MTV has announced Making Menudo, a new reality series that will aim to find five new members for the formerly successful Latin American boy band, will premiere on Thursday, October 25 at 10:30PM ET/PT.
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Making Menudo will begin with the show's 15 finalists -- who were chosen through Spring 2007 casting calls for bilingual male singers between the ages of 13 and 19 -- as they attend "Menudo Boot Camp," where they'll be under the direction of boy-band manager Johnny Wright; musical director and vocal coach David Coury; as well as a team of choreographers.
Each week of the competition, three of the finalists will be grouped together and given 72 hours to learn a song and accompanying dance routine, which they'll have to perform on-stage in-front of an actual audience. Wright, Coury and their team will then evaluate each performance and at least one of the finalists will be eliminated following each performance.
In addition, MTV revealed special guests including Backstreet Boys' member Howie Dorough; former That 70s Show actor Wilmer Valderrama; record producer Danja; songwriting team The Clutch; and Epic Records president Charlie Walk will all make appearances to help coach the finalists.
At the conclusion of the 10-episode series, five of the finalists will become members of the "new Menudo," which includes a recording contract with Epic Records; a studio album expected to drop in December; and the opportunity to tour.
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Menudo first emerged from the Latin American music scene in the late 1970s and has recorded 35 albums, with members constantly being replaced as those in the boy band line-up grew older and ventured onto solo careers.
Making Menudo is produced by Reveille in association with Menudo Entertainment. Rick De Oliveira will serve as executive producer for Reveille, while Lois Curren and Lily Neumeyer will serve in the same role for MTV.
Episodes of the series will be re-broadcast on MTV's sister network -- MTV Tr3s -- on Saturdays at 2PM ET/PT.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio