Gotcha features a group of diverse, energetic, free-spirited and charismatic teens who live for pranks and devise and execute them on celebrities, innocent passersby and each other. The series makes frequent use of slapstick and nonsense and is suitable for family viewing.
Gotcha is co-produced by comedy legend Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally) and his Jennilind Productions, Bunim/Murray Productions (creators of The Real World and Keeping Up With the Kardashians), and Nutz Productions, the the kids and youth content arm of Ananey Communications Group, who produces all original series for the Viacom brands in Israel as well as the recent Netflix teen drama Greenhouse Academy, based on Nutz's Nickelodeon Israel hit The Greenhouse.
The series will mark the official launch of Bunim/Murray Productions’ (BMP) kids’ division, BMP Kids, run by Emmy Award-winning producer Maria Pepin. Her current and past projects include collaborations with Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, Universal Kids, DHX, go90, Spin Master, DreamWorksTV.com, Disney and Disney XD.
While BMP Kids is Bunim/Murray Productions’ first official children’s unit, the prodco began its move into kids content by recently partnering with popular YouTuber GloZell on her new online preschool channel, GloBugz.
The series premiere on Nickelodeon Israel will mark the launch of the format.
BMP Kids are also in development with Nick Jr. and Universal Kids on several shows on several shows.
Nickelodeon Israel is the country’s top kids channel. A number of Nutz Productions’ original TV series are getting high ratings on Nickelodeon Israel, notably such Spell Keepers (כדברא), Bed & Biscuit (בית הכלבים), and The Hood (שכונה), which was just greenlit for a third season.
Banijay International is selling the worldwide format rights for Gotcha and introducing the show to buyers at the MIP Jr. kids TV market in Cannes this weekend.
“Comedy has been in my blood throughout my life and career,” said Crystal. “I started performing when I was a kid, and I loved playing funny practical jokes on my friends and family. Developing and producing Gotcha and helping youngsters share the gift of comedy with their peers was really appealing.”
“It’s thrilling to be able to embark on this comedic journey with Orly and all our good friends over at Nutz Productions as well as the incomparable Billy Crystal,” said Gil Goldschein, the CEO and chairman of Bunim/Murray Productions. “Comedy is a universal language—one that is needed now more than ever—and we look forward to spreading laughter around the globe.”
“Billy is a comedic legend, and it is a real honor to parlay his unique talent into a new show,” commented Orly Atlas Katz, the CEO of Ananey Communications Group, parent company of Nutz Productions. “With Bunim’s three decades of experience in unscripted television and our kids’ productions abilities, we have no doubt that this format will land well with audiences around the globe.”
“With an influx of new distribution platforms and technologies, it’s a really exciting time for Bunim/Murray to take a vested interest in the burgeoning kids’ and co-viewing television space,” remarked BMP’s Pepin. “We’re thrilled to showcase Gotcha’s immensely talented and hilarious group of young comedians as the official launching pad for BMP Kids, and we’re excited to do it in partnership with Billy Crystal and Israel’s Nutz Productions.”
More Nick: Nickelodeon Israel Commissions "The Hood" Season 3!
Sources: TVKIDS, Deadline Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Kidscreen.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Israel News and Highlights!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have your say by leaving a comment below! NickALive! welcomes friendly and respectful comments. Please familiarize with the blog's Comment Policy before commenting. All new comments are moderated and won't appear straight away.