The Veronicas to star in new Osbournes-style series on MTV
MTV has given the green-light to a new reality TV show featuring Brisbane identical twins The Veronicas, TMN can reveal.
With the working title Jess & Lisa: The Veronicas, US-based MTV and Viacom Digital Studios International confirmed the show would be produced locally by the music television network.
The news comes just after the duo premiered new video ‘Think Of Me’ on Friday.
Last month the pop duo emerged as narrow victors over Billie Eilish to win one of the closest TMN Most Added To Radio ties in recent history – the fourth Aussie artist to earn the crown in 2019 after Dean Lewis, Sheppard and Amy Shark.
While their rumoured Splendour appearance remains unconfirmed, they are set to play gay pride celebrations in Orlando, Florida, Chicago and New York City next month.
TMN understands that shooting has already begun on Jess & Lisa: The Veronicas and will premiere later this year.
“We continue to invest in great content, and are committed to connecting audiences with the music and artists they love,” said Bruce Gillmer, global head of music and talent, Viacom, and co-brand head, MTV International.
“The Veronicas were part of our first-ever MTV PUSH launch in 2009, and we are so excited to work with them again and give fans a new, behind-the-scenes look into their lives and music in a way only MTV can do.”
Jess and Lisa Origliasso remembered, “We grew up with MTV and to be able to create a show together, bringing people closer inside our lives of music and as sisters, is going to be a wild ride.”
https://www.facebook.com/MTVAUSTRALIA/videos/2375466476032278/
Hailing from Brisbane, the pair affectionately dubbed The Two Ronnies by the Australian music press, quickly found global success with ‘4Ever’, ‘Untouched’, ‘Hook Me Up’, ‘You Ruin Me’ and ‘In My Blood’ while their debut album The Secret Life Of… went 4 x platinum in Australia.
They were the first Australian artists ever to have a single certified-Platinum in the US with over 1 million paid downloads of 2007’s ‘Untouched’.
They have since amassed ten top 10 hits in Australia including three #1s, 500 million-plus streams, two ARIAs and over 175 million YouTube and Vevo views.
Last year TMN exclusively revealed that the girls signed a worldwide management deal with Grant Gillies and David Gillett at RED mgmt.
Life has never been dull for the Origliassos.
Even before The Veronicas, the sisters were in in the children’s television series Cybergirl, and launched a self-titled fashion line aimed at girls aged 7–14, for Target.
In the world spotlight after being signed overseas by Seymour Stein, the man who discovered Madonna, they quickly got into legal hot water over the name.
Looking for a girl’s name for their new band, the pair recalled a line from the movie Heathers, where Christian Slater asks, “Are you a Heather?” and Winona Ryder’s character (Veronica) answers, “No, I’m a Veronica.”
At the time they explained, “We went with that, because she was this kind of cool, unique chick with an attitude.”
But DC Comics objected to the use of the name, alleging they had rights to their fictional character.
After that there were animal and LGBT+ rights campaigns, album delays, bust-ups with record companies, returning from LA to Brisbane to be with their ailing mother and social media battles with trolls about, among other things, fake lesbians.
There were celebrity endorsements (Nu:U, Calvin Klein, Keds, Estée Lauder) and many celebrity friends.
Jess’ partners included Ruby Rose, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins and Badflower guitarist Josh Katz.
Jess & Lisa: The Veronicas is the latest original MTV production to be produced in Australia.
MTV Cribs and MTV Unplugged premiered in 2018, weekly live series TRL debuted in March 2019, and Teen Mom Australia is currently in production for airing later this year.
Following the launch of Viacom Digital Studios International (VDSI) in 2018, MTV International has increased the output of short-form content to include popular titles, such as Geordie Cribs and Chloe Ferry Is A Grown Up.
The increase in content has led to strong growth across MTV international’s social channels, with YouTube watch-time up 106% and Instagram video views up 152% YoY.