Spike TV and Bruce Willis Explore the Importance of Fatherhood in America With an Unprecedented Two Hour Primetime Special
'True Dads with Bruce Willis' Premieres on Spike TV Friday, December 17@9pm
Celebrity Dads Matt Lauer, Cedric the Entertainer, Alec Baldwin and
NY Yankee Jorge Posada
Share Their Wit and Wisdom as Fathers and Sons
Original Documentary Executive Produced by Four-Time Peabody(R) Award-Winning
Team Paul & Holly Fine
NEW YORK, Dec. 2 -- There is a family crisis in America --
one out of every four homes with no father in sight. With a two hour special
dedicated to tackling the issue, Spike TV examines the lives of men who've
discovered the immeasurable rewards of being a father. Hosted by Emmy(R)-Award
winning actor and father of three, Bruce Willis, "True Dads with Bruce
Willis," premieres on Spike TV Friday, December 17 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).
"Today's men are looking for new role models about how to be a dad - you
can't just come home and watch TV anymore. According to research from Spike
TV's recent nationwide study of men*, we found that nearly half of the men
surveyed said they don't spend as much time as they would like with their
kids," says Albie Hecht, President of Spike TV. "We hope this documentary
will help to inspire a new generation of fathers."
More than ever, fathers are taking a more active role in their children's
lives and are finding fatherhood to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
"True Dads with Bruce Willis" paints an evolving picture of fatherhood from
the perspective of six everyday dads. Through their personal stories and
experiences, viewers witness the full spectrum of fatherhood and see that
although it can be challenging at times, fatherhood can also be the most
creative, fulfilling and enriching experience of a man's life. Spike TV's
"True Dads with Bruce Willis" features the following stories:
-- NASCAR legacy Kerry Earnhardt talks candidly about the influence the
relationship with his famous father, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. had on his own
experience as a father. Kerry pushed racing aside to be present in his
children's lives, but has recently decided to pursue the sport that
took his own father's life;
-- Dr. Jonathan Clark, husband of late astronaut Laurel Clark who was
killed in the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy. Now a single
parent, Dr. Clark has taken on the challenge of raising his now nine-
year-old son on his own; This story includes never seen before NASA
footage of Laurel talking to her husband and son from space;
-- The Daniel Men: the story of African-American father and son, Professor
Jack Daniel and Poet Omari Daniel, who have penned a candid tale about
their sometimes stormy relationship in their book, "We Fish: The
Journey to Fatherhood;"
-- James Madison University football coach Mickey Matthews thought life
was perfect when his son became a star quarterback. But after a car
accident paralyzed his son, Coach Matthews' life goal shifted from
doing whatever it takes to win games to doing whatever it takes to get
his son to walk again;
-- Joseph T. Jones, a one-time heroin addict and deadbeat dad, Jones
changed his life around and now wages a tenacious crusade to save
Baltimore's children from the same fate, one father at a time;
-- First time father, Ben Passmore, experiences the amazing moment of the
birth of his child -- a life altering event that reconnects him with
his own father and teaches him that becoming a dad, is becoming a fully
adult man.
In addition to these moving stories, Spike TV's "True Dads with Bruce
Willis" will include commentary from some of America's most famous dads.
Celebrities including Matt Lauer, Cedric the Entertainer, Alec Baldwin and NY
Yankee catcher Jorge Posada offer their personal insight and advice about
fatherhood.
"True Dads with Bruce Willis" is a production of Fine Films. Paul and
Holly Fine serve as Executive Producers; Sean Fine, their son, and his wife,
Andrea Nix, produced the special. Cindy D'Agostino was the Editor. Keith
Brown is the Executive Producer of Spike TV Documentaries.
* Spike TV's "Men's State of the Union" study March 2004, conducted by
Penn, Schoen and Berland (PSB) and Insight Research Group and covered a
host of issues including relationships, the economy, family life,
politics, sex, and religion. The margin of error is + or - 2.9%
Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 87 million homes and
is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom
International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the following
television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VH1,
NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV
INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital
services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has
licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its
programming services can be seen worldwide.
SOURCE Spike TV
Web Site: http://www.spiketv.com
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