Boosting its stable of genre-bending reality programming, MTV has unveiled an all-reality fall slate that includes several prank-heavy shows, another hidden-camera skein and an "American Idol"-style dance competition.
Music net has greenlit production on a handful of personality-driven programs that underscore the cabler's aggressive push for more original unscripted series.
"I think by definition MTV tries to be diverse in itself," entertainment prexy Brian Graden told DAILY VARIETY. "We have projects built around celebrities in the wake of the Osbournes and Tom Green. But this group is built around individuals that I think our audiences can relate to."
Building on the popularity of Ashton Kutcher-hosted hidden-camera skein "Punk'd," the cabler will serve up more helpings of prank-themed shows, including the following:
"High School Stories," from MTV News & Docs, will explore -- in urban legend fashion -- the history of infamous pranks and mishaps that resonate in high schools across the country.
Gameshow "Boiling Point" tests players' patience by situating them in "Punk'd"-style hidden-camera situations where they are egged into erupting. Winners will be the few who don't lose their cool within a set amount of time.
"Jackass" cast member Bam Margera will have his life documented in an as-yet-untitled project where cameras watch as he pranks the residents of his hometown.
Cameras will also trail real-life budding socialites in "Rich Girls." Eight-seg series will take a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of two well-connected 18-year-olds as they live out their senior year in New York.
"Made Presents: Camp Jim," an extension of "Made: I Want to Be a Cheerleader," will follow several seemingly helpless girls as they train with Coach Jim from the original show. Also on the docket: Fellow "Jackass" alumni Steve-O and Chris star in "Nature Show," in which the pair will attempt to adapt to the customs and inhabitants of different exotic locales. "It looks exactly like one of those Discovery nature shows," Graden said. "It doesn't feel or seem like 'Jackass' 2."
Rounding out MTV's dating game pool of "DisMissed" and "Taildaters' is "RooMates." Based on the Brit dating game format, skein forces a single person to pick a partner based solely on the look and feel of three competing bedrooms.
And Britney Spears and 'N Sync choreographer Wade Robson will host a nationwide talent search for the next big thing in the dance world. Viewers will vote from a select pool of 80 dancers chosen by Robson and finalists will then compete for $100,000 and a professional dance gig. (As reported by VARIETY)
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