NBC May Have To Get Real Again

The networks pledged to keep reality TV to a minimum this season. In fact, the only new reality program announced for the fall was The WB’s Steve Harvey’s Big Time.

But while they hope for fall success, the networks also must be ready to replace freshman series that crash and burn. To that end, NBC is preparing an unscripted show, Next Action Star, for launch as early as this month if necessary, sources said.

The series, executive-produced by Joel Silver, is part contest, part unscripted drama, pitting 14 contestants against each other in a series of stunts.