Bravo Gives Kathy Griffin A-List Attention With New Unscripted Series  5/31/05

BRAVO IS GIVING D-LISTER KATHY GRIFFIN A-LIST ATTENTION WITH A COMEDY SPECIAL AND UNSCRIPTED SERIES THAT DELVES INTO THE GOOD AND THE BAD OF LIFE ON THE D-LIST

ORIGINAL SERIES "KATHY GRIFFIN: MY LIFE ON THE D-LIST" TO PREMIERE ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 AT 10-11 P.M. ET

ONE-HOUR COMEDY SPECIAL "KATHY GRIFFIN IS...NOT NICOLE KIDMAN" TO KICK OFF SERIES LAUNCH ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 AT 9-10 P.M. ET/PT

NEW YORK -- May 31, 2005 -- Bravo is giving the talented comic and perpetual D-Lister Kathy Griffin A-List attention with an all-new stand-up comedy special and a six-episode, one-hour unscripted series. The one-hour special "Kathy Griffin Is...Not Nicole Kidman," which is the follow up to last year's successful Bravo special "Kathy Griffin: The D-List," premieres on Wednesday, August 3 at 9-10 p.m. ET/PT, and will kick-off the premiere of the her equally no-holds barred unscripted series "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" at 10-11 p.m. ET.

"The special is everything you would expect from Kathy - it's hilarious, first and foremost, as she recounts her various and surreal celebrity encounters, and Bravo is the perfect home to showcase her spot-on standup comedy," said Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo. "The series is great because it captures moments where Kathy, a talented comic, lets her guard down and shows how she turns her pathos and vulnerability into her stand-up act, right in front of the viewer."

In the "Kathy Griffin Is...Not Nicole Kidman" special, Griffin offers her take on celebrities such as American Idol contestant Clay Aiken; describes a live, on-stage showdown with the ever-quaffed Ryan Seacrest at the Billboard Music Awards; offers her open on Oprah Winfrey's surprise visit to town with friend Gayle on "Pioneer House." It's hysterical, it's unabashed, and it covers the aspects of Hollywood and celebrity culture everyone knows but few have the guts to say... at least not on camera.

In the original series "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List," Griffin is living the D-List dream and it's all documented - the ups and the downs - to bring the talented comic's life and stand-up comedy act alive. Perks and comps can be had but they must be preserved and aggressively pursued. For example, professional hair and make-up is provided and can be afforded - but not every day, as Griffin demonstrates her techniques for showering while keeping her head above the stream and sleeping without moving. Free furniture can be had, but only after identifying herself to the sales clerk as Kathy Griffin, not Kathy Lee Gifford - and implying the gift of a free couch would satisfy a dying aunt's wish. Also, Griffin's fundraising party is catered, but by her mother-in-law Judy.

The series will also feature Griffin's "peeps," who include her assistant, Jessica; her live-in home decorator, Mike; her "main gays" Dennis and Tony; her overworked public relations team; her parents; her out-of-town in-laws; and a host of others who manage to both help and hinder Griffin's quest for fame.

Griffin brings viewers along for the ride as she negotiates a charity attendance trade-off with Ray Romano to ensure star power for her Toys For Tots holiday party; gets trumped by Caroline Rhea at a celebrity auction; and endures awkward guest appearances on several talk shows. The result is a true insider's look at entertainment and everything that goes on before and after the red carpet arrivals and talk show interviews we're led to believe is banter among friends.

The series also offers fans and critics alike the opportunity to see the real Griffin apart from her public persona and without the armor typically donned by comics. From conversations with husband Matt, who is contemplating gastric bypass surgery, and her family, to a cringe-worthy late night booking, it's clear how hard it can be to keep up appearances and the fortitude it requires to pursue a dream. After all, at the end of the day it's show business and "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" chronicles the day-to-day work required to make a go of Hollywood and earn a living in an industry that's as unforgiving as it is glamorous.

"Kathy Griffin Is...Not Nicole Kidman" is produced for Bravo by Production Partners, LLC ("Kathy Griffin: The D-List," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Fat Actress"). Sandy Chanley is the Executive Producer.

"Kathy Griffin: My Life in the D-List" is produced for Bravo by Picture This Television ("Celebrity Poker Showdown"). Marcia Mule, Bryan Scott, Lisa M. Tucker and Kathy Griffin are the Executive Producers.

Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, culture and pop culture with original programming, movies and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 78 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," "Project Greenlight," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." The network's latest hits include "Project Runway," "Blow Out" and "Showbiz Moms & Dads.

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.For more information visit www.bravotv.com.