BRAVO LAUNCHES TELEVISION'S FIRST SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT DESIGNER ON 'PROJECT RUNWAY'

NEW SERIES HOSTED BY SUPERMODEL HEIDI KLUM PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1 AT 10:00PM

TWELVE DESIGNERS COMPETE TO SEE WHO WILL MAKE THE CUT

NEW YORK -- November 8, 2004 -- On Wednesday, December 1 (10:00pm - 11:00pm), Bravo will present the first ever reality series focusing on fashion designers, "Project Runway." Eager to give aspiring designers a chance to break into the notoriously difficult-to-crack fashion world, supermodel Heidi Klum will head a panel of industry luminaries, including top women's and men's wear designer Michael Kors and Elle Magazine fashion director Nina Garcia and Fashion News Director Anne Slowey - who will serve as judges and industry mentors charged with selecting and molding the budding designers. There will also be guest judges each week based on the specific challenge.

"Our contestants are so talented and this show will give them a chance to make it in fashion, which is a really tough business to break into," said Heidi Klum. "I'm excited to give them a great showcase to display their talents. I'm really excited for people to see the show--our contestants are fabulous, and of course, this is fashion--there's a lot of angst and drama!"

"Project Runway's" twelve designers are:

Alexandra Vidal - Coral Gables, FL
Mario Cadenas - Pembroke Pines, FL
Austin Scarlett - New York, NY
Nora Caliguri - Cheshire, CT
Daniel Franco - Los Angeles, CA
Robert Plotkin - New York, NY
Jay McCarroll - Dallas, PA
Starr Ilzhoefer - Charlotte, NC
Kara Saun - Los Angeles, CA
Vanessa Riley - Houston, TX
Kevin Johhn - New York, NY
Wendy Pepper - Middleburg, VA

The series will begin with the selection of these twelve amateur designers who will compete week-to-week on design challenges. Contestants will be eliminated on a weekly basis based on their execution of the design challenges until only three remain to face-off with full lines on the catwalk at New York's Fall Fashion Week in February 2005. The winner's designs will be photographed for ELLE by the magazine's world-renowned Publication Director, Gilles Bensimon. The winning designer will also receive $100,000 in seed money too help them launch their own line and a mentorship from the Banana Republic Design Team.

"Project Runway" is executive produced by Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves ("Project Greenlight," "Last Comic Standing,") and Heidi Klum. Klum's managers and fashion world experts Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha of NYC-based Full Picture are producing the series. Barbara Schneeweiss, director of television, and Jennifer Berman, senior vice president of production and development, will oversee the production on behalf of Miramax Television. "Project Runway" is sponsored by Banana Republic, Cotton, Inc. and L'Oreal Paris.

Bravo is an arts and culture network featuring a variety of programs presented in an original and engaging way. Currently seen in more than 77 million homes, Bravo is the television destination for viewers who want creativity, experimentation and innovation. Offering programming with a unique point of view, the network features original series and specials, feature films (both independent and mainstream) as well as performance specials and compelling documentary series. Its critically-acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," and Cirque du Soleil specials and series, as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." The network's latest hits include "Blow Out," "Showbiz Moms & Dads," and the improvisational sitcom "Significant Others."

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 press information and photography log onto www.nbcumv.com. For consumer information visit www.bravotv.com.