VH1 today unveiled a stimulus package for reality TV producers, announcing plans to unveil nearly four dozen original series this year as it attempts to find a new flavor it hopes viewers will love.
Among the more intriguing, non-trashy concepts: "You're Cut Off!"-- a new concept from "Big Brother" producers Allison Grodner and Rich Meehan in which spoiled socialites (read: Paris Hilton types) are sent to brat rehab -- no luxuries, lots of chores -- in an attempt to change their ways. It's set to bow Monday, June 14 and 9 p.m., and it's from Grodner and Meehan's newly formed Fly on the Wall Productions.
While VH1 didn't say it was abandoning its hugely successful "Flavor of Love" franchise factory, network execs have basically said in a number of interviews that it was dramatically scaling back those shows. (Sorry, New York). Now the network says it will focus on what it's cutely called Gen Mix – "the young adults who make up the tail-end of Generation X and the very beginning of Gen Y or the Millennials, covering the ages between 25 and 34."
“They told us that they want to connect even more with our characters, our artists and our celebrities – but in a more genuine way," VH1 president Tom Calderone said. "They still enjoy VH1’s signature sense of fun and irreverence, but they also want more storylines that reflect the issues and challenges they are experiencing in their own lives."
Still no word, however, on whether VH1 will launch an initiative to force the NY Times and other random media outlets to stop including a dash in the VH1 name (as in VH-1). It's been, like, a dozen years since VH1 dropped the dash (and the video hits), but a slew of stubborn/clueless copy editors keep putting it back in. Stop it!
Here's the news dump from VH1 outlining what's on tap in the next year, cut and pasted for your enjoyment:
New VH1 Series Announcements
“You’re Cut Off!” – Premieres Monday, June 14 at 9 PM ET/PT
What happens when you take nine spoiled young women and completely cut them off from shopping, mani-pedis and bottle service? This new series answers that when these women are removed from all cash and conveniences, forced to live as normal people do and encouraged to become productive members of society. In this "spoiled rotten rehab," the ladies must complete daily chores and learn hard lessons from life coach Laura Baron such as taking responsibility and understanding there is more to life than material wealth. VH1's "You're Cut Off" is produced By Fly on the Wall Productions. Executive producers are Allison Grodner, Rich Meehan, Amy Palmer and Rick de Oliveira.
“Money Hungry” – Summer 2010
In the spirit of VH1’s successful “Celebrity Fit Club” series, 10 overweight teams of two will put their money where their mouth is on VH1’s new original series “Money Hungry.” Just like millions of Americans, these contestants are struggling to drop unwanted pounds.
