Nickelodeon has just unveiled the details on a bunch of new animated and live-action comedy series they’re ready to add to their line-up. Among the just-announced shows revealed at a presentation by Nickelodeon Group President Cyma Zarghami in New York City are Sanjay & Craig (an animated series about a boy and his best friend – a snake), Breadwinners (with booty-shaking ducks), and The Haunted Hathaways about a family that moves into a haunted house in New Orleans.
The network also confirmed they’re bringing back Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a third season.
“We have reorganized our development process in a way that allows us to make content smarter and faster than ever before, tailored specifically for this first generation of post-millennial kids,” stated Zarghami. “Our research tells us that for them funny is a badge of honor, and because funny is in Nickelodeon’s core DNA, we believe our position will ensure our success with them.”
Nickelodeon’s New Programs
ANIMATION:
Sanjay & Craig – The 20-episode series tells the story of two best friends–one of whom is a snake–and the true adventures of being a kid. Voice actors include Maulik Pancholy as Sanjay; Chris Hardwick as Craig; Tony Hale as Mr. Noodman; Linda Cardellini as Megan; Kunal Nayyar as Vijay; and Grey DeLisle as Darlene. Sanjay & Craig is created and co-executive produced by Jim Dirschberger, Jay Howell (character design for Bob’s Burgers) and Andreas Trolf, and executive produced by Nickelodeon alumni Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi (The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Alvin and the Chipmunks).
Monsters vs. Aliens – Inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s 2009 blockbuster feature film ($383 million worldwide gross), this new series follows the further adventures of the beloved monsters — B.O.B., the gelatinous blob without a brain; Link, the prehistoric fish-man; Dr. Cockroach, the half-man/half-insect mad scientist; and Susan (aka Ginormica), the incredible growing woman — as they learn to adapt to a new world filled with bizarre aliens. This series, which is greenlit for 26 episodes, marks the third partnership between Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation.
Rabbids – This series brings to television the hysterical physical comedy that is the hallmark in Ubisoft’s wildly successful Rabbids video games. Irreverent, unpredictable and silly, the Rabbids are a mysterious breed of rabbit-like creatures that explore, and often wreak havoc, in the human world. Everything is a source of wonder and amusement, and these indestructible and uncontrollable creatures have absolutely no respect for the social rules that govern society. For them, there are no laws, no rules of the road. It’s all about having fun and saying “Bwaaaaaah!” Nickelodeon has secured global broadcast rights for 26 new half-hour CG episodes of Rabbids, which will be produced by Ubisoft.
Breadwinners – Created by Gary “Doodles” DiRaffaele (MAD, Metalocalypse), who was discovered from Nick’s 2012 Animated Shorts Program, and Steve Borst (Teen Titans Go!, MAD), Breadwinners follows two booty-shaking ducks as they operate a bread delivery service out of their awesome, jet-fueled rocket van. The series was picked up for 20 full-length episodes.
LIVE ACTION:
The Haunted Hathaways – Life in The Big Easy gets a little more complicated and way more spirited when the Hathaway siblings (Amber Montana, Breanna Yde) and their mom (Ginifer King) move into a house already occupied by a dad (Chico Benymon) and his sons (Curtis Harris, Benjamin “Lil P-Nut” Flores Jr.) who happen to be ghosts. Created by veteran comedy writer-producer Robert Peacock (Reba, The Jeff Foxworthy Show), The Haunted Hathaways is executive produced by Boyce Bugliari & Jamie McLaughlin (Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures). The series will begin production on 20 episodes this spring.
Wendell & Vinnie – A brand-new, live-action family comedy featuring Jerry Trainor (iCarly) in his first starring and producing role, this series follows 30-year-old Vinnie Bassett living the life of a carefree bachelor, when he suddenly becomes the legal guardian of his precocious, wise-beyond-his-years nephew, Wendell (Buddy Handleson, Shake It Up) forming a hysterical odd-couple family dynamic. Nicole Sullivan (MadTV) also stars as Vinnie’s older unlucky-in-love sister, Wilma, with Haley Strode (Gangster Squad) as Vinnie’s newly divorced neighbor and love interest, Taryn. Wendell & Vinnie, which has received has received a 20 episode order. The series airs regularly on Saturdays at 8p.m. (ET/PT).
Sam & Cat – In this comedic spin-off from award-winning creator and executive producer Dan Schneider (iCarly, Victorious, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101), Sam & Cat stars Jennette McCurdy (iCarly‘s Sam Puckett) and Ariana Grande (Victorious‘ Cat Valentine) reprising their roles from their respective hit shows. The series features the pair as unlikely roommates and best friends who become teen entrepreneurs by starting their own after-school babysitting business. Sam & Cat is currently in production on 20 episodes in Los Angeles and will premiere this fall.
The Thundermans – The Thundermans are a typical suburban family who happen to have astounding superpowers. At the center of the action are the 14-year-old Thunderman twins, Max (Jack Griffo) and Phoebe (Kira Kosarin), who share the same bathroom, the same school and the same annoying younger siblings. Their only difference? Phoebe is a super student with a super sunny disposition who super looks forward to being a superhero someday, and Max aspires to become a super villain. The 13-episode series will commence production this spring and is written by longtime Nickelodeon producer Jed Spingarn, who most recently served as co-executive producer of the hit series Big Time Rush and prior to that, produced on The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Johnny Bravo.
Nick Studio 10 – This live, daily afternoon daypart features four friends who make and share outrageously funny content in real time. Beginning this spring, content created on the show will also migrate from on-air to the recently launched Nick App, and content from the app will also be featured on the series.
Awesomeness (working title) – Nickelodeon is partnering with Brian Robbins (Smallville, One Tree Hill, Coach Carter) to co-develop a new half-hour sketch comedy show that features a mix of new and existing content from the extremely popular online site AwesomenessTV.
PRESCHOOL:
Dora and Friends – An original, animated Dora the Explorer spin-off, Dora and Friends: Into the City stars Latina heroine Dora as a 10-year-old who goes on city adventures with a group of new friends. Fantastical twists and turns abound as the stories take Dora and her friends into exotic magical worlds waiting to be explored. Dora and Friends features a curriculum that fosters a child’s understanding of Spanish, teamwork, music and community service. The series has been picked up for 20 episodes and will launch on Nickelodeon in 2014.
Wallykazam – This new animated series is Nickelodeon’s first literacy show for preschoolers that embeds the curriculum into a rich narrative story, with the goal of helping kids fall in love with words and inspiring them to read. The original comedy follows the adventures of a boy named Wally Trollman and his pet dragon, Norville. Wally has a magic stick that makes words come to life and playfully transforms the world around him. Wallykazam! is currently in production on 26 episodes that will premiere on Nickelodeon in 2014.
Blaze and the Monster Machines – This original CG-animated series introduces preschoolers to the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This is the first preschool show that features a curriculum dedicated to all areas of STEM. Viewers will join an eight-year-old boy named AJ and his incredible monster truck Blaze on super-sized adventures. AJ and the viewer help Blaze as they explore the physics of how things move, master mathematics and discover how everyday technologies work. The series, which received a 20-episode order, will debut on Nickelodeon in 2014.
Peter Rabbit – This new CG-animated series is a reimagining of the popular Beatrix Potter children’s books based on the beloved Peter Rabbit character, which have sold over 250 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 35 languages. The series follows the adventures of Peter Rabbit and his best friends Benjamin Bunny and Lily Bobtail. Peter Rabbit features educational goals that encourage preschoolers to learn problem-solving and interpersonal skills, self-efficacy, resilience, positive re-framing and fosters an interest in nature. The series, which received a 26-episode order, launched on Feb. 19 and posted double-digit gains and won its time period across all cable with kids 2-5, adults 18-49 and total viewers.
