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[10/02/07 - 11:59 AM] ESPN Announces Start of Production on Six-Part Reality Series Varsity InC. The series, from the creator of MTV's "Two-a-Days," is tentatively scheduled to debut Thursday, Nov. 29 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2. |
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[via press release from ESPN] |
ESPN Announces Start of Production on Six-Part Reality Series Varsity Inc.
First Series from New ESPN Content Development Unit to Focus on Perennial Football Power West Monroe (La.) High School
Production has begun for a new six-part (four hours) reality series on ESPN, Varsity Inc. Presented by Old Spice, chronicling the 2007 season of the West Monroe (La.) High School Rebels - and the town's obsession with the game - as they fight to stay atop the Louisiana football heap. The series represents the first comprehensive effort from the newly established ESPN Content Development (ECD) unit. Produced in conjunction with Jason Sciavicco (the creator of MTV's Two-a-Days) and his company Horizon Entertainment, Varsity Inc., is tentatively scheduled to debut Thursday, Nov. 29 at 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and generally will be aired Thursdays at 11 p.m. through December 27. Additional content support is planned for ESPN360.com and ESPN.com with re-airs slated for ESPNU.
"Varsity Inc. hits at the core of what ECD endeavors will be going forward: it's a compelling, impassioned story that goes beyond just sports, and offers high quality, multi-purpose content for a variety of our businesses," said Keith Clinkscales, ESPN senior vice president, content development and enterprises.
Sciavicco, creator and executive producer for the series, added, "Football is an undeniable presence in our culture; Varsity Inc. depicts what it's like to play the game at a consistently high level. This series will give viewers an in-depth look at the stress, the drama and the dedication these coaches and kids experience. It's amazing to see how far they will push themselves to achieve success both on and off the field."
West Monroe Rebels
Currently filming, the series will capture the frenzy and the fervor surrounding the West Monroe Rebels as well as the personal struggles and triumphs of the players and coaches themselves. The team is one of the most successful in Division 1-5A having won six state championships and two national crowns since 1993. Called "West Monroe Mania," on Friday nights in the fall, the stores close down early and everyone's either tailgating or talking strategy as game time grows near. On average, some 13,757 fans fill the Rebels' home stadium each game, several hundreds more than the town population of West Monroe.
ESPN CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
The new ESPN Content Development (ECD) unit (formerly ESPN Original Entertainment) serves as the incubator of original content for placement throughout ESPN Inc.'s vast media portfolios. Charged with developing and producing original content, ECD programming includes award-winning documentaries, original movies, reality series, news and information programs, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival, scripted and unscripted dramatic series and groundbreaking televised events such as ESPN owned-events The X Games � the world's leading brand in actions sports events and competition, and The ESPYs which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. ECD continues to plant itself firmly on the cutting edge of sports and entertainment television, and event creation. With projects such as the four-hour, two-part film event Black Magic and the all-access documentary Bobby V in Japan slated for Spring 2008, ECD serves both the passionate sports fan and the more casual viewer, and strives to expand ESPN's already industry-leading offerings in live events and sports news & information programming.
HORIZON ENTERTAINMENT
Horizon Entertainment was created by Emmy� Award winning television producer Jason Sciavicco. Established in 2007 and experienced in reality-based series and documentaries, Horizon Entertainment can shift a fantastic idea from concept to reality. The company is represented by the William Morris Agency, giving Horizon Entertainment the ability to solicit and secure network homes for projects, develop brand identities and ancillary opportunities. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Horizon Entertainment offers an array of producing, consulting and production services.
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[06/06/25 - 12:56 PM] Saddle Up! "The McBee Dynasty: Bravoleb Watch Party" Begins Monday, June 9 at 9PM ET/PT on Bravo and Streams Next Day On Peacock Join fan-favorite Bravolebs Craig Conover & Austen Kroll, Kristen Doute & Brittany Cartwright, and Kate Chastain & Fraser Olender as they giddy up for season 2 by diving into all the family and farmhand drama from season 1.
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[06/06/25 - 12:31 PM] Video: Paramount+ with Showtime Unveils Trailer and Additional Cast for "Noah's Arc: The Movie" Premiering Friday, June 20 Michael M. Jones, Tory Devon Smith, Cocoa Brown, Novi Brown, Angela Beyince, Josca, Evari Pickett, Tjay Williams and Robb Sherman will join the previously announced cast in the movie.
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[06/06/25 - 10:42 AM] "Live with Kelly and Mark" Soars with Star-Studded Week "Live" ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 121 consecutive weeks across all key measures.
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[06/06/25 - 10:03 AM] Video: Peacock Releases Trailer for True Crime Documentary "The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets" Premiering Tuesday, June 10 After the arrest of the alleged Gilgo Beach killer, this documentary goes inside the suspects home for the first time, where exclusive commentary from his own family unravels a chilling portrait of a man accused of living a double life and hiding dark secrets under their own roof.
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[06/06/25 - 07:30 AM] Following +30% Surge in Viewership for the Season 4B Premiere, Showtime Renews "Couples Therapy" The series follows world-renowned psychologist and psychoanalyst Dr. Orna Guralnik as she deftly guides couples through real-life therapy sessions.
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[06/05/25 - 11:06 PM] Max Original Documentary Series "Most Wanted: Teen Hacker" Debuts This September The series follows the illegal exploits of Finnish hacker Julius Kivimäki, known as Aleksanteri Kivimäki, who rose to infamy after forcing a U.S. passenger plane to make an emergency landing, shutting down PlayStation globally and orchestrating several dangerous SWAT attacks - including one targeting the family of an FBI agent.
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[06/05/25 - 08:01 PM] A Tender Tale Unfolds: "The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity" Premieres July 6 Serialized on the official Weekly Shonen Magazine app, Magazine Pocket, the manga has distinguished itself in the shonen genre, selling over five million copies as of June 2025.
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[06/05/25 - 12:30 PM] Shocking Limited True Crime Docu-Series, "Butchers of L.A.," Premieres Thursday, June 26 on SundanceTV, Sundance Now and AMC+ Airing weekly, the three-part series sheds new light on the horrifying crimes of the "Freeway Killers" who terrorized Southern California over two decades.
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[06/05/25 - 11:01 AM] ESPN Events Announces 17-Game College Football Bowl Schedule for 2025-26 Season Bowl Season will begin Saturday, December 13, with the 10th edition of the ESPN Events' Cricket Celebration Bowl.
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[06/05/25 - 11:01 AM] Truths and Rumors Come to a Boiling Point When Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" Returns for a New Season on Thursday, July 10 at 9 P.M. ET/PT Housewives Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Katie Ginella return for an unforgettable season as the ladies set out to uncover the truth, restore trust, heal broken bonds and everything that lies between.
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[06/05/25 - 11:01 AM] BET Announces the Highly Anticipated Return of "Ms. Pat Settles It" for a Third Season As previously announced, BET Media Group extended its multi-year overall deal with Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams under which she will produce and perform in new series and other projects across BET.
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[06/05/25 - 11:00 AM] Prime Video Reveals Premiere Date, First Look Images, and Teaser Art for "Butterfly," Starring and Executive Produced by Daniel Dae Kim The spy-thriller series will premiere all episodes on August 13 and also stars Reina Hardesty, Piper Perabo, and Louis Landau.
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[06/05/25 - 10:32 AM] ESPN Reveals 33-Game College Football Bowl Season Slate for 2025-26 The postseason slate, including 17 ESPN Events' owned-and-operated bowls, starts Saturday, December 13, and runs through Friday, January 2.
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[06/05/25 - 10:04 AM] "My Big Fat Fabulous Life," "90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After?" and "Welcome to Plathville" Return This July This July, TLC expands its summer slate with the return of three hit series - each offering new beginnings, evolving relationships, and unforgettable personalities navigating love, family, and personal growth.
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[06/05/25 - 10:01 AM] Starz Renews "The BMF Documentary: Blowing Money Fast" for Season Two The docuseries, which dives deeper into the real stories of the Black Mafia Family figures who inspired the "BMF" scripted series, will also serve as a complement to the fourth season of "BMF," premiering Friday, June 6.
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