Former U.S. Army General, Democratic Presidential contender and TV news regular Wesley Clark is getting his own show on NBC… and it isn’t what you think.
Clark will be the co-host (along with “Entertainment Tonight”‘s Samantha Harris) of a game show on NBC called “Stars Earn Stripes,” which the network describes as “a fierce and emotionally charged new competition show honoring America’s armed forces.”
The series features celebrities pairing up with law enforcement and military officers, with the celebs later put to the test in challenges to see what they learned from their mentors. Among the contestants is Todd Palin, the husband of Fox News contributor and former GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin. Palin will have some tough competition, as he goes up against singer Nick Lachey, actor Terry Crews (The Expendables), Olympic skier Picabo Street, boxing champ Laila Ali, actor Dean Cain, along with someone from “The Biggest Loser” and a WWE “Diva.”
The show is from producer Mark Burnett, who also produced “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” for TLC. Todd and Sarah’s daughter Bristol Palin is launching her own reality show on Lifetime this Summer.
“Stars Earn Stripes” debuts Monday, August 13, the day after the London Summer games ends. In other words, prepare to see a lot of promos for this show during the Olympics.
More details below.
NBC ANNOUNCES CELEBRITY CAST AND HOSTS OF NEW SERIES ‘STARS EARN STRIPES,’ AN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED NEW COMPETITON HONORING AMERICA’S ARMED FORCES
Hosts General Wesley Clark (ret.) and Samantha Harris Join Celebrity Cast Including Laila Ali, Dean Cain, Terry Crews, Nick Lachey, Todd Palin, Dolvett Quince, Picabo Street and Eve Torres in the Action-Packed Competition Show
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – June 19, 2012 – NBC announced the celebrity cast and hosts of its new alternative series “Stars Earn Stripes” – a fierce and emotionally charged new competition show honoring America’s armed forces. The cast includes four-time undefeated world boxing champion Laila Ali, actor Dean Cain (“Out of Time,” Five Days of War”), actor and former National Football League player Terry Crews (“The Expendables 2,” “The Newsroom”), multi-platinum recording artist, actor, producer and television personality Nick Lachey (NBC’s “The Sing-Off”), Alaska businessman Todd Palin, Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, “The Biggest Loser” trainer Dolvett Quince and WWE Diva, Eve Torres.
The series will be hosted by General Wesley Clark (ret.) – the former Supreme Allied Commander Europe for NATO and former presidential candidate – and television personality Samantha Harris (“Entertainment Tonight,” “Dancing with the Stars”). “Stars Earn Stripes” will debut with a special two-hour episode on Monday, August 13 (8-10 p.m. ET) and will air Mondays at 9 p.m. ET.
The eight competitors will gather at a remote training facility where they will tackle complicated and difficult missions that are inspired by real military exercises. Each will be paired with an “operative” who is a member or a former member of our armed forces or law enforcement agencies. The operative will coach and guide their celebrity teammate on their training and each of their missions and will compete along-side them. From helicopter drops to long range weapons fire – the competitors will be tested physically and emotionally as they play to win and to earn a cash prize for military, veterans and first-responder based charities. Each week one of the teams will be eliminated.
The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC.
“We are honored to have a much-decorated and beloved military figure such as General Clark joining ‘Stars Earn Stripes.’ The general’s legendary record in the U.S. armed forces commands respect as he brings so much practical knowledge that will infuse the show with priceless insight,” said Telegdy. “Our cast is ready to be put to the test – using the same physical and mental challenges that prepare our nation’s bravest men and women to defend our nation – and their arduous journey will make for riveting television.”
“I am thrilled to join ‘Stars Earn Stripes’ as host and look forward to watching the celebrity cast members test themselves as they step up to take on these tough challenges,” said Clark. “This new series pays tribute to members of our dedicated armed forces and civil law enforcement and I know that the winnings, which will be donated to first-responder charity and veterans’ groups, will make a difference and send an important message.”
The charitable organizations that the contestants are playing for include the following: Laila Ali – Military Child Education Coalition (http://www.militarychild.org), Dean Cain – Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org), Terry Crews – The Pat Tillman Foundation (http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org), Nick Lachey – The Badge of Honor Memorial Foundation (www.bohmf.org), Todd Palin – Armed Services YMCA Alaska (http://www.asymcaofalaska.com), Dolvett Quince – Got your 6 (www.gotyour6.org), Picabo Street – Hiring Our Heroes (www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes) and Eve Torres – USO (www.uso.org).
From executive producers Dick Wolf (“Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU”), Mark Burnett (“The Voice,” “Survivor”) and David A. Hurwitz (“Fear Factor”), this extraordinary show will donate money raised through the competition to veterans’ charities. Committed to hiring recent vets onto the crew, “Stars Earn Stripes” hopes to inspire other employers throughout the country to make similar commitments to our returning heroes, not to mention proving how impossible their service missions really are.
The series is a production of Universal Television, One Three Television, LLC, Wolf Reality, LLC and Bill’s Market & Television Productions.
For information on “Stars Earn Stripes,” please visit NBC.com’s official show site: www.nbc.com/stars-earn-stripes/. For artwork and press information, please visit the NBC Universal Media Village website at http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/. Please like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StarsEarnStripes and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/NBCStarsStripes