Lip Sync Battle Spin-off & TMNT Series Among Nick’s Highlights

NEW YORK: Nickelodeon has unveiled a number of the channel’s upcoming highlights, which include a youth-skewing Lip Sync Battle spin-off and a new animated show featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT).

Nickelodeon has greenlit Lip Sync Battle Shorties, a spin-off of the hit competition series airing on Viacom’s Spike. The 10×30-minute show follows the success of the hour-long special that broadcast on Nickelodeon in December. Each episode will feature three talented children, the Shorties Dance Crew and a soon-to-be-announced host. Lip Sync Battle Shorties comes from Casey Patterson Entertainment and Matador Content, with John Krasinski, Stephen Merchant and Eight Million Plus Productions serving as exec producers. It will begin production later this year for a fall debut.

“Lip Sync Battle Shorties is so illustrative of how kids have changed,” said Cyma Zarghami, the president of Nickelodeon Group. “Our research tells us this generation believes they are all one step away from being famous. This show celebrates real kids with real talent, but more importantly a passion to perform and the confidence to do it.”

The channel also gave the go-ahead to Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (working title), which will follow the adventures of the heroic foursome as they encounter new villains and allies in New York City. The 26-episode 2D animated show is co-executive produced by Andy Suriano (Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). It is slated to begin airing in fall 2018.

“The Turtles is a property that has reinvention in its DNA, which keeps it fresh and relevant to every new generation while satisfying the demand from its adult fans,” noted Zarghami. “Turtles has been an incredibly important franchise for us since we reignited it five years ago, and we’re excited for the new series to take the characters in a different direction with more humor, a younger and lighter feel and all-new dimensions to explore.”

Also greenlit at Nickelodeon is The Adventures of Kid Danger and Captain Man (working title), based on characters from the live-action hit Henry Danger. The 10×30-minute animated show, created by Dan Schneider and produced by Powerhouse Animation, will see original Henry Danger cast members on board as voice talent. It first launched as a short-form digital series.

“We are giving the characters that kids love the opportunity to play in fresh new ways,” added Zarghami. “Animating Dan Schneider’s incredible Henry Danger, while keeping the voices of the current series, signals to the audience that we are working hard to serve them on all platforms.”

In addition, an overall talent deal has been signed with JoJo Siwa. Under the agreement, Nickelodeon will work with the teen star on a multiplatform basis, including consumer products, original programming, social media, live events and music. The channel has given the go-ahead to a new docu-style special that provides a behind-the-scenes look at Siwa’s life. The untitled half-hour project will begin production this spring for a summer premiere.

“JoJo’s an entrepreneur, her family is everything to her and she is happy just being a kid,” stated Shelly Sumpter Gillyard, the executive VP of talent, music and events at Nickelodeon. “We have watched JoJo’s career as a real breakout talent and knew when we met with her that our audience would welcome her as part of the Nickelodeon family.”