Cena, Loud TV create Facebook prank show

Wrestler-turned-actor John Cena is partnering with ITV America label Loud TV to create a prank series for Facebook’s video platform Watch.

Chris Jones

Double Take, which lands on Watch in September, will see celebrity hypnotist and prankster Chris Jones conspire with celebrities to give one of their fans the opportunity to meet and interact with their idol in a range of everyday circumstances.

However, they will be under hypnosis and therefore unable to recognise them.

Loud TV, part of ITV Studios (ITVS)-owned ITV America, will produce with Cena exec producing through his Hard Nocks South shingle.

Nick Rigg, David George, Simon Thomas and Adam Dolgins are executive producers for Loud TV, along with Ken Schwab for Ken Schwab Media and David Bulhack.

Cena will also star in the first episode of the series, which will also feature celebrities including Jackass star Steve-O and actress and activist Pamela Anderson. Each show will be around 12 to 15 minutes long.

Ancillary content such as Facebook Live interviews with the featured celebrities and their fans and behind-the-scenes footage will be available throughout the six-episode run.

“Loud is always looking for exciting new avenues into established genres and formats, and Double Take is our opportunity to put a major spin on the celebrity-fan encounter,” said Nick Rigg, Loud TV’s president.

In related news, ITVS’s US scripted label ITVS America has optioned Nina Sadowsky’s novel The Burial Society for television with producer Cathy Konrad and Epidemic Pictures and Management’s Darryl Taja.

The Burial Society follows Catherine, a troubled and mysterious but skilled woman who rescues people from abusive and dangerous situations and helps them disappear. Konrad, Taja and Sadowsky will executive produce.