Spelling reality for net

Thesp finds breath of fresh air at Oxygen

By JOHN DEMPSEY, DENISE MARTIN

Tori Spelling came up short in the Nielsens when she starred in a scripted series for VH1 based on her own life, so now she's doing a full-fledged reality series for Oxygen.

Still-untitled series will follow Spelling and her actor husband, Dean McDermott, as they choose a bed-and-breakfast in Southern California to buy and refurbish. Oxygen has commissioned World of Wonder Prods., headed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, to produce six half-hour episodes, which will run in the spring. Bailey and Barbato will be co-exec producers with Spelling and McDermott.

Spelling and McDermott "may be actors, but they're also very entrepreneurial," said Barbato. "They want to create a real business."

The cameras also will zero in on the couple's other role as expectant parents; their baby is due in March.

Oxygen's plan, prexy of programming and marketing Deborah Beece said, is "for the intimate final episode to coincide with the baby's birth."

Managing the series for Oxygen are Aaron Meyerson, senior VP of development and production, and Kristen Connolly Vadas, VP of development, West Coast.

UTA, which represents Spelling, Bailey and Barbato, packaged the program.