MICHAEL BRUNTZ / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, October 5, 2004 7:00 pm
Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee soon may be filming a reality TV show at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Lee, who helped Motley Crue record hard rock classics like "Kickstart My Heart" and "Smokin' In the Boys Room," could be hoping to put the doctorate in "Dr. Feelgood."
He just has to get the bachelor's and master's degrees first.
Rolling Stone reported the 42-year-old signed on to star in a reality series for NBC, in which cameras will follow Lee as he enrolls in college and experiences campus life.
And UNL spokesman David Fitzgibbon confirmed Monday that NBC soon will film a reality show on campus, though university officials wouldn't confirm its premise or talent because of a confidentiality agreement with producers.
Television producer Eddie October, named on Motley Crue message boards and published reports as working with Lee, was in Lincoln Tuesday. October has served as executive producer on "The Roseanne Show" (1998) and VH1's "Bands Reunited" (2003).
October referred questions to NBC.
NBC spokeswoman Wendy Lockenbill said the network had no comment.
Lee is well known for his on- and off-stage antics. He was married to actresses Pamela Anderson and Heather Locklear. He and Anderson made headlines when their honeymoon sex tape surfaced on the Internet.
This isn't the first time the university has been approached by reality TV producers, Fitzgibbon said. The school rejected offers to film MTV's "Sorority Life" and "I Bet You Will" on campus.
The university wouldn't profit financially from the reality show, Fitzgibbon said, but UNL would get its name out to potential students.
"They don't really know what we're about," Fitzgibbon said of out-of-state students.
"The more we can tell that story and get that story to people that don't really know about us, the chances are they'll understand what's special about Nebraska, and maybe they'll decide to come here."
Still, officials acknowledged the risk involved in filming a reality show on campus. UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said the main concern is how the university would be portrayed.
"There were a number of factors that justified the risk and minimized the risk," Perlman said of the university's decision to approve the show.
Reach Michael Bruntz at 473-7254 or mbruntz@journalstar.com.