Spike gets Savage in hunt for relics

Male-skewing US cablenet Spike has ordered a new series in which a wrestler-turned-relic-hunter tries to convince property owners to let him dig up their land in a bid to find historical artefacts.

American Digger (13×30′) follows former wrestler Ric Savage, his wife and son as they try to gain access to historic sites, such as battlefields, in the hope of unearthing bits of American history and striking it rich.

It’s the latest series from Gurney Productions, the US prodco behind another Spike hidden treasures format, Auction Hunters, which Spike recently renewed for a third season.

American Digger is one of four new series at male-skewing Spike.

Big Easy Justice follows the hunt for some of New Orleans most elusive criminals. Spike has ordered ten half-hour episodes for 2012 produced by Al Roker Entertainment in association with CRM Entertainment, Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions, and Bodega Pictures.

World’s Worst Tenants (10×30′) from Zoo Productions features a husband and wife eviction team while Undercover Stings focuses on the organisation and execution of undercover police operations. That 10×30′ series is executive produced by John and Morgan Langley from Langley Productions who previously made Cops.

Spike has also renewed gameshow Repo Games for a second season. The programme gives hard-up contestants a chance win back their repossessed cars by answering trivia questions. A new 20-episode second season will air in 2012, produced by Jersey Shore creator SallyAnn Salsano and her prodco 495 Productions.