CBS is developing a reality project in which ordinary Americans will compete in crazy strength competitions.

Shooting under the cheeky working title "America's Strongest American," producer Michael Davies ("Who Wants to Be a Millionaire") shot a one-hour pilot in Las Vegas during the weekend.

"Strongest" will differ from the strongman competitions seen on networks like ESPN, where professional muscle heads compete for weightlifting titles. The challenges will be scaled to suit a more average physique. The project continues a recent trend toward networks developing lighter and more comedic reality fare.

CBS' other reality projects in the pipeline include a series on arranged marriage, a missing persons investigative series, an auto obstacle course project and a competition show pitting neighbors against one another.

Ben Bailey ("Cash Cab") and Michelle Merkin ("Celebrity Drive-By") are signed as hosts of "America's Strongest American."

(Shenzhen Daily March 4, 2009)