“THE SINGING BEE” HAS GONE COUNTRY WITH ALL-NEW EPISODES PREMIERING ON CMT

Karaoke-style Singing Competition Series Hosted by Melissa Peterman, Debuts June 20 on CMT

NASHVILLE, Tennessee May 18, 2009 CMT has teamed up with The Gurin Company and JUMA Entertainment to produce ten, all-new one-hour episodes of the karaoke-style singing competition, THE SINGING BEE. Hosted by comedic actress Melissa Peterman (”Reba”), THE SINGING BEE premieres Saturday, June 20 at 10:00 11:00 p.m., ET/PT, following the second season premiere of the hit competition series CAN YOU DUET. Taped on location in Los Angeles, the series tests contestants’ knowledge of lyrics to well-known songs and those who fail to accurately sing the correct lyrics are eliminated from the competition. New to CMT, THE SINGING BEE will blend a mix of 60 percent country music with 40 percent popular favorites from other genres and an original segment is being developed.

“We’ve been fans of this show since it first premiered on NBC last year, and we were thrilled to be able to collaborate with the show’s producers to create a truly new CMT-centric series,” said Bob Kusbit, head of development, CMT. “We’ve got a new set, exciting new show elements, the incredibly talented Melissa Peterman on board as host, and I can personally promise America, no dancers!”

“THE SINGING BEE has come full circle after traveling around the world and becoming an international phenomenon,” said Bob Horowitz, creator and executive producer. “We are thrilled to bring the BEE back and CMT’s all-American audience and success with reality programming make it the ideal new home for the show.”

“THE SINGING BEE is one of those shows that speaks a universal language of fun, music-based entertainment, and its inherent audience appeal has borne out internationally,” said Phil Gurin, creator and executive producer. “Now THE SINGING BEE is back in the U.S. where we are certain CMT viewers will be drawn to a new mix of music, a new host, a new game format, but absolutely the same high energy karaoke party.”

Peterman, who starred in the hit comedy, “Reba”, is from Minneapolis, Minnesota She has appeared on television in many shows including, “Surviving Surburbia,” “Rita Rocks,” “Just Shoot Me,” the ABC pilot “Cedric,” and the Fox pilot “Living with Abandon.” Peterman has done voiceovers for “The Pitts” and “American Dad.” She recently starred in the independent comedy feature, “Dirty Politics.” Additionally, she opened for Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson on their “2 Worlds, 2 Voices” Tour. A familiar face on CMT, Peterman hosted the series CMT COMEDY STAGE and the special REDNECK DREAMS for the network. She is committed to many charities including Muhammad Ali’s “Celebrity Fight Night,” Habitat for Humanity, The Red Cross, and the non-profit Buzzworks Theatre Company. She is represented by APA and manager Darris Hatch.

THE SINGING BEE is produced by The Gurin Company and JUMA Entertainment. Executive Producers are Phil Gurin and Bob Horowitz. Co-Executive Producers are Lewis Fenton and Brennan Huntington. Claire McCabe along with Bob Kusbit and John Hamlin serve as executive producers for CMT.

Source: CMT Press Release