MTV TAKES EXTREME TO A NEW LEVEL WITH FOUR INTERNATIONAL BADA$$ES AND A CAST OF GLOBAL STUNTSMEN IN TWO NEW GREENLIGHTS
Four Finnish ‘Lovable Lunatics’ Create Hysterical Comedy in New Series “Dudesons in America”
Extreme Parkour Stunts Competition Returns to MTV with Full Series “MTV’s Parkour Challenge” (Working Title)
MTV has greenlit two extreme stunt reality series, which are global sensations and set to excite American youth. “Dudesons in America” showcases four Finnish childhood best friends who have spent their lives performing and documenting ingenious stunts and pranks on film. Their goal is to try and take over America, or a least warm their way into the hearts of Americans through their charm, while trying to live out their own American dream – to do even stupider stunts and pranks than they did back home. “MTV’s Parkour Challenge,” which first aired as a one-hour special in October 2009 on the network, will continue to introduce MTV’s audience to the world’s fastest growing extreme sport, with a thrilling level of action that is as simple as a game of chase, but as exhilarating as stunts seen in Hollywood films.
“There is so much competition for the eyes and attention of young guys these days that we really have to over-deliver and create can’t miss, event television for them,” said Tony DiSanto, President of Programming for MTV. “These two shows feature physical stunts that are jaw-dropping and unprecedented. Parkour Challenge is a weekly live series event where incredible athletes propel themselves through the air and around obstacles using nothing but their bodies, intensity and sheer will. We are thrilled to bring this sport to American television. Dudesons in America is just indescribable, trust me!”
Dudesons in America
“The Dudesons have balls where there should be brains, and I am honored to be doing a show with them,” said Johnny Knoxville, Executive Producer, Dickhouse Entertainment.
The Dudesons, four Finnish extreme stuntmen and pranksters, are totally lovable, yet totally lunatic friends from the Arctic Circle who want to live out their American dream – to do even stupider stunts and pranks than they did back home. In “Dudesons in America,” Jukka (the ringleader), Jarppi (the fat funny guy), HP (Mr. Sensitive), and Jarno (the filmmaker) want to take over America as they try to win over local townsfolk and whatever authorities they’ll likely encounter while doing the dumbest things imaginable. In the spirit of the American West, the Nordic knuckleheads try to become cowboys by walking on stilts into a bullring with a very angry bull. And when they’ve conquered enough of what’s on the ground of the U.S.A., they follow the American dream of space exploration; the Dudesons try to reach Uranus in their self-built space rocket.
Dudesons in America is executive produced by Jukka Hilden, Jarno Laasala, Jarppi Leppala and HP Parviainen for Rabbit Films; Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine for Dickhouse Entertainment; and Ross Breitenbach. Liz Gateley and Lauren Dolgen are the MTV executives in charge of production.
MTV’s Parkour Challenge (working title)
With cast members from around the world, “MTV’s Parkour Challenge” showcases the world’s fastest growing extreme sport, parkour. In each episode, six athletes will challenge themselves and each another as they put their parkour skills to the test in different urban environments. Each show ends in a thrilling live speed round of which the winner will be awarded a prize. The essence of parkour is as simple as a game of chase. Athletes move as efficiently as possible from point A to point B. However, unlike a regular track and field race, parkour is performed in any and every environment. Athletes must jump, roll, climb, leap, sprint, flip and fly, flowing over walls, cars, stairs, railings, and 10-foot rooftop gaps between 5 story buildings.
Executive produced and created by Francis Lyons and Bob Kusbit of One Louder Productions. Executive produced by Kemp Curley of Transition Productions. Co-executive produced by Victor Bevine and David Thompson of the WFPF. Liz Gateley, Brent Haynes and Amy Emmerich are the MTV executives in charge of production.
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