Ashton Kutcher is giving The Beautiful Life a new lease on life on the Web. The actor’s poorly-rated drama about fashion models starred Mischa Barton and Corbin Bleu ended its run on The CW in September after just two airings. The cancellation left Kutcher with three unaired episodes and no way to get them to fans.
So, the former star of That ’70s Show will put all five on YouTube.com, beginning Thursday. Ashton holds out the possibility for more shows, if the return of The Beautiful Life is a hit online.
“What we feel like we’re doing is creating, in some ways, an industry first. A show that couldn’t find its legs on television, we believe can find its legs on the Web.”
The show’s first batch of episodes — including a third one viewers never got to see on The CW — will debut on YouTube today. Two additional unseen programs will premiere Monday, Dec. 21. The 40-minute episodes are set to play commercial free via a sponsorship deal with Hewlett-Packard.
