or


[10/09/19 - 09:59 AM]
HBO Max Cultivates Innovative Kids Content Ordering "Craftopia" and "Karma" Straight to Series
Michelle Khare and Lauren Riihimaki will host the unscripted kids competition series, respectively.

[via press release from WarnerMedia]

HBO Max Cultivates Innovative Kids Content Ordering "Craftopia" and "Karma" Straight to Series

Competition Series Hosted by Social Media Mavens to Stream on the Highly Anticipated Direct to Consumer Offering

LOS ANGELES - October 9, 2019 - HBO Max continues to expand its storehouse of exceptional content by ordering 8 episodes each of two unscripted kids competition series, Karma and Craftopia. Karma, an hour-long series, will be hosted by Michelle Khare, an extreme lifestyle enthusiast with almost 2 million followers on YouTube, and Craftopia, a half-hour series, will be hosted by Lauren Riihimaki, aka LaurDIY, one of YouTube's top creators with over 21 million followers across all her social platforms. Both social media gurus are known for inspiring their followers to think creatively and follow their dreams.

"We are giving kids an opportunity to show us their absolute best as they strive for excellence in both challenging and creative situations," said Jennifer O'Connell, executive vice president, original content, HBO Max. "With Michelle and Lauren at the helms, we are aiming to surprise and delight our young viewers. These shows are incredible additions to our growing list of HBO Max kids originals."

Karma, currently in production, takes sixteen contestants, ranging in age from 12 to 15, completely off the grid to solve puzzles and overcome physical challenges, with the laws of karma setting the rules. This adventure competition series hosted by YouTube sensation Michelle Khare, will test the mental and physical stamina of its young contestants as they unravel how their social actions impact their success in the game. Focus, giving, humility, growth, connection, change and patience are the path to becoming the "Karma Champion." But more importantly, the players learn one of life's most profound lessons: "What you give out, you get back."

Karma is executive produced by JD Roth, Adam Greener and Sara Hansemenn for GoodStory Entertainment with Fred Pichel serving as showrunner and executive producer.

"After over 30 years of making kids television, this partnership with HBO Max has given me the ability to make a show about something important -- Karma," said Roth. "Teaching kids that the energy you put in is the energy you can expect to get back has been transformative. This show is a rare opportunity to entertain while teaching and I'm loving every minute of it!"

Craftopia is an epic kids crafting competition show hosted and executive produced by Lauren Riihimaki, who was deemed the "millennial Martha Stewart" by Forbes. On Craftopia, 9 to 15-year old contestants put their imaginations to the test and make their crafting dreams come true in a magical studio. After racing to fill up their carts with inspiring materials from the studio "store," crafters meet larger-than-life challenges, making the most amazing creations the world has ever seen. Production will begin later this year.

Craftopia is executive produced by Rhett Bachner and Brien Meagher for B17 Entertainment.

"Kids are so incredibly inventive. They look at an empty cardboard box and a paper towel roll and see a pirate ship with a telescope." said Bachner and Meagher. "So with Craftopia, we are thrilled to work with HBO Max to see what happens when we give ingenious kids a store full of every material imaginable."

About HBO Max

HBO Max is WarnerMedia's direct-to-consumer offering debuting in spring 2020. With 10,000 hours of curated premium content anticipated at launch, HBO Max will offer powerhouse programming for everyone in the home, bringing together HBO, a robust slate of new original series, key third-party licensed programs and movies, and fan favorites from Warner Media's rich library including Warner Bros., New Line, DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more. Sign up for updates at HBOMax.com.

About WarnerMedia

WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Now, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. Warner Media is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).

About GoodStory

GoodStory Entertainment is an unscripted production company founded in 2018 by award winning Executive Producers, JD Roth and Adam Greener, in partnership with Entertainment Executive, Scooter Braun and powerhouse management company, SB Projects. GoodStory specializes in unscripted television and documentary film anchored in transformational storytelling that puts humanity at the forefront. Together, JD & Adam have produced thousands of hours of television both domestically and internationally.

About JD Roth

JD Roth is an award-winning producer who co-founded 3 Ball Productions in 2001 and went on to create some of the biggest reality TV franchises to date. Roth is credited with introducing the world to the concept of "transformation television" - programming that celebrates the ability of people to make real changes and improve their lives. Roth brought "weight loss" television to the forefront more than a decade ago with the creation of The Biggest Loser on NBC - now a worldwide, half-billion dollar brand in addition to kids reality competition Endurance, which had 7 seasons with several Emmy nominations. Roth's other hits include NBC's For Love and Money, FOX's Master Chef, Spike TV's Bar Rescue, ABC's Extreme Weight Loss and Discovery's Flying Wild in Alaska.

About B-17 Entertainment

B-17 Entertainment, an Industrial Media company, was founded in 2013 by principals and TV veterans Rhett Bachner and Brien Meagher as a full-service production company producing breakthrough content in a variety of genres including comedy, kids, reality and game, and focuses on multi-platform programming with millennial appeal. Based in Los Angeles, the company is a key supplier of live, formatted and interactive programing for TNT/TBS, Quibi, HBO MAX, Facebook Watch, YouTube and Snap to name a few. B-17 Entertainment is currently producing the recently announced Thanks A Million with Jennifer Lopez; Chasing the Cure, the live, interactive medical series currently airing on TNT/TBS; Confetti, the live, daily interactive trivia game show currently on Facebook Watch; and a trio of series for Disney including Ultimate Sleepover and Ruby's Gem featuring Ruby Rose Turner, as well as Do it Duo currently airing on YouTube. Other credits include Help Us Get Married!; Nail the Look on Snapchat; Fright Club; Fashion 5 Ways; Fluffy's Food Adventures featuring Gabriel Iglesias; The WWE Show; and Make Up or Break Up.





  [october 2019]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· CRAFTOPIA (HBO MAX)
· KARMA (HBO MAX)





[04/25/24 - 08:30 AM]
CBS Renews Drama "The Equalizer" for the 2024-2025 Broadcast Season
It is a top 10 primetime broadcast drama, ranking #8 overall season-to-date with 7.89 million viewers, according to Nielsen Most Current Data.

[04/25/24 - 08:01 AM]
Paramount+ Announces New Docuseries "Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza" to Premiere May 21
Directed by the multi-Emmy nominated Michael John Warren and executive produced by multi-Emmy nominees James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, the three-part series made its triumphant world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

[04/25/24 - 08:00 AM]
Lights, Camera... "Action"! The High-Octane Documentary Series Makes Its Streaming Debut on Peacock on April 26
The new series features the real lives behind some of Hollywood's top stunt performers, including behind-the-scenes footage of Universal Pictures' The Fall Guy (in theaters May 3).

[04/25/24 - 05:00 AM]
Entertainment Icon Reba McEntire to Host the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards
The 16-time ACM Award-winning host will also take center stage to perform new music, in addition to helming country music's longest-running awards show.

[04/25/24 - 12:01 AM]
Video: "In Good Hands 2" - Date Announcement - Netflix
A newly reunited father and son grapple with new beginnings after tragedy, but can they manage to fill the void left by a beloved wife and mother?

[04/24/24 - 08:01 PM]
Video: "Monster" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

[04/24/24 - 02:01 PM]
Video: "Drawing Closer" - Official Teaser - Netflix
The film is a live-action adaptation of a best-selling novel that became a hot topic on social media for how it moves readers to tears.

[04/24/24 - 01:45 PM]
What's New on Max This May
Highlights include new seasons of "Hacks" and "Pretty Little Liars: Summer School"; and the streaming debuts of "Turtles All The Way Down," "Stop Making Sense" and "The Iron Claw."

[04/24/24 - 01:32 PM]
Tracee Ellis Ross Packs Her (Many) Bags for New Roku Original Travel Doc-Series "Tracee Travels" (wt)
The docu-series will shoot later this year and debut exclusively on The Roku Channel in 2025.

[04/24/24 - 10:59 AM]
Prime Video Announces Premiere Date and Key Art for Stand-Up Comedy Special "Marlon Wayans: Good Grief"
The one-hour special will premiere in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on June 4.

[04/24/24 - 09:09 AM]
Video: Disney+ Shares Official Trailer for "Jim Henson Idea Man"
Produced with the full participation and cooperation of the Henson family, "Jim Henson Idea Man" is an unprecedented, intimate look at Henson's illustrious, revolutionary career and complex personal life.

[04/24/24 - 09:05 AM]
Gird Your Loins! Prime Video Releases Official First Look Images and Launch Date for "My Lady Jane"
Also announced, the series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on Thursday, June 27 in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

[04/24/24 - 09:01 AM]
Steve Carell to Star in "The Four Seasons" Netflix Comedy Series from Universal Television
Carell will star in the series alongside Tina Fey.

[04/24/24 - 09:01 AM]
ID Announces New Docuseries "Fallen Idols: Nick and Aaron Carter"
From their outsized fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s to their headline-making struggles in recent years, the docuseries pulls back the curtain on the fraught dynamic of the Carter family and the dark side of such an abrupt rise to fame.

[04/24/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Black Twitter: A People's History" - Official Trailer - Hulu
The rise, movements, voices and memes that made Black Twitter an influential and dominant force in nearly every aspect of American political and cultural life.