SERIES PREMIERE

ABC NEWS' '20/20' LAUNCHES EIGHT-EPISODE LIMITED SERIES 'BAD ROMANCE,' PREMIERING MONDAY, JAN. 22

New Series Features Some of the Most Shocking and Surprising Romances of the Last Decade

ABC News Contributor and ESPN Analyst Ryan Smith Hosts 'Bad Romance - A Special Edition of 20/20' Following 'The Bachelor' Monday Nights on ABC

ABC News*

"Bad Romance," a new eight-episode limited true-crime series from ABC News' "20/20," premieres MONDAY, JAN. 22 (10:01-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC and available to stream next day on Hulu and ABC News digital platforms.

Hosted by ABC News contributor Ryan Smith, "Bad Romance" reports on "20/20" stories ripped from the headlines, leading viewers through some of the most shocking and surprising romance stories of the last decade - stories that began with romance and ended in crime. Every Monday night for eight weeks following "The Bachelor," "Bad Romance" features true-crime stories, including the twisted love triangle between a husband, wife and lover; the murder of an NFL star's pregnant girlfriend; and the case of a man found guilty of murdering his wife by two separate juries. Throughout the series, "20/20" visits crime scenes and interviews the individuals at the center of some of the most twisted and obsessive love stories, just weeks before Valentine's Day.

Kicking off the primetime event is "Dangerous Game," featuring Quincy, Illinois, couple Tim and Becky Bliefnick. Tim and Becky are busy. They both work, and Becky is also in nursing school, all while raising two young children with one on the way. Tim wins the chance to go on a gameshow with his mom, dad and brothers, but Becky is too busy to join. Tim jokes on national television that he regrets his marriage, and a couple of months later, one of the Bliefnicks is dead. This case drew national attention and evidence included authorities discovering a grainy surveillance video of a ghostly figure on a bike. Could that phantom be the killer? ABC News contributor Ryan Smith breaks down the details in "Dangerous Game."

"Bad Romance" airs on Mondays (10:01-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC, next day on Hulu. Janice Johnston is executive producer of "Bad Romance" and "20/20," the award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, "20/20" features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports, and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories.