Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos Team for CMT Series 'Cheer'

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Kelly Ripa

CMT is continuing its push into original programming, green lighting an unscripted series set in the competitive world of cheerleading.

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The network on Wednesday announced Cheer, an hourlong, six-episode look at the competitive world of cheerleading. Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, will executive produce the series through their Milojo Productions banner.

Cheer, which will revolve around intensely competitive cheerleading coach Patty Ann Romero and her elite squad as they head toward the cheerleading championships. The unscripted effort will premiere in September and serve as a companion series to the network's Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, which will return for its seventh season to the network.

"Kelly and Mark's passion for this project, along with the sport’s universal appeal, make this a fantastic project for CMT," CMT exec vp development and programming Jayson Dinsmore said in a statement announcing the news. "This series, paired with the powerhouse Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, promises to be the next breakout hit on the network."

Cheercomes as CMT has been making strides with its original programming, with its most recent launches Bayou Billionaires and My Big Redneck Vacation becoming the network's two highest-rated original series ever, averaging nearly 1 million total viewers since their January bows. CMT in February renewed both Saturday night offerings for second seasons. 

Albert Bianchini and Julia Silverton will also serve as exec producers.

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