VH1 Reality TV Plans Include Pepa, Chili and Frank the Entertainer

Celebrity Fit Club, Sober House Also Return to VH1’s Growing Reality TV Line Up

VH1 has teamed up with Sandra “Pepa” Denton of Salt n Pepa and Chilli from TLC – giving each pioneering hip-hop artist her own series revolving around their current lives as single women. The yet-to-be titled “Pepa” and “Chilli” series will premiere on VH1 in 2010.

The Entertainer, from the “I Love NY” and “I Love Money” shows has also scored his own series called “The Entertainer,” featuring his parents as well as the infamous basement bachelor pad. VH1 has also renewed two other hit series: “Celebrity Fit Club” (season 7) and “Sober House with Dr. Drew” (season 2).

These programming additions come on the heels of recent announcements about upcoming new original primetime series on VH1 including Jessica Simpson’s new series “The Price Of Beauty;” a series centered on the family and career of American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino as she refocuses and tries to get her career back on track with the untitled “Fantasia” series; “The OCD Project,” centering on OCD patients living together as they strive to overcome their disorder; and “The Aspen Project,” focusing on the highs and lows of living and dating in one of the wealthiest communities in the world.

The untitled “Pepa” series is a real-life comedy following Sandra “Pepa” Denton of Salt-n-Pepa fame as she emerges from her self-imposed romantic and sexual dormancy of the past four years as she begins to search for love again. After years of living a celibate life in order to focus on finding “the one,” Pep has realized that giving up sex actually got her nowhere in the relationship world. She didn’t “evolve,” she didn’t land a husband and the only close relationship she formed was with her exercise bike. But she’s not the only one. Her three closest girlfriends are all single and searching too. The four friends will laugh, cry and dish the dirt as they support each other along the way. The “Pepa” series has been picked up for eight half-hour episodes and is set to premiere in 2010.

The “Pepa” series is executive produced by Banks Tarver and Ken Druckerman for Left/Right, Inc. Executive Producers for VH1 are Shelly Tatro, Danielle Gelfand, Kari McFarland and Jeff Olde.

‘Chilli’ from R&B supergroup TLC, has decided to take the reins of her lackluster romantic situation and launch an all out search for the love of her life in the yet-to-be titled “Chilli Project.” Despite huge success as a recording artist and a mother, Chilli has grown tired of striking out on the romantic front, so she has enlisted the help of Brooklyn relationship expert Tionna Smalls. Not one to let people take the easy way out, Tionna has promised to give Chilli the challenging emotional workout she needs in order to get over the hurdles that have kept her from having the long-term serious relationship she craves. The series has been picked up for eight half-hour episodes and is set to premiere in 2010.

“The Chilli Project” is executive produced by FremantleMedia North America. Larry Barron, Kevin Williams, Bill Diggins and Chilli are executive producers. Executive producers for VH1 are Jim Ackerman, Dave Hamilton and Jeff Olde.

“The Entertainer” will star Frank “The Entertainer” Moresco and the ever watchful eyes of his parents. Frank is best known as the guy who still lives in his parents’ basement from the VH1 shows “I Love New York” and “I Love Money.” Meanwhile, his parents have grown ever weary of their 32-year-old slacker son’s current living arrangements – their basement. In a last ditch effort to help Frank get out from under his parents thumb VH1 is giving him the opportunity to find love from a bevy of naive hopefuls and the incentive he needs to move out of the basement and on his own. “The Entertainer” has been picked up for ten one-hour episodes and is set to premiere sometime in 2010.

“The Entertainer” is executive produced by Cris Abrego, Mark Cronin and Ben Samek for 51 Minds. Executive producing for VH1 are Jill Holmes, Kristen Kelly and Jeff Olde.

The battle of the bulge will continue as VH1 is bringing back one of their most popular series, “Celebrity Fit Club” for a seventh season. As in the previous edition, this season will also use a grueling boot-camp style regimen prescribed by CFC taskmaster and former USMC Drill Instructor Harvey Walden. His mission is to take eight out-of-shape celebs and help transform them back to the camera-friendly bodies they used to have. Harvey accepts no excuses as the challenges will be brutal, but the results will be amazing. Also returning to the show will be nutrition and diet expert Dr. Ian Smith. The series has been picked up for 8 one-hour episodes and a 90 minute finale. The show has yet to be cast and will premiere sometime in 2010.

“Celebrity Fit Club” is produced by ITV Studios, Inc. Executive producers are Jonas Larsen for ITV Studios and Jim Ackerman, Christian McLaughlin and Jeff Olde for VH1.

“Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House” is also returning for its sophomore season. The series chronicles the dramatic experiences of a group of celebrities with addiction issues as they make the transition back into the real world full of the people and temptations that once led them into a life of addiction. Throughout the course of their stay in the Sober House, participants will have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Drew in both one-on-one and group sessions in an effort to understand and advance their experience to its fullest potential in this crucial and difficult transitional period. Also, returning to the series will be house manager, Jennifer Gimenez, counselor Bob Forrest and resident technician Will Smith. The series has been picked up for eight one-hour episodes and will premiere after the third season of “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” ends its run in 2010.

“Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House” is executive produced by John Irwin, Bruce Toms and Damian Sullivan for Irwin Entertainment. Dr. Drew Pinsky and Howard Lapides are also executive producing. Jill Holmes, Noah Pollack and Jeff Olde, are executive producers for VH1.

Jessica Simpson’s VH1 Reality Show Starts Filming Next Month

Jessica Simpson Set to Travel Around the World to Find ‘The Price of Beauty’ in a New Original Series on VH1

No matter where you are in the world, chances are, you know that Jessica Simpson is no stranger to the spotlight. Her hit pop and country songs, movies, television and eponymous collection of shoes, clothes, bags etc. have helped to keep her in America’s eye, but we all know Jessica for more than just her career achievements. Jessica has been followed, studied and scrutinized since she released her first hit single at the age of 19. Now, Jessica turns the tables on our culture and cultures all over the world to find The Price of Beauty, her new original series on VH1.

The new VH1 docu-series, produced by RDF USA (“Wife Swap”, “Secret Millionaire”), takes Jessica all over the world to meet every day women. She may also discover some local pop culture icons on their own quests for beauty along the way. Jessica will study the local fashions, dietary fads and beauty regimes and even participate in some of the extreme practices she discovers.

“When Chris approached me with his idea for a show about true beauty, I was immediately intrigued,” Jessica stated. “I have always believed that beauty comes from within and confidence will always make a woman beautiful, but I know how much pressure some women put on themselves to look perfect. I am really looking forward to discovering how beauty is perceived in different cultures and participating in some of the crazy things people do to feel beautiful. I know we will all learn a lot on this journey and I am so excited that VH1 is coming along on what I’m sure will be a wild ride.”

Chris Coelen, CEO of RDF Media USA, said: “In this series, Jessica will tackle a serious issue with her unique and relatable blend of humor and heart. We’re thrilled to be in business with Jessica, Joe and VH1 on what we know will be an exciting and eye-opening show.”

“Perhaps more than any other pop culture figure on the radar today, Jessica Simpson has been the target of our obsession with beauty on both sides of the equation. She is a woman who can set trends and create firestorms with a single photo,” said Jeff Olde, EVP, VH1 Original Programming & Production. “We could not be more thrilled that Jessica now gets to take control of that conversation and take a look at the idea of beauty through her own unique, unfiltered lens. And we at VH1 are excited to be in the passenger seat next to her as she begins this fantastic journey.”

The Price of Beauty is set to begin shooting in mid July. Executive Producers include Jessica and Joe Simpson as well as Chris Coelen, Claire O’Donohoe and Greg Goldman for RDF USA (Wife Swap, Secret Millionaire). The show will be produced by Jeff Olde, Jill Holmes, Alex Demyanenko and Sean Boyle for VH1 to air in 2010.

Nick Lachey wants you to leave his chubby ex wife alone

Ok, so those aren’t his exact words, but you get the point. Everyone and their mother had something to say when photos of Jessica Simpson hit the tabloids last week. Contrary to what a lot of people think, big belts around your chubby belly, don’t make you look thin. They draw attention to what you think you are hiding and they make you look fat.

Anyway, there was a whole big stink, where she was criticized for being fat all over the internet and television. Then,  people like her sister Ashlee came to her defense. And just when I thought we had moved on to the next pointless piece of celebrity gossip, Jessica’s ex husband and former reality television co-star, Nick Lachey weighed in:

According to the Associated Press:

“I think it’s ridiculous that the media is making such a big deal about it,” he said at his Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic party. “It’s ridiculous that it would be making headlines. But you can’t believe everything that’s written or reported in the media. I wish her nothing but happiness.”

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey had their marriage filmed for television in the MTV reality show, Newlyweds.