GET ready for reality TV – but with a sense of humor.
The National Network (TNN) is rolling out a slate of five shows beginning tonight, all of which will air at 8 p.m.
But these shows ain’t your father’s “Fear Factor,” TNN officials insist.
“In the traditional sense these shows are reality shows, but our reality is humor-based,” says Diane Robina, TNN’s executive vice president/general manager.
“We’re more playful with people we’re working with,” says Robina. “This is not based on shock value – we don’t make fun of everybody.”
TNN’s “reality” schedule begins tonight with “Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors,” hosted by WWF personality Mick “Mankind” Foley, in which custom-built robots will battle each other to the death.
That’s followed tomorrow by “Ultimate Revenge,” a good-natured cousin of “Spy TV” hosted by Ryan Seacrest, in which people “get even” with relatives and friends, etc.
“It’s so absolutely different from ‘Spy TV,’ ” says Robina. “We stage tremendously elaborate productions, and everyone always ends up in a hug – everyone is smiling.”
On Wednesday, “Small Shots” makes its debut as two filmmakers, Chris Cox and Matt Sloan, traverse the U.S. in a dilapidated Winnebago – stopping in small towns to cast locals in movie spoofs like “Silence of the Yams.”
You get the idea.
” ‘Small Shots’ is unique and funny, and it plays with pop-culture,” says Robina.
Thursday brings the debut of “Lifegame,” an adaptation of the off-Broadway play in which improv actors act out life events of audience members and celebrities who narrate their life stories.
Ice-T (“Law & Order: SVU“) guest-stars on the premiere episode of “Lifegame,” which is hosted by Brian Lohmann.
TNN has made six to 13 episode commitments for the aformentioned shows – but has already ordered 26 episodes of “Pop Across America,” which premieres Friday.
In “Pop,” comedian Steve Marmel hosts TV’s “first travelling comedy show” as he looks for quirky stuff in American pop culture. “Sopranos” star Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Meadow Soprano) guests in Friday’s inaugural episode, which was shot at brand-spanking-new PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
“We need the opportunity to get people to sample us,” says Robina. “We have the WWF, which is the highest-rated show in cable, and that brings in lots of viewers.
“And when we launch ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ in October that will bring in a whole new, younger audience . . . that probably didn’t even know TNN existed.”