- US-Show “Off Their Rockers” to be produced by Kinetic Content
NBC has ordered 12 half-hour episodes of “Benidorm Bastards” (local title “Off Their Rockers”), a new hidden-camera comedy show hosted by seven-time Emmy Award winner Betty White. Kinetic Content, the new company backed by ProSiebenSat.1’s Red Arrow Entertainment Group and run by Chris Coelen (“Secret Millionaire”), will produce. White, Coelen, Kinetic’s Matilda Zoltowski and SHELTER’s Tim Van Aelst will serve as executive producers of the U.S. version.
Distributor SevenOne International has sold “Benidorm Bastards,” originally produced by SHELTER in Belgium, to over 20 territories worldwide, including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, throughout Scandinavia and South Korea. The program has been an instant ratings hit, regularly doubling the channel averages in territories where it has launched.
“Benidorm Bastards” follows a band of seven senior citizens who make it their mission to play pranks on unsuspecting younger people. Consistent with the fun, playful tone of White´s persona, the program has received many awards worldwide. “Benidorm Bastards” swept the 2010 Rose d’Or Awards, winning the Best Comedy Award as well as the Golden Rose for Best Program of the entire competition. In addition, the show won Best Comedy Format at the 2010 FRAPA Format Awards.
The deal reunites Betty White with NBC, where “The Golden Girls” ran successfully for seven seasons. More recently, White’s performance on NBC´s “Saturday Night Live” earned her another Emmy.
“People have been telling me that I’m ‘Off My Rocker’ for years – now I can prove it”, commented White.
“Betty White is a comedic genius who escalates hilarity in any situation,’ said Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios. ‘Viewers will thoroughly enjoy watching her pull one over on the unsuspecting youth of America.”
Chris Coelen, CEO of Kinetic Content says, “NBC is a terrific home for great comedy and Betty White’s mischievous sense of humor is a perfect fit with this format which has shattered ratings expectations and garnered critical acclaim in every territory around the world.”
Caroline Kusser, Director North America of SevenOne International, says, ‘We are thrilled to work with Betty White and Chris Coelen – an absolute dream team for this hilarious international smash hit.’
White remains one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood. Having just turned 89 years old, she continues to star with Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves in the hit sitcom Hot In Cleveland for TV Land, which has been picked up for a third season. In addition, her new book If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t) will be released by Penguin
on May 3.