Esquire Network Renews 5 Series, Orders Joel Silver Project, Places 4 Shows in Development

TCA 2014: New deals include projects with Randi Zuckerberg and World of Wonder

Chris Haston/Esquire Network

Esquire Network president Adam Stotsky announced that the network has renewed five of its original series for second seasons and announced four projects in development, including deals with Randi Zuckerberg and World of Wonder. It has also greenlit a new series from Joel Silver.

The network gave renewals to culinary competition “Knife Fight” (Flower Films and Authentic Entertainment) for 24 episodes; Craft Beer series “Brew Dogs” (Custom Productions and Redtail Media) for 10 episodes; and extreme competition show “Boundless” (Breakthrough Entertainment) for 10 episodes. They will all return in the second quarter of 2014.

Set to return in the fourth quarter this year is “White Collar Brawlers” which pits quarreling coworkers in the the ring to fight it out. From Authentic Entertainment, Esquire has ordered 10 new episodes.

Also read: Esquire Network Sees Big Gains With Men Post-Style Makeover

Also, the network has expanded its special, “Best Bars in America,” to quarterly specials in 2014. Adapted from the popular Esquire magazine feature, the special is produced by Magical Elves.

Esquire has also ordered interview show “Friends Call Me Johnny” from Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures. Every episode features Jean Pigozzi conducting candid interviews with his celebrity friends. It is currently in production.

For its development slate, the network announced the following deals:

— Randi Zuckerberg and Coolfire Media, for a series tentatively titled HQ, which will showcase the most creative work environments around the country.

Also read: Esquire Network Greenlights 2 Specials Based on Magazine Franchises

— Ellen Rakieten Entertainment and Relativity Real, for CAR MATCHMAKER (WT). The series will feature comedy writer and lifelong car aficionado Spike Feresten as he sets up car-challenged men with the vehicles that could turn their lives around.

— Jane Root’s Nutopia, for the documentary series DOWNFALL (WT), which tracks the notorious and spectacular rise and fall of prominent businessmen, politicians and athletes.

— World of Wonder and Esquire magazine sex columnist, Stacey Grenrock-Woods, for a comedic and provocative look at some of the sex and relationship questions her readers ask every month. THE STACEY GRENROCK-WOODS PROJECT is currently untitled.

See video: Style Network Viewers Sound Off on Esquire Network Switcheroo

Additionally, Stotsky told reporters at the 16-week-old cable network’s first panel at the Television Critics Association press tour that the network is proud of its early successes and that it’s fully aware of the challenges ahead for the growing brand.

“We’ve transformed this network from 20 percent male when it was called Style to one that’s now delivering 60 percent men in just a few short weeks,” he said.

He continued, “We know that transitioning a network’s audience is incredibly challenging, so we’re really proud of what we’ve been able to build over just a short period of time. I think, equally as important, our audience is growing each and every week and each and every month. So, we know we’re onto something. That being said, we’ve got eyes wide open about the challenges ahead. We know networks great networks are not built overnight. So we’re in it for the long haul. We’re confident that we can build on this early momentum throughout 2014.”

Comments