ABC greenlights Superstars

ABC has just greenlighted a new sports-themed series titled ?Superstars.?

Casting has already begun for the series, which kicks off next summer. The series was produced by Juma Entertainment and Blue Entertainment, who shopped the title around last fall.

?ABC was the most aggressive, and they were big on getting the authenticity of the original ‘Superstars’ format,? said Bob Horowitz from Juma. ?And the fact that they have the NBA Finals in June makes it a phenomenal springboard for promoting the series.?

In ?Superstars,? eight celebrities will be paired with eight pro athletes to compete in various sports, including swimming, biking, running, and kayaking. Teams will be eliminated each week, until one pair is crowned the champions.

?Superstars,? which was created by the tandem of Barry Frank and Dick Button, will be part of ABC?s ?Wide World of Sports? line-up.