TBS is taking a comedic cue from Funny or Die. The traditional TV network has picked up the competition-reality series Funny or Die Presents America’s Next Weatherman from the digital media company and Mark Burnett’s United Artists Media Group.
Hosted by Matt Oberg (The Comedians, The Mindy Project), the eight episodes of America’s Next Weatherman will pit 12 meteorologists against each other in a battle to win $100,000 and the opportunity to deliver a forecast on CNN’s New Day morning segment. While the series is definitely competitive, it will also change up the reality series genre by adding a very Funny-or-Die-style touch of humor.
“This will be the first time I’ve poked a little fun – actually a lot of fun – at what I am best known for,” reality TV producer Burnett told Variety. “It’s a real wink to our audience as we look for the next great meteorologist. The funniest part is that it turns out that these are actually terrific weathercasters.”
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TBS and TNT’s Senior Vice President of Unscripted Development David Eilenberg told Variety the Funny or Die show takes “everything we know — or think we know — about weathercasters and then uses it to put 12 competitors through the wringer for a chance at the big time. The results are really something. This series is a fresh and extremely funny addition to TBS’ latenight lineup. We’re especially excited that it extends our relationships with both Funny or Die and Mark Burnett.”
Funny or Die’s Seth Morris helped develop the idea for America’s Next Weatherman and will serve as producer. Funny or Die’s Mike Farah and Joe Farrell will executive produce the TBS series along with Burnett and Dean Houser.
This isn’t the first Funny or Die-created series to get picked up by a television network. In May 2015, HBO announced it would produce a series based on Funny or Die’s The Gorburger Show. The TV show will, like the web series, feature a blue alien named Gorburger, who has taken over the set of a Japanese talk show and interviews celebrities as if he was a regular host.
America’s Next Weatherman is set for release on August 8, 2015.
