Jersey Shore may be the highest rated show on the network, but that won’t stop MTV from cranking out a whole slew of upcoming original scripted programming for their next upcoming season. It’s important to state that these are scripted, because this is the first time MTV is trying something like this since the days of Undressed back in 1999.
This decision to bulk up scripted programming can most definitely be attributed to the huge success of last summer’s newest program for the network, The Hard Times of RJ Berger. The pilot of the show brought in 2.6 million viewers, which is a network high in nearly two years. Now, with two completely different pilots, MTV is hoping to capture that lightning in a bottle. From THR:
“That Girl” follows a 15-year-old who gains notoriety after an accident leads her classmates to think she attempted suicide. The show was created and executive produced by Lauren Iungerich (ABC Family’s “10 Things I Hate About You”).
The documentary-style “Death Valley” has an ensemble cast that includes Caity Lotz (“Mad Men”) and Tania Raymonde (“Lost”) and follows the Undead Task Force, which battles zombies, vampires and werewolves that have overrun the San Fernando Valley.
‘Death Valley’ is the perfect combination of horror and comedy, two genres we know our audience responds to,” senior VP production Tony DiBari said. “That blend, combined with a fast pace and gritty ‘follow doc’ visual style, will take viewers on a wild ride where they are never sure what’s around the next corner.”
It’s pretty daring, but these shows both look like they could have a home on MTV. These will be teamed up with the other scripted series planned for next season, such as the reboot of Teen Wolf, an Americanized version of Skins, and the second season of RJ Berger.
