Starting, the first-ever, real-life daytime drama from NBC Universal Television and Bunim-Murray Productions ("The Real World," "The Simple Life"), has started production on its highly-anticipated third season, which premieres on September 19, 2005. The innovative, critically-acclaimed series has broken with its own tradition and started the season with a surprise: men have joined women in the Starting Over house.

Reality Reel Media
08.15.05

The third season starts with four couples moving into a new Starting Over house in Southern California's San Fernando Valley. Starting Over Life Coaches Rhonda Britten and Iyanla Vanzant, and Consulting Psychologist Dr. Stan Katz return and host an intensive, three-week Relationship Boot Camp for the couples, each at a critical crossroads in their relationship.

The difficulties that the Starting Over couples face include: the turmoil caused by infidelity, the stress that money has on relationships, the strain caused by lies and a quick temper, and the difficulties that cultural differences put on a relationship.

"We like to keep Starting Over fresh for the daytime audience," said Jon Murray, Chairman of Bunim-Murray Productions and Executive Producer Starting Over. "From day one, fans have been asking, 'Will you ever put men in the Starting Over house?' We thought it was time to give the fans what they want, and show a different aspect of what Life Coaches can accomplish."

"Having men, couples come into the Starting Over house is a natural extension for this special series," says Linda Finnell, Senior Vice President, Programming and Development, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution. "From what we have already seen in production, this will be a great way to kick off our third season."

Starting Over will provide critical, couples-based life coaching in the five basic principles of healthy relationships: Respect, Commitment, Cooperation, Intimacy and Affection, and Trust. Each couple in the Starting Over house has had a breakdown in at least one of those areas.

During Relationship Boot Camp, the couples and viewers at home will learn mental tools and get instructions necessary to improve their relationships. At the conclusion of this series of special episodes that will air during the initial weeks of the season, the couples will leave and six women will enter the Starting Over house for a return to the traditional daytime drama that Starting Over fans have come to love and expect.