Making the Band is an American reality competition television series created by Lou Pearlman, Johnathan Murray and Mary-Ellis Bunim that exists in separate iterations, each iteration focusing on a specific music act.
It has spawned the musical acts O-Town, Da Band, Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang. Hosting the series is Diddy, acting as the man of the house who makes the final decision on who will be in the band.
The series originally debuted in the USA on ABC in 2000, but was moved to MTV after the first season of Making the Band 1. There are four separate series featuring three seasons each.
The series airs in South Africa on DStv's MTVbase.
Making the Band 4 airs on MTVbase from 5 June to 31 July, 2008, on Thursdays at 21h00. There are nine 60-minute episodes in the first season.
The series premiered on DStv's MTV channel on Saturday 28 June 2008, at 20h30.
MTVbase Repeats
Sundays: 20h30
Wednesdays: 14h30
MTV Repeats
Fridays: 21h00
Synopsis
Dreams. Destiny. Diddy. Yup, it's that time again. Time for Making the Band 4. But watch out because this time around Diddy is trading catfights for fistfights.
After the success of all-girl group Danity Kane (formed in Making the Band 3), Diddy's back and looking to shake things up during this season by scouring the country for the best male performers.
Diddy's looking to put together an all-guy group of superstars who are ready, willing and - most importantly - able to skyrocket to the top of the charts.
After auditioning thousands of potential superstars in various cities across the country, the field is narrowed to 20 Making the Band hopefuls. But catching Diddy's eye is just the beginning of the competition. Now the real test begins.
Which of these fellas will prove they've got what it takes for pop stardom? Can they sing? Can they dance? But, most importantly, can they impress Diddy? They better be able to do all three or else they'll be sent packing.
Helping every step of the way is Diddy's Making the Band "dream team." The dream team is comprised of New Edition's Michael Bivins, Grammy-winning producer Bryan Cox, R&B singer Joe, A&R manager Slam, vocal coach Ankh Ra and choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson.
Manager Johnny Wright, singer Mario Winans and others will be lending a hand from time to time. They'll be there to help Diddy weed out the weak links and find the cream of the crop.
The drama runs deep during Making the Band 4, as the potential hopefuls get on each other's nerves and are at each other's throats while living together in the posh NYC crib Diddy sets them up in.
They quickly find out that it's not easy living and working with your competition and trying to make a major impression on Diddy. Some will shine while others will crack under the pressure. It really is survival of the fittest because, as Diddy says, "there's always somebody in life trying to take your spot."
Still, Diddy is optimistic that he can put together the perfect R&B boy band to follow in the footsteps of such legendary acts as The Temptations, Boyz II Men, New Edition and *NSync.
But only the best will do for Diddy, so the fellas are going to have to step it up and bring their A-game.