Pax TV Unveils Broad Slate of New Programming

Pax TV will add 10 new prime-time shows to its new 2004-'05 season schedule, the network's seventh on the air.

At its upfront presentation to the media buying community tonight at NBC's East Coast headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, Pax will announce that it will be offering a new improvisation comedy/variety show from Frasier's Kelsey Grammer and two reality series, one from the producers of NBC's Average Joe, and the other from the producers of NBC's Fear Factor. NBC holds a 32 percent stake in Pax and NBC recently named its senior vp of NBC Entertainment, Sheraton Kalouria, to work with Pax to develop new programming.

The Kelsey Grammer produced show, titled World Cup Comedy, will pit teams of comedians squaring off against one another on improvisational topics given to them by the audience. The winning team each week will return the following week to compete against a new challenger.

The reality show from Average Joe creator Stuart Krasnow will be titled Cold Turkey. The 10-episode series will be hosted by former E! correspondent A.J. Benza and monitor participants living in the same house as they each attempt to kick bad habits. Another reality show with an Average Joe connection will be Model Citizen. In each episode, a five member ensemble of men and women models will visit a small town, and using their beauty, charm and common sense, will be charged with providing a lasting solution to a community problem.

Pax will also announce a new, untitled reality series in development from Fear Factor creator Matt Kunitz.
Other new Pax shows that will be added to the prime-time schedule this fall include: Left Behind,A sci-fi drama about people searching for their loved ones who mysteriously disappear; Young Blades, a drama featuring the next generation of The Three Muskateers, with the son of D'Artagnoon and two of his comrades, one of whom is a woman, masquarading as a man to avoid capture as a fugitive; Second Verdict, a reality show featuring real-life felony cases from around the country; America's Most Talented Kids, a variety/talent show; The Magician, a competition among magicians that is judged by other majicians; On the Cover, a game show premiering May 17, in which contestants are quizzed on their knowledge of celebritiers and events of the past 30 years; and Balderdash, a game show premiering July 12, based on the board game from Mattel.

Pax will also return dramas Doc, Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, Diagnosis Murder and Early Edition.