FME Highlights New & Returning Titles

LONDON: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) is presenting new titles such as Jesse James is a Dead Man and Models of the Runway, alongside returning series like The Adventures of Merlin. 

In factual offerings, Jesse James is a Dead Man is a Spike TV series that shows the modern-day daredevil taking on a range of death-defying stunts. Another Spike TV offering, Surviving Disaster presents the best ways to cope in critical situations, both natural and manmade. There are also a trio of co-produced programs from BermanBraun and Thom Beers’ Original Productions: Swords: Life on the Line, Tornado Road and Shark U. Swords: Life on the Line looks at fisherman who are braving the Atlantic coast in pursuit of swordfish. Tornado Road follows storm chasers who are tracking down tornados in the path of destruction. Shark U centers on a group of underfunded and under-equipped researchers who are risking their lives to save the shark.

On the entertainment roster are House of Jazmin, following the day-to-day activities of a young fashion ingénue; Is She Really Going Out with Him?, looking at beautiful young girls who have fallen for self-absorbed jerks; and Hardbat Classic, covering the drama and tension behind the largest live table tennis competition ever assembled in the U.S. Also on the slate is Models of the Runway, a companion series to Project Runway. 

Drama titles include Abroad, based on a true story about journalist Amy Pearce, and Trinity, set in the Machiavellian institution of Trinity University. FME’s comedy catalogue showcases Double Take, a sketch show from FremantleMedia Australia, as well as the new one-hour compilation The Best of Mr. Bean and the original 14×30-minute live-action series. Rounding out the slate is the panel show QI. 

A host of returning series rejoin the FME lineup, including the second season of the U.K. drama The Adventures of Merlin. A number of shows from the Jamie Oliver porfolio will be on offer, including the new series Jamie’s American Road Trip. Martha Stewart and American Idol are also featured. 

The home-entertainment team will be presenting, for the first time ever on DVD, The Agatha Christie Hour, a collection of dramas from the well-known crime writer. Another key title is Churchill’s Bodyguard.

David Ellender, the global CEO of FME, said, “Our clients’ needs are top of mind as we design our market slate and this year is no exception. As a company we are always looking to grow our portfolio of IP and—equally importantly—to manage it properly to maintain longevity. The result is a balanced offering of exciting new titles and reliable returning ones which we think is particularly appealing in these current economic conditions.”