truTV Orders Additional Episodes of Hit Series SPEEDERS and SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK From ZOO Productions
truTV has ordered additional episodes of two of its most popular series, SPEEDERS and SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK, according to an announcement today by Marc Juris, executive vice president an�d general manager of truTV. The network has ordered an additional 20 episodes of SPEEDERS, as well as a new, six-episode season of SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK, with production set to begin on both shows immediately. Robyn Hutt serves as truTV's executive in charge of production for both series, while Diane Best serves as executive producer. The two shows come to truTV from ZOO Productions, with that company's co-CEOs, Barry Poznick and John Stevens, producing. New episodes of SPEEDERS air Thursdays at 8 p.m. (ET). The new season of SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK is set to premiere this summer.
The new order for SPEEDERS brings the total number of that series' episodes to more than 100 since its 2006 premiere. The show gives viewers a front-row seat to the excuses and outlandish confessions that cops hear from drivers every day. From Las Vegas to Tampa, law enforcement keeps the roads safe while contending with displeased motorists from around the country. During 2008, SPEEDERS ranked among the best in cable, with its Thursday 8 p.m. premieres notching superb Top 10 time-period rankings among adults 25-54, men 18-49 and men 25-54.
SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK is a companion series, shot in a court room with real penalties and punishments. The series shows everyday citizens who transform themselves into some of the wackiest legal eagles ever, giving viewers a laugh-out-loud trip to traffic court. It draws its cases from Broward County, Fla., where Chief Traffic Court Magistrate Brenda Di Ioia presides over more than 60,000 cases a month. The series premiered late last year and was a successful addition to the SPEEDERS franchise.
"SPEEDERS and SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK have proven extremely popular with our targeted viewers, thanks to the highly relatable nature of the shows," said Juris. "We're thrilled that these two shows, which complement each other so well, have found a strong audience. We're also confident they will continue to grow as we present the ever more outrageous antics from the road and the courtroom."
"Anybody who drives a car can relate to people on SPEEDERS and SPEEDERS FIGHT BACK, from the frustration and anger to the occasional victory of vindication," said Poznick.
"We're very excited about the additional order for what is becoming an important franchise for us and for truTV," added Stevens.
About ZOO Productions
With more than 1000 hours of original programming since its inception in 1994, ZOO Productions has become one of the U.S.'s premier production companies for comedy-based reality programming. With the smash hit Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?, ZOO Productions' programming can be seen in more than 150 countries worldwide. Their hit shows include MTV's Busted, truTV's Speeders, Oxygen's Girls Behaving Badly and the successful Spring Break franchise for MTV. Barry Poznick and John Stevens are the founders and co-CEOs of ZOO Productions, and Charles Steenveld is president. The company was acquired by ALL3MEDIA in 2008.
About truTV
truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households, the 17-year-old network enjoyed its best deliveries ever in key demographics in 2008. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. truTV's primetime fan favorites include the original series Ocean Force; The Smoking Gun Presents World's Dumbest; Black Gold; Principal's Office; Speeders; Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice; and Forensic Files. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name IN SESSION.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
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