Mark Burnett Moves Into Producer Role On “Boarding House: North Shore”

(April 1, 2003 – Burbank, CA) – Mark Burnett, who brought one of the first reality television sensations to American broadcast television with mega-hit “Survivor,” has signed on as producer of The WB’s summer reality series, “BOARDING HOUSE: NORTH SHORE,” which premieres Wednesday, June 18 at 8 p.m. ET. Encore episodes will air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET beginning on June 22 and continue throughout the entire six-week run of the program. The show has also attracted many top-level advertisers, who have signed on as sponsors, ranging from American Honda to Masterfoods USA, a division of Mars Incorporated to Mountain Dew to 1 800 CALL ATT. Burnett, who is also the executive producer on a scripted comedy pilot for The WB, a romp through Europe called “Are We There Yet?” will mold the outstanding footage shot on the North Shore of Oahu this past November and December as the crew followed seven top professional surfers who lived and surfed together during the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. The lifestyle/reality series will give viewers an intimate look at the largely unknown culture of surfing and the aggressive world of competition. The cast for the series includes some of the top surfers on the tour such as three-time Triple Crown champ Sunny Garcia, reigning Triple Crown winner Myles Padaca, the 14th-ranked male surfer in the world, Damien Hobgood, big-wave surfer Danny Fuller, model/surfer Veronica Kay, Teen Choice Award winner Holly Beck and the 5th best woman surfer in the world, Chelsea Georgeson. “The material is there for an exciting and compelling show,” said Keith Cox, Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming of The WB. “I am sure that Mark, with his unparalleled storytelling expertise, will craft this into outstanding television. Having Mark work on ‘BOARDING HOUSE: NORTH SHORE’ fits into our strategy of working with the best the reality genre has to offer along with Mike Fleiss, who created ‘High School Reunion’ for The WB and Michael Davies, who is re-making ‘The Gong Show’ for us. With each of these producers, I feel we have found a series that plays to their individual strengths.” The advertising roster for this series is top-notch and the marketers are working to integrate their products within the series, taking advantage of the opportunity to reach The WB’s exclusive audience with quality original summer programming. For instance, Masterfoods USA offered some artwork for the inside of the house and is using the series to promote its 2003 summer promotion, M&M’S Groovey Summer and Fuller did special spots for 1 800 CALL ATT that will air during the series. “'BOARDING HOUSE: NORTH SHORE’ is an exciting property for The WB,” said Bill Morningstar, Executive Vice President, Media Sales of The WB. “This original summer series will allow us to extend our young adult brand by tapping into the world and lifestyle of surfing. We couldn't be more pleased that the M&M’S Brand, 1 800 CALL ATT, Mountain Dew, and Honda have signed on as major sponsors of this unique and targeted project." The series is produced by Mark Burnett Productions and Basic Elements. Lisa Hennessey, Bruce Toms and Lisa Berger are executive producers. # # #