HARLINGEN — The Valley is about to sizzle.
The hidden gems of South Texas will come to light in a new reality show.
Harlingen resident Shawn Neeley is looking to create a show based on the food in the Valley called Sizzl’n South.
Neeley is an executive director of Color Drop Print Shop and said he has considered making a show like this for quite some time.
One late night, he decided it was time to get the project rolling and created a teaser video which he posted to his shop’s Facebook page Saturday.
Since the video posted, it has garnered more than 14,000 views and 275 shares.
“People down here are very proud of where they’re from,” Neeley said. “When they see anything on Facebook or anything having to do with the Valley as it pertains to growing, they get very excited.”
Sizzl’n South will feature the locally-owned restaurants and cuisine of the Valley.
He is planning to create a family format show similar to Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”
“I think people have so much potential here to do a lot of great, amazing stuff,” Neeley said.
Production for the pilot episode is planned for sometime in September.
Currently, Neeley is in talks with at least 10 different restaurants in the Harlingen area.
Neeley will not be doing this alone.
The production team will consist of Neeley and a few of his contacts he has met through traveling, including one man named John Scotland, who will be flying from England in late September.
Scotland has had numerous experiences with video, including working for the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Kim Kardashian.
The team is looking to raise $5,000 through a GoFundMe account to cover production costs.
They already have $10,000 from their own personal investments.
Regardless, if they raise the remainder of the money, the show will go on, Neeley said.
“We want to be able to go further than the first episode,” Neeley said.
Neeley wants to turn Sizzl’n South into a brand.
He is looking into creating cookbooks, shirts and salsas under the name.
“I know there is something special here in the Valley for people to see,” Neeley said.
Go to gofundme.com/sizzlnsouth
