Pop Unveils 4 New Projects in Development; ‘90210’s’ Shenae Grimes-Beech to Co-Anchor ‘POPSUGAR Now’

TCA 2015: Shows include “Losing It,” “The Elvis Duran Project,” “Celebrity Inc.” and “Worst Ever”

Brad Schwartz

The former TV Guide Network — now Pop — which is officially rebranding on Jan. 14, unveiled four new projects in development Friday at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour.

Those projects include the Morgan Spurlock and John Stamos‘ docuseries “Losing It,” another show featuring Z100’s Elvis Duran, a reality series pairing celebrities and inventors, and a stage show with celebrities recounting their most embarrassing life moments.

The revamped channel also announced that “90210’s” Shenae Grimes-Beech will co-anchor and serve as an entertainment correspondent for “POPSUGAR Now.” Grimes-Beech will be one of three lead anchors along with co-hosts Allison McNamara and Becca Frucht. Her first broadcast will be on Monday, Jan 12.

“POPSUGAR Now” is produced by women’s leading global media and technology company POPSUGAR.

“I’ve always had such a great time with the hosts and crew when guest-hosting for ‘POPSUGAR Now,’” Grimes-Beech said in a statement. “I was extremely honored and excited to be asked to be one of their full-time hosts! I have such great chemistry with Allison and Becca, and working with them daily along with covering fashion, music and pop culture is an incredible start to a new chapter in my career. I couldn’t imagine a better way to start the New Year.”

“Shenae is a complete natural for ‘POPSUGAR Now,’” added David Grant, president of POPSUGAR Studios. “She resonates with the POPSUGAR audience, who relate to her as a very successful, smart, talented and independent young woman.”

“Our development reflects our programming mission of covering what’s popping in culture and creating content around personalities or subjects that have an inherent fan-base supporting them,” said Brad Schwartz (pictured above), president of Entertainment and Media, Pop. “We have aligned ourselves with producers and talent known for delivering stand-out content that ‘pops,’ and our unique perspective will be telling these stories with a fan-at-heart sensibility.”

Here are the projects in development and official descriptions from Pop:

LOSING IT
Based on the popular Yahoo web series, this celebrity-hosted television series will capture sit-down interviews with stars as they recount their unforgettable and often hilarious real-life stories of losing their virginity. Bits are recreated by puppets, animation, live action and claymation leading up to and following the big event. LOSING IT is produced by Warrior Poets and John Stamos Productions with executive producers Morgan Spurlock, John Stamos, Ethan Goldman and Jeremy Chilnick.

ELVIS DURAN PROJECT
Elvis Duran, one of the most listened-to syndicated radio personalities in the U.S. and host of his own show on Z100 in New York (“Elvis Duran and the Morning Show”), is the subject of a docu-series that follows Elvis and his employees both at work and play.  The series will feature superstar guests and platinum selling artists who stop by the radio show, road trips with fans, and best moments from fan-fueled music festivals and live events. ELVIS DURAN PROJECT is produced by Left/Right with executive producers Ken Druckerman, Banks Tarver, Elvis Duran, David Katz and Mitchell Stewart.

CELEBRITY INC.
CELEBRITY INC. pairs celebrities with their dream product and an aspiring inventor to showcase the ultimate product launch and illustrate the power of celebrity endorsement. In each episode, a different celebrity is featured while teaming up with top product development company Edison Nation, LLC to identify the most talented aspiring inventors. After spending a week in product development camp, the inventors pitch their product to the celebrity, and one person is chosen to have their product launched, with the celebrity’s name attached, in stores nationwide and online. CELEBRITY INC. is executive produced by Robert Friedman of Bungalow Media + Entertainment, LLC and Colby Gaines of Back Roads Entertainment.

WORST EVER
A handful  of celebrities take the stage in WORST EVER to recount their hilarious, embarrassing and sometimes shocking “Worst Ever” scenarios such as a date, audition, break-up, fight, family dinner, sexual encounter or interview.  Hosted by actress Christine Lakin (“Step by Step”), and based on her and Alec Ledd’s live stage show in Los Angeles, the series is a wry, candid and honest look at how celebrities aren’t immune to life’s most awkward moments. WORST EVER is produced by Thank You, Brain! with executive producers Krysia Plonka, Tracey Baird, Christine Lakin and Alec Ledd.

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