AMC Launches Unscripted Night On Thursday, Picks Up Another Reality Series
AMC’s push in the unscripted area over the last year with a slew of greenlights is resulting in the cable network launching a second night of original programming on Thursday that will consist only of unscripted fare. It will join ABC’s's signature Sunday night, where the network’s original scripted series air. Additionally, AMC has greenlighted another unscripted series, Owner’s Manual.
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The new night will kick off on Valentine’s Day, February 14, with the final eight episodes of Comic Book Men’s Season 2 at 9 PM, followed by the premiere seasons of Freakshow at 9:30 and Immortalized at 10. The second seasons of unscripted series The Pitch and Small Town Security as well the recently greenlighted Road Show (working title) will also air on Thursdays later in 2013. “With an expanding slate of unscripted series, it makes perfect sense for us to create and build a new night for these great stories, in the same way we have made Sundays a true destination for our award-winning original dramas,” said Joel Stillerman, AMC’s EVP Original Programming. “We are excited to have Thursday night as the new home for unscripted on AMC, as we continue to showcase distinct storytelling that explores authentic characters and original worlds.”
Owner’s Manual has been picked up for eight half-hour episodes to premiere in third-quarter 2013. Produced by Asylum Entertainment (The Kennedys), Owner’s Manual will test one of the most common divides among man — those who read the owner’s manual and those who do not. Representing each side of this divide, Ed Sanders (Extreme Makeover) and Marcus Hunt (HGTV’s Hammer Heads) are put to the test in a weekly challenge where they attempt to operate today’s most advanced, dangerous and powerful machinery and technology – from a fighter jet to a submarine, and more. With opposing points of view and conflicting methods of practice — one man works strictly from the rule book, while the other uses only his instincts — the real test will be how this “everyman” duo can collaborate to accomplish their challenge. Owner’s Manual is executive produced by Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch, Alex Piper and Jerry McNutt. “The minute we saw this show, we knew it was a great concept,” Stillerman said. “As a non-owner’s manual person, I have a whole shelf in my house dedicated to parts that never found their way into things I have assembled. Watching Ed and Marcus go at it every week in the great tasks that Asylum is putting together is going to be truly compelling entertainment no matter what side of the owner’s manual divide you live on.”
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