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.”