CBS orders dance-competition series

12:06 AM PDT 10/14/2010 by James Hibberd, AP

Comments

THR EXCLUSIVE

CBS is getting its own dance show.

The network is partnering with Reveille to bring U.K. hit "Got to Dance" to the States.

The competition series is billed as the first all-ages all-genres dance series. A wide variety of acts will compete for a panel of judges, with viewers getting to vote during the semifinals and finals.

CBS has greenlit the project for an unspecified number of episodes. This marks the third major network to have a dance-competition series, joining ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," with NBC's "Got Talent" also having a foot in the genre.

Sources say CBS alternative topper Jennifer Bresnan liked the relatability of expanding the genre beyond professionals to include amateurs with undiscovered talent and high aspirations.

Elisabeth Murdoch, Howard T. Owens, Mark Koops and Robin Ashbrook will executive produce the Shine Group format created by Princess Prods. and Shine TV. The British version of "Dance" debuted this year on Sky 1 and became one of the country's top-rated premium network series.

The network has yet to select "Got to Dance" judges, but CBS has expressed some interest in a certain choreographer-turned-reality TV star for the gig -- Paula Abdul. The former "American Idol" judge continues to be courted for a range of TV projects, recently ruling out a return to TV on ABC's "Star Search" reboot.

Bresnan took the reality reins at CBS two years ago and has since maintained a quiet profile in the media despite launching the season's biggest new unscripted hit, "Undercover Boss."

Though some in the industry were initial skeptical about "Boss" being a long-distance runner for the network, the series has maintained strong and consistent numbers on Sundays.