CMT Picks Up “The Singing Bee” for A Second Season

CMT has greenlit a 20-episode, second season of the popular singing competition, THE SINGING BEE, it was announced today by Bob Kusbit, head of development, CMT. This episode order doubles its original first season order of ten episodes. Melissa Peterman is also tapped to return as host, with new episodes taping in November and premiering in January 2010. THE SINGING BEE recently ended its original run on CMT and ranks as the network’s highest-rated series of the year.

“THE SINGING BEE is irresistible musical fun and has proven to be an all-around winner for CMT,” said Brian Philips, president, CMT. “We were fortunate to find the perfect host in Melissa Peterman, an extraordinarily gifted comedienne, whom our audience has fallen madly in love with. Under Bob Kusbit’s leadership, we look forward to another successful season with the first-class production teams from The Gurin Company and JUMA Entertainment.”

Blending a mix of country music with popular favorites from other genres, THE SINGING BEE tests contestants’ knowledge of lyrics to well-known songs and those who fail to accurately sing the correct lyrics are eliminated from the competition.

The Singing Bee Moves from NBC to CMT, Y’All!

CMT has teamed up with The Gurin Company and JUMA Entertainment to produce ten, all-new one-hour episodes of the karaoke-style singing competition, THE SINGING BEE. Hosted by comedic actress Melissa Peterman (”Reba”), THE SINGING BEE premieres Saturday, June 20 at 10:00 11:00 p.m., ET/PT, following the second season premiere of the hit competition series CAN YOU DUET. Taped on location in Los Angeles, the series tests contestants’ knowledge of lyrics to well-known songs and those who fail to accurately sing the correct lyrics are eliminated from the competition. New to CMT, THE SINGING BEE will blend a mix of 60 percent country music with 40 percent popular favorites from other genres and an original segment is being developed.

“We’ve been fans of this show since it first premiered on NBC last year, and we were thrilled to be able to collaborate with the show’s producers to create a truly new CMT-centric series,” said Bob Kusbit, head of development, CMT. “We’ve got a new set, exciting new show elements, the incredibly talented Melissa Peterman on board as host, and I can personally promise America, no dancers!”

“THE SINGING BEE has come full circle after travelling around the world and becoming an international phenomenon,” said Bob Horowitz, creator and executive producer. “We are thrilled to bring the BEE back and CMT’s all-American audience and success with reality programming make it the ideal new home for the show.”

“THE SINGING BEE is one of those shows that speaks a universal language of fun, music-based entertainment, and its inherent audience appeal has borne out internationally,” said Phil Gurin, creator and executive producer. “Now THE SINGING BEE is back in the U.S. where we are certain CMT viewers will be drawn to a new mix of music, a new host, a new game format, but absolutely the same high energy karaoke party.”

Gone Country Will Be Back A Third Time in January

Courtesy of CMT:

CMT’s hit franchise, GONE COUNTRY, returns with award-winning singer, songwriter & producer, John Rich, as host for a third season featuring new challenges and a new cast who are vying for a chance at country music success. GONE COUNTRY, the series that takes seven celebrities from every realm of the entertainment industries and immerses them in all things country, will premiere in January 2009 on CMT. Production is currently underway in Nashville.

The cast for GONE COUNTRY 3 includes:

- George Clinton funk musician, founding member of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic; member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

- Tara Conner television personality; Miss USA 2006

- Taylor Dayne pop vocalist/actress

- Micky Dolenz actor, musician; drummer/lead vocalist of The Monkees

- Sheila E. entertainer/musician; philanthropist

- Richard Grieco actor/musician

- Justin Guarini singer/songwriter, actor/television host; “American Idol” runner up

With the goal of creating a hit country music single, each GONE COUNTRY cast member must uproot to Nashville for an intense two-week challenge. Each celebrity will again be paired with two of Nashville’s finest songwriters with whom they write a country single. In addition to meeting with songwriters, the cast will compete in challenges that test them musically and physically to adapt to a life in country music, both on and off the stage.

This season, cast members will be afforded the opportunity to win mentor sessions with top country artists. At the end of the two weeks, the artist that is most prepared to impress a country audience, as determined by Rich, will record and release their single to country radio. Previous GONE COUNTRY winners have included Julio Iglesias, Jr. (season 1) and Sebastian Bach (season 2).

“Gone Country” Stars Reunite for CMT’s Outsider’s Inn

(Press Release)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA July 9, 2008 When Maureen McCormick, Bobby Brown and Carnie Wilson leave their Hollywood homes behind and head south, it’s “Newhart” meets “The Simple Life” in the new CMT series, OUTSIDER’S INN, premiering Friday, August 15 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT (regular timeslot will be Fridays at 8:30 p.m., ET/PT). With eight half-hour episodes, the unscripted comedy, OUTSIDER’S INN, documents the trials and tribulations that ensue when McCormick makes the unlikely decision to run a bed and breakfast in rural East Tennessee and enlists the help of her GONE COUNTRY friends, Brown and Wilson.

OUTSIDER’S INN begins when McCormick discovers an inn, dubbed Pigeon Manor, that overlooks the Great Smoky Mountains and decides to lease it with the option to buy. Realizing the gravity of this undertaking, McCormick brings in Brown and Wilson to assist her in this new endeavor. While McCormick manages the inn and property, she appoints Brown entertainment director and Wilson assumes the role of master chef. What could possibly go wrong when the trio without much time to settle into their roles must cater to the needs of real life houseguests and eclectic loca

CMT RENEWS “MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING” FOR A SECOND SEASON

(Press Release)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA July 9, 2008 The series that gives a whole new meaning to “for better or for worse” returns to CMT in October with a second season of MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING, with eight, half-hour episodes of rustic nuptials and rowdy receptions. Hosted by Tom Arnold, MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING searches the country to find the most down-home country couples and documents their over-the-top journey down the aisle.

“MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING and host Tom Arnold have really grabbed the hearts and the imaginations of the CMT audience,” says Bob Kusbit, head of development for CMT. “The show continues to get more outrageous each week and Tom’s hilarious commentary highlights how much these couples truly love each other.”

Coming up this season, couples have taken the term “redneck” to a whole new level with receptions complete with mud bogging, redneck games and monster trucks, and camouflage lingerie-filled wedding nights. MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING first premiered on CMT in January 2008 and ranks as one of the network’s top-rated series.