New Season Features Executive Producers Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Chuck D; Instructors Include David Chang, Johnny Weir, Cliff Dorfman, Alvin Hall, Gloria Allred, among others
New York, NY – May 19, 2014 – SundanceTV announced today the greenlight of season two of the original non-fiction series “Dream School.” Multi-platinum award-winning musician and entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will executive produce along with one of hip-hop’s most influential and positive voices Chuck D. The series format was created by campaigning chef and global food entrepreneur Jamie Oliver who will also executive produce under his Fresh One shingle. “Dream School” is an ambitious project where the best and the brightest in our culture teach kids that have been falling through the cracks. The announcement was made today by Sarah Barnett, SundanceTV President. The six-episode hour long series is slated to premiere in fall 2014.
This season’s dream team of instructors includes: chef and restaurateur David Chang, Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, Emmy award winning screenwriter and director Cliff Dorfman (“Entourage”), survival expert Les Stroud, journalists Young Turks (Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian), financial educator Alvin Hall, fitness instructor Nicole Winhoffer, Historian David Eisenbach, Rabbi Shmuel “Shmuley” Boteach (author of Kosher Jesus and Kosher Sex), actor Dean Winters, and lawyer and rights activist Gloria Allred.
SundanceTV President, Sarah Barnett, stated, “Season One of ‘Dream School’ explored the real life struggles that young people face today and how an outside-the-box approach can result in true transformation and a chance to start over. Our audience responded strongly to the powerful drama and inspiration of last season and we think they will find this season every bit as engaging.”
The complete list of instructors for season two is as follows:
Gloria Allred (Civil Rights Attorney) – Legal Studies
50 Cent (Musician and Entrepreneur)
David Chang (Chef and founder of Momofuku Restaurant Group) – Nutrition and Culinary Arts
Chuck D (Hip-Hop Legend) – Sociology
Cliff Dorfman (Screenwriter) – English
David Eisenbach (Author and Historian) – History
Alvin Hall (Financial Advisor and Author) – Math
Gaye Theresa Johnson (Activist, Author and Historian) – Sociology
Ana Kasparian (“The Young Turks” Co-host and Producer) – Journalism
Adam Richman (Television personality) – Environmental Studies
Don Rimx (Artist) – Art
Rabbi Shmuley (Author, TV Host and Public Speaker) – Religious Studies
Les Stroud (Survival Expert) – Earth Sciences
Cenk Uygur (“The Young Turks” Main Host and Co-founder) – Cultural Studies
Johnny Weir (Olympic Figure Skater) – Physical Education and Communications
Nicole Winhoffer (Fitness Instructor) – Physical Education
Dean Winters (Actor) – Life Skills
What would happen if the kids who were the hardest to reach in conventional school, instead attended a place of learning where the educators were achievers and leaders – many of whom have become household names? In “Dream School,” classes are taught by professionals from the top of their fields – and the faculty includes professional musicians, journalists, filmmakers, scientists, athletes, and actors. This series creates a place for troubled teenagers to be inspired to turn their lives around. Homeless, privileged, neglected or bullied; the kids on this show all have one thing in common — they have dropped out of high school. Now SundanceTV is giving them a once in a lifetime chance to start over. Overcoming past failures and future obstacles will prove to be no easy task for both the students and teachers in this series.
The show is made by Fresh One Productions, the production company which Jamie Oliver launched, and its Emmy award winning executive producer Roy Ackerman. The show is also produced by G-Unit Films and Television, the production company launched by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, with Jackson serving as Executive Producer. His producing partner Andrew Jameson serves as Executive Producer as well.
The network has a robust lineup of upcoming original programming. Unscripted original “The Writers’ Room” finales on June 2nd. It’s scripted slate includes the second season of critically acclaimed “Rectify” from the producers of “Breaking Bad” which will premiere on June 19th. Its highly anticipated original mini-series, “The Honorable Woman” starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, will premiere on July 31st, and recently announced “One Child” will air at the end of 2014.
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About SundanceTV
SundanceTV is making and celebrating television as distinctive as the best independent films. Working with today’s most remarkable talent, SundanceTV is attracting viewer and critical acclaim for its original scripted and unscripted series. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc., SundanceTV delivers on the spirit of founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity.
About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX) owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global and AMCN Chellomedia, international programming businesses that reach over 138 countries, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming origination and distribution company.
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