Add the Trumps to the growing list of America's multi-reality show families.
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Following in the footsteps of families like the Hiltons and the Hilfigers, Fox has announced that it has signed a deal with Ivana Trump, the ex-wife of Apprentice star Donald Trump, to star in a reality dating special tentatively titled Ivana Young Man.
Adding a new twist to the May-December romance theme, the two-hour Ivana Young Man special will give a successful but lonely 40-something woman the opportunity to find a 20-something man who can complete her lavish lifestyle.
"For years, rich older men have traded in their wives for pretty young women with bigger 'attributes,'" Mike Darnell, Fox's own "vertically-challenged" reality programming vice president, explained in making the announcement. "Thanks to women like Ivana Trump, Demi Moore and Cher, the social norms are changing, and mature women are finding that true love can happen with younger men."
Ivana, who coined the famous phrase "don't get mad, get everything" during her divorce court battle with The Donald, will hand-pick eight eligible 20-something bachelors who will vie for the affection of a more mature, well-to-do lady. Some will be young gigolos seeking the easy life, while others will be young men who have spent their time climbing the corporate ladder.
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Serving as a "teacher, expert and guide," Ivana will assist in weeding out the competition until only two are invited behind the velvet ropes of the jet-set search for romance, with the final choice being made by the lovelorn socialite. Casting for the series is currently underway.
A native of Czechoslovakia, Ivana earned a master's degree in physical education and languages at Charles University in Prague, then immigrated to Montreal, Canada, where she began modeling. After a chance meeting with Donald Trump in New York, Ivana and Donald began dating and were married a year later in 1977. Rumors of marriage trouble hit the front pages of publications nationwide, and the Trumps eventually separated in 1990, with their marriage ending in divorce in 1992. The couple has three children.
Ivana Young Man is executive-produced by Scott A. Stone, Sharon Levy and Anthony Ross with Jonas Larsen serving as co-executive producer. Ivana Young Man is the first show to be produced under Stone's still yet-to-be-named production company. Together with co-founder David Stanley, the duo's Stone Stanley Entertainment produced reality shows such as The Mole, The Joe Schmo Show, Popstars, and Fame until Stanley left the company this summer.
With mother Kathy and father Rick also joining daughter Paris in receiving reality series of their own, the Hiltons still hold the current record for most reality series in a family, however with 22-year-old daughter/model Ivanka Trump walking the catwalks, we suspect that it will only be a matter of time before the blusterous Donald also seeks to claim this prize as well.
Hopefully Fox will have better luck with this reality special than they did with their last one, the Seriously, Dude, I'm Gay reality special that was cancelled after outraged gay groups protested at the program's premise.