NBC ANNOUNCES NEW DATING SERIES ‘READY FOR LOVE’ FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER EVA LONGORIA WITH HOSTS GIULIANA AND BILL RANCIC SET TO PREMIERE IN WINTER 2012-13

Women Interested in Being Considered by the “Ready for Love” Matchmakers Can Submit Their Info Using the New Timeline App at Facebook.com/NBCReadyForLove Now Through May 18

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — April 18, 2012 — NBC announced today that its new relationship show, “Ready for Love,” an innovative series that brings the age old art of matchmaking to the modern age, will premiere in Winter 2012-13. The series, from executive producer Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”), UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, Renegade 83 and Universal Television, will give three successful and handsome men who are committed to finding the right woman the chance of finding their soul mate. Giuliana and Bill Rancic will host the series where three matchmakers will help the men find their perfect mates.

Women looking for love can submit their info using the new Facebook timeline app. This app, which is available at Facebook.com/NBCReadyForLove, allows them to apply or share the opportunity with friends and family members that might be perfect potential love interests. The app will also connect people to the eligible guys via the “Ready for Love” Facebook Page and the guys’ Facebook timelines which will feature profile videos and provide a window into their lives, families, careers and passions. As the show progresses, fans will be able to discover and engage with new content from “Ready for Love,” immersing viewers in 24-hour storytelling through the Facebook Pages for Longoria, the eligible guys, the matchmakers, and the women looking for love.

The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment.

“We are thrilled to have Eva leading the charge creatively. She has enlisted the help of the three best matchmakers in the world, each with their own philosophies and approaches to guiding singles towards love,'” said Telegdy. “The show’s innovative format that uses online profiles and proven matchmakers will provide a better chance for our suitors to realize connections that will last long beyond the season finale.”

“This show is about making real connections and the ongoing search for love, something that both men and women can relate to,” said Longoria. “I am excited to be a part of such an innovative and promising format that will help these great guys find true love.”

Longoria has hand-selected three men who are committed to finding the right women with whom to share their lives. They are Ben Patton (http://www.facebook.com/PattonB), an international financier from Dallas; Tim Lopez (http://www.facebook.com/TimJLopez), a member of the popular music group Plain White T’s from Santa Barbara, Calif., and Ernesto Arguello (http://www.facebook.com/arguelloernesto), an entrepreneur with a social vision from Miami, who will all vie for the chance to find true love. These three successful and family-oriented men have full and busy lives, but the only thing missing is someone to share their lives with — and they are ready and willing to open their hearts to America and embark on a life changing process.

In order to find their ideal partners, Longoria has enlisted the help of the three best matchmakers in the world. The series begins with the matchmakers’ nationwide search for the potential perfect mate for each man. The three matchmakers will each select their team of 12 girls, four per guy. To be selected as part of a matchmaker’s team, the women will have to convince one of the three matchmakers that they’re a true fit and feel a real connection with one of the men. Once selected, each matchmaker team will live in a different house where they will receive personalized advice and mentoring.

At the end of each week everyone will convene on a state of the art stage in front of a live audience to watch the dates and receive feedback from the matchmakers. The women who fail to make a connection with the men will be sent home. In an intense finale, the quest for love culminates when the three men choose their final three women, who together, must decide if they’ll get engaged, married, or simply live happily ever after. No matter what happens — they will all discover if they are really “Ready for Love.”

Longoria, the Golden Globe-nominated, Screen Actors Guild Award-winning, and ALMA Award-winning actress, producer, businesswoman, and philanthropist, is best known for her starring role as Gabrielle Solis on “Desperate Housewives” for eight seasons. She has received numerous awards, including a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Star, a Teen Choice Award for “Choice TV Breakout Performance,” TV Guide’s “TV’s Sexiest Star,” People’s “50 Most Beautiful People” and “100 Most Beautiful People” and People En Español’s “50 Mas Bellos.”

Power couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic met at an event where Giuliana, anchor for “E! News,” was interviewing Bill about his experience winning NBC’s “The Apprentice.” They fell in love and were married in 2007 in a romantic Italian wedding, which was featured on the Style special “Marry Me in Capri.” Currently, Bill is a real estate developer and co-host of the syndicated news magazine “America Now” alongside Leeza Gibbons. Giuliana is anchor and managing editor of “E! News” and a host on E’s widely popular “Fashion Police.” Combining their strengths, they released their hit book I Do, Now What? Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-in-Love Couple in 2010 and recently opened the Italian restaurant, RPM Italian, in Chicago.

“Ready for Love” is produced by UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, Renegade 83, and Universal Television. Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”), Jason Ehrlich (“The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette”), Greg Goldman (“Secret Millionaire,” “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!”), David Garfinkle (“Blind Date,” “Man Woman Wild”) and Jay Renfroe (“Blind Date,” “Man Woman Wild”) serve as executive producers.

About NBC Entertainment:

NBC Entertainment develops and schedules programming for the network’s primetime, late-night, and daytime schedules. NBC’s quality programs and balanced lineup have earned the network critical acclaim, numerous awards, and ratings success. The network has earned more Emmy Awards than any network in television history. NBC’s roster of popular scripted series includes such critically acclaimed comedies Emmy winners as “The Office” and “30 Rock,” starring Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. Veteran, award-winning dramas on NBC include the “Law & Order” brand, and “Chuck.” Unscripted series for NBC include the hits “The Voice,” “The Biggest Loser,” “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and “America’s Got Talent.” NBC’s late-night story is highlighted by “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “Last Call with Carson Daly” and “Saturday Night Live.” NBC Daytime’s “Days of our Lives” consistently finishes among daytime’s top programs in the valuable women 18-34 category. On Saturday mornings, the network broadcasts Qubo on NBC, a three-hour block that features fun, entertaining, and educational programming for kids, including the award-winning, 3-D animated series Veggie Tales. For more information, visit www.nbc.com.

About Renegade 83:

Since its inception in 1994, Renegade 83 has been one of Hollywood’s most prolific television production companies. Founded by executive producers David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe, Renegade 83 successfully re-wrote the rules of television storytelling with the 1999 smash-hit “Blind Date.” As the momentum of success continued with such hits as “The 5th Wheel” and “Rendez-View,” the New York Post listed Renegade 83 in its top twelve ‘Kings of Reality,’ the power list for reality television. Other celebrated hits produced by Renegade include “The Surreal Life,” “Gone Country,” “Outsider’s Inn,” “Miracle Workers,” “Ultimate Relationship Test,” NBC’s “The Law Firm” and “Let’s Make a Deal.” As well as “Construction Intervention,” “One Man Army,” “Man Woman Wild,” and USA’s Emmy-nominated scripted series, “The 4400.”

About UnbeliEVAble Entertainment:

Longoria created UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, her own production company, which develops films, and television shows, that have been sold to NBC, ABC, CW, ABC Family, and VH1. Additionally, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment produces The NCLR Alma Awards on NBC.

For embeddable clips and full episodes from NBC shows, please visit NBC.com’s official show site: http://www.nbc.com/readyforlove.