1. PARAMOUNT GLOBAL’S UNSCRIPTED LINE-UP (BUT WITHOUT NEWS)
A few days after Warner Bros., also ViacomCBS has unveiled its unscripted slate, along with news of expansion plans for the Paramount+ platform and the rebrand of ViacomCBS itself, that has changed its name into Paramount Global, bringing its portfolio under a new parent company name.
Unfortunately no new formats this year, only 2 ‘refreshes’ of existing shows. The first one, for Paramount+, is The Challenge: War of the Worlds, that takes winners of The Challenge franchising (the classic MTV reality competition started in 1998 and originally known as Road Rules: All Stars) and pits them against one another in a global tournament to declare the first Challenge world champion.
The second one, always for the streaming platform, is All Star Shore, a competition docuseries featuring 14 stars from a bunch of previous programs, such as Jersey Shore Family Vacation, Love is Blind, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Geordie Shore and others, as they are passing a holiday in the ultimate Shore house in Gran Canaria, Spain.
In addition, there is a round of series renewals: the long-running tattoo competition series Ink Master, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, the singing competition Queen of the Universe, The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans and The Challenge All Stars, as well as new seasons of Acapulco Shore, Rio Shore and Geordie Shore: Return of the OGs.
2. PASSION FOR FORMATS
Indie distributors are essential in the general format economy, for their widespread presence in all countries that allows the circulation of all kinds of shows -big and small- in the whole world.
Passion Distribution, a well-known London-based unscripted content specialist, is going to bring 2 new formats to the market. The first one is Love in the Flesh, a dating show for the recently relaunched BBC Three (see FRIDAY’S ESPRESSO of 8th Oct). The format is based on the premise that most young people are now beginning and conducting their relationships online, via apps, where meeting in real life is a big step that doesn’t always happen. Love in the Flesh follows people in online relationships and takes them on the first date of a lifetime, in a beautiful beach house, where they meet for the first time to see if they have a future together.
The second one is Open (working title), a brand-new format commissioned from Firecracker Films by Channel 4. This risqué social experiment will explore the growing prevalence of open relationships by bringing together six couples who have an interest in trying out the swinging lifestyle with a group of ‘sexually adventurous singletons’ in a luxury hotel and spa, where their interactions will be managed and overseen by an expert team of sex therapists and relationship coaches. As the participants test their own and their partners’ limits, they will discover whether or not their relationships can be sustained once the number goes from two to three (or more).
3. TWO DEALS ALOS FOR BE-ENTERTAINMENT
Also the Belgian distributor Be-Entertainment is particularly active in non scripted products and helps with courageous choices to keep the format business alive.
In February they acquired distribution rights of 2 shows. The first one is Dream Job In Paradise, a reality competition created by Lecter Media, that premiered yesterday, Thursday 22nd February, prime time in Belgium. The format follows six duos on the adventure of a lifetime – competing to land a job as resort managers at a luxurious paradise location. They are tested on all aspects of the hotel industry, from front office to housekeeping, catering to dealing with guests. The winning duo will get a contract to run the luxury resort.
The second is The Musical Of Your Life, a celebrity interview format created by Dedsit, that was already aired for the first season and the second is currently under production in Belgium. Each episode pays tribute to a celebrity, who is invited to a theatre to join the host for a unique up-close and personal interview about all the key moments of their life. Five of the celebrity’s most memorable moments are turned into moving musical scenes performed on stage, and after each scene the celebrity reflects on them.