TBS has teamed up with comedy making website Funny or Die for its new series, Funny or Die Presents America’s Next Weatherman.
Produced by Funny or Die, Mark Burnett and United Artists Media Group, the reality show stars 12 contestants looking to please former KABC and KCBS weather guy Johnny Mountain and former Good Day LA co-host Jillian Barberie.
The show will be “tweaked through the Funny Or Die prism to create an original viewing experience” to show weather hopefuls compete in physical challenges and withstand “dramatic vote-offs” all to eventually do a forecast on CNN’s New Day. They’ll also get $100,000.
“This series is a fresh and extremely funny addition to TBS’s late-night lineup. We’re especially excited that it extends our relationships with both Funny Or Die and Mark Burnett,” said David Eilenberg, svp of unscripted development, late night and specials for TBS and TNT.
TBS bought eight episodes of the show and starts airing it Saturday, August 8 at 11:00 p.m. ET.
“It’s been such a good time working with Funny Or Die,” said Burnett. “This will be the first time I’ve poked a little fun – actually a lot of fun – at what I am best known for. It’s a real wink to our audience as we look for the next great meteorologist. The funniest part is that it turns out that these are actually terrific weathercasters.”
Here are the 12 contestants:
The following 12 hopefuls are set to compete on Funny Or Die Presents America’s Next Weatherman (left to right):
- Jennifer “Jazzy T” Williams (32), of Buffalo, N.Y., a radio personality with 10 years of on-air experience and a degree in telecommunications and digital media arts.
- Frank Margini (32) of Old Tappan, N.J., a fitness trainer and former member of Air Force with a degree in criminal justice and only 5% body fat.
- Jeff Forgeron (25) of San Diego, Calif., an Associated Press writer for Weather Underground who has a degree in meteorology.
- Miller Robson (42) of Columbus, Ga., a former wrestler and local meteorologist/anchor who is working toward a degree in meteorology.
- Jenn Barlow (28) of San Diego, Calif., a “sneaky smart blonde” with seven years experience as a television reporter and host.
- Mackenzie Bart (23), of Columbus, Ohio, Miss Ohio 2014 who is currently working on her degree in atmospheric science.
- Ron Hilliard (28), of Detroit, Mich., a news intern and SKYWARN-trained weather spotter with a degree in the interdisciplinary humanities of communications, theater and Spanish.
- Michelle Rotella (27) of Germantown, Md., a meteorologist who graduated from high school at 16 before earning a bachelor’s degree in meteorology.
- Aubrey Evans (25), of Las Vegas, Nev., a model and skilled ice skater with an abundance of life experience to bring to the competition.
- Christina Faraone (26) of Walden, N.Y., a Marine meteorologist technician whose master’s thesis was on the role of weather in aviation.
- David Collins (34) from Deland, Fla., a Navy veteran who graduated at the top of his meteorology class and spent four years as an operational weather briefer.
- Drew Logan (26) of Westlake Village, Calif., a pastor and former college football player who recently completed his master’s degree.