According to multiple sources close to the project, the Fine Brothers partnered with Ncredible Entertainment, a multi-platform production studio founded by the Chairman of 'TeenNick', Nick Cannon, to produce a pilot for the brand-new half-hour comedy show.
The show will be based on the series of internet videos the brotherly duo currently produce for YouTube. In these videos, the Fine Brothers film people from various age groups — kids ("Kids React"), teens ("Teens React"), the elderly ("Elders React") — responding to a popular or trending viral video clip. For instance, there exists "Elders React" episodes of elderly people watching Ylvis' "The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)" music video and the phenomenon known as "twerking". The videos consistently get millions of views on YouTube.
Although one source told VideoInk that Nickelodeon is considering ordering 13 episodes of the series, in a emailed statement to Variety, Nickelodeon spokeswoman Ariana Urbont said that "This is not a greenlit series and it has not been decided whether or not any episodes will be picked up".
Nickelodeon also recently picked up 40 episodes of a brand new game show called "Go Viral" (working title) from Ryan Seacrest Productions (RSP). The 30 minute, studio-based game show will feature kid contestants as they compete in elimination challenges revolving around viral videos. Each round will test kids on these laugh-out-loud videos – from predicting outcomes to guessing their popularity as voted by the studio audience. Production on the series will take place in Los Angeles, California, with the show set to premiere during Summer 2014. "Go Viral" will be produced by RSP, with Ryan Seacrest and Adam Sher serving as Executive Producers for the series.
The Fine Brothers, who have more than 7.2 million subscribers on YouTube, are repped by WME and currently networked with Fullscreen.
The duo signed with Fullscreen in December of 2013, with an eye toward producing projects for platforms other than YouTube, including television.
At the time, Fullscreen CEO George Strompolos told Variety: "We look at the Fine Bros. as top-tier showrunners of the YouTube generation... They have the audience, the fan base and the proven track record, so we're very much interested in developing programming with them for the internet and TV."
It's unclear at the moment if or how much Fullscreen is involved with the Ncredible/Nickeloden deal.
Benny and Rafi Fine also produce the multi-season "MyMusic" transmedia show, which is also available to watch in a TV-length episodic format.
From VideoInk:
The Fine Brothers and Nick Cannon Adapt 'React' Franchise for Nickelodeon in Pilot DealAlso, from Variety:
Benny and Rafi Fine, YouTube creators known as The Fine Brothers, are developing a show for Nickelodeon based on their popular "React" franchise.
According to multiple sources familiar with the plans, the Fine Brothers partnered with Ncredible Entertainment, a multi-platform production studio founded by actor/musician/producer Nick Cannon, to produce a pilot for a half-hour comedy show for Nickelodeon.
The show, which we're told is either titled "React to This" or "React to That," is based on a series of videos the brotherly duo already produces on YouTube. In these videos, the Fine Brothers film people from various age groups — kids ("Kids React"), teens ("Teens React"), the elderly ("Elders React") — responding to a popular or trending viral video clip. For instance, there exists "Elders React" episodes of old people watching Ylvis' "The Fox" and the phenomenon known as "twerking." These videos consistently get millions of views on YouTube.
Per sources, a pilot for the TV version of "React" has already been produced. One source claims that Nickelodeon plans to pick up 13 episodes.
The Fine Brothers, who have more than 7.2 million subscribers on YouTube, are repped by WME and currently networked with Fullscreen.
The duo signed with Fullscreen in December of 2013, with an eye toward producing projects for platforms other than YouTube, including television.
At the time, Fullscreen CEO George Strompolos told Variety: "We look at the Fine Bros. as top-tier showrunners of the YouTube generation…They have the audience, the fan base and the proven track record, so we’re very much interested in developing programming with them for the internet and TV."
It's unclear at the moment if or how much Fullscreen is involved with the Ncredible/Nickeloden deal.
That said, Strompolos' characterizations of the brothers as "showrunners" is accurate. The duo produces the multi-season "MyMusic" transmedia show. If you take away the program’s various social elements, it's also available to watch in a TV-length episodic format.
TAGS: BENNY FINE, FULLSCREEN, MYMUSIC, NCREDIBLE ENTERTAINMENT, NICK CANNON, NICKELODEON, RAFI FINE, REACT, THE FINE BROTHERS, YOUTUBE, YOUTUBE CREATOR
Nickelodeon Says It's Mulling ‘React’ TV Series from YouTube’s Fine Bros. and Nick Cannon
YouTube comedy duo Benny and Rafi Fine, a.k.a. The Fine Bros., have teamed with actor-comedian-rapper Nick Cannon on a TV adaptation of their “React” series for Viacom’s Nickelodeon.
But at this point, Nick has only produced a pilot of the proposed series — to be called “ReactToThat” — with the YouTubers and Cannon, through his Ncredible Entertainment production company.
“This is not a greenlit series and it has not been decided whether or not any episodes will be picked up,” Nick spokeswoman Ariana Urbont said in an emailed statement.
Nickelodeon has previously procured programming based on YouTube material, including a half-hour sketch-comedy show last year from DreamWorks Animation's AwesomenessTV and multiple projects with Lucas Cruikshank (creator of the Fred Figglehorn character). Word of the Fine Bros.'s work with Nickelodeon was reported earlier by VideoInk.
The TV pilot of "ReactToThat" (denoted as a single word) is based on the Fine Bros.'s YouTube franchise, which comprises footage of people from various walks of life reacting to viral YouTube videos. According to sources, Nick is considering ordering 13 episodes of the series.
The show’s exec producers are Nick Cannon, Michael Goldman, Benny and Rafi Fine, and Max Benator, who is the Fine Bros.’s manager. The Fine Bros. are repped by WME. In late 2013, they struck a deal with YouTube multichannel network Fullscreen, which is funding production of new content from the duo.
FILED UNDER: Fine Bros., Fullscreen, Nick Cannon, Nickelodeon
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