Tuesday, June 30, 2009

SOAPnet Adds Another Reality Show

SOAPnet continues to broaden its commitment to original programming, ordering a new reality series, pushing special HOLIDATE into series form and picking up scripted drama BEING ERICA for a second season. Unfortunately, none of this original programming involves actual soap operas.

Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney ABC Television Group said BANK OF MOM NAD DAD, adapted from a BBC format, is an original reality series where women in their 20s and 30s have to face their mom and dad moving in for one week and also receive advice from financial Farnoosh Torabi during a fiscal intervention, as the parents must approve every dollar their progeny spend. Torabi, best known for her work on CNBC, MSNBC and Real Simple, will help plan a road map for change and the tools to make it happen. Produced by BBC Worldwide Productions, Bank of Mom and Dad has been picked up for 10 episodes and is scheduled to premiere Sept. 30 at 10 pm ET.

Previously announced as a one-hour special, HOLIDATE has been greenlit for 10-episode series and will premiere Wednesday July 29 at 10 p.m. The reality series, from ABC Media Productions, takes two women, per episode, who are looking for love but having no luck with the suitors in their individual cities and transports them into each other's lives. Women from cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Dallas and Chicago will be featured.

BEING ERICA, which brought over a half-a-million new viewers to SOAPnet in its first season has been picked up for 12 additional episodes, with the first new installment scheduled for early 2010. In the first season, the series followed the life of single 32-year-old Erica Strange (Erin Karpluk) who with the help of mysterious therapist Dr. Tom (Michael Riley), was able to relive a past regret each week, in order to come back and make a positive change in her present. If season one introduced Erica to time travel, season two has her questioning and exploring its dynamics. We also learn more about the mysterious Dr. Tom and his colleague Dr. Naadiah (Joanne Vannicola).

The three series join SOAPnet's most recent reality series entry SOUTHERN BELLES: LOUISVILLE which premiered May 21. The series, produced by Endemol USA in association with ABC Media Productions, premiered as the network's top reality series to date among total viewers, women 18 to 34 and women 18 to 49 and was the second-most-watched premiere in the net's history, behind only the debut of its GENERAL HOSPITAL spinoff, GENERAL HOSPITAL: NIGHT SHIFT.

5 comments:

  1. Please no more Reality Shows on SOAP NET!!!

    However I do love Being Erica. That is a good show.

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  2. Are you kidding me? Thats it i'm buying a tivo and dropping soapnet.

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  3. ::groan::

    Soapnet should really quit with the reality shows (unless they make one with soap content). That Southern Belles show is better than valium.

    I do like Being Erica, though.

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  4. Hey Roger,
    I actually found the real Soapnet as a pay channel on cable. It's called, "HBO."

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  5. so they're showing all that - but what about another season of "GH: Night Shift" ?

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