USA Network Orders 'The Choir' to Series

2:58 PM PDT 7/25/2012 by Philiana Ng

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The cable network has moved forward with a 10-episode first season for the unscripted show, debuting early next year.

USA

"The Choir"

USA Network is banking on The Choir to continue its push into reality programming.

USA Co-Presidents Reveal Push Into Reality Programming (Exclusive)

The top cable network has given a 10-episode order for the series, which is slated for an early 2013 premiere.

The U.K. format, produced by Shed Media, features choir master Gareth Malone, who unites and transforms unsuspecting communities with music. Malone will also lead the U.S. version.

“From our first meeting with Gareth, we were blown away by his ability to unite people through music,” said Heather Olander, USA's senior vp, reality development. “Comedic, unpredictable, emotional, the series taps into the heart of what we’re aiming for on the reality front and spotlights true American characters.”

In describing the project last November, USA co-president Jeff Wachtel said The Choir "has a bit of a Full Monty vibe to it." Chris McCumber, fellow co-president, said: "[Shed] came in and pitched the idea of having a town or a team that’s at odds and in conflict, and they work together and build a community around the simple act of a song. It’s very inspirational and I don’t want to say ‘blue sky’ but it does have feeling to it."

The Choir joins the Kurt Warner-hosted unscripted series The Moment, which was picked up in January for nine episodes and centers on people who get a second chance at reclaiming career dreams that they put on hold when their lives got in the way. The Moment launches next year.

The net's reality development slate includes two pilots, Bride or Best Man (working title) from Shed Media and Romancing the Globe from Mark Burnett's One Three Media.

E-mail: Philiana.Ng@thr.com