SIXTEEN DESIGNERS COME TOGETHER IN THE BIG APPLE FOR THEIR FIRST CHALLENGE: TO DESIGN TWO BILLBOARDS IN TIMES SQUARE, ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF "THE CUT," THURSDAY, JUNE 9 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

"Circus Seximus" -- Sixteen designers competing to become the next great American designer are introduced to one another in New York City and embark on their first challenge: to design two billboards in Times Square, on the season premiere of THE CUT in a special 90 minute episode on Thursday, June 9 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network.

For the first time, the designers meet their mentor, iconic design mogul Tommy Hilfiger, and are split into two teams. The contestants are sent to the heart of the Big Apple to tackle their first challenge: designing two billboards high above Times Square, the crossroads of the world, a location that welcomes over 26 million visitors each year. The teams must battle the elements of a New York City winter to complete their task by Tommy's deadline.

THE DESIGNERS:
Felix Arguelles, 35, Los Angeles
Jeff Berin, 42, Chicago
Deanna Bonin, 23, Hollywood
Chris Cortez, 26, Bridgeport, Conn.
Wes Davis, 25, New Orleans
Jessica Dereschuk, 22, Stacey, Minn.
Vlada Drukh, 24, St. Louis
Julie O'Connor, 37, St. Louis
Elizabeth Saab, 30, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Amy Salinger, 26, Chicago
Chris Sherrill, 25, Nashville, Tenn.
Shauna Storey, 39, New Orleans
Rob Walker, 35, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tommy Walton, 42, Chicago
Princess Warren, 22, Philadelphia
James Wolfe, 27, San Diego

THE CUT is produced by Lions Gate Television in association with Pilgrim Films and Television. Craig Piligian serves as executive producer along with Peter Connolly, President of Worldwide Marketing for Hilfiger. Darren Maddern and Eli Frankel are co-executive producers.