Pop Dynasty: New Reality/Competition Show from CBS

Variety

Jacksons, CBS team for 'Dynasty'

Network seeks crooner clan

By JOSEF ADALIAN

CBS is teaming up with three members of the Jackson family for "Pop Dynasty," an "American Idol"-style competition designed to find a new superstar crooner clan. Eye will produce at least eight episodes of the project. Jermaine Jackson is one of the principal partners in the project and will serve as a judge, along with Tito and LaToya.

Also aboard: longtime collaborators Jamie Foxx, Marcus King and Greg Shelton, along with Triage Entertainment's Stu Schreiberg. Specific titles are still being hammered out, but Halima Rashid and Steve Kroopnick are also among the principals attached.

While the format of "Pop Dynasty" is still being shaped, the show is expected to include the standard performance elements, as families try to demonstrate why they're the next Jacksons, Carpenters or Hanson. But unlike "Idol," Eye skein is also expected to focus a bit on the personal aspects of the families, exploring how they interact as a group.

It's believed CBS reality guru Ghen Maynard and other Eye execs were attracted to the show because of its unique twist on the singing competish, as well as the presence of three members of the iconic Jackson crew. While there have been a slew of "Idol"-inspired skeins, this will be the first network skein to focus on a family singing group.

VH1 unsuccessfully attempted to launch a new Partridge Family a few years back, but as on the original TV skein, its contestants weren't actually related to one another.

As of now, two of the biggest Jacksons -- Michael and Janet -- are not involved in "Pop Dynasty."

Schreiberg has extensive experience producing live and music-based specials, from several "Survivor" reunions to Foxx's NBC music special "Unpredictable" and Comedy Central special "Laffapalooza."

LaToya Jackson recently won points with CBS execs for her role in "Armed and Famous." Skein didn't do gangbusters in the ratings, but Eye execs thought Jackson popped.

Deal for "Pop Dynasty" was brokered by CAA and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein and Lezcano.