AXS TV ACQUIRES DAVID HASSELHOFF UK MOCKUMENTARY SERIES ‘HOFF THE RECORD’
SIX-EPISODE SERIES PREMIERES IN THE U.S. IN EARLY SPRING
LOS ANGELES – December 16, 2015 – AXS TV is bringing season one of the U.K. scripted mockumentary series HOFF THE RECORD to the U.S. for the first time ever, making its network prime time debut in early spring. The six-episode series stars international superstar, “The Hoff” (aka David Hasselhoff) playing a fictionalized version of himself who moves across the pond to get his career back on track, while navigating through increasingly surreal—and hilarious—circumstances. HOFF THE RECORD, produced by the award-winning makers of Ricky Gervais’ AN IDIOT ABROAD and distributed by BBC Worldwide North America, is the second British series to premiere on AXS TV, following the success of Simon Cowell’s megahit singing competition THE X FACTOR UK.
This critically acclaimed series, which originally debuted in the U.K. on June 18, 2015, is a semi-scripted comedy shot in a verité style following David’s portrayal of the American TV icon “The Hoff”—the star of BAYWATCH and KNIGHT RIDER, and the man whose voice single-handedly brought down the Berlin Wall. Coming off his fifth divorce and finding his stateside popularity fading, The Hoff decides to head to London in a last-ditch effort to save his legacy. Lured by promises of starring in a new biopic about his life, The Hoff quickly finds that nothing is as he thought it would be, as he finds he has to audition to play himself — and is told in no uncertain terms by the director that he’s not right for the role.
The series surrounds a brilliantly self-deprecating David Hasselhoff’ with some of the best established and new comedy talent from the UK. Throughout the six-episode season, The Hoff has to don devil horns and face paint to hawk aftershave; gives up acting for a new career as a UN Ambassador; performs at a psychotic warlord’s birthday party; and unwittingly gets caught up in a high-speed police chase after being accused of abducting a child. But, will any of it be enough to put The Hoff back on top? Only time will tell.
“HOFF THE RECORD is the perfect addition to our prime time programming roster, starring David Hasselhoff in rare form, as he gamely invites viewers to laugh along with him in crazy scenarios that poke fun at his legendary career. HOFF THE RECORD is an excellent testament to what a great and self-assured guy David is, and AXS TV is proud to be able to bring the inaugural season to the States for the first time ever,” said AXS TV Founder and CEO Mark Cuban. “It’s not often you get the chance to have the most watched male star in the history of television (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) on your network, and we couldn’t be more thrilled.”
“HOFF THE RECORD is what happens when an American superstar meets cheeky British comedy,” says Matt Forde, EVP Content Production, Sales and Distribution, BBC Worldwide North America. “Now, through a deal with BBC Worldwide North America, AXS TV is bringing that irreverent British humor stateside to The Hoff’s country of origin.”
Show runners Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar of Me + You Productions explain, “We grew up watching David Hasselhoff on TV so we are thrilled to be working with such a legend and amazed that he is game to play a jaw dropping version himself for us. This is our first series for AXS and it’s great to be on such a supportive broadcaster making an ambitious cutting edge comedy series.”
“So happy to join the AXS TV team, it’s the perfect home for HOFF THE RECORD. Mark Cuban is a force of nature and I am honored to be a part of the team. The Hoff train is smoking!” said series star and Producer David Hasselhoff.
In 1982, David Hasselhoff landed in prime time for one of the most recognizable roles of his career, that of Michael Knight on the hit show KNIGHT RIDER. The show was a huge success in the United States and overseas and made him one of the most recognizable actors on TV. In 1989, Hasselhoff returned to TV to produce and star in the series BAYWATCH, which became the most watched show in TV history; David himself remains a fixture in The Guinness Book of World Records as the most watched actor in the history of television. The textbook definition of multi-faceted, he has since starred on Broadway (JEKYLL & HYDE), as Billy Flynn in the West End production of CHICAGO, on the Las Vegas stage (THE PRODUCERS), has spoken at both the Oxford and Cambridge Student Unions (joining such iconic past speakers as Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, and the Dalai Lama), and appeared as a judge on the blockbuster TV series AMERICA’S GOT TALENT and BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT. He recently co-starred in the second sequel to the biggest TV movie of all time, SHARKADO 3 and just completed production on the second season of HOFF THE RECORD. His most recent feature, KILLING HASSELHOFF, which he produced and stars in, is currently in post-production. He is currently starring in and is executive producing the original UK stage musical LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE which runs through February 2016.
HOFF THE RECORD was acquired through a deal brokered by Laura Andrews on behalf of BBC Worldwide, the global distribution rights holder and the show airs on UKTV’s Dave channel. David Hasselhoff serves as producer. The executive producers for UKTV are Iain Coyle and Richard Watsham. David Hasselhoff’s executive producer is Eric Gardner. Krishnendu Majumdar and Richard Yee produced the show for Me & You Productions.
ABOUT AXS TV
AXS TV is the cable industry’s leading general entertainment network for live event programming. Launched in July 2012 by visionary entrepreneur Mark Cuban, AXS TV is dedicated to providing groundbreaking music programming, stand-up comedy performances from today’s top comedians, and hard-hitting mixed martial arts promotions. The network’s franchises include THE X FACTOR UK and NASHVILLE; as well as original programs such as THE BIG INTERVIEW with Dan Rather; THE WORLD’S GREATEST TRIBUTE BANDS; GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE; AXS TV FIGHTS; and INSIDE MMA.
AXS TV is a partnership between Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CBS. The network is available in the United States via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite and telco providers, including members of the National Cable Television Cooperative. The network is also distributed in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. For more information, visit the website, www.axs.tv; go to the Facebook page here and follow the company on Twitter, @axstv; on Instagram; Tumblr; Cyber Dust and YouTube.
ABOUT ME + YOU PRODUCTIONS
Me+You Productions is an independent production company founded by the award-winning co-creators and show runners of three series of the BAFTA-nominated An Idiot Abroad starring Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar. The An Idiot Abroad franchise is a global hit – it has sold over 1.8 million DVDs in the UK, over 1.2 million books and the TV series have been sold to 210 territories as well as being the consistently highest rating show on Sky1 in the UK.
Me+You’s output includes two series of Hoff The Record and two series of the ratings hit The Moaning of Life starring Karl Pilkington. They are developing a slate of factual, comedy and drama projects including Born To Dance with Sarah Hadland for Channel 4 and a drama series Having a Baby with BAFTA winning writer / director Dominic Savage.
Their work has been seen at international film festivals and television networks around the world. It has won a number of awards, including a Mental Health in Media award, and additionally nominated for many others including two BAFTAs, Royal Television Society awards, British Comedy Awards, National Television Awards and shortlisted for two Grierson Awards.
ABOUT BBC WORLDWIDE NORTH AMERICA
BBC Worldwide North America is the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) operating in the U.S. and Canada. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company operates four businesses in the territory – linear and digital content sales and co-productions, consumer products, BBC.com, and BBC Worldwide Productions, the production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars. The company also owns a 50.1% share in cable channel BBC AMERICA through a joint venture with AMC Networks.
