'Dirty Jobs' Producer to Launch New 'Competition' Reality Format (Exclusive)

Reality heavyweight Craig Piligian is looking for that lucky somebody.

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His Pilgrim Studios has partnered with Japan's Yoshimoto Kogyo, the U.S. subsidiary of Yoshimoto Entertainment, to launch a new reality format that will air initally on Japan's ABC (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation). 

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The unscripted effort will pit contestants who consider themselves lucky against one another in a series of chance-based challenges. The winner will walk away with a cash prize and the title of "Japan's luckiest Person."

The series, which is set to air in 2012, will count Piligian (Dirty Jobs, American Chopper, Ghost Hunters) and Yoshimoto Entertainment USA chief executive Aki Yorihiro as executive producers. The format is already being pitched stateside.

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“When we learned of this format idea from Pilgrim Studios, we instantly knew we wanted to become their partner to develop the format and launch it first to Japanese viewers who are enthralled by competition shows, yet always looking for the next twist. This show taps into the universal fantasy of ‘lucking’ into a great windfall, and in an environment often defined by competition, the show is a fun and welcome diversion," said Yorihiro.

Added Piligian, “Pilgrim has developed an array of successful competition series, but it was a unique challenge to develop for a market as sophisticated and technologically advanced as Japan. We’re extremely excited about this format and about our partnership with Yoshimoto and ABC.”

Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose