NEW YORK -- January 3, 2005 --Bravo has entered the pool hall and has inked a deal with Laurelwood Entertainment Company to produce a backdoor pilot (a pilot produced for air) for "Celebrity Pool" -- a o­ne-hour program featuring eight celebrities battling it out o­n the green felt, it was announced today by Lauren Zalaznick, President Bravo. The show is scheduled to air o­n Bravo in the first quarter. Hosts and celebrities to be announced at a later date.

Celebrity Pool will be filmed in a fun, hip setting in which celebrity interaction will be just as much fun as the actual game play. Two teams of four celebrities will compete to prove just how great they truly are, facing off in a battle of skill and wit. Each celebrity will receive a set amount of money that will be donated to their favorite charity, and the winner walks off with bragging rights, plus the top prize amount for their charity.

"Celebrity Pool is a cool, hip approach to a classic game that movies and tv shows have focused o­n for decades--Bravo is taking it to the next level," said Zalaznick. "Celebrity driven competitions have become increasingly popular, and like Bravo's extremely popular "Celebrity Poker", this show provides a new and unique opportunity for fans to watch their favorite celebs in a different light --dropping their guard in the competitive heat of the game, egging each other o­n, and providing entertaining banter about their teammates or opposing team members."

Filmed in front of a live audience, "Celebrity Pool" will consist of three rounds of heated head-to-head competition. A comedian will provide the play by play and a professional pool player will provide color commentary. A referee is o­n hand to enforce the rules of pool. State-of-the-art graphics help track and clarify game play.

"Celebrity Pool" will be produced for Bravo by Laurelwood Entertainment Company. Executive Producer is Phil Gurin, who's extensive credits include serving as executive producer of NBC's "Miss Universe", "Miss USA" and "Miss Teen USA" pageants, "Weakest Link" (both network and syndicated versions). His firm, "The Gurin Company, also produces the game show "Lingo" for Game Show Network, "Test the Nation: The National IQ Test," the new Lifetime project "Queen for a Day" and the USOC's "Hall of Fame" series, tied to the 2004 Olympics. Additionally, his credits include "The World's Most Incredible Animal Rescues" (three different specials), executive-producing the game show "Twenty o­ne," "Voice of a Child," a live music variety special for Canada's Global Television Network, and "Candid Camera," which he produced for four seasons.

Bravo is an arts and culture network featuring a variety of programs presented in an original and engaging way. Currently seen in more than 77 million homes, Bravo is the television destination for viewers who want creativity, experimentation and innovation. Offering programming with a unique point of view, the network features original series and specials, feature films (both independent and mainstream) as well as performance specials and compelling documentary series. Its critically-acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," "Celebrity Poker Showdown" and Cirque du Soleil specials and series.
The network's latest hits include "Blow Out," "Showbiz Moms & Dads," and the improvisational sitcom "Significant Others." Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal o­ne of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980.

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