MTV Shoots TV Pilot At SCPA

This sounds like a great idea: Nick Lachey is producing MTV reality series pilot at his alma mater, the School for Creative & Performing Arts.

Lachey, a 1992 SCPA grad, is executive producer on a "Fame"-style series blending "performances by the students with the narrative about what takes place in the school," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

"The stories and relationships are all set to music that's organic in what’s going on in the school and also performed by the kids," said Tony DiSanto, MTV executive vice president for series development and programming, in the trade publication.

People magazine's web site said the show "sounds a lot like a real-life 'High School Musical.' "

As you know, Lachey, 34, a former College Hill resident, starred in one of MTV's first reality hits, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica" (2003-05) with then wife Jessica Simpson. He scored another reality TV success in December, leading a Cincinnati choir to the $250,000 top prize on NBC's "Clash of the Choirs."

In early January, the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission began working with MTV on obtaining equipment , crews and hotel rooms. Some shooting was done at the school and around town in February.

I'm still trying to nail down all the details. More when I know it.

5:40 p.m. Update: MTV executives will decide "in several months" whether to shoot the musical drama reality series at SCPA. Shooting on the pilot here was completed March 1.

Under the Cincinnati Public Schools contract with MTV, the school system will be paid $10,000 for the pilot, and $10,000 for each episode the first season, if it goes to series. MTV has an option for five additional cycles or seasons, according to the contract.

To allay parents' fears about the content for the possible cable series, the contract stipulates that MTV "will not intentionally broadcast" students consuming drugs or alcohol, fighting, using any dangerous weapons, or intimidating or harassing SCPA students or staff.

Lachey received permission from SCPA and Cincinnati Public Schools last spring to shoot a brief presentation film at the school. He then pitched the concept to MTV. He is an executive producer on the project with Marc Platt (producer of the "Legally Blonde" movies), Russell Heldt ("Real World") and Colton Gramm, Lachey's manager.