Students By Day, Ninjas By Night In Nickelodeon's "Supah Ninjas," New Live-Action Comedy Series Bowing Saturday, April 16, At 8:30 P.M. (ET/PT)

George Takei (Star Trek) Featured as "Hologramps" in New Comedy-Adventure Series

NEW YORK, April 8, 2011 -- Spring into action with Nickelodeon's new comedy-adventure series, Supah Ninjas, premiering Saturday, April 16, at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Comic book in tone and cinematic in style, the 26-episode, half-hour series follows three unsuspecting high school students who are drafted into the secret world of crime-fighting after Mike Fukanaga (Ryan Potter) discovers he is descended from a long line of ninjas. Mike is helped along the way by the spirit of his recently deceased grandfather, played by TV icon George Takei (Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek), who appears to him and the team of "Supah Ninjas" as an interactive hologram offering guidance, wisdom and training. Supah Ninjas, created by Eric S. Garcia and Leo Chu (Afro Samurai), is executive produced by Garcia, Chu, Mitchel Katlin, Nat Bernstein and Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett (Fred: The Movie) of Varsity Pictures. The series will regularly air Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

"Supah Ninjas is a beautifully crafted live-action series that brings all of the action and excitement of comic books to life," said Marjorie Cohn, President, Development and Original Programming, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "The show delivers non-stop action, sharp humor and deep but relatable storylines that will draw viewers right into these characters' world."

Mike Fukanaga (Potter) is a shy, high-school student who is hopelessly incapable of talking to girls. But when he discovers he comes from a long line of ninjas, that all begins to change. Under the supervision of his holographic grandfather (Takei), Mike teams up with his best friend Owen (Carlos Knight) and his crush Amanda (Gracie Dzienny) to form the Supah Ninjas, a secret team of ninjas protecting the city from an array of criminals. As if fighting crime and surviving high school weren't hard enough, they are also sworn to conceal their identities, vowing to stay in the shadows and never to reveal their "supah" cool alter-egos.

In the premiere episode, "Katara," Katherine Sharp is a seemingly klutzy bookish-type who is actually a knife-throwing cat burglar named Katara obsessed with stealing priceless Egyptian statues. While the Ninjas are on to her, she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants, including flirting with Mike's dad Martin.

A sneak peek of the Supah Ninjas premiere episode is currently available on www.nick.com/ninjas and episodes will be offered on Nick VOD during the month of April. Following the premiere, Supah Ninjas episodes will be available to Nickelodeon's download-to-own partners and in HD on iTunes, Amazon, Xbox and Playstation. Nick.com will feature a new Supah Ninjas-themed game beginning in May, where kids can play as Mike, Owen or Amanda and battle it out in the multi-level ninja combat game. The site will feature a dedicated show page with video clips, a quiz, printables, photo galleries, cast and character bios and more. New episodes of Supah Ninjas will be available to watch on Nick.com following the on-air premiere.

The feature film and television production company Varsity Pictures was founded by producer/director Brian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett. The company's credits include the hit Nickelodeon original television movie Fred: The Movie, based on internet sensation Fred Figglehorn. The movie, which premiered on Nickelodeon last year, drew 8.7 million total viewers and became the year's number-one TV cable movie with kids 6-11 and 2-11. Varsity Pictures also produces Blue Mountain State for Spike TV and Sonny with a Chance for The Disney Channel. The duo's credits include several successful theatrical projects including Wild Hogs, Coach Carter and Norbit, which Robbins directed. Brian Robbins began his producing/directing career at Nickelodeon as a partner in Tollin/Robbins Productions, creator of classic Nick series All That and Kenan & Kel.

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).