Chip and Joanna Gaines’s Magnolia Network Sets Four Family-Friendly Unscripted Series at Max, Including Competition ‘Human vs Hamster’

Jennifer Maas

Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network is producing four unscripted series with a family-friendly focus for Max, including one called “Human vs Hamster” that, aptly, pits humans against hamsters in challenges.

The unscripted projects, which are set to debut in 2024, are described as “ambitious large-scale competitions” and “out-of-the-box social experiments” that are intended to create a co-viewing experience on Max for parents and children.

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See below for the loglines of the family-focused unscripted TV series the Gaineses have in development at Max, including the “Roller Jam” competition, which Variety previously broke the news on, straight from Magnolia Network:

“Second Chance Stage” (wt): a talent competition that offers contestants who have pushed their dreams aside a second chance at their big break.

“Human vs Hamster”: a light and irreverent competition show where groups of people go head-to-head with hamsters in scaled games of strength, smarts and agility to find out, “who is the superior species: humans or hamsters?”

“Back to the Frontier” (wt): families will leave the 21st century behind to live as 1800s pioneers in this bold social experiment that will test their strength, stamina and sense of humor.

“Roller Jam” (wt): the top roller-skating crews in the country compete to see who will be crowned America’s best roller dancing team.

Finding a way to tap into the kids and family market is something the Max team has been very focused on in its rebranding, and the Gaineses’ already family-friendly brand at Magnolia Network, a joint venture between the “Fixer Upper” couple and Warner Bros. Discovery that co-streams its content on Max, is a natural fit for a partner.

Prior to Max’s launch as a combined version of HBO Max and Discovery+, HBO Max had made an attempt at kids and family programming, almost entirely scripted, that fell flat and ended in multiple cancellations.

“We’re excited to unveil a fun and broad slate of new shows intended to bring families together for engaging, playful and inspiring co-viewing experiences,” Magnolia Network president Allison Page said. “We recognized a white space in Max for fun, family-friendly content with unique formats and imaginative competition shows. We seized the opportunity to use our storytelling expertise to help bring these concepts to life and are thrilled to partner with Max to build a content offering the whole family will love.”

“Our hope for this network has always been to give families the opportunity to watch authentic, thoughtful storytelling together, so we are thrilled to offer a new expansion of this vision to Max,” the Gaineses. “These shows will celebrate second chances, risk taking, imagination, perseverance and family connection, with so many more ideas to come.”

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