TruTV has announced a slew of programming.
The cable network has greenlighted three new series, including a competition series and a pawn shop docu-series; ordered five pilots; set two projects in development, including one about crowdsourcing; and renewed two shows as it targets a portion of viewers it is calling the "funseekers."
"We're using truTV's growing slate of comedic reality series to target an underserved audience we call funseekers," said Marc Juris, executive vp and COO of truTV. "We've already caught the attention of funseekerswith hit shows like Impractical Jokers and Killer Karaoke. Now we're ready to target them on a bigger scale, not only by creating more comedic reality series but also by giving them innovative opportunities to connect with their truTV favorites in the digital realm."
By the end of the year, truTV hopes to have 50 percent of its schedule to programming for "funseekers," a demo the network says are viewers (median age 35) who seek out comedic reality shows that are "exciting to watch" and "prefer humor that is suspenseful, edgy and irreverent."
The new series:
Panic Button, produced by Eleven Television, is what the truTV is dubbing a "challenge show" that will find out who is bold enough to move forward or scared enough to hit the panic button. Twelve half-hour episodes have been ordered.
Cash Dome Pawn, from Endemol's 51 Minds Entertainment, has been given a six-episode order, and centers on Cash Dome, run by Josh "White Boy" Gallander.
Big Sam's Kentucky Auction (working title), from ITV Studios Limited, will air six episodes. The half-hour series will follow Sammie's Auction, an auction house
The pilot orders:
Turbulence, from Howie Mandel's Alevy Productions and FremantleMedia North America, is a game show set on an airplane.
Payback With Trevor Moore (working title) is a hidden camera prank show hosted by Moore. Funny or Die is producing.
Laugh Truck (working title) is a game show where three friends compete against each other as they ride in the black of a moving truck. NorthSouth Productions produces.
Cold Hard Catch centers on ice-fishing resort owner Daron Stenvold, who has 10 weekends a year to make enough money to keep his business afloat off of Lake Mille Lacs. Jupiter Entertainment and Brian Graden Media produce.
Barnstormers (working title) follows experts who bid on and guy old barns hoping to make money off the contents and the actual wood. Magilla Entertainment and Watson Pond Productions produce.
In development:
The Big Poll With John Henson (working title) is a half-hour comedy projected hosted by Henson, which is being described as a "crowd-sourced comedy." The show's content will be driven off viewer results of trending, pop-culture polls, quizzes and challenges.
Mind Games (working title) will feature hypnotist and host Will Miner taking control of unsuspecting people and have them compete on a game show where they don't know they are players.
The renewals:
Guinness World Records Gone Wild!, hosted by Dan Cortese, has been given a 10-episode order.
Upload With Shaquille O'Neal, a viral video/prank/parody show hosted by the former NBA star, has been given a six-episode order for the new season.
(Guiness and Upload join previously renewed Impractical Jokers and Hardcore Pawn: Chicago.)
E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com
Twitter: @insidethetube
