ESQUIRE NETWORK ANNOUNCES SEASON 2 PICKUPS, NEW DEVELOPMENT DEALS
LOS ANGELES - January 18, 2014 - Esquire Network has picked up second seasons of several key debut series, and has entered into new development deals with top creative talent, it was announced today at the Television Critics' Association tour by Esquire Network president, Adam Stotsky.
Based on critical and audience successes, the following series have been ordered for second seasons:
· KNIFE FIGHT: Executive produced by Flower Films and Authentic Entertainment, and hosted by chef Ilan Hall, KNIFE FIGHT is an underground cooking competition featuring mystery ingredients, a one-hour time limit and a crowd of die-hard foodies. Twenty-four half-hour episodes are expected to premiere in 2nd Quarter 2014.
· BREW DOGS: Scottish rebels James Watt and Martin Dickie are returning to America to spread their love of craft beer. They're touring the country, celebrating our finest craft breweries and creating some truly unique brews of their own. Ten one-hour episodes have been ordered from Custom Productions and Redtail Media for 2nd Quarter 2014.
· BOUNDLESS: To conquer the world's most intense endurance competitions, athleticism and willpower alone aren't enough. What you need is a great friend. Simon Donato and Paul "Turbo" Trebilcock are taking on another season of the most extreme competitions on Earth. Ten one-hour episodes have been ordered from Breakthrough Entertainment for 2nd Quarter 2014.
· WHITE COLLAR BRAWLERS: Two office adversaries leave their cubicles behind and enter the ring in every episode. They'll push themselves to the limit, learning to box from some of the sport's most hardcore trainers. As they prepare for the final bout, these fighters will discover that true victory isn't decided in the ring, but in the journey that takes them there. Ten one-hour episodes have been ordered by Authentic Entertainment for 4th Quarter 2014.
· BEST BARS IN AMERICA: Produced by Magical Elves, this Fall 2013 special will expand to quarterly specials in 2014. BEST BARS draws from Esquire magazine's popular curated list of the best bars in the country.
These originals substantially improved their timeslot rating versus year ago with Men 18-49 last Fall. In its first 16 weeks on the air, Esquire Network's primetime programming transitioned from a 20% male audience for Style to 60% male for Esquire, exceeding the network's audience composition goals.
"The overwhelmingly positive response to Esquire Network's debut lineup tells us we're absolutely moving in the right direction," said Stotsky. "We're pleased to announce our first-ever season two renewals, and look forward to making additional second season announcements soon."
Stotsky also announced that the network has entered into production and development deals with top producers and creative talent. From legendary producer Joel Silver and Silver Pictures comes MY FRIENDS CALL ME JOHNNY, a twist on the typical interview show. In every episode, the self-proclaimed 'inventor of the selfie,' Jean Pigozzi travels the globe to ask the most personal questions of his celebrity friends. MY FRIENDS CALL ME JOHNNY is currently in production for 2014.
The network also announced development deals with:
· Randi Zuckerberg and Coolfire Media, for a series tentatively titled HQ, which will showcase the most creative work environments around the country.
· Ellen Rakieten Entertainment and Relativity Real, for CAR MATCHMAKER (WT). The series will feature comedy writer and lifelong car aficionado Spike Feresten as he sets up car-challenged men with the vehicles that could turn their lives around.
· Jane Root's Nutopia, for the documentary series DOWNFALL (WT), which tracks the notorious and spectacular rise and fall of prominent businessmen, politicians and athletes.
· World of Wonder and Esquire magazine sex columnist, Stacey Grenrock-Woods, for a comedic and provocative look at some of the sex and relationship questions her readers ask every month. THE STACEY GRENROCK-WOODS PROJECT is currently untitled.
About Esquire Network
Esquire Network is a lifestyle and entertainment network featuring programming that speaks to classic and contemporary passions and interests, from fashion and style to food and drink, travel and women and relationships. Building on Esquire's 80 years of unparalleled insight into what makes men tick, the network debuted September 23, 2013 in 75 million homes nationwide, as well as online, mobile, On Demand, Esquire TV Now (TVE) and other platforms. Esquire Network is a strategic partnership between NBCUniversal and Hearst Magazines, and is a unit of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. To find Esquire Network, visit: http://esquiretv.com/channelfinder.
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