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The Banff World Media Festival is growing its lineup.

Jennifer Mullin, CEO of American Idol producer Fremantle, is set to join the keynote lineup for the Canadian TV event. Lilly Singh and World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato are also set to feature ‘In Conversation With’ sessions.

They join the likes of CBS President and CEO George Cheeks, Toby Gorman, President of Universal Television Alternative Studio, Beatrice Springborn, President, UCP and Universal International Studios and Erin Underhill, President, Universal Television.

The 44th edition of Banff will take place in-person June 11 – 14 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

“Each of these incredible individuals have changed the face of the industry in unique and important ways,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival. “Jennifer Mullin no doubt will have us rapt with her vision of what it takes to helm one of the world’s global content powerhouses.

NBCUniversal and the BBC are going on a journey — but aren’t telling where.

The two broadcasters, who recently teamed on the breakout unscripted show The Traitors, are co-commissioning a competition series called Destination X. The show, based on a format created by Belgian company Geronimo and distributed by Be-Entertainment, asks contestants to figure out where they are in the world, with “tweaks” to the real world designed to throw them off.

Universal Television Alternative Studio will develop the show for NBC; Destination X is targeted for BBC One in the U.K.

“Destination X is a big, unique format that pairs spectacular adventure travel with the ultimate guessing game,” said Corie Henson, executive vp unscripted programming for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “The Traitors instilled confidence that big formats are back, and Destination X is incredibly ambitious. We’re thrilled to have the perfect traveling partners in Universal Television Alternative Studios,...

BBC and NBCUniversal are partnering up on a new reality competition show “Destination X.”

The adventure series, whose format originated in Belgium, follows 10 contestants who embark on a road trip, but do not know their location as the Destination X bus works to mislead both the contestants and the viewers.

As their journey continues, contestants must follow clues to determine if they can trust what they see as their knowledge will be put to the test at the end of each episode. The “contestant who places their X on a map furthest away from the bus’s actual location must leave the game and loses their shot at winning a cash prize,” per the official logline. Remaining participants are tasked with finding the location of the host, who communicates with contestants from an unknown location.

“Destination X,” which is created by Geronimo and distributed by Be-Entertainment, marks the latest collaboration between the broadcast giants,...

The BBC and NBCUniversal (NBCU) have co-ordered an adventure reality competition series — a model they followed to bag international entertainment hit The Traitors.

The pair has teamed to take domestic format rights to Destination X for their respective countries, having previously co-commissioned The Traitors, the Dutch format in which contestants have to guess who among them is ‘faithful’ and who is secretly working against the rest. As we revealed today, Canadian streamer Crave has acquired the BBC and NBC versions of The Traitors, along with Network Ten’s Australian remake.

Destination X is a Belgian format in which ten contestants go on a the road trip of a lifetime, but with no idea where they are. They ride an “innovative” Destination X bus, in which reality is tweaked to mislead them and the viewers, and must solve clues that provide information on their location.

At the end of episode, the...

The upcoming British version of Jimmy Fallon’s show That’s My Jam will shoot entirely in LA after a successful pilot, Universal Studio Group chiefs confirmed today here at the Edinburgh TV Festival.

The show, which will see emerging British presenting talent Mo Gilligan in the Fallon role, filmed its pilot in the U.S. and the success of the shoot emboldened the producers to take the entire BBC series to Hollywood. The format includes celebrity guests, trivia-based games and musical performances.

Hosted by Fallon, the NBC original game show draws inspiration from musical segments on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with signature games including Launch the Mic, Air Guitar, Don’t Drop the Beat and Slay It, Don’t Spray It.

“Jimmy has big shoes to step into and Mo completely owned it,” said Universal Television Alternative Studio President Toby Gorman, adding that despite the U.S. pilot...

Exclusive: John Pollak, who oversaw sales of Universal Television Alternative Studios programming to buyers outside of NBC, is leaving the company.

Deadline understands that Pollak, who was EVP, Creative Affairs, Universal Television Alternative Studios, is leaving as part of two restructures within NBCUniversal.

On the one hand, the non-scripted studio is moving under the umbrella of the Pearlena Igbokwe-run Universal Studio Group, and on the other, NBCU is consolidating its English-language linear networks, including broadcast and cable, into one group.

Universal Television Alternative Studios previously sat under NBC Entertainment’s Alternative and Reality Group, which no longer exists following the departure of Meredith Ahr last week. Utas, run by president Toby Gorman, now sits alongside sister studios including Universal Television, Ucp and NBCUniversal International Studios.

Meanwhile, Susan Rovner, who just started as chairman, Entertainment Content for NBCUniversal’s Television and Streaming division, is putting together a new creative strategy across all of NBCU’s broadcast,...

Universal Television Alternative Studio is ready to create the next version of the iconic boy band Menudo.

The studio, fronted by Toby Gorman, has acquired the rights to Menudo, an hourlong, weekly competition series that will search for and rebuild the band that gave Ricky Martin his start. A network is not yet attached.

Mario Lopez will executive produce the project via his Via Mar Productions banner. Live Animals, the company overseen by Audrey Morrissey and Jayson Belt (the massive One World global special, The Voice) are also on board to exec produce, alongside 3 Arts Entertainment's Mark Schulman ...

“Mental Samurai” has been renewed for Season 2 at Fox, a spokesperson for the broadcast network told TheWrap Tuesday.

The 10-episode first season of the Rob Lowe-hosted competition series premiered last March. Casting is currently underway for the second season, which will premiere at 9/8c on Wednesday, April 22.

Fox describes “Mental Samurai” as a game show “that pushes every aspect of human intelligence and mental agility” and calls it “the first-ever obstacle course…for the mind.”

Also Read: Fall TV 2020: Every Broadcast Show Canceled, Renewed and Ordered - So Far (Updating)

Per Fox, “Each episode of ‘Mental Samurai’ is an epic television event, as contestants battle the boundaries of their minds to answer questions accurately with speed and precision. Not only does the course test their acumen in categories of knowledge, memory, numbers and sequencing, but players will also have to contend with being transported around the set at...

Former Endemol Shine North America unscripted executive Georgie Hurford-Jones has joined Universal Television Alternative Studio as Executive Vice President, Current Programming. Hurford-Jones is one of the first major hires under the studio’s new president Toby Gorman, to whom she will report, following his appointment in August. In her new role, Hurford-Jones will oversee day-to-day management of the studio’s series and pilots with responsibilities that include development, casting, creative, formats and production plans.

“We continue to build a world-class team for our rapidly growing studio and Georgie is one of television’s most accomplished and respected unscripted executives,” said Gorman. “Her track record as both a producer and executive is second-to-none, yielding some of the biggest and most successful formats to date. As we take Universal Television Alternative Studio to even greater heights, Georgie’s vast experience will help ensure the quality of our shows remains unmatched season after season.

Former Endemol Shine North America exec Georgie Hurford-Jones has been named head of current programming at Universal Television Alternative Studio, the studio announced on Tuesday.

In her new role as Evp of the studio’s current programming, Hurford-Jones will oversee day-to-day management of the studio’s series and pilots with responsibilities that include development, casting, creative, formats and production plans.

She will report directly to Toby Gorman, who was named president of Universal Television Alternative Studio in August.

Also Read: Toby Gorman Named President of Universal Television Alternative Studio

“We continue to build a world-class team for our rapidly growing studio and Georgie is one of television’s most accomplished and respected unscripted executives,” Gorman said. “Her track record as both a producer and executive is second-to-none, yielding some of the biggest and most successful formats to date. As we take Universal Television Alternative Studio to even greater heights, Georgie...

Georgie Hurford-Jones is moving from Endemol Shine North America to Universal Television Alternative Studio, where she has been named executive vice president of current programming.

Hurford-Jones will manage the studio’s series and pilots across development, casting, creative, formats and production plans, and will report to Universal TV Alternative Studio head Toby Gorman, who recently stepped into the role.

“We continue to build a world-class team for our rapidly growing studio and Georgie is one of television’s most accomplished and respected unscripted executives,” said Gorman. “Her track record as both a producer and executive is second-to-none, yielding some of the biggest and most successful formats to date. As we take Universal Television Alternative Studio to even greater heights, Georgie’s vast experience will help ensure the quality of our shows remains unmatched season after season.”

At Endemol Shine, Hurford-Jones served as senior vice president of unscripted original series and specials,...

Universal Television Alternative Studio is solidifying the leadership of its unscripted programming teams on both the network and studio side.

The unscripted sudio has hired Endemol Shine executive Georgie Hurford-Jones as executive vp current programming. She will report to Utas president Toby Gorman. 

Hurford-Jones was senior vp unscripted series and specials at Endemol Shine North America, serving as an executive producer on Fox's Masterchef and Masterchef Junior and USA's Biggest Loser reboot. At Universal Television Alternative Studio, she'll take on day-to-day management of the studio's series and pilots, with responsibilities including development, casting, creative, formats and production plans....

“Masked Singer” format creator Park Won Woo has signed a first-look producing deal with Universal Television Alternative Studio, the studio announced Friday.

Park created South Korea’s “The King of Mask Singer,” the show Fox’s singing competition — and numerous others around the global — is adapted from. In addition to that No. 1-rated show in South Korea, Park has produced and co-produced approximately 200 programs, from local hits to international formats such as “Top Gear Korea” and “1 vs. 100 Korea.” He most recently created and produced “300: War of the United Voices,” a hit in South Korea and China.

He is also the founder and CEO of format development company dIturn and was awarded the Korean Entertainment Writer of the Year in 2015.

Also Read: Ratings: 'The Masked Singer' Recovers From CMAs Week - But Not Enough to Hold Off NBC

The resulting formats from Park’s first-look deal with...

Toby Gorman has been named president of Universal Television Alternative Studio.

In his new role, Gorman will report to Meredith Ahr, who was the last to hold the position prior to her promotion last year to president of NBC Entertainment’s Alternative and Reality Group.

Gorman will oversee the studio’s operations, including development, domestic sales strategy and creative affairs across its slate of unscripted programming. He will also shape production partnerships to build on the studio’s current off-network slate including “In Search of” (History), “The Biggest Loser” (USA) and “Blind Date (Bravo),” as well as other projects in various stages of development and production.

Also Read: A Smith and Co Names Caroline Baumgard CEO, Founder Arthur Smith Moves to Chairman

“We have an incredibly ambitious growth plan for Universal Television Alternative Studio, and Toby is exactly who we want at the helm during this defining time,” Ahr said.

Veteran producer and executive Toby Gorman has been named President of Universal Television Alternative Studio. Gorman, who most recently served as interim CEO of Magical Elves as well as President of Entertainment at A. Smith & Co Productions, fills the position left open when Meredith Ahr was promoted last fall to President of NBC Entertainment’s Alternative and Reality Group. Reporting into Ahr, Gorman will oversee key studio operations, including development, domestic sales strategy and creative affairs. In addition, he will collaborate closely across all areas of production, casting, business affairs and international commercial development for the studio.

“We have an incredibly ambitious growth plan for Universal Television Alternative Studio, and Toby is exactly who we want at the helm during this defining time,” said Ahr. “I have witnessed him in many roles over the years, and time and again he has proven to be a precise developer, a creative producer,...

Universal Television Alternative Studio has named producer and executive Toby Gorman as its new president, overseeing development, domestic sales strategy and creative affairs at the unscripted and alternative-formats studio.

Most recently the interim CEO of Magical Elves, Gorman succeeds Meredith Ahr, who last fall was upped to president of NBC Entertainment’s alternative and reality group. Gorman, who will report to Ahr, will also work closely with production, casting, business affairs and international commercial development for the Universal TV Alternative Studio.

Founded in 2016, the young studio — which creates, develops and produces unscripted and alternative-format original series — is just entering its third year of existence, and is responsible for competition series such as “Songland” and “Bring the Funny,” as well as LeBron James-produced game show “The Wall” and Jane Lynch-hosted “Hollywood Game Night.”

“We have an incredibly ambitious growth plan for Universal Television Alternative Studio, and Toby is exactly...

There's a new person at the top of Universal Television Alternative Studio.

Toby Gorman has been named president of the studio, which produces unscripted content for NBC and other outlets. He takes over for Meredith Ahr, who in late 2018 was upped to head NBC Entertainment's Alternative and Reality Group. Gorman will report to Ahr.

"We have an incredibly ambitious growth plan for Universal Television Alternative Studio, and Toby is exactly who we want at the helm during this defining time," Ahr said Thursday in a statement. "I have witnessed him in many roles ...

In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix dropped the first trailer for its upcoming comedy series “Russian Doll” starring Natasha Lyonne, and Disney has ordered a second season of its animated series “Star Wars Resistance.”

Dates

Fox is set to premiere its new competition series “Mental Samurai” on Feb. 26 at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Hosted and produced by Rob Lowe, the show will feature contestants testing their acumen in categories of knowledge, memory, puzzles, and sequencing all within a specially designed capsule capable of rotating 360 degrees and moving around the set at high speeds. “Mental Samurai” is produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions, Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television and Apploff Entertainment with Arthur Smith, Toby Gorman, Jeff Apploff and Noah Bonnett executive producing.

“2 Dope Queens” is returning to HBO on Feb. 8 at 11:00 p.m. Et/Pt. Adapted from the hit podcast of the same name, season...

Fox has set a premiere date for the new reality competition series it’s billing as “the first-ever obstacle course for the mind.” Hosted and produced by Rob Lowe, Mental Samurai will bow at 9 Pm Tuesday, February 26.

Here’s how we play our game: Pushing every aspect of human intelligence and mental agility, the series sees contestants battle the boundaries of their minds to answer questions accurately with speed and precision. Not only does the course test their acumen in categories of knowledge, memory, puzzles and sequencing, but players also will have to contend with being physically transported around the set at high speeds in a specially designed capsule capable of rotating 360 degrees. People from all walks of life will compete, and underdogs will triumph, in the game that anyone can play, and almost no one can win.

Mental Samurai produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions, Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television and Apploff Entertainment. Arthur Smith, Toby Gorman, Jeff Apploff and Noah Bonnett serve as executive producers.

“Never before has such an accessible game been so challenging,” said Arthur Smith, CEO of A. Smith & Co. Productions. “With Rob Lowe’s wit, warmth and encouraging spirit, the show’s first generation of Mental Samurais will have the experience of their lives.”

RelatedRichard Schiff Confirms Talks Of Long-Rumored ‘The West Wing’ Reboot...

Netflix’s new show “Death by Magic” is being launched globally on Nov. 30, TheWrap has learned exclusively.

The docuseries follows British magician Drummond Money-Coutts (a.k.a. Dmc) on his mission to uncover the stories of magicians who died performing the most dangerous stunts ever attempted.

“Death by Magic” marks Los Angeles-based production company A. Smith & Co.’s first-ever project with Netflix, reuniting CEO Arthur Smith with Netflix’s vice president of Unscripted, Brandon Reigg. The pair formerly worked together on projects at NBC.

Also Read: Shocker: Teens Love Netflix, YouTube Way More Than Cable TV

“Dmc is a truly gifted magician whose mind-bending illusions mesmerize and confound people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds,” Smith told TheWrap. “So we sent him out to shock the world in eight different cities across four continents with the most daring, unbelievable magic ever seen.”

“Netflix is the perfect partner to showcase this high stakes,...

Leading reality production outfit A. Smith & Co. Productions is expanding with the launch of two new programming divisions. A. Smith & Co. Dox will handle documentary and factual programming, and A. Smith & Co. Entertainment will house the company’s entertainment programming, such as broadcast’s American Ninja Warrior and Hell’s Kitchen, along with a number of cable series. Former FremantleMedia North America exec Toby Gorman has signed on to head the entertainment…...

Samuel L. Jackson and Latanya Richardson Jackson are developing a new unscripted celebrity-centric series with Steve Harvey Ep Rushion McDonald and FreemantleMedia North America. The project will bring A-listers back to their childhood homes and old neighborhoods, to see how their childhoods influenced the people they are today.The still untitled series was created by executive producers Jackson, Richardson Jackson, and McDonald. FremantleMedia North America will produce. Zoe Jackson and Fmna’s Jennifer Mullin and Toby Gorman will also executive produce.Read More…...

Remember when big-name stars didn’t want to do TV? Now they’re even clamoring for jobs as game show hosts.

Alec Baldwin (ABC’s “Match Game”), Taye Diggs (Fox’s “Hypnotize Me”), Jane Lynch (NBC’s “Celebrity Game Night”) and Anthony Anderson (ABC’s “To Tell the Truth”) are just some of the actors who now front major primetime game shows, in addition to their regular scripted work.

“You look at game shows from the 1970s and 1980s, they were somewhat cheesy,” Anderson said. “It’s different now. It’s a lot classier. It’s cool.”

Wayne Brady, who has hosted a “Let’s Make a Deal” revival for CBS since 2009, joked that “being a game show host was very much akin to being a local affiliate weatherman – and no offense to local affiliate weathermen, but there’s a stereotype.”

Read More: Common Joins the Game Show Circus

Indeed,...

Fox is developing a new couples dancing competition series with the producers of “The Voice” and “American Idol,” the network announced Monday. The currently untitled series will highlight the lives of real-life couples who each week will participate in intensive training, rehearsals and live performances, until one couple is crowned the winner. Stijn Bakkers, executive producer of “The Voice” and Toby Gorman, executive vice president of alternative programming for FremantleMedia North America, will serve as executive producers alongside Jennifer Mullin of FremantleMedia North America. FremantleMedia North America and Five Six Seven, Inc will produce the series. Also Read: Fox News...

Fox has put in development a couples dancing competition show from former The Voice executive producer Stijn Bakkers and American Idol producer FremantleMedia North America. Created/executive produced by Bakkers and Toby Gorman, Evp Alternative at Fmna, the untitled show highlights the lives of real-life couples who, each week, will participate in intensive training, rehearsals and live performances until one couple is crowned the winner. Fmna’s Jennifer Mullin also…...

So you think you and your significant other can dance?

Fox is developing a reality competition series featuring non-celebrity couples performing challenging choreographed routines.

RelatedGood Wife‘s Julianna Margulies Breaks Silence on Alleged Backstage Feud, Archie Panjabi Responds

Produced by FremantleMedia North America (American Idol, America’s Got Talent) and Five Six Seven, Inc., the prospective series hails from creators Stijn Bakkers (The Voice) and Fremantle’s Toby Gorman.

According to the network, the currently untitled project will “highlight the lives of real-life couples who, each week, will participate in intensive training, rehearsals and live performances, until one couple is crowned the winner.

FremantleMedia North America has named former BBC Entertainment executive and producer Sean Hancock as VP Alternative Programming, CEO Thom Beers announced today. Hancock begins his new position April 28 reporting to Evp Alternative Programming Toby Gorman. In his new role, Hancock will be responsible for development and production of reality competition, game show and other unscripted programming. Hancock moves to FremantleMedia following a three-and-a-half-year stint as commissioning editor at BBC Entertainment. During his tenure there he greenlit and/or executive produced a slate of programming, including BAFTA-winning The Revolution Will Be Televised, six seasons of Russell Howard’s Good News, The Michael McIntyre Chat Show, Sweat The Small Stuff and Junior Doctors. The news comes the same day that FremantleMedia North America’s Family Feud announced it had shattered a ratings record. The Steve Harvey-hosted game show hit a 6.1 household rating during the week ending January 26. That puts the show...

FremantleMedia International has promoted Hayley Dickson to VP Television Acquisitions and Development, Global Content. Dickson previously served as Director, Television Acquisitions and Development before moving into the newly created role where she will oversee Global Content in its North American division, acquiring content for domestic and international release in entertainment, factual, lifestyle, drama, and comedy genres. She’ll also head new business development while working with Fremantle’s Distribution and Scripted Development teams. While at Fremantle, Dickson has initiated strategic relationships with Hulu, Vuguru, and Young Hollywood among others. Earlier this week, Fremantle brought Toby Gorman aboard to head Unscripted as Evp Alternative Programming.

Former top reality producer-turned-FremantleMedia North America CEO Thom Beers has picked a person with the same background to head the company’s unscripted development. Veteran reality producer Toby Gorman has joined Fmna as Evp of Alternative Programming, effective mid-April. He will spearhead the development of formats for reality competition and game shows for broadcast, major cable networks as well as syndication. He replaces Jeff Tahler, Evp Global Content. “FremantleMedia aims to continue to build on its strong presence in reality, game show and other unscripted television, and Toby has earned a wonderful reputation as a terrific series producer and show runner,” Beers said. The company behind American Idol, The X Factor, America’s Got Talent, Family Feud and Beers’ The Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers has struggled to add another marquee reality franchise to its portfolio over the last couple of years though it has a promising new syndicated...