AOL Announces New Original Series Starring Steve Buscemi, “Park Bench”
Celebrities and New Yorkers Alike Take a Seat with Steve to Discuss Pop-Culture and Current Events
Produced by Olive Productions and RadicalMedia
Distributed Globally by FremantleMedia International
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AOL and Steve Buscemi have teamed-up to take over the streets of New York in the new original series, “Park Bench,” – a local’s take on the special people, places and spirit of The Big Apple.
Through unscripted moments and conversations with average New Yorkers – as well as Steve's celebrity friends – Buscemi takes viewers on a first-hand misadventure. Discussing everything from pop culture to current events, the show, produced by Olive Productions and RadicalMedia, will convey Steve’s relationship with New York and its array of one-of-a-kind characters – taking viewers beyond mere interviews and involving them in his daily life.
Currently starring in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, Golden Globe winner and Emmy-nominated Buscemi has become one of the most recognizable and well-loved actors in recent history and will bring his personal blend of comedy and styling to Park Bench.
“Having lived and worked in New York my whole life, I’m ready to take advantage of all it has to offer,” said Buscemi. “I just need to lay down for five minutes.”
AOL, in line with its dedication to original premium video content via their “AOL Originals” platform, will carry the first season of Park Bench online in the United States.
“We're excited to include Park Bench as part of our new slate of AOL Originals,” said Gabriel Lewis, Head of AOL Studios & AOL Originals. “We strive to produce and showcase programming that captures unique and authentic personalities, and this series will give audiences a glimpse into Steve's world like they've never experienced before. We're confident Park Bench will delight our existing audience as well as appeal to audiences currently unfamiliar with AOL Originals."
FremantleMedia International has partnered with RadicalMedia to bring Park Bench to the global Television market and will be shopping the series to international buyers at MIPTV this spring.
“Park Bench is a superb one-of-a-kind, eccentric show, and with the association of Steve Buscemi, top producer RadicalMedia and innovative platform AOL, we’re delighted to be taking this series worldwide,” said Hayley Dickson, Vice President, Television Acquisitions and Development, Global Content, FremantleMedia International.
Production on Park Bench is set to begin this month in New York City. Wren Arthur and Steve Buscemi are Executive Producing for Olive Productions. Justin Wilkes, Joe Killian and Jon Doran are Executive Producing for RadicalMedia.
Buscemi and Olive are represented by WME, The Gotham Group and attorney George Sheanshang.
For more information on Park Bench, please go to: parkbenchtheshow.com
About AOL Originals
AOL Inc. (NYSE:AOL) is a brand company, committed to continuously innovating, growing, and investing in brands and experiences that inform, entertain, and connect the world. The home of a world-class collection of premium brands, AOL creates original content that engages audiences on a local and global scale. We help marketers connect with these audiences through effective and engaging digital advertising solutions.
About FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia is one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world. It is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama, factual entertainment and kids & family programming, with capabilities that extend from content creation to licensing, digital and branded entertainment, gaming and home entertainment. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia International, FremantleMedia Digital & Branded Entertainment, FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Ludia, @radical.media and Original Productions, among others) has an outstanding global network with operations in 25 countries, creating over 8,500 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and airing 400 programmes a year worldwide. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 200 territories. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most famous and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Hole In The Wall, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Through the Keyhole Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeite, Wentworth, Neighbours, Generation War, Salatut Elamat, Grand Designs, Project Runway, Tree Fu Tom and Strange Hill High. FremantleMedia is part of RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, which is in turn 75.1 percent owned by the international media company Bertelsmann. www.fremantlemedia.com
About RadicalMedia
RADICALMEDIA is a global studio that creates some of the world’s most innovative content across all forms of media. The company develops, produces and distributes television, feature films, commercials, music programming, live events, mobile applications, digital content and design. The company has produced a number of award-winning projects, including the Academy Award® nominated documentary, PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY; the Emmy® winning film UNDER AFRICAN SKIES: PAUL SIMON'S GRACELAND JOURNEY; the Academy Award®-winning documentary THE FOG OF WAR; the Grammy Award®-winning CONCERT FOR GEORGE; and the Independent Spirit Award®-winning METALLICA: SOME KIND OF MONSTER; the pilot episode of the Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning series MAD MEN; six seasons of the series ICONOCLASTS for the Sundance Channel; the Emmy®-nominated series OPRAH'S MASTER CLASS and VISIONARIES for OWN; the Ron Howard-directed documentary titled JAY-Z’S MADE IN AMERICA for Showtime; HANK: FIVE YEARS FROM THE BRINK, featuring former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, produced for Bloomberg Businessweek and launched exclusively on Netflix; MILEY: THE MOVEMENT, a documentary on Miley Cyrus for MTV; and DAVID BLAINE: REAL OR MAGIC for ABC.
About Olive Productions
OLIVE PRODUCTIONS is a New York based production company, formed by Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci and Wren Arthur. Diverse in its tastes and casting a wide creative net the company produces narrative and documentary films, and an eclectic array of TV and theater projects. OLIVE and ABC Studios are currently in production on a television pilot written by Richard LaGravenese and directed by Taylor Hackford based on DANGEROUS LIAISONS. The company has a first look deal with HBO, and has just completed the documentary A GOOD JOB for the network with Liz Garbus about firefighters in the FDNY. OLIVE has a full development slate, always striving to inspire, foster, and support great artists.
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