Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Nickelodeon Brings 2012 Upfront Presentation To Los Angeles, Announcing 650 Episodes Of New Content And Returning Hits

Below is a Nickelodeon Press Release from PR Newswire:
Nickelodeon Brings Upfront Presentation to Los Angeles, Announcing 650 Episodes of New Content and Returning Hits

Nick's 2012-13 Programming Slate to Feature New Scott Baio Project for Nick at Nite, James Franco in Multi-Episode Arc on Hollywood Heights, Premiere of The Legend of Korra, Original TV Movies, a SpongeBob SquarePants Stop-Motion Christmas Special, a Raving Rabbids series, and a Development Project for Hit-maker Dan Schneider and iCarly star Jennette McCurdy

LA Presentation Highlighted by Music Performances from Big Time Rush, How to Rock's Cymphonique Miller and Gravity 5, and Rachel Crow; and Appearances by Scott Baio, Keke Palmer and Cast of Hollywood Heights

LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2012 /Nickelodeon Press Release via PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon brought its annual Upfront presentation to Los Angeles, where it announced the pickup of Scott Baio's Daddy's Home for Nick at Nite and the casting of James Franco for a multi-episode arc on Hollywood Heights, in addition to a robust 2012-13 programming slate detailed in its March 14 presentation in New York, including an unprecedented 650 new episodes of brand-new content and returning hits, including: the highly-anticipated animated series The Legend of Korra; a stop-motion SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas special; original primetime TV movies; an original animated series based on the Raving Rabbids video games; and new projects with UK pop sensation One Direction, iCarly/Victorious show creator Dan Schneider and iCarly star Jennette McCurdy.

Nickelodeon has ordered 20 episodes of Daddy's Home (working title), starring Scott Baio. Daddy's Home is a multi-camera half-hour comedy for Nick at Nite that follows David Hobbs (Baio), an actor who, after ten years of starring as America's favorite TV dad, becomes a stay-at-home father to honor the deal he made with his soap star wife so that she may return to the limelight. The series comes from creators/executive producers Tina Albanese and Patrick Labyorteaux and is helmed by executive producers Nat Bernstein and Mitchel Katlin who will show run. Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey are also executive producing through their production company Bischoff Hervey Entertainment (BHE), along with Baio. The series begins production later this year in Los Angeles.

Actor James Franco will also be joining the cast of Hollywood Heights, a daily scripted series premiering on Nick at Nite this summer. Franco will star in a multi-episode arc, playing the role of Osborne "Oz" Silver - a passionate, intense eccentric movie mogul who lives life to the fullest, often outrageously. Funny, offbeat, seductive, ruthless when he has to be, Oz adores the moviemaking process and does whatever it takes to make the films he wants.

Held this morning at Avalon in Los Angeles, Nick's presentation featured special guest appearances and contributions from: Scott Baio; Keke Palmer; the cast of Hollywood Heights; and performances by Nick's own Big Time Rush, How to Rock's Cymphonique Miller and Gravity 5; and Nick's newest star, Rachel Crow of The X Factor fame, who capped the presentation with a performance of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You".

Details of Nickelodeon's new content slate include:

ANIMATION:

Nickelodeon, the top producer of television animation in the U.S., will roll out a new roster of over 300 new animated episodes in 2012 which includes:

*New episodes of returning hit series including SpongeBob SquarePants, T.U.F.F. Puppy, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Penguins of Madagascar, The Fairly OddParents and The Winx Club.

* The Legend of Korra, in which the mythology of the beloved animated franchise from Avatar: The Last Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko continues. The series centers around a new Avatar named Korra, a 17-year-old headstrong and rebellious girl who continually challenges and bucks tradition on her quest to become a fully realized Avatar in a world where benders are under attack. The half-hour series will debut on Saturday, April 14, at 11:00 a.m. (all times ET/PT), as part of Nickelodeon's Saturday morning block (8AM-Noon), which has been the number-one destination for Kids 2-11 for 12 consecutive years and currently delivers more than three million total viewers each week. The Legend of Korra will air regularly on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

* Raving Rabbids, which will join the net's animation line-up in spring 2013, brings to television the hysterical physical comedy that has become so popular in Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids video games. Nickelodeon has secured global broadcast rights for 26 new CG episodes of Raving Rabbids, which will be produced by Ubisoft.

* Monsters vs. Aliens, the all-new animated television series marking the third partnership between Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation. Green-lit for 26 episodes and based on the popular characters from the 2009 blockbuster hit feature film ($383 million worldwide gross), the new series will continue to follow the funny escapades of the beloved, well-meaning monsters.

* Robot & Monster, which will also be hitting Nickelodeon's air for a 26-episode run for the 2012-2013 season. Created by Josh Sternin, Jeff Ventimilia and Dave Pressler, this CG-animated buddy comedy is set in a unique world where gangs of Howling Cyber Monkeys roam the streets at night, everybody loves bacon, and robots and monsters live side by side, but typically don't get along.

* It's A SpongeBob Christmas! - Nickelodeon's first full-length stop-motion animated special is inspired by the classic Rankin/Bass (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town) specials, and the popular SpongeBob song released in 2009, "Don't Be a Jerk, It's Christmas," written by Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob) and Andy Paley. In "It's A SpongeBob Christmas!," Plankton vows to get his Christmas wish -- the Krabby Patty formula -- by turning everyone in Bikini Bottom bad by feeding them his special jerktonium-laced fruitcake. The special features John Goodman as Santa Claus, and will air in December 2012.

* Seven new animation pilots picked up for the 2012-2013 season, including four pilots helmed by hit-maker Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents, T.U.F.F. Puppy[, Danny Phantom]).

LIVE ACTION:

As part of the overall 650 new episodes the network is rolling out this year, Nickelodeon's live-action slate will include:

* More new episodes of hit live-action hit series -- iCarly, Victorious, Big Time Rush and Supah Ninjas.

* A 26-episode pick-up of Marvin, Marvin, an original new series starring Internet sensation Lucas Cruikshank (AKA Fred). Executive Produced by Jeff Bushell and The Collective, the half-hour comedy follows the exploits of Marvin, an alien teen, living with a human family, while trying to fit into life on Earth.

* The third installment of the hit Fred movies -- Fred Goes to Camp, as well as a pick-up of 28 additional 11-minute episodes of FRED: THE SHOW.

* A development project for UK pop sensation One Direction, who will next collaborate with Nick when they perform live at Nickelodeon's 2012 Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles on March 31.

* Rags, a music-infused modern-day fairy tale debuting this spring. The two-hour original TV movie centers on Charlie Prince (Max Schneider), an orphan living with his acerbic and unloving stepfather and spoiled stepbrothers, whose dream of being a singer might come true once he meets pop star Kadee Worth (Keke Palmer). Rags is executive produced by Nick Cannon, directed by Billy Woodruff (Beauty Shop, Honey) and features original music by Rodney Jerkins and choreography by Rosero McCoy (America's Best Dance Crew).

* A Fairly Odd Christmas, a sequel to 2011's hit live-action TV movie, A Fairly OddMovie: Grow Up Timmy Turner, which will bow this holiday season. The original TV movie follows the exploits of Timmy Turner (Drake Bell), and his well meaning fairy godparents, as he tries to save Christmas, but first he's got to get himself off the naughty list.

* Figure it Out, a contemporary revival of the hit '90s family friendly game show. The show,which begins production in Los Angeles this April, will launch later this year with 40 brand-new episodes. Figure It Out features a panel of celebrities trying to guess kid contestants' unique talents and skills by asking 'yes' or 'no' questions while being bombarded by messy visual and tactile clues.

* Hollywood Heights (previously titled Reach for a Star), a daily scripted series based on the wildly popular Televisa telenovela, Alcanzar Una Estrella, will debut in primetime on Nick at Nite in June. The 80 one-hour episodes currently in production will star Brittany Underwood, Melissa Ordway, Cody Longo and Justin Wilczynski. Hollywood Heights is a co-production with Televisa and is being produced by Sony Television.

Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami also highlighted several live-action projects currently in development, including a pilot for Nick at Nite, Wendell & Vinnie, a comedy starring Jerry Trainor (iCarly) about a goofball uncle who becomes the guardian to his conservative 12-year-old genius nephew; a new Nickelodeon series from hit-maker Dan Schneider that will star Jennette McCurdy from iCarly; and a series starring The X Factor sensation Rachel Crow.

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 17 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).

*For downloadable photos and additional information, visit: www.nickpress.com.

SOURCE Nickelodeon

RELATED LINKS
http://www.nick.com
Also, from Variety:
Nick at Nite greenlights Baio series

Cabler orders 20 episodes of 'Daddy's Home'

Nick at Nite has ordered 20 episodes of multicam comedy "Daddy's Home," starring Scott Baio.

Tina Albanese and Patrick Labyorteaux created and will exec produce the series with Eric Bischoff, Jason Hervey and showrunners Nat Bernstein and Mitchel Katlin. Baio will play an ex-TV star who becomes a stay-at-home dad while his wife resumes her own onscreen career in soaps.

The announcement came at Nickelodeon's Los Angeles upfront, which mostly repeated its presentation in New York two weeks ago.

Nickelodeon also said that first lady Michelle Obama would make a presentation at Saturday's Kids' Choice Awards honoring the philanthropic efforts of Taylor Swift.

Nickelodeon Greenlights 20 Episodes of "Daddy's Home" For Nick At Nite, Starring Scott Baio As A Stay-At-Home Dad

Below is a Nickelodeon Press Release from PR Newswire:
Nickelodeon Greenlights 20 Episodes of Daddy's Home for Nick at Nite, Starring Scott Baio as a Stay-at-Home Dad

Production on Original Scripted Comedy for Nick at Nite to Commence Later this Year

LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2012 /Nickelodeon Press Release via PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon has ordered 20 episodes of the original scripted comedy series, Daddy's Home (working title), starring Scott Baio, it was announced today by Marjorie Cohn, President, Original Programming and Development, Nickelodeon Group. A multi-camera, half-hour comedy for Nick at Nite, Daddy's Home follows David Hobbs (Baio) an actor who, after ten years of starring as America's favorite TV dad, becomes a stay-at-home father to honor the deal he made with his soap star wife so that she may return to the limelight. The series comes from creators/executive producers Tina Albanese and Patrick Labyorteaux and is helmed by executive producers Nat Bernstein and Mitchel Katlin who will show run. Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey are also executive producing through their production company Bischoff Hervey Entertainment (BHE), along with Baio. Daddy's Home marks Hervey and Baio's return to scripted comedy, with BHE having previously collaborated on three acclaimed unscripted series including Scott Baio is 45 and Single, Scott Baio is 46 and Pregnant, and Confessions of a Teen Idol. Production on the series is slated to commence later this year in Los Angeles.

"Scott not only brings his star power to this role, but a real authenticity as an actor-turned-dad," said Cohn. "Daddy's Home is a classic, multi-camera sitcom with a contemporary twist that our Nick at Nite family audience is sure to enjoy."

For over 30 years, Baio has been a beloved actor, successful producer, writer and director. He received his acting break in 1976 when he was cast as the lead in the youthful gangster film Bugsy Malone. Baio is perhaps best known for his role as Chachi Arcola on one of television's most iconic comedy series Happy Days, followed by a starring role in the spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi. Baio also starred in his own 1980s hit sitcom, Charles in Charge. Following his television comedy roles, he delved into some deeper and more dramatic roles, such as in the award-winning ABC after-school special, Stoned, the CBS film The Boy Who Drank Too Much and [...] in NBC's Senior Trip! He continued his acting career as the youthful associate of Dick Van Dyke on the successful CBS series Diagnosis Murder and a decade later, made several appearances on the Emmy Award-winning television series Arrested Development. Most recently, Baio was featured as himself on VH1's popular series, Scott Baio is 45…and Single and Scott Baio is 46…and Pregnant. Off-screen, he has directed episodes of popular series including The Parkers, Unhappily Ever After, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Wayans Bros., Harry and the Hendersons, Out of This World and recently served as executive producer of VH1's Confessions of a Teen Idol.

Tina Albanese was a producer for several years on the popular prime time drama JAG, then left to start up CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She began her career working for David E. Kelley on such hit series such as L.A. Law, Picket Fences and Chicago Hope. Patrick Labyorteaux is best known for his television roles as Andrew Garvey on Little House on the Prairie and Bud Roberts on JAG. Labyorteaux also starred in such popular films as Summer School, Heathers, Ski School, Blazing Saddles and most recently, Yes Man and 2012: Ice Age. He also made several guest appearances on such series as iCarly, Dexter, NCIS, Without a Trace, Yes, Dear and Ghost Whisperer.

Bernstein and Katlin have been writing and producing partners for over twenty-five years. After their first collaboration on the feature film "Opportunity Knocks", starring Dana Carvey, they began working in series television, producing "Doogie Howser, M.D.", writing over twenty-five episodes, as well as "Ally McBeal" and "Baby Boom". They have since gone on to create several network television series, "Bringing Up Jack" and "Over The Top" for ABC, "Cursed" for NBC, "Abby" for UPN, as well as "The Gregory Hines Show" and "Center of The Universe" for CBS.

Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey's Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television LLC (BHE) launched in 2003 and since then, have produced television series and pilots for NBC, A&E, VH-1, CMT, E! and TruTV. Eric Bischoff has spent the last 23 years in the entertainment industry, producing over 2,500 hours of original programming (over half of it live), 79 pay-per-view events, 1,500 live events around the world and his book "Controversy Creates Cash" made the New York Times Best Seller list in the fall of 2007. He is also featured alongside Hulk Hogan on Spike TV's weekly prime time series iMPACT. Hervey is best known for the role of Wayne Arnold in the Emmy Award-winning hit series The Wonder Years. From this platform and experience, Hervey was able to leverage opportunities behind the camera as he began a career in producing. His first project was at the age of 17 when he created, starred in and produced the Saturday morning series Wide World of Kids. Subsequently, Hervey partnered with former Sony of America CEO Peter Guber in Mandalay Sports Action Entertainment, (MSAE) where he spearheaded a partnership with Time Warner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) which yielded 17 original productions in television, home video and pay-per view, an original soundtrack with Tommy Boy records and four television movies for TBS and TNT.

Nick At Nite is Nickelodeon's nighttime programming block that also features popular hit family comedies including the Emmy Award-winning series Home Improvement, Everybody Hates Chris, Friends, George Lopez, and Family Matters, as well as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Roseanne.

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 17 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA - News, VIA.B - News).

SOURCE Nickelodeon

RELATED LINKS
http://www.nick.com

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

British Entertainment Television Channel 'Sky1' Repeating The First Season Of The Popular Nickelodeon Show "House of Anubis"

Nickelodeon Star and actress Jade Ramsey, who plays the character 'Patricia Williamson' on the Nickelodeon show "House of Anubis", has announced on her official Twitter profile page (@Jade_Ramsey) that the 'Sky1' (also known as 'Sky One'), a subscription entertainment channel in the UK and Ireland which is the flagship channel of BSkyB (British Sky Broadcasting), has started to repeat and show season one of the hit live-action Nickelodeon mystery series "House of Anubis" everyday between Monday and Friday at 8am:
@Jade_Ramsey: Starting every weekday at 8am, House of Anubis Season 1 is on Sky1 in the UK! - 10.27pm Monday 26th March 2012
@adamjohnparker: (Nickelodeon UK Researcher Adam John Parker): What's "House of Anubis"???? - 11.05pm Monday 26th March 2012
@Jade_Ramsey: its my new aerobics show, with a mix of yoga...it has a slight egyptian twist to it, while helpin u get fit at the same time - 11.10pm Monday 26th March 2012
@adamjohnparker: 'Elixircise' #GeniusWordPlay [Genius Word Play] - 11.18pm Monday 26th March 2012
@Jade_Ramsey: you are a flipping genius!!!!!!!! - 12.03pm Tuesday 27th March 2012

Nickelodeon UK Unveils Second Exclusive Video Featuring The Boy Band 'One Direction' With An Exclusive "Nickelodeon 2012 Kids' Choice Awards" Message

To celebrate the UK-Irish boy band 'One Direction' performing at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards and Nickelodeon UK premiering the Nickelodeon 2012 Kids' Choice Awards on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK on Sunday 1st April 2012 at 5.30pm (repeated at 6.30pm on Nick Replay UK), the official Nickelodeon UK and Ireland websites official Nickelodeon Clips webpage, Nick.co.uk/Clips, has unveiled a second exclusive 'One Direction Shoutout' online streaming video clip which features an exclusive Kids' Choice Awards message especially for Nickelodeon UK and Ireland viewers starring the UK-Irish boy band 'One Direction' (Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson), which you can view here on the official Nickelodeon UK and Ireland website. Below is a transcript of One Direction's exclusive KCA 2012 message for viewers of Nick UK:
Harry Styles: Hey Nickelodeon Tweeps, don't forget to catch us at Kids' Choice Awards, Sunday, 5.30pm.

And, you can Tweet along with us using the hashtag #KCAUK.
Also, Tweeted (posted) by Nickelodeon UK and Ireland on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonUK):
Harry from @onedirection wants to remind you to join us for the Kids' Choice Awards Sunday at 5.30pm! #KCAUK http://ow.ly/9OcnC
Also:
#1DFamily are you excited to tune in for @onedirection performing Sunday at #KCAUK ? Heres a msg from them for youuu! http://ow.ly/9Uuom
If you missed Nickelodeon UK's first 'One Direction Shoutout' video clip, you can watch it here on the official Nickelodeon UK website, Nick.co.uk.

Irish-English Pop Singer Shayne Ward Records An Episode For The Sixth Series Of Nick Jr. UK's "Once Upon A Bedtime"

The Irish-English pop singer Shayne Ward, who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor UK, has announced on his official Twitter profile page (@shayneTward) that he has filmed a episode for the sixth series of Nick Jr. Channel UK And Ireland's, Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, "Once Upon A Bedtime" show. As part of his Tweet, Shayne Ward also posted a photograph of him with Nick Juniors Arnie and Barnie on the studio set filming an episode of Nick Jr's "Once Upon A Bedtime" bedtime story series:
@shayneTward: Filming for the sixth series Of 'Once Upon a Bedtime' Alot of fun & i hope the children enjoy my story. @nickelodeonuk http://pic.twitter.com/lwjLBUFP - 12.41pm Tuesday 27th March 2012
@NickelodeonUK: Thanks Shayne! Itll b on @NickJrUK :) - 5.04pm Tuesday 27th March 2012

@NickJrUK: Thanks Shayne! We are glad you enjoyed it here with us :) We will let you know when it airs on #NickJrUK - 5.12pm Tuesday 27th March 2012
Also, Tweeted (posted) by Nick Jr. UK and Ireland presenter Helena Dowling ("Wake Up World") on her official Twitter profile page (@HelenaDowlingtv) at 11.09am on Thursday 28th June 2012:
The beautiful set of bed time stories! Looking forward to seeing the finished stories soon...! @NickJrUK http://pic.twitter.com/azzyxv6U