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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/
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