Ten new non-fiction series on the way from A&E

May 4, 2011 by Barry Walsh

In-laws, feral hogs and model roommates will have a place on the sched at A&E for 2011-2012.

The U.S. cable net, currently the number four entertainment cable net in adults 25-54, announced its new slate today, lifting the lid on 10 new non-fiction shows penned in for the year ahead. The slate features new series from Leftfield Pictures and Original Productions, as well as series in development from Embassy Row, Glee producer Ryan Murphy and another with Mark Burnett on board as exec producer.

New series include: the Leftfield Pictures-produced InLaws (w/t), which brings relationship experts into contact with couples that need help in dealing with their in-laws; Ship Happens (w/t), produced by Megalomedia and dealing with the “cutthroat world of competitive shipping”; Boar Hunters (w/t) from Original Productions, which follows hog-hunting family the Campbells; and another from Original Productions, Storage Wars: Dallas, spun from the net’s top-rated non-fiction franchise.

New series in development include: Embassy Row-produced Hands On (w/t) a competition which sees contestants battle for a big prize by keeping their hands on it for as long as they can; Family Bonding (w/t), produced by Krasnow Productions, which will handcuff together two members of a family in crisis to see if such drastic measures repair their relationship; Profilers (w/t), an FBI series produced by James Bruce Productions and exec produced by Bruce and Mark Burnett; the MAK Pictures-produced Cajun Blue, which follows a Louisiana sheriffs department; Duckmen (w/t), produced by Gurney Productions and following another set of colorful Louisiana natives that deals in duck calls and decoys; and Model Apartment, produced by Ryan Murphy Productions and Fox 21 and offering a fly-on-the-wall look at six cohabiting models.

Returning non-fiction series include: Storage Wars; Beyond Scared Straight; The First 48; Gene Simmons Family Jewels; Billy the Exterminator; Hoarders; Intervention; Dog the Bounty Hunter; Manhunters; and Parking Wars.

“Our new development slate remains true to our unique brand of authentic, dramatic and emotional storytelling, and will ensure that we maintain our position as a premium entertainment network and drive our continued growth for the coming year,” said Bob DeBitetto, president and general manager of A&E Network and BIO Channel.

Tags: A&E Network, Embassy Row, Fox 21, Gurney Productions, Leftfield Pictures, Mark Burnett, Original Productions, Robert DeBitetto