Pitbull, Harvey Weinstein Duet On Dual Reality TV Series Projects
The Weinstein Company has engaged Armando Christian Perez—better known as hip hop recording artist Pitbull—to be the catalyst for two reality TV series. The first is Pitbull: The Lyfe, which will focus on his world tour, recording sessions, and his life behind the scenes. The second one is The REAL Change Project, in which Pitbull teams with such public figures as Michelle Obama, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Kobe Bryant and others as they look back at obstacles they overcame in their formative years and the mentors who helped them succeed. That series will include live performances and the aim is to raise money for school teachers and educators around the globe. REAL Change Productions and Honey I’m Home will produce both. Pitbull, Michael Calderon, Liam Murphy, President & CEO of Real Change Productions, LLC and Robert Engler will be exec producers and TWC’s Patrick Reardon will oversee the shows.
Pitbull joins a long tradition of music stars who’ve lived their lives onscreen, a list that ranges from Ozzy Osbourne and his clan to Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Snoop Dogg, Bret Michaels, T.I., and Russell Simmons. Pitbull has seen his songs reach #1 in 15 countries, and signature tunes are I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho), the Kesha duet Timber and Give Me Everything, the latter with Neyo. The gravel voiced artist, currently on a US and Canada arena tour with Enrique Iglesias, has geared his career toward global appeal. That includes performing the World Cup anthem We Are One (Ole Ola) with Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Claudia Leitte, and expanding his brand with lines of vodka, clothing and fragrances. He’ll also host the American Music Awards for the second time and through his Honey I’m Home banner, he’ll host a New Year’s Eve special on Fox.
This makes him a strong frontman as The Weinstein Company continues its growing thrust in television. TWC adds this to reality series that include the long running hit Project Runway, Mob Wives, Million Dollar Shoppers, Rodeo Girls and Trailer Park: Welcome to Myrtle Manor for TLC. There are also ambitious scripted projects that include the Netflix series Marco Polo, and the 10-part series The Ten Commandments (each episode covers one of the Commandments, with a different A-list helmer for each segment), and there is an adaptation of the Daniel Stashower’s bestselling Civil War-era spy thriller The Hour Of Peril.
Said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein: “Our television division at TWC has made an incredible name for itself in creating fresh and entertaining unscripted programming. Partnering with Pitbull, one of the biggest names in music today, on The REAL Change Project and The Lyfe is a phenomenal opportunity that we’re all very excited to get started on.”
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