NBC ANNOUNCES EXCITING LINE-UP OF REALITY SERIES PREMIERES IN JANUARY AS NEW 'AMERICAN GLADIATORS' DEBUTS ALONG WITH BRAND NEW SEASON OF 'THE BIGGEST LOSER' AND RETURN OF POPULAR GAME SHOW '1 VS 100'
"American Gladiators" to Premiere with Two-hour Episode on January 6 and Resume January 7; "The Biggest Loser" Comes Back January 1, While '1 vs 100" Returns on January 4
Series Join Previously Announced "The Celebrity Apprentice" Premiering January 3
BURBANK - November 30, 2007 - NBC announced today the premieres of three new and returning reality series in January, including the series debut of NBC's updated version of "American Gladiators" with a two-hour edition on Sunday, January 6 (9-11 p.m. ET) -- before the competition series moves to its regular day-and-time on Monday, January 7 (8-9 p.m. ET) -- as well as the fifth-season premiere of "The Biggest Loser" on Tuesday, January 1 (8-10 p.m. ET) and the return of the competition series "1 vs. 100" on Friday, January 4 (8-9 p.m. ET). These series join the previously announced premiere of "The Celebrity Apprentice" on January 3 (9-10 p.m. ET).
The announcement was made today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.
"We're kicking off the New Year with a bang," said Plestis. "With the adrenaline rush of 'Gladiators,' a brand-new twist on 'Biggest Loser,' the first million dollar winner on '1 vs 100' and the wildest boardrooms ever seen on 'Celebrity Apprentice,' NBC has a lot of excitement in store for reality fans in 2008."
Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali are the hosts of "American Gladiators," the iconic event/competition show which returns with a fresh modern reinvention for the 21st century. Using splashy twists including special effects, water skills and the latest technology, the classic games will be upgraded with even higher thrills, impact, energy and spectacle!
Celebrating the everyday, true American heroes -- weekend warriors who excel and take pride in their physical fitness -- contestants will go up against the show's gladiators, charismatic and eclectic warriors -- in the ultimate David & Goliath battle. As in MGM's traditional "American Gladiators" franchise, everyday amateur athletes compete against the gladiators in contests of physical strength and endurance. The series will include such classic events as The Joust, The Wall, Hang Tough and the Eliminator. The 12 new gladiators (six men and six women) are action-adventure stars ready to take down the everyday challengers with hard knocks and explosive attitudes. The new series will be produced by MGM Television (the original producers of the show) and Reveille (NBC's "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser," "Nashville Star," "Ugly Betty"). Reveille's Mark Koops, Howard T. Owens and David Hurwitz ("Fear Factor") are the executive producers.
The fifth cycle of "The Biggest Loser" will feature an all-new twist that will heighten the emotion and tension in the competition. For the first time ever in the history of the show, the excitement will double - it's couples! Teams of two will compete against each other rather than individuals. These teams -- including a mother and son, husband and wife, a divorced couple, best friends and brothers -- already have a special bond so they're playing not only for themselves, but also for their loved one. The series features trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels. Alison Sweeney (NBC's "Days of our Lives") hosts. "The Biggest Loser" is a production of Reveille LLC, 25/7 Productions and 3Ball Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC's "The Office," "Ugly Betty"), Dave Broome ("A Model Life with Petra Nemcova," "Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope"), JD Roth ("Age of Love," "Beauty and the Geek"), Todd A. Nelson ("Unan1mous," "Beauty and the Geek") and Mark Koops ("Blow Out," "Shear Genius") serve as executive producers.
This season, "The Biggest Loser" is averaging a 3.2 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 7.4 million viewers overall and has improved its time period versus NBC's average in the slot for the 2006-07 season by 23 percent in adults 18-49, 32 percent among women 18-49 and 44 percent among women 18-34.
Season two of NBC's popular game show "1 vs 100," hosted by comedian Bob Saget ("America's Funniest Home Videos," "Full House"), will kick-off with its biggest game yet -- a themed "Battle of the Sexes" episode - where one women will compete against 100 men and one man vs. 100 women to determine who's the smarter sex? In this exciting premiere episode, one person will win the top prize of $1 million dollars for the first time in the show's NBC history. Also new this season, in addition to the regular surprise mob guests, the series will feature a group of mob regulars including Sommore ("Queens of Comedy"), Ross Mathews ("The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"), Richard Rubin ("Beauty and the Geek"), Oscar the Grouch ("Sesame Street") and the Dahm Triplets (Playboy Playmates).
"1 vs 100" will also feature a new prize ladder that will tempt the players more than ever to take risks. To stay in the game, players must answer trivia questions and get every one right -- wrong answers from the mob eliminates them from the game, driving up the cash prize for the player. If the player can eliminate all 100 members of the mob, the player will go home with the $1 million top prize. However, if the player gets one answer wrong, the game is over and "the mob" will split the player's winnings up to that point and a new contestant gets to take on "the mob." "1 vs 100" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Scott St. John.
Last season, "1 vs 100" averaged a 2.8 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 9.6 million viewers overall.
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