TruTV wants you to Laugh with and not at its New Scripted Programming

TruTV 2014 Upfronts

Trutv will add at least 6 new series to its programming schedule this season. This will be the first step in TruTV’s plan to change the brand of its network, with more than 30 projects in development the channel is obviously committed to this change. TruTV is working with the industry's top producers to create programming designed to appeal to "funseekers," a younger, dual-gender audience that looks for television to take them on a fun ride that both surprises and entertains essentially males and females between the ages of 16 and 30.Their goal is to create shows that viewers want to talk about… kinda like this blog except we want to watch and review shows worth talking about. "We have listened to our advertising partners, worked hand-in-hand with the network on this brand evolution and are proud of what we are presenting to the marketplace this Upfront," said Donna Speciale, president of Turner Broadcasting Ad Sales. "This direction supports our overall Turner Upfront message by providing valuable content to advertisers across more screens and platforms than ever before."

New Series:




Docusoaps

Way Out West – Set to Premiere in July
Way Out West takes viewers inside the Idaho backcountry, where three charismatic families are engaged in a rivalry in the outfitting business that has gone on for 150 years. truTV has ordered 12 episodes, plus the one-hour pilot, with plans to launch the series in July.

Local News (working title) – Set to Premiere Fall 2014
When a spunky young reporter from Connecticut lands her first big job in a small-town news market, an unexpected shake-up occurs. Local News follows a group of local anchors as they compete for the top spot in the game. The character-driven docu-soap will spotlight the playful – and at times cut-throat – rivalry between two local news stations and the dynamic newscasters who are determined to take their jobs seriously, even when some of the news they cover is less than serious. truTV has ordered eight episodes of Local News, which is slated to premiere in fall 2014.



Comedic Reality

The Carbonaro Effect – Series Premiere May 15th at 10pm
This brand new series will follow comic magician Michael Carbonaro as he uses his skills to trick, amaze and amuse an unsuspecting public. truTV originally ordered 12 episodes of the series for the first season, plus a pilot presentation. The show generated a great deal of social media buzz with its April 1 sneak peek, prompting truTV to order 13 additional episodes before the series officially launches on Thursday, May 15, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

Jokers Wild!
From the producers of Impractical Jokers comes this new project featuring everyone’s favorite funny friends: Sal, Murr, Q & Joe. And this time they’ve got new skits, new bits and new guests that will keep audiences laughing week after week. This series has been green lighted for six episodes. (this is a spinoff of Impractical Jokers)



Competition/Elimination

Motor City Masters – Set to Premiere June 2014
Fasten your seatbelt. The search is on for America's next great car designer as truTV and Chevrolet team up on this brand new competition series. Hosted by Brooke Burns (pictured at left), Motor City Masters will pit 10 designers against each other to test their limits of design expertise and creativity. Challenges on Motor City Masters will explore various aspects of design, inside and out. The designs will be judged by Jean Jennings, president and editor in chief of Automobile Magazine and internationally renowned car designer Harald Belker. They will be joined each week by a special celebrity guest judge. truTV has ordered 10 episodes of the Motor City Masters.

Fake-Off – Set to Premiere Fall 2014
Fake-Off is an original entertainment format featuring teams of performers who recreate and reimagine iconic moments in pop culture. A captivating mix of Kabuki theatre, acrobatics, dance, costume and illusion, Fake-Off is a highly visual talent competition series like nothing you've ever seen. For the first time ever, these colorful and creative teams will compete in an elimination battle to see who’s got the skills to be named America’s Fake-Off champions. truTV has ordered eight episodes of Fake-Off.



Strip Series & Game Shows
Hair Jacked – Set to Premiere Fall 2014
Produced by the team behind Hollywood Game Night, Hair Jacked is a hilarious, high-energy game show in which unsuspecting contestants have the chance to win cash prizes, all while getting a haircut. But they have to play smart because one wrong answer could send them packing with the worst hairstyle of their lives. truTV has ordered 16 half-hour episodes of Hair Jacked,

How to Be a Grown Up – Set to Premiere Summer 2014
On How to Be a Grown Up, comics will offer humorous advice and common-sense solutions to universal issues facing all adults who feel like they’re a kid stuck in a grown-up body through interviews, sketches and animation. If you’re 40-going-on-21, this is the series for you. truTV has ordered 16 half-hour episodes for this series.



High-Concept & Hybrid Formats

Friends of the People – Set to Premiere Summer 2014
truTV's first-ever sketch-comedy series stars comedians Kevin Barnett, Jennifer Bartels, Jermaine Fowler, Lil Rel Howery, The Lucas Bros. and Josh Rabinowitz. The network has ordered 10 episodes, including the pilot. This will be TruTV’s first ever scripted series

Returning Series:

Impractical Jokers – Renewed for Season 4



Shows not yet Renewed:

Bait Car

Black Gold

Caught Red Handed

Guinness Book of World Record

Full throttle Saloon

Upload with Shaquille O’neal

South Beach Tow

Killer Karaoke



Breezy’s Recap: TruTv prides itself on being the channel that brings viewers actuality and not reality television. Since the channel is undergoing a massive rebranding, adding a ton of new content and is even getting into the highly competitive scripted content game it will be interesting to see what TruTv will turn its self into. I am not foaming at the mouth for any of these new shows, but if I’m bored one day with nothing to watch, I will be sure to check one of them out. If you have any information on any of these premiere dates or renewals let me know in the comments. So with their rebranding will you be watching TruTV? Whats your favorite show on the network now, share your thoughts in the comments.