TV Guide Network takes a stab at reality TV with ‘Nail Files’

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Reality television has cast its lens on just about every profession: tattoo artists, pawn shop owners, parking enforcement officers and pastry chefs. Nail salon owners were bound to be next.

That’s where Katie Cazorla steps in. The spunky, blond nail maven is the owner of The Painted Nail in Sherman Oaks. And her life — running a salon, managing irritable staffers and maintaining a personal life with her music producer fiance Walter Afanasieff — is chronicled in the new series “Nail Files” premiering Tuesday on the TV Guide Network.

That’s right. The channel has ventured outside the “Ugly Betty” and “The Hills” reruns to launch its first original series.

“I’m a little nervous to see what will happen,” Cazorla, a New York native, told Show Tracker during a recent media event at the salon. “It’s a lot of pressure. But, you know, I’m thankful we’re not on an overly visible station. TV Guide is being gentle with me. I’m new at this. And so are they.”

In the first episode, Cazorla learns that she has been invited to host a gifting suite at the Sundance Film Festival. “Kind of major,” she said. And there’s a major task at hand too. Everything -- polishes, promotional posters and displays -- must be ready in 48 hours. And the woman Cazorla hires to help with the project hardly does the job well.

“It’s not like ‘Jersey Shore’ drama,” Cazorla said, “but it’s crazy enough for my lifestyle.”

And, hey, the queen of “Jersey Shore” thought there was more than enough drama to launch a series behind it all. Sally Ann Salsano, the creator of the hit MTV show, is producing “Nail Files” through her company, 495 Productions.

“There are reality show’s that work that you’d never think would find an audience,” Salsano said. “Look at ‘Pawn Stars,’ ‘Storage Wars,’ ‘Flipping Out.’ Are people really interested in those professions? Maybe some. But it’s more about the kooky characters set against the backdrop. That’s the same for this show.”

“Not every show can have a Snooki,” Salsano said. “With this one, you get Katie. Take it or leave it.”

-- Yvonne Villarreal
twitter.com/villarrealy

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