MTV Orders Another Round of Tequila

MTV Orders Another Round of Tequila 1/2/08

'A SHOT AT LOVE' RETURNS FOR SEASON 2 PREMIERING THIS SPRING MTV ALSO ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION DEAL WITH 495 PRODUCTIONS AND SALLY ANN SALSANO

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 2 -- Broken hearted and back with a vengeance to find true love one last time, Tila Tequila returns as MTV greenlights a second season of the breakout hit, "A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila." The network is scheduled to air 10 new episodes beginning this spring. MTV is rounding up a new group of suitors, both straight guys and lesbians, to vie for Tila's love and attention. Liz Gateley, Senior Vice President of Series Development for MTV, also announced today an overall production services agreement with 495 Productions and Sally Ann Salsano.

The season one finale delivered an impressive 5.9 P12-34 rating to become the highest rated series telecast on MTV since August 2005. With over 6 million total viewers on average, the finale was MTV's most watched series telecast among total viewers (P2+) since November 2002. The series became MTV's highest rated new series among P12-34 in 2007 and ranked #1 in its time period (Tue 10PM-11PM) among P12-34 across all of cable.

"Thanks to the creative talent and vision of Sally Ann Salsano, 'A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila' was one of our big breakout hits for 2007," said Tony Disanto, EVP of Series Development & Programming for MTV. "We are now officially expanding our relationship with Sally Ann and her team at 495 Productions and look forward to her next slate of projects including, another "Shot At Love," "That's Amore," and more great, compelling TV for our viewers. We're thrilled to be in business with her."

The 495 Productions and Sally Ann Salsano deal includes production services of 495 Productions as well as the executive producing services of Sally Ann Salsano in connection with developing, supervising, producing and consulting on MTV branded programming. 495 Productions is producing MTV's upcoming series, "That's Amore," which premieres Q1 2008, and features Domenico Nesci, one of the fan-favorite contestants from the first season of "A Shot At Love." The 495 Productions agreement is just a string of recent development announcements by MTV's programming team headed by Tony DiSanto, EVP of Series Development and Programming. The deal was brokered by Brett Hansen at UTA.

Founder and President of 495 Productions, Sally Ann Salsano's creative instincts and love of TV have lead her from the University of Missouri to producer of "appointment television." Salsano founded 495 Productions in 2006, and with hits including 2 seasons of HGTV's #1 rated show "Design Star," Style network's "The Big Party Plan-Off" and the white-hot freshman seasons of "A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila" and "The Hangover," Salsano has shown her ability to produce all different kinds of reality genres.

An instant fan of the reality TV phenomenon, Salsano has also produced numerous seasons of ABC's "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette," as well as "Trista & Ryan's Wedding," and "Extreme Makeover: Wedding Edition." She also worked for FOX on "Surprise Weddings I & II" as well as numerous projects for Dick Clark, Sony, Telepictures, Paramount, Tribune and MTV. Upcoming shows include new seasons of "HGTV Design Star," "A Shot At Love" and "The Hangover," as well as "Shot" spinoff "That's Amore."

"A Shot At Love With Tila Tequila" is produced by 495 Productions. Sally Ann Salsano will serve as executive producer. Joel Zimmer is co-executive producer. MTV executives overseeing production are Drew Tappon, David Gross and Heather Olander.

SOURCE MTV