MTV's “From G’s to Gents” an urban Pygmalion

By April MacIntyre Jun 25, 2008, 3:28 GMT

Jamie Foxx - 36th Annual Comic Con International Day Three - San Diego Convention Center - San Diego, California. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Time for a whole person makeover on MTV, as 14 young G’s (gangsters) with less than savory exteriors and swagger for days are given a chance to clean up.

Can 14 hardcore thugs be made over?

More importantly, do they really want to?  Or are they in it just for the 15 minutes of fame and the cash?

Now Jamie Foxx has inked a deal with MTV to produce "From G's to Gents", a series that promises to make the transformation for these young men. The contestants on the series will participate in weekly challenges in everything from style, etiquette, chivalry, business and more. 

On July 15th at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT  -

Also coming up is “MTV’s Top 10 Gentleman of The Year” which counts down the top 10 real life celebrity G’s to Gents hosted by Fonzworth Bentley, Saturday, June 28th at 2:00 P.M. ET/PT.

MTV, executive producer Jamie Foxx and executive producer Cris Abrego head to the hood to find these 14 young G’s and put them to the ultimate challenge of their lives – "pull up their pants, check their egos and transform them into true gentlemen," says the network. 

Beginning Tuesday, July 15th Fonzworth Bentley will mentor these young men who all believe they have what it takes to shed their bad boy images and make life altering changes.  

Throughout the season they will learn that with the right tools, they too can command respect and admiration instead of scorn and fear.

In the end, the winner is set to take the kitty of $100,000 to jump start a whole new life. 

Guest stars include business mogul Master P, food and wine expert Ted Allen, music producer Irv Gotti, designer Ozwald Boateng and platinum recording artists Danity Kane. 

Customers of Time Warner Cable and Cox Communications will have access to the first episode beginning July 8th.  MTV On Demand providers will feature extras and bonus content from the series.

For those who like to watch TV on their tiny phone screens, full episodes will be available on MTV Mobile streaming video and Mobile TV.  And users of the MTV Mobile WAP (mobile internet) site can check tune in times, episode guides, cast bios, take weekly polls, and even view and rate photo galleries from the show.