Nickelodeon Sets 'Lip Sync Battle' Spinoff

Nickelodeon will look to capitalize on the success of Spike TV’s Lip Sync Battle with its own version targeted to kids, the network announced as part of its upfront presentation Thursday in New York.

The 10-episode spinoff series, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, will launch this fall and will feature kids lip-syncing pop songs in celebration of their favorite artists. This past December Nickelodeon launched a Lip Sync Battle Shorties special, which drew more than 2 million viewers in Nielsen Live+7 ratings, according to the network.

Lip Sync Battle Shorties is so illustrative of how kids have changed,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Group. “Our research tells us this generation believes they are all one step away from being famous. This show celebrates real kids with real talent, but more importantly a passion to perform and the confidence to do it.”

In other upfront news, the network has greenlit a new animated series based off its successful Henry Danger live action series. The animated series, The Adventures of Kid Danger and Captain Man, will follow the two crime fighters as they face new adventures, according to network officials. Henry Danger producer Dan Schneider will also executively produce the spinoff series.

“We are giving the characters that kids love, the opportunity to play in fresh new ways,” Zarghami in a statement. “Animating Dan Schneider’s incredible Henry Danger, while keeping the voices of the current series, signals to the audience that we are working hard to serve them on all platforms.”

Nickelodeon also announced it has signed 13-year old entertainer Jojo Siwa to an overall talent deal which includes potential original programming, social media, live event and music projects, said the network.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.