'Run's House' Set to Air on MTV This October

MTV Teams With Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs' Bad Boy TV and Russell Simmons for the First Hip-Hop Reality Sitcom

'Run's House' Captures the Lives of Reverend Run from Run DMC and his Family

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 14 -- MTV: Music Television today announced that the reality sitcom "Run's House," brought to MTV by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy TV and Russell Simmons is set to air in October on MTV. The series, television's first hip hop reality sitcom, will capture the real- life drama and hysterical antics of Reverend Run (Joey Simmons) of Run DMC, his wife and five children.

"It makes sense that Bad Boy and MTV would produce the first hip-hop reality sitcom," said Combs. "It's a dream come true to be able to work with Russell on Run's House. Rev Run is a legend and one of the most interesting individuals I know -- he's destined to become America's next biggest reality show star! He's going to show the world what hip-hop family life is really like."

"America needs Rev Run to show his reality. He's hip hop grown up. His family and his guidance will inspire us all. This show is 'Father Knows Best on Steroids,'" said Russell Simmons.

"My family is my ministry," said Reverend Run. "I'm gonna raise it up with or without cameras. But I'm excited to do it on MTV."

"Reverend Run is one of the great pioneers in hip hop and has a long history with MTV," said Brian Graden, President, Entertainment MTV Music Group and President, Logo. "While 'Run's House' gives our viewers an inside look at the lives of hip-hop royalty, our audience will also be able to relate to and laugh along with the family, whose life is fundamentally about heart, humor and everyday challenges."

In "Run's House," Reverend Run must balance recording his first ever solo album with raising five spirited children ages 9-21. The Simmons family is comprised of: Run's wife Justine, a former rapper/singer and loving wife and mother; Vanessa, 21, a Ford model, former Miss Teen New York and aspiring actress; Angela, 17, a straight A student and aspiring fashion designer; JoJo, 15, a talented rapper who loves music and girls; Diggy, 9, star of the basketball team and an aspiring rapper; and Russell, Jr., 8, the mischievous little brother. The Simmons kids "have it all," from a glamorous life to typical teenage insecurities. Just down the street from Run's Saddle River, New Jersey home live his brother and sister in law Russell and Kimora Simmons who spend time with the family and vacation with them in St. Barts.

Russell Simmons, Stan Latham and John Davies serve as creators and Executive Producers. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is Executive Producer. Jac Benson is Executive Producer. Jason Carbone is Executive Producer. For MTV, Tony DiSanto serves as Executive Producer and Liz Gateley serves as Executive in Charge of Development.

Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group (BBWEG) is one of the world's preeminent urban entertainment companies, encompassing a broad range of businesses including recording, music publishing, artist management, television and film production, recording facility, marketing and advertising, apparel and restaurants. With a collection of businesses whose annual sales are quickly approaching $300 million annually and an employee base that is 600 strong, Mr. Combs is largely responsible for the pop appeal of urban entertainment. Formed in 1994, the flagship company of BBWEG is Bad Boy Records. Today, Bad Boy's annual sales have reached an overall average of $100 million with more than 75 million records sold worldwide by an impressive artist roster which includes multi-platinum acts the Notorious B.I.G., Mase, 112, Dream and P. Diddy; platinum artists Faith Evans, Carl Thomas and Black Rob; gold artists Total and Craig Mack; and promising up-and-coming artists such as G. Dep, Loon and Cheri Denis. Bad Boy recently moved to 1440 Broadway New York which will become the corporate headquarters housing all Combs' business entities.

Headquartered in Los Angeles, Simmons Lathan Media Group (SLMG) produces, acquires and distributes original urban/hip-hop themed media content, including: fiction and non-fiction film, television, radio, Internet, and theatrical productions. Founded by media entrepreneur Will Griffin, in partnership with hip hop mogul Russell Simmons and television pioneer Stan Lathan, the tandem who developed ground breaking shows like Def Comedy Jam and the Tony Award winning Def Poetry on Broadway, SLMG is redefining the way urban media content is developed and distributed to the 45.3 million ethnically diverse urban consumer audience. For more information on SLMG visit http://www.simmonslathan.com.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VHI, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

SOURCE MTV Networks
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