MTV wants more Punk’d
LOS ANGELES – When the Punk-ment Day comes, the stars won’t be able to say that Ashton Kutcher didn’t warn them.
“All of Hollywood should be afraid,” Kutcher insists. “If you are famous, we will find you and you will be “Punk’d.”‘
Only time will tell if Kutcher’s words are prophetic, or mere bluster, but time is on the “That “70s Show” star’s side. MTV is bringing back the actor’s popular practical joke show “Punk’d” for another 20 episodes, beginning this fall.
“Punk’d” premiered in March and has developed into one of the network’s most popular shows, particularly among teens. That demographic success was recently displayed when the show earned a pile of Teen Choice Award nominations, including a nod for best reality show and one for Kutcher (who executive produces along with Jason Goldberg) as host.
With a simple formula involving Kutcher and friends pulling pranks on celebrity friends including Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel and Pink, “Punk’d” has also elevated several of its co-stars into celebrities.
Dax Sheppard picked up a Teen Choice nomination, while 15-year-old Ryan Pinkston has signed a development deal with MTV to star in his own series.
“MTV is excited to be working again with Ashton and Jason on the new season,” says Lois Curren, the cable network’s executive vice president of series and movies development.” One of our goals at MTV has always been to partner with the most sought after talent in the industry to produce such great hits like “Punk’d.”‘
‘Passions’ apes musical format
LOS ANGELES – “Chicago” may have had Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and all that jazz, but it didn’t have a monkey.
For that, viewers will have to turn to NBC’s soap opera “Passions” on Friday. The out-there daytime drama will feature its first musical number in the episode – one that’s based on the “cell-block” tango sequence from the Broadway show and Oscar-winning film.
“I couldn’t have been happier with how it came out,” executive producer Lisa de Cazotte says, “and I think the audience will enjoy seeing a whole different side of our talented cast.”
The musical number is called “I Ain’t Sorry,” and it vocalizes Mrs. Wallace’s (Kathleen Noone) fear that she, her daughter Beth (Kelli McCarty) and Beth’s friend Charlie (Jordan Baker) are prison-bound for kidnapping heiress Sheridan Crane (McKenzie Westmore). The three kidnappers sing and dance, backed by a group of six Broadway dancers and BamBam the orangutan, who plays Mrs. Wallace’s companion, Precious.
The musical number required a change in the soap’s usual episode-a-day taping schedule.
The performers rehearsed for 10 days prior to taping the sequence and went through a full dress rehearsal the day before.
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