NBC Announces Virtual Episode of "America's Got Talent" on MySpace  4/29/08

NBC AND FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA TEAM-UP WITH MYSPACE ON VIRTUAL AUDITION CITY EPISODE OF HIT SUMMER SERIES “AMERICA’S GOT TALENT”

MYSPACE USERS CAN UPLOAD VIDEO OF THEIR TALENTS STARTING TODAY THROUGH MONDAY, MAY 5

BURBANK, Calif. – April 29, 2008 – For the first-time ever, NBC's hit summer series "America's Got Talent," from "American Idol" producers FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television, will team up with MySpace, the world's most popular social network, on a virtual audition city episode as part of a nationwide search for the hottest performers in the country to compete in the blockbuster reality show's third season. The agreement was developed in part by FremantleMedia Enterprises, the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia.

A Virtual "America's Got Talent" Audition City for MySpace users will go live Tuesday, April 29. Individuals can go to MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/americasgottalent) and upload video of their talents from Tuesday, April 29 - Monday, May 5. The shows producers will review submissions and the selected participants will be flown to Las Vegas to participate in an audition show. The Virtual Audition City episode will feature the selected MySpace acts. This show will be treated as any other audition city show and the acts will be eligible for the million dollar grand prize.

With the talent search open to competition acts of all ages, "America's Got Talent," hosted by Jerry Springer and presided over by celebrity judges David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan and Sharon Osbourne, has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country. Each week, the show features a colorful array of hopeful stars, including singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians and ventriloquists, all vying for their chance to strut and perform on stage in the hopes they'll win the viewing audiences votes.

 

"I think this is an incredible idea and it gives everyone an unprecedented opportunity through MySpace to showcase their amazing talents and have a shot at winning a million dollars and hopefully becoming a big star," said Simon Cowell.

 

"This partnership allows us to not only promote 'America's Got Talent' to the MySpace audience, but also tap into the site's huge online talent base, who we might not have reached through the traditional audition process," said John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Universal Television. "'America's Got Talent' is the summer's number one show because it showcases America's best and this partnership will allow us to continue to find the most talented people in America."

"MySpace has always served as an online platform for our community to showcase their talent," said Josh Brooks, VP of Marketing and Content for MySpace. "Our partnership with 'America's Got Talent' is a natural extension of that platform into the television arena. We're thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to our users and can't wait to see their personal videos – talented or not!"

David Luner, SVP Interactive & Consumer Products for FremantleMedia Enterprises in North America added, "We're creating a bridge between, viewers, contestants and the MySpace community providing an integrated experience unlike anything else out there."

NBC.com will host additional interactive content for the show including: extended audition footage, online voting, weekly performance video highlights and video blogs where users can submit questions to the Hoff as well as read and watch his text and video blogs.

The third season, which premieres Tuesday, June 17 (9-11 p.m. ET), kicks off with audition episodes shot on-location in theaters across the nation, with the judges selecting the best acts who will advance to the "Vegas Callbacks." The acts that make it through the "Vegas Callbacks" will then move on to the live semi-final performance episodes where the judging will be turned over to the American viewing audience who will vote each week for their favorites. The series culminates with a live finale where one act will be crowned the most talented new act in America, and walk away with a million dollar prize.

Terry Fator, a ventriloquist from Dallas, Texas, had his life changed forever last August when he was crowned the second season champion. Not only did he win the million-dollar grand prize, but his lifelong dream to headline on the Las Vegas strip came true when he signed a contract with The Las Vegas Hilton in a deal worth more than $1.5 million dollars.

"America's Got Talent" is produced by FremantleMedia North America and Simon Cowell's SYCO Television. Cowell, Cecile Frot-Coutaz ("American Idol"), Jason Raff ("Three Wishes"), James Sunderland ("Dancing on Ice") and Georgie Hurford-Jones ("Britain's Got Talent") are executive producers.

 

Source: NBC Press Release

 

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