MONSTER MAN: New Reality Series From Syfy

Syfy is expanding its slate of original reality programming by greenlighting Monster Man, a docuseries about a quirky Hollywood creature-making family, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions.
   Six one-hour episodes have been ordered from Gurney Productions, the team behind Syfy’s exciting new series Haunted Collector. Monster Man goes behind the scenes of one of Hollywood’s most respected monster prop building workshops. For more than thirty years, when studios want a bizarre creature or out-of-this world alien, they’ve turned to Cleve Hall and his very unique family business. Only the horrifying monsters they build match the craziness of this highly dysfunctional, extremely talented family.
   “We are entering the creative world of a very eccentric, artistic family,” said Mark Stern. “Cleve and his team will give our viewers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring monster props, puppets and costume pieces to life. But they’re also a family business, so the unusual dynamic between them is half the fun.”
   Cleve Hall has been in the prop design game since he was a teenager. Monsters are his specialty, which fits the personality of a man who dresses in all black and drives a hearse. Hall has created masterpieces for countless B-movies and big budget flicks for Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, Warner Bros and Disney, including favorites Ed Wood and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Hall has also lent his talent to numerous television programs including Yo Gabba Gabba, for which he received an Emmy nomination. Additionally, he has worked with rock bands including KISS, creating Gene Simmons’ Demon Armor, as well as Insane Clown Posse, Alice Cooper, Tenacious D and DEVO.
   Monster Man follows Cleve Hall, his daughters Constance and Elora Hall, his ex-wife Sonja Maddox-Hall, best friends Roy Knyrim and Johnny Saiko, as well as office manager Cindy Miller. Executive Producers are Scott Gurney and Deirdre Gurney for Gurney Productions. Production on Monster Man is slated to begin shooting in Los Angeles in July 2011 with an anticipated January 2012 debut.