CBS shops Karaoke to buyers

LA SCREENINGS: CBS Studios International has added the format rights to the Carpool Karaoke segment from The Late Late Show With James Corden to its offering to buyers this week.

Rod Stewart and James Corden in Carpool Karaoke

The segment involves Corden driving stars around LA in his camera-lined car while conducting an interview, joking around and singing duets. Clips of the segment have proven to be hits on social media, with almost 600 million views on YouTube since its inception only a year ago, according to CBS.

The segment has attracted big names stars including Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart, Gwen Stefani, Elton John and One Direction. CBS Studios is now shopping the segment as a format for local production as a 30- or 60-minute show.

“Ever since Carpool Karaoke has aired as part of The Late Late Show With James Corden, the requests for the format have been overwhelming,” said Paul Gilbert, senior VP of international formats at CBS Studios International. “International broadcasters can now leverage Carpool Karaoke’s huge digital and broadcast success for their own local viewers.”

“This is a very exciting format, one that gets the best interviews, and fun, out of every guest who appears, due to its most intimate setting,” said Ben Winston, executive producer of the show and a co-director of UK-based production company Fulwell 73.

The format joins the others on CBS Studios International’s slate, such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, as well as the six new shows it is screening to buyers this week. They include CBS comedies Man With a Plan and The Great Indoors; CBS dramas Bull, MacGyver and Doubt; and The CW drama No Tomorrow.