Starting Over, the syndicated real-life daytime drama from the Bunim-Murray Productions folks behind MTV's The Real World series, has started production on its second season which will premiere on September 13, 2004.
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Starting Over's new base of operations is a Spanish-style, hilltop house that boasts expansive views of Los Angeles and features lush gardens and a pool. The home has been specially furnished to accomadate both the cast and the scores of unobtrusive cameras that capture the show's daily drama. In the new season, inspirational speaker and author Iyanla Vanzant will join motivational expert Rhonda Britten as a life coach supporting the women in the Starting Over house, and renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Stan J. Katz will join the show as a consulting psychologist.
Josie, who joined the cast while she was eight months pregnant, and who gave birth at the end of the first season, returns with her baby for season two and is joined by a diverse group of women seeking to make major changes in their lives.
"The move to Los Angeles is one way that we're keeping Starting Over fresh for the daytime audience," said Jon Murray, Chairman of Bunim-Murray Productions and executive producer of Starting Over. "Both the audience and our new cast will enjoy our amazing new house and the virtually unlimited opportunities available in this city. We're also expanding the support that we offer our cast with the addition of a show psychologist to complement the efforts of the Starting Over life coaches."
The initial Starting Over cast for season two consists of:
• Josie, age 21, from Chicago, IL: Fans of Starting Over will remember Josie as the woman who arrived late in season one, due to give birth in a matter of weeks. With no resources and grim prospects, Josie struggled with the decision to keep her baby or give it up for adoption. As season one came to a close, Josie had given birth to Chloe, a beautiful and healthy baby girl. Early in the new season, viewers will see the resolution of this dramatic storyline.
• Towanda, age 30, from Atlanta, GA: Towanda struggles under the expectations of her prominent show business family.
• Sinae, age 18, from Los Angeles, CA: At age 17, Sinae was stricken by a blow that would have crushed most adults. Now she needs to create a life for herself in the face of such personal adversity.
• Jennifer, age 21, from Denver, CO: Jennifer has been grappling with adult problems since childhood and is desperate to be rid of the feelings she has kept locked up since her youth.
• Deborah, age 46, from Los Angeles, CA: Deborah says she has tried everything to meet the right man, and nothing and no one, not even the women in the house, will stand in her way.
• Kim, age 46, from Denver, CO: If money buys happiness, Kim should be on top of the world, but despite her many privileges, she carries a heavy burden.
The Starting Over life coaches for season two are:
• Rhonda Britten - Founder of the Fearless Living Institute (FLI), Rhonda Britten returns for her second season as a life coach on Starting Over. A fan favorite in the show's first season, Rhonda is the author of Change Your Life in 30 Days, Fearless Loving and Fearless Living, which is a worldwide hit and has been translated into 12 languages. She can also be seen in the United Kingdom on her primetime television hit Help Me Rhonda.
• Iyanla Vanzant - Iyanla Vanzant rose from a troubled and abusive childhood to become an inspirational teacher, celebrated columnist for Essence magazine and the best-selling author of books such as Acts of Faith and In the Meantime. Founder of the Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Center, Vanzant leads extremely popular personal growth and motivational workshops all over the U.S.
The Starting Over consulting psychologist is:
• Stan J. Katz, Ph.D. - Dr. Stan J. Katz is set to go where no man has ever gone before ? into the cast support system of a television series that has traditionally been dominated by women. With more than 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Katz is a nationally recognized clinical and forensic psychologist with graduate degrees from Boston University and UCLA who has co-authored several self-help books about relationships and abuse. Dr. Katz will offer his clinical expertise on the issues facing the cast of Starting Over while providing an occasional dose of the male point of view as situations warrant.
Over 3,000 women auditioned for the second season of Starting Over at casting calls held nationwide, and via videotaped submissions. After numerous auditions, five women (in addition to Josie) were selected as the season two initial cast. Each woman is expected to reside in the Starting Over house for six to twelve weeks, depending on the scope of her "project" and her rate of progress toward her goal.
Starting Over is produced by Bunim-Murray Productions, the creators of the hit series "The Simple Life," "The Real World" and "Road Rules." It is distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. Jonathan Murray and Millee Taggart-Ratcliffe are Executive Producers. Starting Over is currently sold in more than 90% of the U.S. for its second season in national syndication.
