ABC embarks on "Crash Course" for summer

By James Hibberd

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - ABC has given the green light to auto-competition show "Crash Course" for a late-summer run.

Each episode features five couples (brother and sister, best friends, spouses, etc.) undertaking four extreme driving challenges. In the first three rounds, contestants perform such feats as driving on two wheels or navigating intense weather conditions. Contestants have to work together when, for instance, the passenger is given sole control of the brake.

One couple is eliminated during each round. The final round is the Crash Course, a large obstacle track.

The network plans to air seven one-hour episodes. Orlando Jones ("MadTV") and Dan Cortese ("Veronica's Closet") will serve as commentators on the series.

Producers plan to shoot "Crash" in Michigan and are scouting backdrops that reflect the state's automotive history.

ABC's other obstacle-course series, "Wipeout," just scored a strong return to the air, winning its time period in ratings Wednesday. CBS was developing a similar auto-based reality show, "Thunder Road," from producer-director McG, but sources say that project is not moving forward.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)