If you've been missing seeing the Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls on TV on a regular basis, then a new show that's coming up soon may be for you. This summer will see Nick Carter and Emma Bunton team up for a brand new reality singing competition show unlike any we've seen before. ABC will launch Boy Band in the coming weeks, and it promises to give fans of singing competitions something brand new.
ABC officially announced the new show today, with the network confirming that singer Rita Ora will host the series, while Nick Carter and Emma Bunton will act as "architects" for the young talent who'll be competing. As architects, Bunton and Carter will act as mentors as well as judges to the show's contestants. The 10 episode series will follow along as thousands of undiscovered talent tries to impress enough to land one of 18 spots in the three boy bands that Carter and Bunton will form out of contestants on the show.
Boy Band is looking to help create the next musical sensation. Each of the 10 episodes will have a different theme to give Carter and Bunton an idea of what each contestant's skills are. The two will move those 18 competitors around to find the right combination of voices to perform live for the nation in the three different groups, at which point the architects will select two performers to go up for elimination. After those two sing solo "survival" songs, America will vote in order to decide which singer stays in the competition. The finale will see the country's favorite five singers put together to form a new boy band, who will then perform their first single for the first time and receive a recording contract with Hollywood Records.
Well, you can't say that Boy Band is using the same old singing competition formula, that's for sure. The idea of having a reality show that specializes in trying to put together the next massive boy band is certainly something new, and those behind the series have chosen two great mentors for the young talent to work with. At this point, Nick Carter has spent the better part of his life as a member of the Backstreet Boys. The group shot to fame in 1996 with their debut album, and have been touring and recording ever since. Backstreet Boys are the best selling boy band in history, with 130 million records sold worldwide. As popular as ever among their diehard fans, the group is currently in the middle of a four month Las Vegas residency at The AXIS in the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
While never part of a boy band, Emma Bunton, probably better remembered as Baby Spice, was also a member of a huge 1990s pop group. The Spice Girls formed in 1994, and two years later the group released their debut single "Wannabe" and quickly became a worldwide phenomenon as the song would go on to hit number one in 37 countries. The group is still the best selling female group in history, with 85 million records sold around the globe. The Spice Girls went on hiatus in late 2000, but have reunited several times for recordings and performances, including the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremonies.
There's no doubt in my mind that Boy Band will bring in tons of Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls fans to the show, as well as anyone craving a singing competition this summer. Boy Band debuts on ABC Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m. EST. Until then, you can see what else is hitting the small screen with our summer premiere schedule and Netflix premiere guide.
