newjerseynewsroom.com

BY LINDA MOSS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The leopard-clad, stiletto-heeled, big-haired, décolleté-showing stylists of the Gatsby Salon in Green Brook will be back this fall.

The docu-soap "Jerseylicious" has been renewed for a second season, The Style Network said Thursday. The network has ordered 10 new episodes to premiere in the fall.

"'Jerseylicious' is the perfect blend of big personalities, bold style and nonstop drama," Style Network president Salaam Coleman Smith said in a prepared statement. "Style viewers tell us that they love the authenticity of this show and the unapologetic sense of style. We're excited to see what new escapades and makeover madness Season Two will bring."

Produced by Endemol USA, "Jerseylicious" follows the lives of Jersey Girl stylists in and out of their high-profile New Jersey salon.

"Jerseylicious" has been a ratings hit for Style Network. The first season has reached more than 9.4 million total viewers since its March 21 premiere, making the series Style's most-watched first season ever among women 18 to 34 and women 18 to 49.

"Jerseylicious" outperforms Style's primetime average by more than 80 percent among households, while it attracts more than twice as many women 18 to 49 than the norm.

The success of "Jerseylicious" has largely been driven by younger women 18 to 34, nearly tripling Style's primetime average series in that demographic to date.

The series, which critics have called "a hair-raising new reality show," "a cut above the rest" and "a fabulously flashy drama," airs Sundays at 10 p.m. The Season One finale is slated for May 9.

The drama at the salon is fueled by Olivia Blois Sharpe, a young but bold make-up artist from Montville who's trying to make it on her own, and Tracy DiMarco, of East Hanover, a hair stylist who constantly battles with Sharpe.

The salon is run by the business savvy mother/daughter team of Gayle Giacomo and Christy Pereira, both of Bridgewater, who are under pressure to increase the salon's clientele.

Also working at the salon is Gigi Liscio, of East Chester, N.Y., a young hair stylist who wants nothing more than a big Italian wedding and Alexa, one of the top bridal make-up artists in the Tri-State area who proudly refers to herself as the "Glam Fairy."

Rounding out the group is stylist Anthony Lombardi of Fairfield, who started working at the salon temporarily when his own salon in Verona was being renovated.

Three-time Emmy winner Alex Duda is executive producer for "Jerseylicious." The series is produced by Endemol USA. David Goldberg is the chairman of Endemol North America. Sarah Weidman and Merah Chung are executive producers for Style.

"We are thrilled with the breakout success of ‘Jerseylicous,'" Goldberg said. "Our truly unique cast of outspoken and vibrant characters were expertly captured by Alex Duda and the Endemol team in tandem with the collaborative and insightful executives at Style. We're committed to make season two bigger, better and even more ‘Jerseylicious.'"