News Segment
HEAVY METAL “SUPERGROUP” SERIES TO AIR ON VH1:
February 24, 2006
VH1 and J.D. Roth’s 3 Ball Prods. (“Breaking Bonaduce”) have gone into business with a few heavy-metal American idols.
Cabler has greenlit “SuperGroup,” a seven-episode reality show that casts Ted Nugent, Scott Ian, Sebastian Bach, Evan Seinfeld and Jason Bonham as members of a new band aimed at bringing metal back to the forefront of the music scene.
Rockers from different bands will live together for two weeks in Las Vegas. They will endure boot camp-style training from iconic rock manager Doc McGhee in preparation for a concert at Sin City night spot Rain.
VH1 exec VP of original programming Michael Hirschorn said skeinskein is part of cabler’s larger effort to resuscitate music programming. Over the last couple years, VH1 has rebuilt its ratings via Celebreality Sundays — a lineup of reality shows, anchored by B-list celebs, including “Hogan Knows Best,” “Bonaduce,” “The Surreal Life” and its multiple spinoffs.
“What I liked about ‘SuperGroup’ was that it combined elements that have worked so well for us in Celebreality with an organic music idea,” Hirschorn said.
Series began production Wednesday for a May 18 premiere at 10 p.m.
While band members participating in “SuperGroup” have not committed to sticking together beyond the two-week period, Hirschorn said plans to record a single are being mulled.
VH1’s last big push into music series programming — shows including “Bands on the Run” and “Bands Reunited” — helped pull the channel out of ratings limbo at the end of 2004 alongside pop nostalgia franchise “I Love the …”
“SuperGroup” is the first of several music-centric series on tap for later this year, Hirschorn said. As part of the initiative, VH1 on Saturday will roll out the first entry in a new documentary franchise, “Rock Docs.” DMC will be the first profiled.
Roth’s 3 Ball is producing Fox’s upcoming reality competishcompetish “Unanimous.”
Courtesy of www.variety.com