Participant Media’s television network, Pivot, made the following announcements at Friday’s Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour: The renewal of eco-adventure series, “Angry Planet;” the greenlighting of docuseries “Series Lives of Americans;” three new productions in development; and a premiere date for first scripted series “Fortitude.”
First, the last offering: “Fortitude,” which stars Richard Dormer and Stanley Tucci, will debut on Thursday, Jan. 29 at 1o p.m. ET with a two-hour premiere event.
The new episodes of “Angry Planet” will continue storm chaser George Kourounis’ adventures as he travels to some of the most remote places on Earth, but this season he’ll share how the changing environment is directly impacting our ever-increasing weather calamities. Season 4, already in production, premieres in April of this year.
Docuseries “Secret Lives of Americans,” produced by MME/Filmpool USA/ All3Media America, looks at individuals’ lives as they expose secrets to the most influential people in their lives. The series will premiere this summer.
In a currently untitled new show, former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe will host a 30-minute docuseries and use his David vs. Goliath attitude, along with a team of seasoned and opinionated journalists to tell societal stories through a sports lens.
Here are Pivot’s descriptions for the projects in development:
SCRIPTED
“Shrink” (working title)
Writer/Executive Producer: Chuck Martin; Writer/Producers: Ted Tremper and Tim Baltz; Executive Producers: Jean Doumanian and Patrick Daly/Jean Doumanian Productions
(:30 Comedy)
“Shrink” is based on the New York Television Festival award-winning selection (for Best Comedy Pilot and the Critics’ Choice Award) developed by Tremper and Baltz – both recently named by Complex Magazine, “Funny People Who Should Get Their Own TV Shows” – and is being written for Pivot by Chuck Martin, Tremper and Baltz. In “Shrink,” when a recent medical school graduate fails to match with a residency program, he uses his temporary medical license, Craigslist, and his parents’ garage to perform the 1,750 hours of free therapy needed to become a clinical therapist in hopes of fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a real doctor.UNSCRIPTED
Untitled Brian Knappenberger Project
Producers: Luminant Media
(:30 News Magazine)
From award-winning documentary filmmaker Brian Knappenberger, this innovative series takes a fresh spin on the traditional news magazine format and spotlights the untold stories of people who defend human rights and call out institutional failures. With bold and in-the-moment storytelling, the show is driven by firsthand accounts from on-the-ground reporters and verité coverage of the people closest to the stories jumping right to personal accounts that reveal the big picture.Untitled Chris Kluwe Project
Producers: T Group Productions
(:30 Docu-series)
An immersive, irreverent and no-holds-barred investigative series led by outspoken former NFL player Chris Kluwe that will take viewers into the space where sports and society intersect. Kluwe will use his David vs. Goliath attitude, along with a team of seasoned and opinionated journalists, to expose the social and political topics that people are talking about today, and will be talking about in the future.