Nick Cannon, JoJo Siwa On Board Lip Sync Battle Shorties

Nick Cannon has signed on as the host of Nickelodeon’s Lip Sync Battle Shorties, a spin-off of Spike’s Emmy-nominated hit Lip Sync Battle, with social media star JoJo Siwa joining the show to provide commentary on each performance.

The ten-episode series, which sees kids lip-syncing pop songs by their favorite artists, will premiere in early 2018. Halloween and holiday specials are set to air later this year. Nickelodeon premiered an hour-long Lip Sync Battle Shorties special in December 2016.

Created and executive produced by Casey Patterson Entertainment and Matador Content, Lip Sync Battle Shorties looks on as three kid participants personalize their performances, making decisions regarding all creative elements, from song and costume selection to choreography and staging. Each episode will also feature the Shorties Dance Crew, a ten-person, in-house backup crew, and will wrap up with a special celebrity appearance and final performance by all of the kids.

Cannon stated: “I’m excited to host the first season of Lip Sync Battle Shorties. It’s always a pleasure to work with my family at Nickelodeon. It’s going to be a lot of fun watching the kids lip-sync their favorite songs and perform like their favorite artists.”

“Nick Cannon grew up on Nickelodeon and into one of the best hosts and comedic actors on TV,” added executive producers Casey Patterson and Jay Peterson. “Along with his passion for music, he brings with him such an amazing understanding and enthusiasm for kid performers. We feel very lucky to have Nick at the helm of Shorties; we’re ready to rock!”

“With Nick Cannon at the helm, every episode of Lip Sync Battle Shorties will be an over-the-top Nickelodeon event, with real kids in the driver’s seat, battling head-to-head in the ultimate competition show,” said Bronwen O’Keefe, the senior VP of Nickelodeon live action and movies.