produced by co-creators David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith for New Remote Productions, with Craig Cannold. It was directed by Katzenberg, and written by Grahame-Smith.
ADRIENNE BAILON PROJECT (WORKING TITLE)
After leaving NYC at the age of 15 and spending 10 years in Los Angeles as the member of not one, but two manufactured girl groups, Adrienne's come home to shed her packaged image, be her real self, and try to make it on her own if on your own means surrounded by a well-meaning but meddling family and crazy friends. She's determined to tackle life and love as the real Adrienne, the Latina from the lower eastside and prove to herself that she can finally make it by standing on her own two feet.
"Adrienne Bailon Project" Project is executive produced by Kenneth Crear and Johnny Wright for Picture This Productions.
UNTITLED SKETCH COMEDY SHOW (WORKING TITLE) Jamie Foxx executive produces the next generation of "In Living Color."
Jamie Foxx will executive produce with managers/producing partners Marcus King and Jaime Rucker King for their company FoxxKing Entertainment. Fax Bahr and Adam Small also serve as executive producers.
TEEN WOLF
A reinvention of the classic '80s movie for today's MTV audience, this show will draw from the horror genre to explore werewolf mythology, and include a sweeping romantic saga at the center.
"Teen Wolf" is written by Jeff Davis (creator and executive producer of "Criminal Minds"). Marty Adelstein ("Prison Break") and Rene Echevarria ("Castle," "Medium," "The 4400") will executive produce.
About MTV Network:
MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 27 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV is the number one rated full-day ad-supported cable network for P12-24. Online, MTV.com averaged 8.5 million monthly unique visitors during the first quarter of 2009 -- up +6% from Q4/2008 and up +6% year-over-year. Total video streams for the first quarter of 2009 increased 21% over the same time period last year. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in... http://www.mtvpress.com/.
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