Ian Ziering Goes Shark Crazy During Sprout’s ‘Sharknado’ Week (Exclusive Video)

The Sharknado countdown has begun, and Ian Ziering will do anything to get viewers — including wearing a ridiculous shark costume.

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The Sharknado 2: The Second One star dropped by Sprout, a NBCUniversal network targeting preschoolers and their families, for a special segment with Chica, a character from the popular kids program The Sunny Side Up Show. In what Sprout is dubbing Sprout-Nado, Ziering’s segment — filmed July 8 in Los Angeles, and which The Hollywood Reporter exclusively debuts — is just one of several the stars of the Syfy movie, premiering July 30, will appear in starting the week of July 21. Other cast members participating are Judah Friedlander and Kari Wuhrer.

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“As part of Bonnie Hammer‘s cable entertainment portfolio, Sprout is fortunate to be in a family comprised of the industry’s strongest cable brands, offering some of the best content on television today. Syfy’s Sharknado is such a pop culture juggernaut, and we saw a great opportunity to tap into the excitement for the movie in our own distinct way,” said Sandy Wax, president of Sprout. “Together, we have created Sprout-Nado, a weeklong series of fun, engaging programming that is appropriate for preschoolers and is sure to entertain Sproutlets and parents alike.”

This is a quintessential example of corporate synergy. Though the content of Sharknado is not preschool-appropriate, the NBCUniversal’s blanket strategy across all its platforms is a concerted effort in maximizing exposure and sampling. And that desire to extend Sharknado’s life beyond the TV screen (Syfy has already ordered a third film) has prompted supplemental video games, various merchandise (T-shirts, books, etc.) and even theatrical screenings.

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Sharknado 2: The Second One takes place in New York City and stars Ziering, Tara Reid, Vivica A. Cox, Mark McGrath, Wuhrer and Friedlander. A slew of cameos include Kelly Osbourne, Andy Dick, Judd Hirsch, Kurt Angle, Benjy Bronk, Al Roker, Matt Lauer, Perez Hilton, Biz Markie, Kelly Oxford, Robert Klein, Perez HIlton and Sandra Denton.