NBC Announces New Series "The Baby Borrowers"  3/14/07

NBC ALTERNATIVE SERIES PUTS TEEN COUPLES ON FAST-TRACK TO ADULTHOOD WHEN THEY ARE ASKED TO BECOME INSTANT PARENTS AND RAISE BABIES, TODDLERS AND PRE-TEENS IN 'THE BABY BORROWERS'

Based on Hit British Series, Viewers Can Laugh Along and Empathize with Overwhelmed Teens Taking on Sudden Table-turning Roles as "Parental Units"

BURBANK - NBC will begin production on "The Baby Borrowers," an intriguing new alternative series based on the hit British program that asks five teenage couples - ages 16 to 19 - to set up a home and begin fast-tracking on parenthood by becoming caring parents first to a baby, then a toddler, pre-teen and grandparents - all over the course of one month.

The announcement was made by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.

"This series promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions, laughs and empathy for people of all ages," said Plestis. "Those who have survived the child-raising experience and those younger viewers who wonder what awaits them can all identify with what these overwhelmed kids are going to endure over the years, all presented in a telescopic amount of time."

The series has a six-episode commitment.

As the five young participating couples are asked to literally grow up overnight, their journey begins when they are given a quiet suburban home and attend pre-natal classes as the "mother" wears a simulated "empathy" belly to prepare them for the arrival of their "baby."

When a real one appears at their door - courtesy of five real mothers who each entrusts her infant to one of the five couples - the fumbling new teen parents are in for three long, arduous days that make chilling out a distant memory. They must stick to rigid routines (under supervision), handle the feeding chores, diaper duty and crying jags that might be shared by both baby and teens.

After the first three days, the late-teen couples will bid bye-bye to the baby and will receive a toddler as their fast-forward adult life progresses. As a result, they will have to cope with the "Terrible Twos, pouty tantrums and other messes for three more days. One of the couples will have to care for two siblings while another will have to handle three - and all of the twosomes will be given family pets to add to their responsibilities.

After the three days, the weary couples must now face the reality of parenting a sassy pre-teen - or "tweener" - thereby perhaps providing them with a mirror image of their own recent relationship with their own parents. To complete the cycle of life, the couples are graced with the opportunity to care for an elderly grandparent, who will represent what might be in store for them in the distant future.

"The Baby Borrowers" is produced by Love Productions. Richard McKerrow (the U.K.'s "Cirque de Celebrite") is the Executive Producer.

Source: NBC Press Release