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NBC seeks Geller successor Ben Silverman's long-standing love of overseas formats is showing no sign of abating after the new NBC entertainment chief okayed a US version of Israeli hit The Successor. Created by Israeli commercial broadcaster Keshet and indie Kuperman Productions for Channel 2, the supernatural talent format involves spoon-bender Uri Geller seeking the next big star of mentalism and magic. Distributed by Germany's SevenOne International and with US rights packaged by talent agent Endeavor, the format will be adapted for the US market by Granada America, in coproduction with Keshet and Kuperman, in association with SevenOne. The deal was brokered by ICM and Endeavor. The US show will star Geller, along with the American mystifyer/artist Criss Angel (Mindfreak). Together they'll search for America's next great mentalist. NBC is broadcasting the show with the working title Phenomenon, perhaps a reference to the Travolta movie of the same name. In the Phenomenon series Geller and Angel will judge the candidates but, like American Idol, ultimately the winner's fate will be determined by the viewers at home, via text voting and phone lines. "The match-up of two world famous personalities, Uri Geller and Criss Angel - who have demonstrated astounding skills - makes for a riveting series format," said Silverman. "Factor in the mystery of the genre, the live competitive angle as the contestants attempt to follow in Criss and Uri's footsteps, and incredible interactive applications, and we think viewers will have many compelling reasons to watch," the former Reveille cheif added. After first airing on Channel 2 in Israel in November 2006, the live primetime show garnered an average share of 50% (among households) and a peak of 39.3% rating (households). It reached some 850,000 viewers (34% rating) at its peak on Saturday night in the 21.00 hour. Picked by SevenOne under an ongoing deal with Keshet, the format has since been acquired by ProSieben, like SevenOne part of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group. It will air in Germany in 2008. Ed Waller 17 Jul 2007 © C21 Media 2007 
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