Vh1 Makes First Episode of "The Agency" Available Online February 14  2/13/07

Top Models Are Perfection. Sometimes The Industry Can Be Anything But.  VH1 Goes Inside The Wilhelmina Modeling Agency To Reveal The Pressure Behind The Posing Premiering Tuesday, February 20 At 10:00 PM*

Catch the first episode of 'The Agency' on VSPOT, VH1's broadband channel (http://vspot.vh1.com) beginning Wednesday, February 14

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Infiltrating the modeling industry like no other television series has, "The Agency" takes a stark look at the men and women who search for, mold, scold and comfort raw, young beauties -- all in an effort to groom the world's most marketable people. The series is not just about glamour. It's about the harsh realities of a business in which millions of dollars are at stake daily, and the competition for landing high-end models and campaigns can lead to both euphoric victories and bitter defeats.

Taking a rare look at client meetings, casting calls, and backstage at fashion shows, "The Agency" casts an unblinking eye on the super-high-stress jobs of the people who are completely hooked on the business of brokering beauty. It explores the complex, up-and-down relationships between the agents and their models -- who are sometimes naïve, insecure, vulnerable women and men who must be parented and then delivered on time and looking fabulous to demanding clients.

Catch the first episode of the "The Agency" on VSPOT, VH1's broadband channel (http://vspot.vh1.com) beginning Wednesday, February 14, one week before the on-air launch of the show. Subsequent episodes will be available on VSPOT each Saturday following the show's Tuesday night premiere on VH1.

Additionally, the premiere episode of "The Agency" will be offered as a free download on the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) beginning Tuesday, February 13. The rest of the season will be available for purchase and download on iTunes for $1.99 per episode the day following each week's on-air broadcast.

* All Times ET/PT

In conjunction with the premiere of "The Agency," VH1.com is launching a "Win a Day in the Life of a Model" contest. From February 12 - April 30 visit http://win.vh1.com for your chance to win a 3 day-2 night trip to New York City for a consultation and $1,000 shopping trip with a Style.com stylist, a Wilhelmina agency walk-through and photo opportunity with models and the show's cast, and a night out on the town for dinner and drinks at the hot New York nightclub Nikki Beach Midtown.

"The Agency" is produced by Wilhelmina Productions, Left/Right, Inc., GRB and VH1. Sean Patterson and Corey Preston are executive producers for Wilhelmina; Banks Tarver And Ken Druckerman serve as executive producers for Left/Right, Inc. and Gary Benz is executive producer for GRB. Michael Hirschorn, Shelly Tatro, Danielle Gelfand are executive producers for VH1.

Wilhelmina is one of the largest model agency chains in the world, founded by legendary model, Wilhelmina Cooper in 1967. Today, they lead the industry in diversity and depth, and represent some of the biggest models, and celebrity talent in the world. Sean Patterson is the President of Wilhelmina Models. Dieter Esch is Chairman. They have offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami as well as licensees across the U.S.

Left/Right is a leading provider of documentary and reality television programming. Our manifesto is to create unscripted television and film projects which illuminate the drama and comedy of real life: we tell stories that are both honest and startling, revealing and entertaining, dramatic and cinematic. Our clients include many of the most popular television networks, such as VH1, Showtime, A&E, Bravo, TV Land, Court TV and many others. Banks Tarver and Ken Druckerman are the co-founders and co-presidents of the company, which is based in New York City. 

SOURCE VH1

-0- 02/13/2007