The reality series, which began taping on Monday, matches porn star Ron Jeremy with Tammy Faye Messner, former wife of televangelist wife Jim Bakker. The two will share a mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks, The WB announced.
A WB spokesperson told XBiz that the decision to include Ron Jeremy in the reality series was a very intense, lengthy discussion among WB executives.
A New York native and former special education teacher, Ron Jeremy, a.k.a. Ron Jeremy Hyatt, got his first crack at adult entertainment stardom when his girlfriend submitted one of his pictures to Playgirl Magazine in 1978.
Jeremy has since starred in more than 1,700 porn films, directed 250 of his own, and served as technical advisor for films such as "9 1/2 Weeks," and "Boogie Nights."
Jeremy has also been celebrated in the mainstream limelight recently with the release of "Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy," which has so far garnered major kudos from the Chicago Film Critics Association.
Odd couple Jeremy and Tammy Faye will co-habitat with four other roommates, including has-been rapper Vanilla Ice, 1970s cop actor Erik Estrada, and former "Baywatch" actress Traci Bingham. The WB also plans to throw "Real World: Las Vegas" cast member Tishelle into the mix.
According to The WB, there will also be a mystery guest each week to stir up the storyline.
The six-part series will air sometime in January, the spokesperson added, although no exact airdate has been scheduled.
"Surreal Life 2" is a continuation of last season's "Surreal Life" series and will take place in the same house as the first show. Although The WB says that the interior design of the home has been significantly altered to more closely resemble an "Austin Powers love shack."
"We wanted to get worlds colliding and I think that's what we've achieved," said WB executive Keith Cox. "It's one of those tricky puzzles. You have to start with certain cornerstones and then build inward. Tammy Faye was actually one of the first people we cast."
Tammy Faye experienced nationwide stardom and disgrace when her televangelist husband Jim Bakker went to jail in 1992 for fraud. The couple has since divorced and Tammy Faye has re-married.
