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Lee's Team Highlights Modern Home Life, Plans Scripted and Reality Series
A reality show set in a juvenile rehabilitation camp and a scripted comedy about a teen of uncertain sexual orientation are included in the slate of new shows ordered by ABC Family Channel President Paul Lee to help contemporize the network.
"We're trying to do something that reflects today's families, not 'The Waltons' from 50 years ago," Mr. Lee said. "More like families in 'Beriiie Mac' and 'Gilmore Girls.' They're modern, sexy, fascinating, welltold stories with all the family dysfunction that goes along with it."
Mr. Lee said the new production slate includes at least four reality shows, one drama and two half-hour scripted shows. The slate is not only a list of deals but the programming culmination of a makeover effort that began when Disney-ABC Television President Anne Sweeney took charge of the channel last year. Ms. Sweeney reorganized the network's schedule and, in April, hired Mr. Lee from BBC America to take the reins.
The slate includes:
* "Brat Camp": A reality show following six families that send their troubled teens to a Utah rehabilitation camp-think of a real-life version of the feature film "Holes." Four one-hour episodes have been ordered from executive producer Mark Rowland and Twenty Twenty Television. It's slated to air first quarter 2005.
* "Just a Phase": The channel's second scripted pilot order since Disney acquired the network (the first never made it to air), this coming-of-age comedy is about...