AOL has set premiere dates for its fall 2014 slate of programming, including season two of reality series “#CandidlyNicole” starring Nicole Richie, “My Hero” from exec producer Zoe Saldana and “Laugh Lessons with Kevin Nealon.”
The lineup reflects the Internet media company’s continued to push to bring recognizable Hollywood names to the digital realm, geared around unscripted programming. AOL Video president Ran Harnevo has characterized the strategy as “delivering authentic voices and connecting with audiences.”
SEE ALSO: AOL Lines Up James Franco, Hollywood Producers for 2014 Originals Slate
AOL shows slated to bow in October:
“Laugh Lessons with Kevin Nealon,” Oct. 6: Comic actor Nealon tries to teach kids the art of comedy; 12-episode series will feature guest appearances by Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Dana Carvey, Chelsea Handler and David Spade. From Ellen DeGeneres’ A Very Good Production, and sponsored by Carnival Cruise Lines.
“#CandidlyNicole,” Oct. 9: In the second season of one of AOL’s top-viewed series last year, Richie (pictured above), daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, riffs on her daily life based on musings from her Twitter feed. Guest stars are set to include Ryan Seacrest, who will tutor Nicole ahead of her turn as a radio DJ, Matt Greene and Jarret Stoll from the L.A. Kings, and Rashida Jones. Produced by Telepictures and World of Wonder, with exec producers Nicole Richie and Michael Baum. VH1 picked up the show, which aired this summer, and the cabler recently renewed it for a second run.
Popular on Variety
“The Future Starts Here,” Oct. 23: Second season of series hosted by filmmaker Tiffany Shlain explores how humans interact in an increasingly connected world; Verizon returns as sponsor.
“My Hero,” Oct. 24: Executive produced by Zoe Saldana (“Avatar,” “Star Trek Into Darkness”), series is billed as an uplifting series that follows celebrities as they surprise one person from their past who helped change their life. Saldana appears in one of the episodes in an unannounced visit to see her mother in the Dominican Republic.
In addition, as previously announced, AOL will debut “True Trans with Laura Jane Grace” on Oct. 10. The 10-episode series follows transgender pioneer and lead singer of the punk band Against Me!, Laura Jane Grace, who came out as transgender at the height of her music career in 2012.
Other AOL series still in the works include it first TV-length original series, “Connected,” an adaptation of an Israeli reality show to be set in New York City in which five cast members record their lives using personal handheld cameras; “That’s Racist,” with actor-comedian Mike Epps exploring racial stereotypes and ethnic jokes, produced by Andrew Fried for Boardwalk Pictures; and docuseries “Inspired” from NewForm, the digital studio joint venture of Discovery Communications, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Craig Jacobson, Ed Wilson, Jim Wiatt and Michael Rosenberg.
