NBC UNIVERSAL TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION TO LAUNCH NATIONAL "BE JERRY FOR A DAY" CONTEST
Fans of "The Jerry Springer Show" Get Opportunity To Co-Host Hit Talk Show
Auditions To Be Held Throughout U.S. and at Professional Bull Riders Events
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. -- April 18, 2005 -- NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution's "The Jerry Springer Show" and Professional Bull Riders? (PBR) are teaming up to launch the "Be Jerry For A Day" national contest, a seven month search that will award one lucky contestant the opportunity to co-host the hit talk show, it was announced today by Betsy Bergman, Vice President, Marketing, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution.
"Be Jerry For A Day" launches Saturday, April 30, with the Professional Bull Rider's New York event, the Nassau Open, a part of the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) presented by Wrangler at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale. Over the next seven months at select PBR events and at several other local affiliate events nationwide, fans and viewers of "The Jerry Springer Show" will have an opportunity to audition on camera to co-host an episode with Jerry Springer by writing and singing a verse to a song or reciting a "Final Thought" (as Jerry does at the end of each episode) using "Springeresque" themes.
'"Be Jerry For A Day" will allow millions of viewers of our hit show the opportunity to take their best shot at co-hosting a national talk show," says Bergman. "We are thrilled to be working with PBR on this contest, which will be supported by a multi-faceted marketing campaign that brings together many partner stations, live events, radio promotions, text messaging and a website component."
"It's good timing for everyone to try and be me and co-host my show because that is when I will be auditioning to be Oprah," says Jerry Springer.
"Being Jerry for a day has to be one of the toughest jobs to fill in television. What better fans to tackle the challenge than fans of the toughest sport on dirt," says PBR COO Sean Gleason.
The "Be Jerry For A Day" contest team will travel to PBR events around the country including stops in New York, Phoenix, Dallas, Tulsa and Kansas City and also visit other cities including Los Angeles, Detroit and Cleveland. At select events, fans will also have a chance to meet Jerry and the show's famed "The Jerry Springer Show" Director of Security, Steve Wilkos.
Five finalists will be flown to Chicago in September, where they will tape their final audition in front of a live studio audience, which will air on "The Jerry Springer Show" during the week of October 24. America can vote for their favorite finalist on the 'Jerry Springer Show' website (www.jerryspingertv.com) and/or by text message. The lucky winner will get to spend the day with Jerry and co-host an episode of "The Jerry Springer Show."
The contest will be promoted nationally in various outlets including online, in-show promotional spots, radio and local affiliate promotions, radio partnerships and print media. Throughout the seven-month contest, the best and worst audition footage will be aired during "The Jerry Springer Show" to keep fans updated on the competition.
Viewers and fans of the show unable to attend local auditions may also submit audition tapes directly to "The Jerry Springer Show" for their chance to win. More information on contest rules, audition details, locations and PBR events are available online at www.jerryspringertv.com or www.pbrnow.com.
About the PBR:
Over 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on NBC, OLN (Outdoor Life Network) and in Spanish on Telemundo. With over 450 hours of prime time programming annually, PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air. In addition, PBR continues to attract over one million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Tour, and the Humps N' Horns Tour. The PBR's governing board of directors is comprised of renowned bull riders who have developed the event into a stand alone sport which is experiencing unprecedented growth in global popularity. The PBR is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., and has over 600 athletes competing in more than 100 PBR sanctioned competitions.
About NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution:
NBC Universal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBC Universal Television Distribution is responsible for the global distribution of NBC Universal product to all forms of television throughout the world. This includes distribution of current and library film and television product, including formats and non-scripted programming, in the pay, free, and basic markets, as well as the domestic syndication of first-run syndicated TV programs and theatrical and TV movie packages.
NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution's current first-run syndicated programming includes an upcoming daily series with Martha Stewart, "Access Hollywood," "Starting Over," "The Jane Pauley Show," "The Chris Matthews Show," "Blind Date," "The Jerry Springer Show," "Maury," "The George Michael Sports Machine," "Rebecca's Garden," "Your Total Health," "The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo" and the off-network syndication sales of NBC's "Fear Factor," "Providence," "Crossing Jordan," "Boomtown," Ed," the "Law & Order" franchise and numerous other NBC Universal Television programs. NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution also distributes the first-run specials "The Remarkable Journey."
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