Fox Reality, Sky One and Talent Television Announce New US/UK Co-Production; New Reality Show CORKSCREWED: THE WRATH OF GRAPES to Star Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick
Fox Reality, Sky One and Talent Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of Talent Group plc, have announced a new US/UK co-production commission. Talent Television, in association with Magic Pictures Inc. in LA, will produce the brand new series for both Fox Reality in the US and Sky One in the UK.
CORKSCREWED: THE WRATH OF GRAPES is a new reality series following the trials and exploits of award-winning entertainment producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick as they make a major investment in a long held dream -- owning their own vineyard.
Commissioned by David Lyle at Fox Reality and Richard Woolfe at Sky One, the series will broadcast later this year as 8 x 30-minutes and 4 x 60-minutes respectively. CORKSCREWED: THE WRATH OF GRAPES is the first US co-production secured by Talent Television. John Kaye Cooper will Executive Produce along with Elaine Gallagher, formerly at September Films and Channel X, in LA. Mike Fox is Series Producer and Magic Pictures Inc′s Kris Lythgoe is Consultant Producer.
From childhood friends in the backstreets of Liverpool to producing the huge US primetime hit "American Idol," Ken and Nigel are a phenomenal success story. Nigel is currently executive producer and "judge" on FOX Broadcasting′s summer hit "So You Think You Can Dance," and Ken is executive producer of the head to head ratings rival, NBC′s "America′s Got Talent," and they are both enjoying the rewards and Hollywood lifestyle that come with a string of prime-time US network hits.
Everything they touch turns to TV gold, as the reality series follows the two highly successful, charismatic showmen as they venture into the vineyard abyss.
Originally planned as a consortium of buyers including Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller, one by one the investors pulled out leaving Nigel and Ken to purchase the beautiful 168 acre vineyard in Paso Robles, California alone.
Problems arise from the outset. Arriving at the vineyard dressed in designer clothing, Lythgoe and Warwick try to convince the jeans-clad owner of their interest in horticulture. From there the hilarities and struggles persist; business collaborations go south; wild boars cause chaos; potential profits dive; and vines become infested with rot.
Nigel and Ken refuse to give up on their lifelong dream, but will the vineyard be a success?
David Lyle, Fox Reality COO & General Manager, said: "The landscape of reality television has truly been shaped by these two pioneers, and we′re thrilled that they′ve selected our network when they ventured into becoming the subjects of their own show. We think reality fans will love the opportunity to watch what happens when the tables are turned."
Richard Woolfe, Director of Programming at Sky One, commented: "Nigel and Kenny are going to get some of their own TV reality medicine as we turn the cameras on them as they try and turn a vineyard nightmare into a dream vintage claret. Will they do it? Who knows, but we′ll enjoy the ride with them."
John Kaye Cooper, Creative Director of Talent Television, added: "CORKSCREWED: THE WRATH OF GRAPES will be compelling viewing for US and UK audiences alike. As producers with the Midas touch in Hollywood, it is fascinating to watch Nigel and Ken show their inexperience and learn how to become vineyard owners ...the hard way!"
Kris Lythgoe SVP at Magic Pictures Inc. added: "We are very excited to be working with Fox Reality & Talent TV and feel they were the perfect partners for this production. This is a show of adventure for two life long friends Kenny and Nigel who have come so far since their school days back in Liverpool, but have they gone too far?"
CORKSCREWED: THE WRATH OF GRAPES will launch on Fox Reality from November 22, 2006 and on Sky One in Spring 2007.
