The A&E Network announced plans for ten new unscripted series this year -- including a Dallas offshoot of its hit "Storage Wars" -- and the debut next year of "Coma," a new miniseries from Tony and Ridley Scott.
The network made the announcements in its upfront announcement to advertisers Wednesday.
In addition to the previously announced 20-episode second season of “Storage Wars,” which averaged 2.8 million viewers per episode in its first season, A&E has ordered eight episodes of “Storage Wars: Dallas.”
It also picked up the new series “InLaws," "Ship Happens" and "Boar Hunters" -- all working titles -- as the first of ten new series planned for 2011. The drama series "Big Mike" and "Longmire" are also in development.
The network is developing more than 40 series concepts, including projects from Ryan Seacrest (“Keeping up with The Kardashians”), Ryan Murphy (“Glee”), Mark Burnett (“Survivor”) and Michael Davies (“Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”).
Adding to a scripted drama lineup that includes the return of "The Glades" on June 5, it said it would air “Coma,” a miniseries from the Scott brothers, on Memorial Day 2012. The Scotts have spent more than a year developing the remake of the 1978 Michael Crichton film, from the bestselling novel by Robin Cook.
A&E's descriptions of the projects:
NEW NONFICTION SERIES:
“InLaws” (working title) - Premieres 3Q 2011
A&E shines a light on married couples that are at the boiling point with their overbearing in-laws. Each episode will feature a spouse in between their parents and the person they married, desperate to save their relationships. Seasoned relationship experts will come in and use unconventional tactics to make them face their issues.
“InLaws” is produced by Leftfield Pictures for A&E Network. Executive producers for Leftfield Pictures are Brent Montgomery and Courtney Montgomery. Executive producers for A&E are David McKillop, Elaine Frontain Bryant and Stephen Harris.
“Ship Happens”(working title)- Premieres 4Q 2011
There’s a rare breed of independent truckers that have discovered the fortunes of transporting things that traditional carriers won't touch, such as airplanes, herds of goats, homes, and so on. This new series explores the cutthroat world of these competitive shippers: people who ship odd sized packages for big bucks.
“Ship Happens” is produced by Megalomedia, Inc. for A&E Network. Jonathan Nowzaradan serves as executive producer. A&E executive producers are David McKillop and Elaine Frontain Bryant.
“Boar Hunters”(working title) - Premieres 3Q 2011
The Campbell clan has a unique family business: hog hunting. Down in Texas, patriarch Jerry Campbell is joined by level-headed son Robert and firecracker daughter Krystal as they respond to troubled farmers whose crops and cattle are being threatened by an invasion of feral hogs.
“Boar Hunters” is produced by Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company for A&E Network. Executive producers are Thom Beers and Philip D. Segal. Jeff Conroy is co-executive producer. A&E executive producers are David McKillop, Elaine Frontain Bryant and Lily Neumeyer.
