At an upfront presentation held yesterday in New York, Oxygen Media executives unveiled the network’s programming initiatives for 2009-2010 anchored by plans to expand the Tori & Dean (Tori Spelling and husband Dean McDermott) franchise with a fourth season of their hit series; the piloting of a couples makeover show; and the development of a made-for-television movie. Additionally, the network announced the addition of “The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck” to its schedule later this year, and the development of two new series: “Keshia and Kaseem,” starring Keshia Knight Pulliam (“Rudy” from the “The Cosby Show”) and her live-in-boyfriend, Kaseem Penn and “Celeb-U-Moms” which follows the personal and professional lives of a group of Hollywood Moms juggling life, love, family and friendship. The announcements were made today by Amy Introcaso-Davis, Oxygen’s SVP/Original Programming and Development.
Kick-starting Q2, the premiere of the much talked-about competition reality series “Pretty Wicked” was a clear standout becoming Oxygen’s youngest and most watched series premiere among total viewers, A18-49 and the network’s key demo of W18-34. In addition, the network recently announced a fourth season pick-up of “Bad Girls Club,” the Bunim/Murray-produced reality skein which became the first Oxygen series to average more than one million viewers per episode. “Bad Girls Club” also ranks as the network’s most successful series among its target demo, W18-34 and boasted the youngest season on Oxygen with a median age of 26. Plus, the network greenlit a new season of “Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,” which returns to the schedule on May 26 at 10PM ET/PT.
New Series and Specials:
“Dance Your Ass Off”
Premieres: This summer
Oxygen brings dance, diet and divas together with the new dance/weight-loss competition series “Dance Your Ass Off.” Tony Award-winning actress Marissa Jaret Winokur, well known for her role as plus-sized Tracy Turnblad in the hit Broadway musical “Hairspray,” will serve as host. In this unique show, talented, full-figured contestants who struggle with their weight will dance to unleash their inner thin.
“Addicted to Beauty”
Premieres: Later this year
Oxygen pulls back the curtain on the tantalizing world of medi-spas with a new office docu-comedy, “Addicted to Beauty.” As seen through the eyes of the larger than life staff at one of the country’s hottest beauty enhancement facilities in California, the eight one -hour episodes examine the young, highly dysfunctional team who provide Restylane injections and hits of Botox to the rich and pampered.
“The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck”
Premieres: Later this year
Take one fiery young chef on a quest for total world culinary domination, mix her with distinctive and sexy American cuisine, add a cutting edge Dallas restaurant with a loud cast of characters…and you’ve got the recipe for “The Naughty Kitchen with Chef Blythe Beck.” Blythe, a 29-year old Texas native, who is plus-sized in stature and personality, is the naughty head chef at Central 214 – a top-rated Dallas restaurant.
In Development
“Keshia and Kaseem” (WT)
Former Cosby kid Keshia Knight Pulliam (“Rudy”) and her entrepreneur boyfriend and business partner, Kaseem Penn, learn first-hand how the trivial turns epic when newly cohabitating. Together for almost two years, Keshia has recently forsaken her Atlanta home, spending most of her time at Kaseem’s place in the exclusive Cascades community of Atlanta.
Celeb-U-Moms
Celeb-U-Moms is a docu-series that follows the action-packed, personal and professional lives of a group of Hollywood moms juggling life, love, family and friendship along with their glamorous careers. These women live the polished life of designer dresses and beautiful people, hitting the hottest premieres with access to the hippest clubs and coolest people – but when they get home, they’ve got diapers to change and screaming toddlers to soothe.
“Mr. & Mrs. Makeover” (WT)
In this pilot for series, developed by and starring Tori Spelling and her husband Dean McDermott, couples will experience the ultimate in makeover magic: both in how they live and how they look. Part marriage counseling, part makeover, each couple will spend time with Tori and Dean who uncover what makes each partner tick; what works and what doesn’t work about their relationship; and create a forum for opening the door to a stronger and more honest partnership.
Tori and Dean Telepic (WT)
Oxygen is in the early development stages of developing an original made for television movie. The romantic comedy will both star and be executive produced by Spelling and McDermott.
