usa network announced today that it has green-lit FIRST IMPRESSIONS, an unscripted comedy featuring Emmy Award winner and 'SNL' alum Dana Carvey. Carvey will be the "expert-in-residence" in this comedic half hour that pits America's best amateur impressionists against each other in a weekly battle of celebrity impression. The series will feature celebrity guests and Carvey himself will mentor contestants and participate in the game play. Each week viewers across the country will cast their votes to help crown a winner. FIRST IMPRESSIONS is from Renegade 83 and Gaspin Media. Carvey, Jeff Gaspin, David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe will executive produce.
"There is no better talent to mentor these contestants than the master of impressions, Dana Carvey," said Jackie de Crinis, Executive Vice President of Original Programming,
USA Network, "The expertise and humor that he will bring to the series is unsurpassed and we can't wait to have his world famous celebrity impersonations on our network."
"There are so many great impressionists and 'First Impressions' gives them an opportunity to showcase their talents," said Carvey, "Besides, I've always enjoyed watching an impressionist nail somebody....as in capture their voice. Now I get paid to watch."
FIRST IMPRESSIONS is the latest addition to USA's alternative slate and joins the buzzy breakout series
CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST and the unique soft-scripted comedy series DONNY!, featuring ad man Donny Deutsch.
CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST returns for the second half of season three on November 10 at 10/9c followed by the premiere of
DONNY! at 10:30/9:30 c.
About
USA Network:
USA Network, the leader in cable entertainment, offers a powerful stable of dramatic, comedic and unscripted originals in more than 102 million U.S. homes. The network also features spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling,
USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV.
USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Watch
usa network anywhere: On Demand, online or across mobile and connected TVs.
About Renegade 83:
Renegade 83 is one of the fastest growing and most successful unscripted production companies in the world. Based in Sherman Oaks, California, Renegade 83 is run by David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe, and is one of the few companies that is able to create, sell and produce hit programming for broadcast networks, cable networks and first-run syndication. Renegade 83, known for the Emmy nominated series "Naked & Afraid" (#1 rated premiere in the history of Discovery), "Naked & Afraid: XL" (the highest rated new unscripted series of 2015), "Blind Date" (one of the longest running dating series), and the Emmy nominated "The 4400," specialises in creating high quality and innovative content across all unscripted genres, from docuseries, to game, competition and hybrid shows. Renegade 83 brings a unique sensibility, unparalleled creativity, cutting-edge storytelling and passion to every show it creates. Renegade has produced original series for all the major US broadcast and cable networks, including ABC, FOX, NBC, The CW, A&E Networks, Discovery Channel,
ANIMAL Planet,
Syfy Channel, Lifetime, TBS, Oxygen, TLC, CMT, History Channel, MTV,
Bravo and The National Geographic Channel.
About Gaspin Media:
Gaspin Media is a production and consulting company formed in 2013 by Jeff Gaspin, former Chairman,
NBC Universal Television. Current series include "Match Made In Heaven" for WeTV and "Barmageddon" for TruTV, as well as upcoming series "To Tell the Truth" for
ABC and "Fit To Fat To Fit" for A&E. Gaspin has a long history of creating shows including the iconic series "Behind the Music," for which he was twice nominated for an Emmy. Gaspin Media has a strong digital presence with the over-the-top subscription platform, TAPP, for which Gaspin was named an innovator of the year in 2014 by The Wrap. Gaspin sits on the advisory boards of Taboola, Layer3 TV and Towerbrook Capital.
