Upfronts 2012: truTV Developing Video Clip Show With Shaquille O'Neal

Other projects include game show set on airplane from Howie Mandel

By Tim Baysinger -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/30/2012 4:38:57 PM

Complete Coverage: Upfronts 2012

TruTV is placing a strong emphasis on comedic reality programming designed to appeal to its younger-skewing male audience, the network announced with its upcoming programming slate on Monday.

The network announced four upcoming series that will debut later this year, including the Hardcore Pawn spinoff, Fort Bragg.

The three other new series are Killer Karaoke, Guinness World Records Gone Wild and Container Wars. Killer Karaoke, hosted by Jackass star Steve-O, sees contestants perform their favorite songs in the midst of extreme physical challenges. Guinness World Records will see people trying to set "extreme" world records. Container Wars will see contestants compete against each other to buy the contents of huge shipping containers that have come from all around the world.

TruTV is developing shows with former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and Howie Mandel, as well as a weight-loss series featuring comedians Jeff Sloniker and Curtis Rainsberry.

Upload With Shaquille O'Neal (working title) is a Tosh.0 style series where O'Neal and his friends round up with week's top online video clips. Turbulence (wt), from Mandel, will have contestants answer trivia questions in an airplane with each wrong answer making the ride bumpier. Jeff & Curtis Lose Weight (wt) will have the comedic duo attempt to shed extra pounds the hilarious and often embarrassing ways.

In lieu of a traditional upfront, truTV instead traveled around the country and met with smaller groups of key clients. "Given the rapidly changing media environment, we decided the big budget upfront presentation does not provide the opportunity to sit down and develop unique solutions for our clients," said Marc Juris, executive VP & COO of truTV. "This year we don't want to pitch. We want to partner."