New York -- A&E Network ordered a new reality series, Sonsof Hollywood, as well as commissioning a pilot and renewing seven of its “real-life” programs, according to officials.
The channel bought eight episodes of Sons of Hollywood,which will premiere in the first quarter of next year. The series will follow the adventures of childhood friends Randy Spelling, son of producer Aaron Spelling, and Sean Stewart, son of singer Rod Stewart, as well as rising agent Dave Weintraub.
“It’s the real-life Entourage,” A&E general manager Bob DeBitetto said.
A&E also renewed Dog the Bounty Hunter, Intervention, King of Cars, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Inked, Dallas SWAT and The First 48.
Parent company A&E Television Networks, which includes The History Channel, plans to spend $500 million on programming for its channels this year, officials said at A&E’s upfront presentation here last week.
An A&E pilot in development, The Beach, is a reality show about lifeguards who live and work in “Surf City, U.S.A.,” namely Huntington Beach, Calif.
The network is also in preproduction on three original movies.
Wildfires is loosely based on a true story about a fire that threatened Yellowstone National Park. Kings of South Beach,from writer Nick Pileggi, is the true-life story of Miami nightclub impresario Chris Paciello. And Wedding March, a fictionalized drama starring John Stamos, is about a nationwide strike by gays and lesbians to fight for gay marriage.
