House of Villains, E!’s new series featuring reality TV baddies such as Vanderpump Rules’ Jax Taylor and The Apprentice’s Omarosa, is looking to “lean into the comedy” of the genre, according to its exec producer.
John Irwin, who runs Irwin Entertainment and has produced celebrity house shows such as Celebrity Rehab and Sober House, told Deadline, “From the beginning, our strategy was to lean into the comedy of this concept and for the show to parody itself and the genre.”
Irwin explained that the show, which pits the reality villains against each other via a series of challenges in order to win $200,000, was initially developed by the NBCUniversal-owned cable network.
He said that Joel McHale was their first choice. “Not only is he insanely funny, he’s also a hard-core fan of reality television and familiar with most of our cast from his days on The Soup. This really translated to his witty off-the-cuff commentary,” he added.
You can see above a new clip that features the villains competing in a balls out challenge. Contestants also include Tiffany Pollard (Flavor of Love), Anfisa Arkhipchenko (90 Day Fiancé), Johnny Bananas (The Challenge), Shake Chatterjee (Love is Blind), Jonny Fairplay (Survivor: Pearl Islands), Bobby Lytes (Love & Hip Hop: Miami), Corinne Olympios (Bachelor in Paradise) and Tanisha Thomas (Bad Girls Club).
“As the world and our collective lives become more frenetic and complex, this type of escapist TV with a smart comedic bend hopefully garners a place on people’s playlists. I also think there is a nostalgic factor to seeing your favorite reality stars all in one place that the audience will appreciate,” he added. “This show, being a perfect blend of house reality and comedy, plays right down the middle for us and our brand. To date, we have a few splashy over-the-top formats that we have sold, as well as docs and standup specials.”
The series will launch on E! on Thursday October 12 with a 75-minute supersized episode that will also be simulcast on sister channels Bravo, Syfy and USA
“In this crowded marketplace, where it’s incredibly difficult for shows to gain traction, I think the right celebrity house show will always have its place and be a win. Formats that fall within this genre are not only buzzy and loud, but also with the right cast are very easy to promote, which is a huge plus in today’s environment,” he said.
Irwin exec produces alongside Dave Kuba, Eli Frankel and Matt Odgers.
