"South Park" creator Matt Stone's biggest concern in executive producing MTV's latest offering, "How's Your News?," is how his and partner Trey Parker's outlandish reputation might actually hurt the program's reception.
"How's Your News?," premiering Feb. 8, features a team of reporters with disabilities who take a bus across the country, along the way interviewing people on the street (who sometimes turn out to be celebrities).
"We weren't worried about being associated with them, we were worried about them being associated with us," Stone said Friday at the Television Critics Association press tour.
The concept began more than 10 years ago at a summer camp for people with disabilities. The show's director, Arthur Bradford, taught a video class there and began the program as man-on-the-street segments that eventually grew to short films and later, a feature film.
It's all a far cry from Mr. Garrison's classroom, but perfect for MTV.
"The show fits the MTV brand because it really feels like it belongs on our network, because you can't imagine it anywhere else. It has a rebelliousness in terms of attitude, it feels fresh, it feels inventive, and it's really about a group of people working together to live their dream and have fun along the way," said Tony DiSanto, executive vice president of series development and programming at MTV.
"These are characters that you really do fall in love with," DiSanto added. "Initially, because it's different, you're not sure, but three minutes in, you're along for the ride. It's just infectious."
Some of the celebrities who make appearances include Amy Sedaris, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Kimmel, Ben Affleck, Kathy Griffin and John Stamos, who spends a night out on the town with reporter Jeremy Vest as his wingman.
"I wasn't getting all the attention, he was, because he is Jesse from 'Full House,'" said Vest, who has Williams syndrome. "But hanging with John was a magical time. It was amazing."
No comments:
Post a Comment