Spike Turns Metal Into Money With 'Scrappers'

NEW YORK, June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- They are the best pick-up guys in the business.  Of the scrap metal business, that is.  Spike TV debuts the new weekly comedic reality series "Scrappers," set in the take-no-prisoners world of the Brooklyn scrap metal business, with back-to-back episodes airing on Tuesday, August 3 at 10:00 – 10:30 PM, ET/PT and 10:30 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT.

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In 2009 the United States exported more than 22 million tons of scrap metal, raking in profits of more than 7 billion dollars.*  Spike is along for the ride as three real Brooklyn, NY scrap metal crews search for their own piece of the scrap prize. In each episode, these real-life competitors and friends will find treasure in tons of twisted metal, and test their relationships on the search for the big score.

"Scrappers" is a workplace comedy like viewers have never seen it, set in one tough office, the streets of Brooklyn, where every day is a battle to make a buck.  Our heroes scour the streets to find their treasure, from old appliances to abandoned cars and discarded building materials.  What most people see as just a pile of junk, these guys see as a pile of cold, hard cash.  Since each day is a new battle to make a buck, their search for scrap never ends.  A good day means a big haul - and going home with all your fingers.

To survive in the scrap business you have to be ruthless and Spike's "Scrappers" are the toughest in the game.  They've got personalities and attitudes as big as Brooklyn itself, but while they love to bust each other's chops, these longtime friends always have each other's backs.

Tough guy Frankie Noots heads up the Scrappers USA crew from the front seat of his beat-up van.  Among Brooklyn scrappers, Frankie is known as the "Don of Scrap."  A third generation scrapper, Frankie says he's got metal in his blood.  He is like a hunter who knows his prey, where it can be found, what it's made of and most importantly, what it's worth.  Rounding out Frankie's crew is smooth-talking negotiator Joe Posa and the goof-prone assistant Darren who can often be found throwing away the good metal and keeping the trash.

Sal the Barber is the man behind P&F Service and Removal who is training to become an MMA fighter in between scrap runs.  Sal can be like a bull in a china shop, but he'd also be the first guy to give you the shirt off his back. Greg is Sal's right hand man on the job and in the ring as his MMA training partner.  Young and inexperienced, Sal has taken Greg under his wing to show him the ways of the scrapping game.

Mimmo and Dino are the Mad Scrappers.  The smallest and most slapdash of the crews, Mimmo and Dino are best pals.  These two stooges have a workday that starts and ends "whenever!" They have to rent a van every day to go looking for scrap metal, so they start each day $80 in the hole.

"Scrappers" was filmed entirely on location in Brooklyn, NY and features the neighborhoods of Bayridge, Bensonhurst, Canarsie, Coney Island, East New York, Gravesend, Greenpoint, Midwood, Park Slope, Rockaway and Sheepshead Bay.

"Scrappers" is executive produced by George Verschoor through his Hoosick Falls Productions with Michael J. Weiss and Andy Weiss also serving as EPs.  "Scrappers" was created by producer Frank Fidilio and the Weisses.  Will Spjut is co-executive producer.  Sharon Levy, Tim Duffy and Jeff Savaiano are the executives in charge of production for Spike TV.

Spike TV is available in 98.6 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.

* Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) 2009 Report

SOURCE Spike TV