LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pop, previously known as TVGN, will officially rebrand on Jan. 14, 2015, and today announced four new projects in development that embrace the network’s brand promise of celebrating the fun of being a fan.
The projects include a comedic, candid interview series with celebrities recounting how they lost their virginity, from executive producers Morgan Spurlock and John Stamos; a docu-series starring top syndicated and Z100 radio host Elvis Duran; a reality series pairing celebrities and inventors to create and launch a product line; and a stage comedy series with talent recounting their worst or most embarrassing life moments.
“Our development reflects our programming mission of covering what’s popping in culture and creating content around personalities or subjects that have an inherent fan-base supporting them,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment and Media, Pop. “We have aligned ourselves with producers and talent known for delivering stand-out content that ‘pops,’ and our unique perspective will be telling these stories with a fan-at-heart sensibility.”
Paul Adler, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Pop, added, “The new brand direction of Pop has energized the creative community to bring their best projects to us. We are thrilled to be in business with some of the most innovative producers in the industry, whose accolades include numerous Primetime and Daytime Emmy® nominations, and even an Oscar® nomination.”
Pop’s development projects include (working titles listed below):
LOSING IT
Based on the popular Yahoo web series, this celebrity-hosted television series will capture sit-down interviews with stars as they recount their unforgettable and often hilarious real-life stories of losing their virginity. Bits are recreated by puppets, animation, live action and claymation leading up to and following the big event. LOSING IT is produced by Warrior Poets and John Stamos Productions with executive producers Morgan Spurlock, John Stamos, Ethan Goldman and Jeremy Chilnick.
ELVIS DURAN PROJECT
Elvis Duran, one of the most listened-to syndicated radio personalities in the U.S. and host of his own show on Z100 in New York (“Elvis Duran and the Morning Show”), is the subject of a docu-series that follows Elvis and his employees both at work and play. The series will feature superstar guests and platinum selling artists who stop by the radio show, road trips with fans, and best moments from fan-fueled music festivals and live events. ELVIS DURAN PROJECT is produced by Left/Right with executive producers Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, Elvis Duran, David Katz and Mitchell Stewart.
CELEBRITY INC.
CELEBRITY INC. pairs celebrities with their dream product and an aspiring inventor to showcase the ultimate product launch and illustrate the power of celebrity endorsement. In each episode, a different celebrity is featured while teaming up with top product development company Edison Nation, LLC to identify the most talented aspiring inventors. After spending a week in product development camp, the inventors pitch their product to the celebrity, and one person is chosen to have their product launched, with the celebrity’s name attached, in stores nationwide and online. CELEBRITY INC. is executive produced by Robert Friedman of Bungalow Media + Entertainment, LLC and Colby Gaines of Back Roads Entertainment.
WORST EVER
A handful of celebrities take the stage in WORST EVER to recount their hilarious, embarrassing and sometimes shocking “Worst Ever” scenarios such as a date, audition, break-up, fight, family dinner, sexual encounter or interview. Hosted by actress Christine Lakin (“Step by Step”), and based on her and Alec Ledd’s live stage show in Los Angeles, the series is a wry, candid and honest look at how celebrities aren’t immune to life’s most awkward moments. WORST EVER is produced by Thank You, Brain! with executive producers Krysia Plonka, Tracey Baird, Christine Lakin and Alec Ledd.
ABOUT POP
Fans don’t sit at the outskirts of pop culture making snarky comments, they live right smack in the middle of it, sharing, creating, and connecting their passions with others. At Pop, fans finally have a destination that celebrates the fun of being a fan. Fans aren’t even fans anymore – they’re Gladiators, Tributes, Human Beings and Blockheads. Launching on Jan. 14, 2015, Pop will give fans a dedicated channel that loves being a fan as much as they do. A channel that respects talent over celebrity. A channel filled with optimism, passion, funny and excitement. A channel that understands the fun doesn’t stop when the credits roll… it’s really just the beginning.
Pop is a joint venture of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF). The partnership combines CBS’s programming, production and marketing assets with Lionsgate’s resources in motion pictures, television and digitally delivered content. Pop’s ownership structure is comprised of the company with the #1 broadcast network and many of the top first-run syndication series (“Entertainment Tonight,” “The Insider”) and the studio that produces and distributes the blockbuster “Hunger Games,” “Twilight” and “Divergent” franchises and produces such award-winning TV series as “Mad Men” and “Orange is the New Black.”
