CMT turns to Jersey Shore producers

US cablenet CMT has ordered a new series from the creators of Jersey Shore and a reality show about The Voice star Cassadee Pope.

The as-yet unnamed series with Pope, who won the third season of The Voice on NBC, is one of three new original commissions for CMT.

SallyAnn Salsano’s 495 Productions is working on The Dirty South, which is said to be a Southern version of MTV’s hit Jersey Shore. Pawn Stars producer Leftfield Productions is working on Hillbillies for Hire, which focuses on a team of professional pranksters.

CMT has also picked up Cops Reloaded from Fox, which will air for the first time on March 25, and renewed Swamp Pawn, My Big Redneck Vacation, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team and Redneck Island.

The commissions, acquisitions and renewals will join the CMT schedule as it prepares for the April 21 launch of Dog and Beth: On the Hunt, featuring stars of A&E Networks’ series Dog the Bounty Hunter. CMT picked up the show when A&E discontinued it following its eighth season last year.

The developments were presented to Viacom executives as part of CT’s annual upfront presentation in New York. They follow the recent hire of industry veteran Joe Livecchi to lead the network’s push into original programming.