truTV Bulks Up Original Programming

NEW YORK: Several additions have been made to truTV’s lineup of original programming, including new projects from Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg’s Katalyst and Reveille.

In 2009, truTV achieved strong growth with its target 18-to-49 audience, along with experiencing a five-year drop in median age. The first quarter of this year was truTV’s most-watched ever with adults 18 to 34, 18 to 49 and men 18 to 34 and 18 to 49. "When we introduced the truTV brand, we decided to target an audience we call real engagers—viewers who love exciting, real-life action," said Marc Juris, the executive VP and general manager, truTV/In Session. "We have built a lineup that has attracted a strong fan base—and it only continues to grow."

truTV has 13 returning series, including a set of renewals. Conspiracy Theory with Jess Ventura, in which the former pro-wrestler tackles modern-day conspiracy theories, is back for a second season. As is Full Throttle Saloon, which focuses on life at the world’s biggest biker bar. Returning for a third run is Black Gold, a series from Thom Beers’ Original Productions about life on Texas oil rigs. Also on the returning slate are Las Vegas Jailhouse, which goes inside Las Vegas’ Clark County Detention Center, and Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the city’s hottest parties.

New series in development for the network include Vegas Repo, which follows along on the process of repossessions in Las Vegas; Disclosure, examining secretive and undercover phenomena that the government, scientists and other officials refuse to discuss; and Rogue Society (working title), about a group whose mission is to expose bigots, jerks and scam artists by pulling pranks. There’s also America’s Toughest Boss (working title), about the owner of Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse, Willie Degel, who is an obsessive perfectionist and a self-made millionaire, and Reveille’s The Naked Office, which looks at an unorthodox form of group therapy by which employees strip down each Friday at work. Exposed! (working title) is a project from Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg’s Katalyst. The series is in the spirit of Katalyst’s Punk’d, whereby unsuspecting people are pranked all in the name of a unique social experiment. Limo Bob takes a look at the larger-than-life owner of the biggest fleet of limos in Chicago. Rounding out the slate is Ma’s Roadhouse (working title) chronicles the happenings at a Texas saloon.