Universal Television Alternative Studio Orders Singing Competition Series ‘Menudo”‘

Universal Television Alternative Studio has acquired the rights to “Menudo,” an hour-long weekly competition series that will search for and rebuild former boy band Menudo. Mario Lopez will executive produce the project via his Via Mar Productions banner. Live Animals, the company overseen by Audrey Morrissey and Jayson Belt (“The Voice”) will also executive produce alongside 3 Arts Entertainment’s Mark Schulman and Foundation Management’s Patrick Hughes, Paul Vasquez and Harvey Russell.

Formed in Mexico in 1977 by producer Edgardo Díaz, the boy group — fashioned a style similar to Jackson 5 — featured brothers Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry and Carlos, Oscar and Ricky Meléndez as original members. The group featured a number of prominent members over the years, including Grammy winners Ricky Martin and Draco Rosa, and put out 35 albums and sold 60 million records before disbanding in 2009. The band was also the subject of two feature films, a TV series, a beauty pageant and merchandise including dolls, trading cards and a board game.