Upfronts 2015: History Sets Vietnam-Based Scripted Series

History will revisit the Vietnam War in a new scripted series, part of several new original reality and scripted series announced by A+E Networks during its upfront presentation Thursday.

The series, The Boys of ’67, will follow the exploits of the only platoon trained and deployed to service in Vietnam, according to network officials. Head First Productions and Muse Entertainment will produce the series for History.

In addition, the network has greenlit a survival/competition series dubbed Alone that will place 10 hardcore survivalists alone on a wilderness Island with no camera crew to see who can survive the longest, according to the network.

In other A+E Networks news, female-targeted Lifetime has commissioned Sing It!, a reality series that follows cross-town rival a cappella groups as they face off in weekly competitions.  A&E will develop Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit in which 10 personal trainers overeat and live sedentary lives for four months before teaming with a trainer to get back in shape, while FYI will add food series What The Fung?! to its lineup, said network officials.

The announcements come on the heels of several projects that will team Lifetime, History and A&E, including a reboot of Roots and a limited series on Leo Tolstoy’s novel War and Peace.

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.