NBC is planning some summer lovin'.
Peacock has given six-episode commitments to "For Love or Money" and "Average Joe," a pair of relationship-oriented reality skeins that have already begun production.
Both are slated to be part of the net's most aggressive summer slate of reality programming ever, with NBC now expected to debut no fewer than a dozen unscripted skeins between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Net will likely have at least one hour of original programming on four of seven nights each week.
Nash Entertainment and 3 Ball Prods. are producing "For Love or Money," while Stuart Krasnow ("America's Most Talented Kid") and Andrew Glassman are putting together "Average Joe" for NBC Studios.
Comic/"Celebrity Mole" champ Kathy Griffin is set to host "Joe."
"For Love or Money," likely set for a June bow, will feature 15 good-looking women vying for the affections of an eligible bachelor. The twist: The woman who ends up the bachelor's final pick will snag a $1 million payday.
While the women know about the payoff, the guy doesn't -- making the show a sort of reverse "Joe Millionaire."
Skein will also feature several other twists, though neither Bruce Nash nor NBC alternative chief Jeff Gaspin would offer specifics.
"Women are definitely empowered here," Nash told DAILY VARIETY, adding that none of the female contestants ends up sleeping with the bachelor in a bid to win his heart.
"This is a Bruce Nash show," he quipped.
"For Love or Money" has been produced under what Gaspin called "triple blind" security.
"Even the production crew didn't know what's going on," he said.
CAA-repped Nash is exec producing with J.D. Roth, Todd Nelson and John Foy.
As for "Average Joe," skein will test how important looks are in the dating process, sort of like Nash's "Mr. Personality"--but without the masks.
Skein, shot in Palm Springs, will start with an ex-beauty queen/NFL cheerleader who's told she's being set up to meet a group of handsome guys, a la "The Bachelor." When she meets the men, however, it turns out they're all. . . well, average Joes.
Gaspin said NBC Entertainment chief Jeff Zucker commissioned the concept, arguing the Peacock should do a "show with guys like us, as opposed to all these models you see on these shows."
Krasnow said the men on "Joe" look nothing like the Ryans and Evans that populate more established primetime dating skeins.
"Our cast is made up of people you'll never forget, either visually or personality-wise," he said. "These people look like people you'd see at Starbucks or coming out of the subway."
Like "Love or Money," "Joe" will contain the now standard twists and turns throughout its six-episode run.
"Every time the cast thinks they've figured out this show, we significantly change it up on them," Glassman said.
Krasnow and Glassman are both repped by UTA.
"Joe" and "Love or Money" join a long list of previously announced nonfiction skeins NBC is planning to roll out over the summer.
In addition to new episodes of "Meet My Folks," "Dog Eat Dog," and "Crime & Punishment," Peacock is expected to preem a host of new concepts, including:
* A reality version of "Fame" from Stone Stanley Entertainment and MGM.
* Jay Mohr-hosted laff talent search "Last Comic Standing," from Peter Engel Prods., NBC Enterprises and Giraffe Prods.
* "Who Wants to Marry My Dad," a spinoff of "Meet My Folks" from Nash and NBC Studios.
* Relationship skein "Race to the Altar," in which contestants vie to win a dream wedding broadcast live on TV. LMNO Prods., TWI and NBC Studios are producing.
* Ben Silverman/Mark Burnett collaboration "The Restaurant," which chronicles the creation of an actual Gotham eatery.
* "Perfect Partners," the long-delayed dating show hosted by Will Kirby ("Big Brother 2") and formerly known as "Love Shack."
* "Next Action Star," producer Joel Silver's quest to find the next Vin Diesel-like thesp.
Net is still finalizing scheduling, so it's possible skeins now set for summer could end up being held for fall or midseason. (As reported by VARIETY)
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