Wanted by MTV: "Adventure capitalists"

By Kimberly Nordyke

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - MTV is developing a slate of eight new "aspirational, enterprising and empowering" series for 2009 as part of a push to ramp up the network's original programing.

Among them are spin-offs of "Run's House" and "Rob & Big"; a show from Nick Lachey about performing arts students in Cincinnati; another from Johnny Knoxville starring a professional daredevil; and a series that goes behind the scenes at CollegeHumor.com.

Also on the slate are a Donald Trump-produced series that will attempt to reform party girls, a series produced by "South Park" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker that's based on the "How's Your News?" short films, and a college-set series produced by students.

"These new series reflect Generation 'Why Not?' -- living, working and playing on their own terms, 'adventure capitalists' if you will, pursuing a variety of thrill-seeking, 2.0, express-yourself enterprises," said Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks Music Group.

The new series:

-- "Nitro Circus," starring freestyle motocross rider Travis Pastrana and his daredevil buddies. Knoxville will serve as an executive producer.

-- "The CollegeHumor Show," which takes a look at the "offbeat" workplace of the twentysomething-run Web site CollegeHumor.com.

-- "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory," featuring the co-star of MTV's "Rob & Big," who is trying to expand the reach of his skateboarding business with the Fantasy Factory, a 25,000-square-foot industrial complex turned fun house.

-- "College Life," which follows freshman at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The show will be shot by the students themselves.

-- "How's Your News?" which began in 1998 as a series of short films directed by Arthur Bradford featuring cast members with disabilities serving as news reporters who interview people on the street. Stone and Parker later executive produced a feature film following the reporters. The MTV series will feature a team of reporters who drive across America in a customized tour bus documenting their experiences covering events like the Grammys.

-- "Daddy's Girls," starring Rev Run's daughters Vanessa and Angela Simmons of "Run's House" as they move to Los Angeles and set up an office/showroom for their tennis shoe and apparel line and Vanessa pursues an acting career.

-- "The Girls of Hedsor Hall," with Trumo as an executive producer, is based on the British format "Ladette to Lady." "Girls" takes 12 foul-mouthed party girls from America and sends them to a proper English finishing school. Former Miss USA Tara Conner serves as "visiting instructor" for the girls, one of whom will win $100,000.

-- The untitled performing arts reality project created by Lachey and Colton Gramm, which follows students from Lachey's alma mater, Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter