As it has for the past couple of summers, NBC will rely on reality shows to keep viewers around during the summer.
Four new shows, together with the returning “Average Joe” and “The Biggest Loser,” are on the network’s docket for June, July and August. The new shows include Kathy Hilton, mother of Paris, teaching 14 people how to be socialites; Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee furthering going to collage; lawyers fighting for a cash prize; and fathers taking over household duties from their spouses.
“NBC maintains its ongoing commitment to programming year-round with original entertainment that centers on presenting increasingly fresh and compelling alternative formats,” says Craig Plestis, the network’s head of alternative programming.
The summer season begins June 21 with “I Want to Be a Hilton,” in which Kathy Hilton introduces 14 contestants in the world of New York high society. She’ll eliminate a few each week, with the last person left getting a prize that will enable him or her to live like a socialite for a year.
The following week brings the premiere of “Average Joe 4: The Joes Strike Back.” The show will follow the format of the first two “Average Joes,” with 18 “average” guys competing for the heart of a pretty girl — in this case, a 26-year-old model named Anna.
In late July, “Boston Legal” creator David E. Kelley makes his reality debut as an executive producer of “The Law Firm.” The long-gestating show pits two teams of lawyers against each other to try real cases (each verdict will be legally binding). Legal analyst Roy Black will eliminate contenders each week, with the winner grabbing a $250,000 prize.
“Meet Mister Mom,” which debuts Aug. 3, will put the domestic abilities of fathers to the test. In each episode, two mothers are taken away for a week of spa pampering while their husbands try to get things done at home. The two dads compete to see who’s better at the job, with their spouses secretly watching from their retreat.
Finally, “Tommy Lee Goes to College,” in which Lee takes on campus life at the University of Nebraska, and “The Biggest Loser,” a surprise hit last fall, are both scheduled to premiere Aug. 9.
Credit: Zap2It
