ABC Family Annonces New Hidden-Camera Prank Show FREAK OUT

Tom Ascheim, President, ABC Family, today announced that the network will continue to grow its slate of original programming with a new hilariously scary, hidden-camera, funny-prank show, "Freak Out." The half-hour series, from SallyAnn Salsano's 495 Productions ("Jersey Shore," "Party Down South"), has been picked up for 14 episodes and will premiere this fall during the network's well-known programming event "13 Nights of Halloween."

"I'm glad to get reality back on our schedule and to continue to grow our original programming," said Ascheim. "Scary can be funny, and this series is sure to deliver the 'sclaughing' -- the screaming and the laughing. We're also excited to be working with 495 Productions, a company with a proven track record for delivering hugely entertaining reality series."

Each episode of "Freak Out" will feature an unsuspecting mark, whose fears come to life before their eyes with elaborate special effects, intricate makeup, Twisted actors, and multiple cameras capturing the scenario from every angle. Every frighteningly hilarious prank is deviously tailored with help from the victim's friends and family to turn an everyday situation into someone's scary moment, until they realize they've been pranked.

495 Productions, with Founder and President SallyAnn Salsano, is the creative force behind numerous successful reality television series, including MTV's "Jersey Shore," "Snooki & JWOWW" and "FriendZone," CMT's "Party Down South," SPIKE's "Tattoo Nightmares," VH1's "Tool Academy," TV Guide's "Nail Files," Oxygen's "Dance Your Ass Off," several seasons of HGTV's "Design Star," and many others.

Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 97 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today's families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today's relationships - told with a mix of diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a combination of network-defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. For 2014, ABC Family has launched the "WATCH ABC Family" authenticated service which allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on demand access to such popular series at home and on the go via a wide array of devices. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.