Enjoy “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?” “Black Eye for the Straight-laced Guy” might be next.
Showtime Networks has ordered a pilot for “Make Me Cool,” a primetime reality series in which a squad of hip African Americans helps terminally uncool individuals — not just Caucasians — overcome their obstacles.
“A lot of the coolest stuff emanates from the black culture,” said Robert Greenblatt, president of entertainment at Showtime. “That culture seems to have the hold on stuff that is going to be cool tomorrow — they know it today.”
He also emphasized that the series will be far edgier than Bravo’s “Queer Eye.”
“I think the dialogue between different cultures and races will be more explicit and frank,” he said. “This will be more sociologically interesting than what fork to use and how to make a mushroom roulade.”
If the pilot is approved, “Cool” could be on the air by year’s end.
“Cool,” which is a working title, was brought to Showtime by Jay Blumenfield and Anthony Marsh, two of the co-executive producers on the Showtime series “Family Business.” They will cast three or four people for the principal roles, but no specific plans have been set.
Meanwhile, Sci Fi Channel has ordered 13 episodes of “Battlestar Galactica” as a primetime series, having reintroduced the franchise to viewers in December with a four-hour miniseries. Production begins next month in Vancouver with cast members Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Kate Sackhoff and Tricia Heifer returning.