A&E PREMIERES NEW ORIGINAL SERIES "KEYSHAWN JOHNSON: TACKLING DESIGN"

FORMER PRO ATHLETE MAKES SERIOUS PLAY AT INTERIOR DESIGN

SATURDAY, JULY 11 AT 12PM ET/PT

NEW YORK, NY � JUNE 10, 2009 � Former NFL star and current TV personality Keyshawn Johnson is looking to score big in a new field on the A&E original series "Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design" premiering Saturday, July 11 at 12:00pm ET/PT. As part of A&E's Saturday line-up, The Big Fix, the series will follow the day-to-day drama as Johnson rewrites the playbook on interior design.

Outspoken NFL veteran wide receiver and ESPN football analyst Keyshawn Johnson may be best known for his plays on the field, but now he's putting a completely different set of skills to the test in "Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design." Furniture, fabric and finishings used to be just a hobby, but with his football days behind him, Johnson's "wide receiving" now has more to do with fitting furniture through the front door of a house. Will clients take this former pro athlete seriously as an interior designer? The eleven episode half-hour series follows Johnson as he tries to negotiate exacting clients and a cast of disparate assistants all the while tackling a variety of interior design dilemmas with an eye for subtle sophistication. Given the pressures and personalities, Johnson's famous temper is sure to be put to the test.

"Style and design has always played a big part in my life and lifestyle," says Keyshawn. "I'm excited to bring a quality aesthetic to all types of households in the show, and help influence the way people live."

"Keyshawn is known for his skills on the field, but many will be surprised by his talent as an interior designer," said Robert Sharenow, Senior Vice President, Nonfiction and Alternative Programming, A&E. "Documenting his process as he attempts to get his own business off the ground fits perfectly with our unique brand of real life drama."

Johnson's design team includes assistants, Sabina Vavra, and Baiyina Hughley and interns Chelsea Hernandez and Edward S. Larsen.

From a master bedroom to a gourmet kitchen, a living room to a nursery, Johnson and his team will show clients how to work within their budget to make choices that make sense. As Keyshawn likes to say, "my designs speak for themselves�. as long as everyone gets out of my way and let's me do it right!"

During his eleven year career as an NFL wide receiver, Johnson played for the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl Championship during the 2002-2003 season. He retired in 2007 with 814 receptions, 64 touchdowns and 10,571 yards recorded during his career. Away from the gridiron, Johnson heads up numerous business ventures including First Picks Management, a development company that focuses on franchise businesses in the foodservice and hospitality industries, as well as Keyshawn Capitol Development, a real estate company dealing with properties in the both the residential and commercial space.

"Keyshawn Johnson: Tackling Design" is produced for A&E by Screen Door Entertainment, Executive Producer Joel Rizor and Co-executive Producer Alessandra Ascoli. A&E Executive Producers are Robert Sharenow and Andy Berg.

About A&E Network

A&E is "Real Life. Drama." Now reaching more than 97 million homes, A&E is television that you can't turn away from; where unscripted shows are dramatic and scripted dramas are authentic. A&E offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment; ranging from the network's original scripted series including "The Cleaner" starring Benjamin Bratt, to signature nonfiction franchises, including "Dog The Bounty Hunter," the Emmy-nominated "Intervention," "Paranormal State" and "Criss Angel Mindfreak," and the most successful justice shows on cable, including "The First 48" and "Crime 360." The A&E website is located at www.aetv.com.