Telelvision Syndicators Hope To Hit The Jack-Pot In Las Vegas

Beginning January 22nd, buyers of television programs for all over the country will descend upon Las Vegas to attend the National Association of Television Executives Convention. Literally dozens of production companies and the stars from their prospective shows will be on hand to entertain and try to talk station executives into purchasing their program. Some of the programs featured at the convention will end up on your television screen in a few months. Others will go back to the drawing board or be dropped all together.

Some of the series offered this year include:

MUTANT X is a spin-off from the successful Marvel Comic. The buzz is high on this series due to the success of THE X-MEN movie last summer. Unfortunately, none of the actors from the film are in the series. It is a spin-off of the comic book that the producers promise, "kinds of takes X-MEN to the next level." Odds are high that it will get picked up as it is being produced by the same company that produces ANDROMEDA, the top-rated syndicated action hour starring Kevin Sorbo.

Best-selling author Iyanla Vanzant tries her hand at the daytime talk-show circuit. The show scored a coup of sorts as it is being produced by Barbara Walters and has been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, the queen of the daytime talk-show. It is being produced by Buena Vista Television.

HOT TICKET stars ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT critic Leonard Maltin and a ever-changing group of guest actors. It is a cross between EBERT & ROEPER AT THE MOVIES and POLITICALLY INCORRECT. Each week Maltin and a group of guest actors will get together to discuss the new movies of the week. It will be hosted by Todd Newton of E! ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION.

THE ADVENTURES OF JULES VERNE, currently airing on the Sci-Fi Channel, is tackling the syndication market as well. It has the premise that writer Jules Verne didn't just create his famous stories such as 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS but that he actually lived him as real-life adventures. (For my review of the series check out http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/851/...

The rise in popularity of shows like SURVIVOR has lead to a new game show called WHO WANTS TO DATE A HOOTERS GIRL? The show, hosted by comic George Gray, features six guys who compete every week for a chance to win a date with a Hooters Girl. The producers will need to be creative in order to find a way to appeal to female viewers. Curiosity alone will draw many male viewers to the initial episodes.

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