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VH1 Brings Rappers, Rockers and Boy Banders Together With All New Music Programming Slate
'Irv Gotti Project,' 'Man Band,' 'ego trip's White Rapper Show,'
'Whitestarr Project,' 'Rags To Riches' and 'Bridging The Gap' All Set To
Premiere on VH1 in 1Q of 2007 As Part of A New Music Branded Block of
Programming - VH1's Wild Life
NEW YORK, Oct. 30 -- VH1 gives rockers, rappers, boy
banders and fallen music execs a cozy spot in the home for music and pop
culture. The network has greenlit six new series, it was announced today by
Brian Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group. The new
music series greenlit include: "Irv Gotti Project," "Man Band," "ego trip's
White Rapper Show," "Whitestarr Project," "Rags To Riches" and "Bridging
The Gap." On the heels of VH1's wildly successful "Celebreality" franchise,
the network creates "VH1's Wild Life" to house these programs.
"The breadth of this slate of music-based series illustrates, once
again, that VH1 is the only place for adults to go to see the kinds of
music and storytelling that speaks only to them," explained Graden. "This
slate features all kinds of characters -- Irv Gotti, Cisco Adler, Jeff
Timmons, Queen Latifah -- we love that they all have a place at VH1."
"Just as we gave Hulk and his family a home with 'Celebreality,' we
wanted to create a new branded block for all the crazy rockers and rappers
that we love so well," commented Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President
and General Manager. "'VH1's Wild Life,' -- it's a home for the 'raging!'"
Irv Gotti Project
After being investigated for 3 years by the federal government on
charges of money laundering and acquitted, Irv Gotti is now attempting a
comeback with his label The Inc while also juggling his responsibilities as
a husband and father.
Irv Gotti Project is executive produced by Mark Cronin and Cris Abrego
for Mindless Entertainment and 51 Pictures. The duo has produced 10 shows
for VH1 including the hit franchises "Flavor of Love, "Surreal Life," "My
Fair Brady" and their latest project "Celebrity Paranormal." Jeff Olde,
Jill Holmes, Alex Demyanenko and Kristen Kelly are the executive producers
for VH1. Michael Hirschorn also serves as Executive Producer for VH1.
Man Band
For half a decade Boy Bands ruled the airwaves, maintaining a strange
hold on their bustling, female audience and just as quickly they faded from
the spotlight. Now, all grown up, VH1 has decided to bring members of these
teenage heartthrobs together in the new reality series "Man Band." Living
together under one roof, five boy band legends including Bryan Abrams
(Color Me Badd), Rich Cronin (LFO), Chris Kirkpatrick ('N Sync) and Jeff
Timmons (98 Degrees) will be challenged to create new music, a dynamic
stage show and then perform as a new pop group -- all of which begs the
question "Can lightening strike twice?"
"Man Band" is executive produced by Troy Searer and John Foy for
Tijuana Entertainment, Tony Harding and Kennedy for Kandokid Productions
and Jim Ackerman for VH1. Christian McLaughlin is the supervising producer
and Michael Hirschorn serves as Executive Producer for VH1.
ego trip's White Rapper Show
Since the first rhymes flowed in the parks of the South Bronx, most of
rap's major emcees, have been African American. But from the from the mean
streets of Brooklyn and Detroit, the likes of The Beastie Boys and Eminem
emerged and dedicated themselves to boldly going where no white boys had
gone before ... the top of the Hip Hop world. Now, 20 years after the
Beasties first exercised their "License to Ill," VH1 and ego trip have
stepped in to search for the next great "White Rapper." VH1 last teamed up
with ego trip in 2004 for "TV's Illest Minority Moments Presented by ego
trip." Adapted from ego trip's Big Book of Racism, the special took a look
at some of the most compelling, controversial and unintentionally hilarious
race-related moments in television history.
Hosted by white rap legend Michael "MC Serch" Berrin (of the group 3rd
Bass) and producing legend Prince Paul and set in the in the birthplace of
hip hop -- the South Bronx -- "ego trip's White Rapper Show" features 10
contestants representing from all over America who must battle their way
through challenges designed to test their musical cred, knowledge of hip
hop culture and their ideas about race.
Ken Mok is executive producer and Paul Buscemi is supervising producer
for 10X10 Productions. Sacha Jenkins, Gabriel Alvarez, Brent Rollins,
Elliot Wilson and Jefferson Mao are executive producers for ego trip. Jim
Ackerman and Michael Hirschorn are executive producers and Christian
McLaughlin is the supervising producer for VH1.
Untitled Whitestarr Project
This comedic romp follows privileged Malibu rocker and Mischa Barton's
boyfriend, Cisco Adler and his band Whitestarr as they balance gigs,
groupies and girlfriends in their last shot at rock and roll immortality.
Whitestarr lives the rock life. They attract screaming hordes of female
fans, have been in and out of rehab, have fired members of the band and
re-hired them the same day.
They've learned that future rock gods look better in tight pants,
especially if they're womens' and that there's no shame in hiring a chubby
lawyer to be your dancer. They're connoisseurs of everything Sex, Drugs and
Rock n' Roll. The only lesson they haven't learned is how to sell a record.
Now, these unlikely rock heroes are allowing cameras to follow their path
to rock stardom. Viewers will get an insider's look at the backstage drama
as these four rockers (and one dancer) fight their way to the top of the
charts, or at least sell their first record.
Untitled Whitestarr Project is executive produced by George Verschoor
(Jamie Kennedy's "Blowin' Up," "Nashville Star") and David Osper (MTV's
"Homewrecker"), and produced by Verschoor's Hoosick Falls Productions. Jill
Holmes, Damla Dogan, Jeff Olde and Michel Hirschorn are executive producers
for VH1.
Bridging the Gap
This limited series documents two established artists who come together
for the first time to explore their shared musical passions. In each
episode these artists who share a mutual admiration and respect for the
other will, in the span of a day, discuss their lives and music while
creating a new track produced by one of today's hottest producers. Eve and
Queen Latifah are featured in the first episode of this half hour music
series.
"Bridging the Gap" is executive produced by Troy Carter and Charles
Alston from the Coalition and Michele M. Dix and Karla Hidalgo for VH1.
Shelly Tatro and Michael Hirschorn also serves as Executive Producer for
VH1.
Rags to Riches
A half-hour verite series that celebrates the best aspects of human
nature: the capacity to overcome hardship through dedicated work and
talent, the thrill of enjoying hard-won material possessions, and the
compassion realized when giving back to those still in need. In each
episode, a musician or actor will take viewers on a journey to their humble
beginnings and walk them through their childhood, the challenges of growing
up and how they have given back to their community and the people who
helped them realize their stardom. The pilot episode which has previously
aired on the channel featured Snoop Dogg.
"Rags to Riches" is created and directed by Lauren Lazin, who was
nominated for a 2005 Academy Award for her film Tupac: Resurrection.
Executive Producers are Brad Abramson, Shelly Tatro, and Michael Hirschorn
for VH1.
VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter
to them most with series, live events, exclusive online content and public
affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in over 88 million households in the
U.S. VH1 also has an array if digital services including VH1 Classic and
VH1 Soul. Connect with VH1 at http://www.VH1.com.
SOURCE VH1
http://www.vh1.com
http://www.vh1.com/press
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