Dennis Miller to Host 'GRAND SLAM' for GSN

New Prime Time Event Features America's Top Game Show Contestants in a Head-to-Head Competition To Determine Who's the Best

Field of 16 Contestants Includes Former 'Jeopardy' Champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter Plus 'Millionaire Winners' Dr. Kevin Olmstead and John Carpenter

Amanda Byram ('The Swan') Named as Co-Host

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 5 -- Dennis Miller, best known for his long stint on "Saturday Night Live," and currently host of the nationally syndicated Westwood One Radio talk show "The Dennis Miller Show," has been named as host of GSN's new original prime time series GRAND SLAM. GRAND SLAM is an eight episode head-to-head single elimination tournament featuring America's top 16 game show contestants competing to determine who is the best.

The series, executive produced by Michael Davies for Embassy Row and Sony Pictures Television, will premiere Tuesday, August 7 at 8 PM ET on GSN. Production begins on GRAND SLAM Wednesday, June 6 in New York City. Amanda Byram ("The Swan," "Paradise Hotel") serves as co-host on the series.

Miller will be making his debut as a game show host on GRAND SLAM. He is one of the premiere comedy talents in America, a five-time Emmy award winner for his talk show on HBO, a popular former "Weekend Update" correspondent on "Saturday Night Live," an analyst on "Monday Night Football" for two seasons as well as a best selling author.

In making the announcement, Jamie Roberts, GSN's Senior Vice President of Programming said, "Getting Dennis Miller to be our host on GRAND SLAM is the game show equivalent of landing the #1 draft pick. He is the perfect talent for this ultimate challenge that will determine who is the greatest game show contestant of all-time."

On hosting Dennis Miller said, "Michael Davies sent me a tape of GRAND SLAM and not only did I love the show but I lost when I played along. You know that 'hard to get thing' always keeps you coming back for more, so count me in."

"GRAND SLAM is the best game show format I've seen come out of the UK since 'Millionaire,' and Dennis Miller is someone I've wanted to work with my entire career," added Davies. "Moreover, I just can't wait to see who wins."

GRAND SLAM will feature elite contestants who will play the fastest and most intense game show ever created. Not only will their general knowledge be put to the test, but their math and logic skills, their ways with words and letters, and their grasp of pop culture and current events will also be challenged. No game has tested the breadth and depth of intelligence like GRAND SLAM will, and no players are better suited for the task. The rapid- fire series will determine the best contestant of all-time and the winner will walk away with a $100,000 grand prize.

The field of 16 will be the most competitive ever in the game show world, including winners from different shows including "Jeopardy," "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" "Wheel of Fortune," "Tic Tac Dough" "Lingo" and "The Weakest Link." Those who have signed on to date include Brad Rutter, whose career winnings are $3.2 million on "Jeopardy" and who was the "Jeopardy" 2001 Tournament of Champions winner; Ken Jennings, who won over $3 million on "Jeopardy;" Dr. Kevin Olmstead, whose career total is over $2 million and was the biggest single show prize winner ever on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and John Carpenter, who has won $1.25 million and was the first million dollar winner on "Millionaire." Additional players will be announced at a later date.

The program will consist of a tournament-style single elimination format with two players going head-to-head each match. Matches will feature four rounds. Each round will include different sets of questions including; general knowledge, numbers and logic, words and letters. The winner moves on to the next match and the loser is eliminated.

GRAND SLAM is the second game show produced by Michael Davies' New York based company Embassy Row and Sony Pictures Television for GSN. His first and current prime time game show for GSN is CHAIN REACTION. Davies remains executive producer of prime time network hit "Wife Swap" and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," now entering its sixth year of first run syndication. Davies' New York-based company, Embassy Row, continues to grow and has significantly increased its production of entertainment shows, comedy, factual, documentary films, sports and web content for partners ABC, CBS, VH1, ESPN, Comedy Central, A&E, Food Network and Yahoo!.

Sony Pictures Television has the international distribution rights to GRAND SLAM and CHAIN REACTION.

About GSN

GSN is the entertainment industry leader in multi-platform interactive game programs. As the premier television network for games, GSN features challenging word games, high intensity casino programs, live participation shows, reality series and documentaries. Now reaching more than 63 million homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

-GSN '07 -

SOURCE GSN
http://www.gsn.com/