RTL CBS shows to excite Pinoy audiences

MANILA, Philippines - An upcoming US sci-fi thriller, Limitless, is generating a lot of buzz in Hollywood these days not only because Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper is the executive producer of the series, but also because it has an interesting concept — the protagonist uses a brain-enhancing drug called NZT that turns him into a super smart guy. The trouble starts when he is forced by the FBI into using his extraordinary cognitive abilities to solve complex cases for them. 

The series will debut on  Sept. 22 on the RTL CBS channel, aired 24 hours after its first broadcast in the US.

“It’s action-packed and one of the most talked about shows in the US,” says Jennifer Batty, RTL CBS EVP for programming, during a recent interview.

Batty says that four new shows of RTL CBS will be introduced this September.

Limitless is based on Cooper’s 2011 movie about a burned-out writer who accidentally took the drug NZT. According to the movie, human beings only use a fraction of their brain at a time, and the idea that people can, via a fast biochemical fix, access all the brain’s powers raises many fascinating possibilities. Cooper plays the NZT-addicted writer who faces his own troubles because of the drug.

For the TV adaptation, James McDorman plays the role of Brian Finch who, pumped up with the powers of NZT, outsmarts all the FBI agents, “making him a criminal’s worst nightmare and the greatest asset the bureau has ever possessed,” Batty says.

Cooper also has a recurring role in the series, as a presidential hopeful who also takes NZT and has his own plans for Finch.

According to entertainment reports, Cooper makes time to contribute and check the plot points of the show no matter how busy he is. The series also stars Jennifer Carpenter, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Hill Harper.

Batty says RTL CBS knows how sophisticated and discriminating Filipino viewers are and that’s why they feature shows that appeal to their sensibilities.

James McDorman (left) in a scene from Limitless, Host Stephen Colbert (center), The Late, Late Show With James Corden (right) has consistently topped ratings since its first week of airing in the US last August

“RTL CBS knows that Filipino viewers love to escape, engage and lose themselves in premium content. We want to make the channel as relevant to the Filipino audience as we can. The Filipino viewers know more about what’s going on in the world than any other people. That’s why we give them a strong content, not to mention that all our shows are exclusive and  shown within 24 to 36 hours after the US airing,” Batty says.

Aside from Limitless, RTL CBS will also launch the highly-anticipated The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Sept. 10. Colbert took over the show after veteran host David Letterman retired.

In a CBS statement on Monday, the network announced a star-studded line-up during the first months of The Late Show starting with George Clooney and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush. 

In the coming episodes, Colbert will interview actress Scarlett Johansson, SpaceX and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Kendrick Lamar. The show will also feature Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, singer Toby Keith, comedian Amy Schumer and author Stephen King. Troubled Waters will perform on the show. Colbert is well-known for his late night satirical show, The Colbert Report.

The program earned two Peabody Awards and 29 Emmy Award nominations, including two Emmy wins for Outstanding Variety Series and four Emmy wins for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Prior to that, Colbert spent eight years as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show as an on-air personality and writer of news satire for the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series.

A talk show that is already airing on RTL CBS and winning Pinoy viewers’ heart is the The Late, Late Show With James Corden, aired Wednesday nights at 11:45. The show is aired here within 36 hours of the US broadcast.

Since its first week on-air in the US, the talk show has consistently topped ratings. Corden has racked up more than 200 million views due to the popularity of the show’s creative segments, which have featured actors like Tom Hanks and Arnold Schwarzenegger acting out their careers in a few minutes with Corden. The Carpool Karaoke segments with Mariah Carey, Iggy Azalea and Justin Bieber have also become very popular on social media. Tinseltown’s other A-listers who have appeared on the show include Mila Kunis, David Beckham, Will Ferrell and One Direction.

Batty says The Late, Late Show with James Corden is her personal favorite.

“British actor James Corden is really funny. He interviews and gives the scoop on a lot of big celebrities. When One Direction band went from five members to four, he was the first to interview them. He has the talent to do insane, crazy things,” she says.

A particular episode that struck with Batty is the scene where soccer superstar David Beckham and Corden both appeared in a segment of the show, clad only in their underwear. Beckham showed his buffed body while Corden showed his fat belly.

“It was so hilarious, I’ve been hooked ever since,” Batty says.

On Sept. 23, RTL CBS will also launch a new show, the Season 2 of Scorpion.

Scorpion revolves around a group of quirky but likeable geeks hired by US Homeland Security honcho Cabe Gallo to counter high-tech threats of the modern age. Led by “one of the five smartest people alive” Walter O’ Brien, the team works to solve “complex predicaments.”

Dubbed by  critics as a cross between Big Bang Theory and A-Team, Scorpion provides the right amount of drama and comic relief that features car chases and explosions, too.

“Limitless and Season 2 of Scorpion are shows that feature brain power that are guaranteed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Meanwhile, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and The Late, Late Show with James Corden are perfect shows to watch at night while winding down and relaxing,” says Batty.

Launched in 2013 in the Philippines, RTL CBS is also the home of singing competitions Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, X-Factor and the well-reviewed The House of Cards, among others.