By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, May 6, 2015
TruTV is shooting the only reality competition show in metro Atlanta and it also happens to be the toughest one to explain. Called "Fake Off," it features acts that use tricks and illusions blending elements such as dance, magic, acrobatics, puppets and shadow to tell a story in a theatrical way.
Teams call themselves "fakers."
Shot in a studio in Hiram, the second season returns Wednesday, May 6 at 10 p.m. with a new host and two new judges.
Say goodbye to host Rob Hoffman, replaced by "High School Musical" star Corbin Bleu. And TLC's Rozonda "Chill" Thomas and choreographer Michael Curry have been replaced by choreographers and creative directors Beau "Casper" Smart and LaurieAnn Gibson. The only survivor from season one? "Glee" star and dancer Harry Shum.
The executive producers hope the new judge's panel will be more dynamic.
"In the first season, we agreed on a lot of things," said Shum. "That's difficult to have on a judge's panel."
In this case, Gibson and Smart are the protagonists.
"They are always on opposite sides of a tug of war," said Bleu, who has never hosted a shot before. "Harry tends to be the mediator... It's fun to watch. I try to wrangle them in. They all make valid points. They are all qualified to do so."
"We like each other," said Gibson, who worked on the choreography of many of Lady Gaga's seminal videos and did a reality dance show "Born to Dance" for BET in Atlanta a few years ago. "We are not afraid to have differences of opinion."
Casper, a former street performer and choreographer who said he was drawn to the show thanks to Shum's participation, coincidentally worked with Gibson on creative direction and choreography for Nicki Minaj's most recent tour.
Despite their differing opinions at the dais, he loved working with her. "She's like an actress at all times," Smart said. "She's really comedic and really quick with the quips. We have fun with our banter. It never affects us off stage. Five minutes later, we're laughing about it."
He said it took him a couple of episodes to feel comfortable as a judge. "This was really outside of my box," he said. From his street roots, Smart watched the acts from the perspective of entertainment. But he admits he was the toughest one there.
"I got booed quite a few times by the audience," Smart said. "I didn't care."
Shum, who will be in the sequel to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in August, said he's a big believer in the show and the emotions the acts evoke.
"You have to meet the parameters of story telling in 90 seconds," he said. "Whether you're watching reality or scripted, you have to have a story." (Speaking of emotions, he said he has not been able to watch the "Glee" series finale. Too emotional!)
TV preview
"Fake Off," 10 p.m. Wednesdays, starting May 6 over eight episodes, TruTV
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