NBC is teaming with "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Cheryl Hines for a new feel-good reality show that might be dubbed "Extreme Makeover: Schoolhouse Edition."
The project, from Horizon Alternative Television, is actually called "School Pride." It’s designed to give local communities the ability to renovate and restore their aging school facilities, and was inspired by a similar (untelevised) effort in which local activists fix school buildings in Compton, Calif.
NBC unscripted chief Paul Telegdy could announce the project as earlier as Sunday at the network’s portion of the TV Critics Assn. press tour, sources said. Hines, executive producer of "School Pride," was involved in the original Compton effort and brought the project to Warner Horizon and then NBC.
Camera crews will follow select students and teachers who will stay at the school as a community comes together to work on a big project designed to aid the school. While the show won’t build an entire new school, a la "Home Edition," work could include re-painting, re-carpeting, re-surfacing of playground asphalt courts, sprucing up the track and field or construction of buildings (such as a music hall).
The effort in Compton led to improved test scores for students, and producers are no doubt hoping for similar results. The series will feature a team of experts, as well as a major end-of-show surprise twist designed to help the school.
Hines will serve as executive producer of "School Pride" alongside Denise Cramsey — a former executive producer of “ExtremeMakeover: Home Edition."
