NBC announced the premieres for its original alternative programs in Summer 2007 that feature the return of last summer’s hit “America’s Got Talent” (with new host Jerry Springer) on May 29 as well as an updated edition of the hit series “Last Comic Standing” (with new host Bill Bellamy) on June 13 and the launch of “Age of Love” reality dating series (with host Mark Consuelos) on June 18. In addition, NBC will reprise the popular weight-loss series “The Biggest Loser” (with new host Alison Sweeney from NBC’s “Days of our Lives”) in late summer.
The announcements were made today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming and Development, NBC Entertainment.
“We have a strong hand to play this summer season with a proven stable of winning series from past summers,” said Plestis. “Impressively, each returning show will have a fresh look with new hosts and the competitions on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘Last Comic,’ and ‘Biggest Loser’ will be even bigger and better than before. Likewise, we like what we see with the new ‘Age of Love,’ which could prove to be the breakout hit of the summer.”
“America’s Got Talent” will debut on Tuesday, May 29 (9-11 p.m. ET) with a two-hour season premiere, then will resume in its regularly scheduled time period the following Tuesday, June 5 (8 p.m. ET). “Last Comic Standing” will premiere on Wednesday, June 13 — also with a two-hour premiere from 9-11 p.m. (ET) – then will regularly continue on Wednesdays starting June 20 (9-10 p.m. ET). The series will go on an international search looking for the funniest comic in the world.
“Age of Love,” hosted by Mark Consuelos (“All My Children”), debuts on Monday, June 18 (10-11 p.m. ET). The exact day and time for the late-summer premiere of “The Biggest Loser” will be announced later.
Following are descriptions for NBC’s summer alternative series in order of premiere dates.
From the producers of “American Idol” and Simon Cowell, “America’s Got Talent” (May 29) was last summer’s #1 new series. It premiered on June 21, 2006 with a 4.6 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49 and 12.4 million viewers overall, making it the #1 non-sports telecast on television for the week.
Bringing the variety format back to the forefront of American culture, “America’s Got Talent” showcases the hottest performers from across the country, with the winner being chosen by the television viewing audience. Each week, the show features a colorful array of hopeful future stars — singers, dancers, comedic performers and unique acts of all ages who have a chance to strut and perform in front of a panel of celebrity judges.
New host Springer is currently in his 16th season of hosting NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution’s hit talk show “The Jerry Springer Show.” Throughout his career, Springer also has been the mayor of Cincinnati, a political pundit, lawyer, newscaster, country recording artist, international emcee, television personality, movie star, Broadway actor, progressive talk-radio broadcaster – and even a competitor in the hugely popular television series “Dancing with the Stars.”
“America’s Got Talent” is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Cowell’s SYCO TV. Cowell, Ken Warwick (“American Idol”), Cecile Frot-Coutaz (“American Idol”), Jason Raff (“Three Wishes”) and James Sunderland (“Dancing on Ice”) are the executive producers.
NBC’s unscripted laughfest “Last Comic Standing” (June 13) returns for a fifth season with new host Bill Bellamy, new talent scouts that include “Last Comic Standing” alumni Alonzo Bodden, ANT and Kathleen Madigan — and an all new quest to find the funniest new comedian in the world. The Emmy Award-nominated series broadens its scope this season by searching internationally for the world’s funniest comedian as it holds casting calls in London, Montreal and Sydney, Australia in addition to Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, San Antonio and Tempe, Arizona. Celebrity judges will also join the talent scouts as they search for the world’s funniest new comic.
The fourth season of “Last Comic Standing” ranked as the #4 summer series overall in adults 18-49, with every telecast ranking in that week’s top-seven in adults 18-49. Last year, it averaged a 3.6 rating, 10 share in adults 18-49 and 8.1 million viewers overall.
Comedian and actor Bellamy recently released his debut comedy DVD, “Bill Bellamy: Back to My Roots,” which aired as a one-hour special on Comedy Central. He headlined the new season of “Def Comedy Jam,” and starred in the comedy “Getting Played,” the drama series “Fastlane,” and in the comedy series “Men, Women & Dogs.” His feature-film credits also include “Any Given Sunday,” “Love Stinks” and “Love Jones.”
Bodden won season three of “Last Comic Standing.” A top headliner at comedy clubs nationwide, Bodden had his own half-hour comedy special on Comedy Central, and has appeared in “Bringin’ Down the House,” “The Girl Next Door,” “Angel” and “Grounded for Life.” Likewise, Ant was a contestant in season two and has also made appearances in every other season of the show as well. He is the host of “Celebrity Fit Club” and is a regular guest on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Madigan also was a contestant on season two of the series and was voted Best Female Standup at the American Comedy Awards. Madigan starred in her own HBO half-hour comedy special, and in “Comedy Central Presents: Kathleen Madigan,” and the “USO Comedy Tour Special.”
“Last Comic Standing” is produced by Peter Engel Productions, Magical Elves and NBC Universal Television Studio. The executive producers are Peter Engel (“Saved by the Bell,” “City Guys”), Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz (Bravo’s “Project Runway” and “Top Chef”) and Barry Katz (“Action,” “Dane Cook’s Tourgasm”). Javier Winnik (“Last Comic Standing”) is the co-executive producer.
NBC is bringing romance back to television this summer with the new reality dating series “Age of Love” (June 18), hosted by popular actor Mark Consuelos. The eight-episode series from 3 Ball Productions (NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”) features a new twist on the reality dating show format.
Consuelos’ recent film credits include “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” starring opposite Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson, and last year’s World War II action film, “The Great Raid.” Next, he will star in the comedy “The Pleasure of Your Company,” opposite Isla Fisher and Jason Biggs. Consuelos recently wrapped his final season on the hit Lifetime series “MISSING” as Antonio Cortez. He also had a recurring role on “Hope & Faith” playing a former baseball star.
“Age of Love” is produced by 3 Ball Productions. JD Roth (“The Biggest Loser,” “Beauty and the Geek”), Todd A. Nelson (“The Biggest Loser,” “Beauty and the Geek”) Adam Greener (“Unan1mous”) and Craig Armstrong (“Survivor,” “Super Nanny”) are executive producers.
The first reality series in which everybody “loses,” “The Biggest Loser” (late summer) enters its fourth season as it continues to challenge and encourage overweight participants to undergo radical physical makeovers, without any kind of surgery, in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. The series has become a worldwide hit, produced a New York Times best-selling book and become a burgeoning online lifestyle club www.biggestloserclub.com.
New host Alison Sweeney has portrayed villainess Sami Brady on NBC’s daytime drama “Days of our Lives” since January 6, 1993, and will continue to star on the series while hosting “The Biggest Loser.” For her performance tackling a variety of controversial storylines on “Days,” Sweeney has garnered numerous awards, including the Soap Opera Digest Awards four times (1986, 1998, 1999 and 2001). Sweeney’s television credits include NBC’s “Las Vegas,” “Friends,” and an appearance on the celebrity edition of “Fear Factor.”
“The Biggest Loser” is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3 Ball Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC’s “The Office,” “Ugly Betty”), Dave Broome (“Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope,” “Radio Music Awards”), JD Roth (“Unanimous,” “Beauty and the Geek”), Todd A. Nelson (“Unanimous,” “Beauty and the Geek”) and Mark Koops (“Blow Out,” “The Restaurant”) serve as executive producers.
