LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC's 2008-09 season slate just got a little bigger.
"Salvage" and "Swords: Lives on the Line," two new series from BermanBraun and Original Productions, are set to join the Peacock's lineup next year. That's in addition to the previously announced BermanBraun/Original duo of "America's Toughest Jobs" and "Shark Taggers."
Executive producers Thom Beers, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun inked a blockbuster multi-series deal with the network back in December (read the story). Said pact included a blind commitment for three 10-episode series as well as development commitments for at least three more.
All four newcomers are detailed by the network as follows:
AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS - "WIMPS NEED NOT APPLY. America's Toughest Jobs is for everyone who's ever wished for a chance to leave behind the safe, comfortable monotony of their job for something more. And for everyone who's ever heard of a dangerous, adventure-filled job and said, "I can do that!" From the producers of Deadliest Catch and Monster Garage comes an adrenaline-pumping series that exposes contestants to careers that require every ounce of energy they've got. From working on the windswept deck of an Alaskan crab boat and being an ice road trucker, to making a living as a roughneck on a Texas oil rig, we discover if the average person can really succeed where professionals sometimes fail."
SALVAGE - "OUT HERE, IT'S DO OR DIE. In the middle of the ocean, a team of daring workers risks it all as it races against the clock and the elements to dismantle an abandoned oil rig before hurricane season strikes. When skill and courage aren't enough, luck becomes the last hope of the determined crew members who haven't seen their loved ones for months, and face the prospect of never seeing them again. It's a true-to-life action adventure about the unknown dangers and adrenaline-filled excitement of the ultimate extreme job."
SHARK TAGGERS - "THEY'RE RISKING LIFE AND LIMB FOR SCIENCE. Each week, we travel on the open seas with a group of daring marine biologists who have devoted their lives to tracking down the ocean's top predators and hand-tagging them with cutting edge satellite transmitters. Watch as these scientists travel to the shores of Brazil to investigate bull sharks' sudden attacks on surfers. The exotic locations, the revealing scientific discoveries and the often emotional relationships between cast members make this unique series as beautiful and dramatic as it is extreme."
SWORDS: LIVES ON THE LINE - "FROM THE FIRST MOMENT, YOU'LL BE HOOKED. For the fisherman of New England, braving the frigid, unpredictable waters of the North Atlantic is a tradition that has been in their families for generations. It is an unforgiving environment, where forty-five-foot vessels contend with fifty-foot waves and gale-force winds, where one fish can earn you $50,000, and one mistake can cost you your life. From the producers of The Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers, Swords takes us out to sea in pursuit of massive blue-fin tuna and the elusive swordfish, with the fathers, sons, old salts and greenhorns for whom the ocean is more than just where they make a living: it's a way of life."
Separately, FremantleMedia Enterprises has acquired the international, home entertainment and format rights to all four series.
Meanwhile, NBC is still keeping its midseason options open as promotional materials for four of its pilots that didn't make its 2008-09 schedule have been released:
BLUE BLOOD - "THERE'S A NEW ROOKIE IN TOWN. From the Hamptons to the South Bronx, Blue Blood follows the true story of Harvard educated cop Ed Conlon in his first year as an NYPD officer. He joins a group of rookies, fresh out of the academy, assigned to beat patrol. Despite what the academy taught them, they will learn that being a rookie is as much about upholding the law as it is about survival on the streets. Blue Blood is an action drama that takes us into the hearts and minds of those sworn to protect and serve." Cast: Logan Marshall-Green as Ed, Kate Levering as Colt, Vincent Piazza as Bobby, April Lee Hernandez as Sophia, Larenz Tate as Andre, Alex Fernandez as Sgt. Vargas. Studios: 20th Century Fox Television, Little Engine.
MAN OF YOUR DREAMS - "HE'S TELLING WOMEN WHAT MEN REALLY THINK. Larry Ackerman is Chicago's sexiest bartender and an expert in the art of seduction (thanks to several years of on-the-job training). He's the reason "The Rules" was written. When it comes to his own relationships, he lives for the chase and the conquest. But when it comes to helping out other people's relationships, he's focused on love. Persuaded by his sister's Tuesday night supper club, Larry reveals the secrets of men to help the women land Mr. Right. Of course, Larry's advice often backfires � or works too well � and he constantly finds himself cleaning up the mess. Larry's newfound purpose in life helps him to truly understand the opposite sex and gives him hope that he might one day meet someone capable of ending his womanizing ways." Cast: Michael Trucco as Larry, Constance Zimmer as Liza, Christina Chang as Melinda, Justina Machado as Sheryl, Ronreaco Lee as Mitch, Rebecca McFarland as Sally. Studios: Universal Media Studios, Conaco Productions.
TOP GEAR - "REV YOUR ENGINES... This Emmy award-winning television phenomenon follows three friends as they attempt to perform outrageous challenges and stunts through the crazy transformations they make to their cars. Full of high-octane adventure and extreme comedy, Top Gear has been an international success for over 30 years. Whether you're a car fan or not, the drama, horsepower and tricked-out hot rods are sure to drive you back to this series again and again." Studio: BBC Worldwide America.
ZIP - "FAMILY MAN. CON MAN. Trip Stringer loves his two kids. He also loves being a rich guy in Beverly Hills � the only problem is he doesn't have any money. But Trip is determined to fake it until he makes it. Living just inside the 90210 boundary so the kids can get a good education, Trip is always within striking distance of the Beverly Hills elite � the people he will con on his way up the economic ladder. With the aid of his loyal protege, Hugo, Trip will confront Russian gangsters, Texan thieves, Chinese tourists and parenthood with equal resolve on his quest to become the next great American success story." Cast: Steven Weber as Trip Singer, Kay Panabaker as Ellie, Bernardo De Paula as JP, Troy Gentile as Nelson. Studios: Universal Media Studios, Reveille, Catapult 360.
The quartet is being considered for midseason orders, network sources have confirmed, however no timetable was given.
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