Ryan Seacrest is adding Nickelodeon producer to his resume.
His Ryan Seacrest Productions has sold 40 episodes of a game show tentatively titled Go Viral to the children's network. The half-hour, studio-based series will feature kid contestants as they compete in elimination challenges revolving around viral videos. Each round will test kids on these laugh-out-loud videos – from predicting outcomes to guessing their popularity as voted by the studio audience.
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“We’re excited to be working with Ryan Seacrest Productions on this show that captures pop culture in a fun way for kids,” said Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon’s president of content development and production. “Nickelodeon has an undeniable track record in producing hit game shows and we are adapting the format to reflect the way kids consume content today.”
Added RSP CEO Adam Sher: “Everyone at RSP worked hard to develop a new game show that showcases the way kids consume entertainment today. It’s our first series with Nickelodeon, and we’re excited to work with their team, and contribute to their legacy of making groundbreaking kids programming.”
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The network has a long history of developing popular game shows, dating back to Double Dare in 1986. The Viacom-owned cable network added Wild and Crazy Kids, GUTS and Figure it Out in the years that followed. Production on Viral is set to begin early next year in Los Angeles, with Nickelodeon brass aiming for a summer 2014 launch. Seacrest and Sher will serve as executive producers on the the series.
Viral joins a growing slate at CAA-repped RSP. The Los Angeles-based production company is behind E!'s Keeping Up with the Kardashians franchise as well as Married to Jonas, The Wanted Life and Shahs of Sunset, among other efforts. On the scripted front, RSP is producing ABC's midseason entry, Mixology. Seacrest has no plans to host this series as he did NBC's Million Second Quiz earlier this fall.
Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com
Twitter: @LaceyVRose
