Spike TV Takes to the Field With New Original Scripted Comedy Series 'Blue Mountain State'

13 Episode Series Premieres Tuesday, January 12, 2010 With Two Back-To-Back Episodes

NEW YORK, Dec. 9 -- It's all about football at Blue Mountain State, but being an incoming freshman on a national championship team consists of much more than that...there are also girls, partying, hazing and, of course, class. Spike TV's new original scripted comedy series "Blue Mountain State" kicks off with two back-to-back episodes premiering on Tuesday, January 12 (10:00 - 10:30 PM, ET/PT and 10:30 - 11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Produced by Brian Robbins' ("Varsity Blues," "Smallville") and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett's Varsity Pictures and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the 13 half-hour episode comedy series follows the on and off-field antics of three incoming freshmen as they learn to adapt to life at the fictional college football powerhouse, Blue Mountain State.

Former NFL running back and veteran actor, Ed Marinaro ("Hill Street Blues"), stars as the coach. Alex, played by Emmy Award�-winner Darin Brooks ("Blue Crush") is a talented quarterback, content to be second-string and ride the bench while partying with his best friend Sammy, played by Romanski ("The Sarah Silverman Program"), who aspires to be the school's beloved mascot. Craig, played by Sam Jones III ("Smallville"), on the other hand, is the school's top recruit and future NFL-pro whose life is already being mapped out for him by his controlling girlfriend, Denise, played by Gabrielle Dennis ("The Game"). The cast also includes Thad, played by Alan Ritchson ("Smallville"), the team's over-the-top captain who takes his role as team leader to mean hazing the incoming freshman.

Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett are executive producers. Romanski, who also stars as Sammy, and Eric Falconer ("The Sarah Silverman Program," "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia") also serve as executive producers and writers.

Spike.com will also get into all the football action with "Blue Mountain State." Featured content on bms.spike.com includes weekly preview clips and highlight segments from each episode, a photo gallery of the girls of "Blue Mountain State" and character biographies.

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury, and an array of channel platform assets. Lionsgate has nearly 20 television series airing or scheduled to air on 11 different networks from its in-house production operations and through distribution by Debmar-Mercury. Its programming roster is headed by such critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking shows as "Mad Men," "Weeds," "Nurse Jackie," "Crash," "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," "Meet The Browns," "The Wendy Williams Show" and "Paris Hilton's My New BFF." Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

Spike TV is available in 98 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom ( VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com.