ABC has announced High School Musical: Summer Session, a new reality competition series based on Disney Channel's successful High School Musical franchise, will premiere Sunday, July 20 at 8PM ET/PT.
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ABC will air High School Musical: Summer Session twice-a-week on Sundays and Mondays at 8PM ET/PT for three weeks. The show will then continue its broadcast run in the Mondays at 8PM ET/PT time period for the remainder of the summer.
Following a nationwide casting search for interested applicants ages 16 to 22-years-old -- which obviously goes well past the age of most high school students -- High School Musical: Summer Session will follow a group of finalists selected to attend the show's "summer music program." The finalists will then hone their skills and compete against one another in various challenges in an effort to avoid elimination.
High School Musical: Summer Session's grand-prize winner will be "given the opportunity of a lifetime," according to ABC, which added details of the prize are "still under wraps." In addition, the show's host and judges will be announced at a later date.
ABC began developing a High School Musical-themed reality competition series last month and tapped The Jay and Tony Show production company's Jay Blumenfeld and Tony Marsh to serve as executive producers.
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High School Musical: Summer Session represents the first time Disney Channel has shared its High School Musical franchise with a sister network. (Disney Channel and ABC are both part of The Walt Disney Company's Disney-ABC Television Group.)
The High School Musical franchise already includes two films; stage productions at schools and in professional theatres around the world; CDs, DVDs and books; themed shows at Disneyland Parks in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris; a 42-date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America; and a touring ice show.
In addition to High School Musical: Summer Session's debut, ABC has also announced premiere dates for seven other reality shows the network will air this summer.
The Bachelorette's fourth season will premiere Monday, May 19 at 9PM ET/PT; The Mole's fifth season will premiere on Monday, May 26 at 10PM ET/PT; Wipeout will premiere on Tuesday, June 24 at 8PM ET/PT; I Survived a Japanese Game Show will premiere on June 24 at 9PM ET/PT; Hopkins will premiere on Thursday, June 26 at 10PM ET/PT; Dance Machine will premiere on Friday, June 27 at 8PM ET/PT; and Wanna Bet will premiere on Monday, July 21 at 9PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio