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Garden State's latest reality show is based out of a salon in Green Brook

BY LINDA MOSS

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

New Jersey is going to be the setting for yet another reality series featuring big hair and big female personalities.

Perhaps hoping to duplicate the success of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," The Style Network said Wednesday that it is doing a comedy "docusoap" called "Jerseylicious."

Produced by top reality-TV producer Endemol USA, the series "explores the lives of six stylists who take their in-your-face style very seriously at their popular Central New Jersey salon, which is also their favorite place for sharing secrets and dishing on all the juiciest gossip," according to the announcement.

The salon is located in Green Brook, N.J., and "Jerseylicious" is also being shot in other Central Jersey locations.

The one-hour comedy "Jerseylicious" debuts next spring on Style.

"Our viewers are in for a wild ride when they enter this hairspray mayhem," Salaam Coleman Smith, president of The Style Network, said in a prepared statement. "We love that this series takes a fun look at the always entertaining personal lives and real-life drama of this outrageous staff while also capturing the fabulous makeovers and ‘Jerseylicious' styles at the salon. It's a perfect combination for Style's young female audience."

The drama is fueled by Olivia, a makeup artist who's trying to make it on her own, and Tracy, an overly confident stylist. They constantly battle for attention, especially over the same man.

The salon is run by the mother/daughter team of Gayle and Christy who are not only trying to manage their business and expand their clientele but also launch a new salon. Gayle, the mother, is excited to be back on the dating market after two failed marriages, while daughter Christy is trying to prove her role and earn her stake in the family business.

Viewers also get to know Gigi, a down-to-earth stylist aspiring to be a "Bridezilla" and dreaming of having a big Italian wedding and family, despite the fact that she's not even engaged.

And the final stylist is Anthony, the sole male stylist. He is working at the salon to make ends meet for his growing family.

"The people we're featuring in ‘Jerseylicious' follow in our company's tradition of showcasing truly entertaining and captivating characters," David Goldberg, chairman of Endemol North America, said in a prepared statement. "As we continue to expand our growing cable business, this show will be as innovative to docusoaps as our other shows have been for their genres."

Three-time Emmy winner Alex Duda is executive producer of "Jerseylicious." Sarah Weidman and Merah Chung are Executive Producers for Style.

Endemol USA produces the hit shows "Wipeout," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," "Deal or No Deal," and "Big Brother."