TCA: Investigation Discovery Developing Mark Burnett 'Prison Idol'-style Talent Competition

'Dancing Behind Bars' also part of a prison-based reality competition slate

By Stephanie Robbins and Andrea Domanick -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/6/2010 1:20:56 PM

Investigation Discovery announced a development deal with Mark Burnett to produce a talent-based competition with prisoners in the vein of American Idol potentially titled "Talent Behind Bars," Discovery President and General Manager Henry Schleiff said during the network's portion of the TCA press tour Friday.

"The essence of the show is to highlight people who have been convicted of non-violent crimes and misdemeanors," Schleiff told B&C after the presentation. "Maybe there's somebody in a part of the country where they've never had a real chance to have a proper education, but they have a talent. Maybe it's singing, for example. So if we can give somebody like that, because of the use of the medium of our series, a break, they [might] get seen. And [if] someone sees that they have an extraordinary ability, it's a chance for maybe a little bit of a redemption."

The show is part of two half-hour prison-based reality competition series ID has in the works, Schleiff said.

The other program is what Schleiff dubbed "Dancing Behind Bars," akin to ABC's hit Dancing With the Stars, but featuring the footwork of inmates.

"I think candidly, we're certainly using names. It's a little bit of a play on America's two or three most popular series out there, and it's a way of getting recognition, a little attention for a show," admitted Schleiff. "But the [ID] shows will be somewhat materially different from those. We are hoping to draw audience that wants to be entertained for half an hour, [but] we're not trying to be exploitative. We're trying to actually do a show that is entertaining and maybe has some good results for all involved."

Prizes for these competition reality series are still being determined, but will potentially go towards supporting prisoner rehabilitation.

The announcements come on the heels of Investigation Discovery announcing Aug. 4 that it will bow three new series this fall. The series include Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?, Hardcover Mysteries and The Will: Family Secrets Revealed.