Coming to WeTV: Wayne Newton, Joan Rivers, partying seniors, and a recession-impacted family

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Here’s a news flash: Mr. Las Vegas doesn’t wear the pants in his family.

Wayne Netwon’s life is run by his wife and her kin and soon you’ll be able to watch how it all works on TV. WeTV is developing a reality TV show focused on Newton and the women who run his life on and off stage in Sin City.

There’s Kat, his wife and attorney. There’s also Trish, Kat’s sister and Wayne’s public relations manager. And there’s Marilyn, his mother-in-law, who handles the performer’s merchandising.

‘Wayne’s World’ is the show’s working title, and it is being produced by Ping Pong Productions (‘The Othersiders’). Production hasn’t begun, and an air date hasn’t been scheduled.

But Newton is not the only famous person who will be exposing his family on WeTV. ‘Mother Knows Best?’ features the Melissa Rivers-Joan Rivers duo as we’ve never seen them. Joan moves in with Melissa, her young son and her live-in boyfriend, and apparently ‘chaos ensues.’ It is produced by WeTV and Zoo Productions and will air in the fall.

Among other new shows that WeTV announced, another one stood out for completely different reasons. No celebrities here, but we can’t recall any reality shows that have focused on senior citizens. Especially the party animal kind. Can you?

‘Sunset Daze’ premieres at 10 p.m. April 28 and follows a group of party animals all older than 60 who are billed to be living ‘La Vida Loca’ in a retirement community in Sun City, Ariz. The cast includes an ex-nun who skydives for fun and widow and her drinking buddies. It is produced by WeTV and Washington Square.

Talk about reality: ‘Downsized’ also goes where no reality show has gone before -- the recession. The Bruces are a nine-member Brady Bunch-type family. Laura had five kids, Todd had two. They got married, and when the recession hit, both of their homes foreclosed and they had to make radical lifestyle changes, including making their own clothes and growing their own food. It is produced by WeTV and Pie Productions. It will premiere in the fall.

And on the topic of fixing families, there’s ‘Fix My Family,’ which will premiere in early 2011 and features Dr. Tara Fields as a psychiatrist who moves in with families for a week to help them repair their dysfunction. It is produced by WeTV and ISH.

Two other new shows have been announced for spring: ‘Girl Meets Gown’ and ‘You’re Wearing That?!?’

‘Girl Meets Gown’ is a new reality series that centers on two popular Texas bridal boutiques. Each episode will feature three or four brides as they work with stylists on finding the wedding dress of their dreams. It premieres at 10 p.m. April 25.

‘You’re Wearing That?!?’ will feature mothers and daughters critiquing each other’s wardrobes. Host and New York stylist Luciene Salomone will provide expert advice. Among the mothers and daughters featured are ‘American Idol’ contestant Kimberley Locke, professional poker player Annie Duke, and actress Charlene Tilton. It premieres at 10 p.m. May 14.
‘Raising Sextuplets’ returns for its second season at 10 p.m. June 30.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez (follow me on Twitter @writerchica)