TCA: Ryan Lochte to Star in E! Reality Series

Net also orders culinary show ‘Playing With Fire'

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/7/2013 6:01:00 PM

Complete Coverage: TCA Winter Press Tour 2013

Pasadena, Calif. -- E! has set a new reality series with Olympic gold medalist swimmer Ryan Lochte, the network announced at the Television Critics' Association winter press tour Monday.

The six-episode What Would Ryan Lochte Do? will premiere in April. The series, from Intuitive Entertainment, will follow the 28-yearold Lochte as he prepares for the next Olympics, builds his fashion line, deals with his family and hits the dating scene.

"Ryan Lochte captured everyone's attention at the Summer Olympics with his athletic prowess and his utterly unique and unaffected approach to life," said E! president Suzanne Kolb. "He is an incredibly endearing personality who is sexy, entertaining and fun. Watching this show, I believe people will fall into three categories: they want to be him, sleep with him or mother him."

E! has also ordered a new culinary series Playing With Fire, which goes inside the professional and personal lives of those in New York's restaurant industry. The six-episode series will also premiere in April.

Playing With Fire stars Chef Boyardee heiress Anna Boiardi, food entrepreneurs Derek and Daniel Koch, pastry chef Julie Elkind and chef Candice Kumai, with actress Jennifer Esposito and celebrity chef Todd English making appearances.