1. AMOZON FREEVEE STARTS WITH 2 NEW FORMATS
Amazon-owned AVOD platform Amazon Freevee, formerly known as IMDb TV, separated from the Prime Video SVOD service (an interesting case of a company which operates in both sectors), reveals 2 new unscripted series.
The first one is Play-Doh Squished, a family-friendly brand-funded program produced by Amazon Studios and eOne, in which 3 teams per episode compete in a series of physical and creative challenges involving Play-Doh, trying not to be “squished” (see pics). Will they manage to equal (or, at least, to go close to) the success of Lego Masters?
The second one is America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation, spin-off from the popular franchise: contestants will work inside the ATK studio kitchens and take part in assorted culinary challenges. The winner will have a starring role on the original public television series.
2. COOKING WITH THE STARS
Recently astrology has been at the centre of a number of formats. The last one was the dating show Zodiac Island, featuring 3 astrologers who find matches for 12 singletons (see Friday’s Espresso of 11th February).
Now Gusto Tv, the international food channel based in Canada, in these days is going to launch the series Dine Your Sign, an “astronomic culinary journey”. Hosted by chef Siobhan Detkavich (in the pic), the 12x30-episode format focuses on each of the 12 Zodiac signs and their connection to food. “Most horoscope readers already know that a Leo leads, but Dine Your Sign lets you know what a Leo eats!” the channel points out. Definitively a curious concept.
3. US-KOREA FORMAT CONNECTION
Exactly one month ago, the partnership between the US Michael Yudin’s MY Entertainment and the Korean Hwang Jin Woo’s Something Special about Smashed Hits was announced. In this interesting music game show, the contestants have to identify popular songs that have been mixed together and creatively reinvented so that they’re barely recognizable. Each episode will feature guest appearances of the biggest names in the music industry, who perform other artists’ hits in surprising ways. The creative producer will be Simon Lythgoe (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance…)
Now the partnership continues with The Quizzy Horror Show, where contestants, accused of being scaredy cats, try to turn their worst fears into cash prizes by asking them not to blink at any heart-beating moment.
Both formats have been funded by The Format Lab Fund by Kocca (Korea Creative Content Agency), a governmental agency that oversees and coordinates the promotion of the Korean content industry.