'Fountain of Youth'

[TV_Paige]

Ashton Kutcher Brings Reality to WB

by Josef Adalian

Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg (top L-R) were

executive producers of 'Beauty and the Geek.'

The WB is reuniting with the team behind summer success "Beauty and the Geek" for a comedic reality series that's set to explore the generation gap. Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg are executive producing the 'Amazing Race'-inspired project, dubbed "Fountain of Youth."

WB Entertainment President David Janollari has given an eight-episode order to the show, which will be produced by Kutcher and Goldberg's small entertainment production company, Katalyst and Fox 21. Multiple networks made a play for the reality show, which snagged a premium license fee from the WB.

Basic concept of 'Fountain' has eight college seniors teaming up with eight active senior citizens on a race across the United States. Each of the young folks will be paired with one of their elders, and while speed will be important, the show's means of elimination won't be identical to that of 'Race.'

Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg speak at the WB

Upfront meeting to introduce their new reality show.

Goldberg said 'Fountain' will be similar in tone to "Beauty and the Geek" and won't simply poke fun at older folks. "This is about people learning lessons and getting out of their comfort zones," he said. "We're trying to break stereotypes. We do funny. We don't make fun."

Goldberg said he and Kutcher are both fans of 'Race' and that 'Fountain' will in some ways be a comedic take on the CBS hit. "They set the bar," he said. "But what we love to do is comedy; that's the signature of this company."

Kutcher said 'Fountain' has all the hallmarks of a good reality series. "Anytime you take people with different views of the same world it's explosive, and conflict is the breeding ground for comedy," Kutcher told Daily Variety.

Ashton Kutcher and WB Entertainment President David

Janollari at the WB Upfront after party.

Janollari said he thinks "Fountain of Youth" can "deliver the same blend of poignancy and humor and heart that 'Beauty and the Geek' delivered." He added, "It's incredibly universal and relatable."

Chris Potocki and Eric Evangelista brought the project to Katalyst via Fox 21. It's not yet clear what their role will be in the production of the series, or whether Katalyst and Fox 21 will bring in an outside executive producer.

Production on 'Fountain' is expected to start by early next year. "Fountain of Youth" will be Katalyst's third unscripted series. In addition to 'Beauty,' Kutcher and Goldberg's production company has put their shingle on MTV's long-running "Punk'd."

[BBandRaceFan]

Huh...sounds interesting, I loved Beauty and the Geek!

[nebartist]

Beauty and the Geek was a great guilty pleasure for me