TNT Greenlights Two Unscripted Series

Eight episodes ordered for Boston Blue, 72 Hours to premiere in 2013

By Tim Baysinger -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/11/2012 12:58:03 PM

TNT adds to its lineup of original series, greenlighting two unscripted dramas on Friday.

The police procedural docudrama Boston Blue (working title), from executive producer Donnie Wahlberg (Blue Bloods), follows the men and women of the Boston Police Department's highly decorated Gang Unit. Julie Insogna-Jarrett and Seth Jarrett of Jarrett Creative Group will executive produce along with Wahlberg and his production company, Donnie D. Productions.

72 Hours (wt) is a competition series that drops competing teams from a helicopter into the wilderness, where they are given three days and a GPS tracking device to find a hidden suitcase full of cash. The series is from Lighthearted Entertainment (Extreme Makeover), with Howard Schultz  and Rob LaPlante serving as executive producers, with Jeff Spangler as co-executive producer.

"Boston Blue and 72 Hours are excellent fits for two of TNT's most important audience segments," said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and TCM. "With Boston Blue, we're looking to grab viewers who come to TNT for such blockbuster originals as The Closer and Rizzoli & Isles. And with 72 Hours, we're going after fans of TNT's action-packed dramas, like Falling Skies and Leverage. We're very excited about moving further into the realm of unscripted dramas with these outstanding additions to the TNT lineup."

TNT has ordered eight episodes for each to premiere in 2013.