Space invites viewers into the world of the unknown with two new hair-raising series premieres, including the bone-chilling and innovative Original Reality Series Panic Button. Premiering Tuesday, April 30 at 10 p.m. ET, Panic Button challenges a group of courageous participants to overcome their greatest fear as they brave an elaborate maze that puts them face-to-face with what terrifies them the most, including confinement, fear of the unknown, snakes, spiders, rats, and cockroaches. Shot in Toronto’s west end in an abandoned slaughterhouse, the ever-changing labyrinth that participants must tackle is customized for each person, and only some will make it to the end without hitting their panic button.
Kicking off the night is Deep South Paranormal, premiering Tuesday, April 30 at 9 p.m. ET. The series follows a bayou-based research team on a mission to uncover the truth behind paranormal events that have baffled people in the southern U.S. for years. The fun-loving charm of these self-proclaimed “rednecks” shouldn’t fool viewers as they’re deadly serious when it comes to their investigations, which deal not only with the hazards of paranormal phenomenon, but also with physical dangers including gators, snakes, spiders, wild hogs, and mosquitos. Exploring everything from swamp apparitions to haunted plantation houses to Southern voodoo legends, their investigations will include Alabama’s Bear Creek Swamp and the Old Cahawba ghost town, Florida’s Manntown Cemetery, and the Mont Helena Plantation in the Mississippi Delta.
“The addition of Panic Button to Space’s reinvigorated programming lineup, strategically placed alongside the series debut of Deep South Paranormal, makes Tuesday night appointment television for fans of science fiction and the supernatural,” said Catherine MacLeod, Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. “It’s an exciting time for Bell Media’s specialty channels as we continue to invest in new and innovative homegrown productions.”
In the series premiere of Panic Button, “There Will Be Snakes,” five subjects enter the craziest haunted house ever built to face their fears. Vanessa, an intense and devoted music teacher endures a series of tests with snakes, while Ruth tackles her childhood phobia of spiders. Kayvon, an ultra-competitive Alpha male, comes face to face with a python, as Ashlee battles an infestation of cockroaches, and Yassin must overcome his fear of rats.
Panic Button Episode 1 participants are:
- Ashlee, a CEO and mom whose fear is cockroaches
- Kayvon, pharmaceutical sales rep whose fear is animals
- Ruth, real estate agent whose fear is spiders
- Vanessa, a music teacher whose fear is snakes
- Yassin, a ride operator whose fear is rats
In the series premiere of Deep South Paranormal, “I Feel That Train A Comin’,” the team ventures to an abandoned sawmill in Longleaf, Louisiana where countless paranormal sightings have occurred, as it’s a place where work was dangerous and many people died on the job. Along the way they journey to an overgrown rail depot which was the last stop for many bodies transported out of the mill, and they even manage to get some fishing done amidst the investigation.
Panic Button’s innovative format was developed by Kevin Healey (Destination Fear, Scare Tactics) and Jonathan Dueck (Destination Fear, Pawnathon), with Dueck serving as Producer, and Healey and Jesse Fawcett serving as Executive Producers. Leo Scherman is director (Screwed Over). Joel Klein (Fear Factor) serves as a creative consultant, and Dr. Steven J. Stein, Ph.D provided consultation.
Panic Button is produced by 11 Television Canada in association with Space and Bell Media. Robin Johnston is Director, Independent Production, Factual and Reality, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. Rick Brace is President, Specialty Channels and CTV Production. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports. Entertainment One (eOne) is selling the series in all media as well as format rights.
The Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is presented to the woman who has shown the most outstanding technological innovation and corporate leadership — leadership that has significantly expanded the frontiers of Canada’s advanced technology industry. The purpose of the Award is to celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and create positive role models for women in Canada’s technology sector. The Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is presented annually to the woman who has demonstrated consistent innovation and leadership skills, resulting in the creation and international acceptance of significant world-class products and/or services. The Call for Nominations for 2013 is now open until April 19th. Read the rest of this entry »
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