In recovery mode after suffering sustained ad revenue losses, December layoffs, and a 23 percent fourth-quarter ratings drop in its core 12-to-34-year old demographic, MTV has announced plans to produce and air 16 new reality shows over the next four and a half months (Variety).  New reality series from Diddy, Matt Stone & Trey Parker, Donald Trump, and Nick Lachey “will feature themes of affirmation and accomplishment,” said MTV Networks entertainment president Brian Graden.  “Our shows are going to focus less on loud and silly hooks and more on young people proving themselves. These are themes that are consistent with the Obama generation.”

Graden promised that the common theme in the newest offerings is an “intense sense of reality that you haven’t seen on television before,” though there’s nothing in the few new series that MTV is ready to talk about that indicate a departure from what we’re used to seeing from the flagship or boutique channels, or VH1 for that matter.  The Newest New Reality includes student-cam shot College Life, another at Cincinnati’s School for Creative & Performing Arts (untitled, produced by Lachey), and Girls of Hedsor Hall (in the vein of VH1’s Charm School, produced by Trump).