The Search Is On MTV and MTV Tr3s join forces to find the next Menudo Beginning on March 31

“The search to recreate Menudo, one of the biggest and most successful Latin pop singing groups, gets underway on March 31 in Los Angeles, followed by casting sessions in Dallas, Miami and New York through the end of April. MTV Tr3í¬s will chronicle the entire journey of thousands from the first audition to the last, culminating with the selection of seven finalists in “Road to Menudo” which debuts on May 12. The road continues on MTV this fall when the band will dwindle down to the five final members of the new Menudo as the channel air the 10-episode reality series title TBD.

Reveille is producing the MTV series in association with Road Games and Menudo Entertainment. Reveille, producer of the two-time Golden Globe winner and Latin crossover hit “Ugly Betty,” is expert in developing programming with multilingual appeal. The company also produces the Emmy Award-winning “The Office,” “Nashville Star” and “The Biggest Loser,” to name just a few.

Once selected, Menudo will be part of the Epic Records family. The partnership between Epic and Menudo kicks off with a first single in July and the group’s “debut” album in December 2007.

MTV Tr3í¬s will document the nationwide search to find the talented and hungry young artists that will get their shot at making it big in the fast-paced world of the music industry. Four casting sessions will take place beginning in the Los Angeles community of Lynwood on March 31st at Plaza Mexico; in Miami on April 14th at Bayside Marketplace; in Dallas on April 21st at the Valley View Mall; and in New York on April 28th at the Queens Center Mall in Queens. Celebrity judges along with renowned music manager, Johnny Wright will be on hand to audition teenage boys on their natural singing and dancing abilities, charisma and stage presence. The auditions are open to males who are at least 15 years old and appear to be less than 19 years old. All contestants will be asked to sing a song, in English or Spanish, from a pre-selected song list available on mtvtr3s.com. A legal guardian who can sign a release must accompany contestants under 18. Complete eligibility requirements are available at mtvtr3s.com.

“The Menudo series will introduce an entire new generation to a cross-cultural music phenomenon that once captured the hearts and minds of music fans all over the world,” said Lois Curren, President, Entertainment and Programming, MTV. “The series is poised to deliver content that connects deeply with our audience by giving them unlimited access across all our screens, to the young and talented hopefuls aspiring to join Menudo and win their spot on the world stage.”

MTV Tr3í¬s’ “Road to Menudo” which begins on May 12, will include four half-hour shows that take viewers to all auditions and give them front-row access to all the anticipation and excitement. After the casting sessions, 12 semi-finalists will be picked and each one will be featured in short form capsules that will introduce the potential band members to multiple MTV audiences across all MTV screens. MTV Tr3í¬s’ will also air a 1-hour special in July, “Road to Menudo: The Finals,” where the members of the new Menudo will be revealed.

MTV Tr3í¬s will also produce a four-part series, “Road to Menudo Presents: De La Calle to the Stage” that showcases musical success stories from the Menudo audition cities such as Miami’s Gloria Estefan and PitBull and New York’s Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Fat Joe.

Online, mtvtr3s.com and myspace.com/mtvtr3s will feature “Road to Menudo” details including casting information, audition highlights and early audience favorites.

MTV Tr3í¬s Radio and VH1 Radio affiliates in the audition cities will feature on-air Menudo trivia contests for prizes, interviews with the judges and live remotes at auditions with contestant interviews.

“MTV Tr3í¬s has set out to create and define a new generation of Latino pop music and culture and what better expression of that than helping to discover the new Menudo, the biggest brand in Latin pop music over the last thirty years,” said Lucia Ballas-Traynor, SVP and general manager of MTV Tr3í¬s. “The new Menudo will be reflection of our audience in every way and we are going all out to ensure that every talented teenage boy across the country has a shot at stardom. It’s another way MTV Tr3í¬s is providing a voice to young Latinos.”

Additional summertime Menudo programming on MTV Tr3í¬s will include a half-hour special on the history of Menudo; “Fans of Menudo,” a trivia game between parents and teens; “History of Boy Bands,” a 30-minute look at the biggest and most successful boy bands of all time (Menudo, NKOB, BSB, NSYNC, Barrio Boys, Proyecto Uno, etc); and “Life after the Band,” a half hour show featuring videos from the solo careers of boy band members (Ricky Martin, Robby Rosa, Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Ashley Parker Angel.)

The MTV series will follow the new Menudo’s rise to super pop stardom and feature the band recording their first album together, learning about the music industry and interacting with legendary icons who will offer personal and professional advice along the way. As fans see the band struggle to become a cohesive unit, the guys will have to learn how to overcome their differences, challenges and rigorous work schedules during this crucial time in their career.

The original Menudo, which took the US and Latin America by storm during its run in the late 70s and 80s, recorded 35 albums and sold more than 40 million records and set concert attendance records worldwide and produced superstars Ricky Martin and Robby Rosa. The new Menudo will record a contemporary hip urban/Latin rhythmic sound and will be managed by Menudo Entertainment and legendary manager Johnny Wright who has worked with *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake as a solo artist.

Rod Aissa is executive in charge of production for MTV. Lily Neumeyer is executive in charge of production for MTV Tr3í¬s.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 120 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services – MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 95 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

MTV Tr3í¬s is the most-widely distributed TV network dedicated to superserving today’s bicultural Latino youth. MTV Tr3í¬s’ programming is rooted in the fusion of American and Latino music, cultures, lifestyles and languages. Music programming is at the core of MTV Tr3í¬s and the channel features hitmakers, emerging artists and new sounds that resonate with young U.S. Latinos. In addition to music programming, MTV Tr3í¬s programming slate also features lifestyle series, news, documentaries and other long-form programs that celebrate US Latino hybrid identity and culture.

Reveille is a leading independent production and distribution company focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual property rights through scripted and alternative television formats. Launched in 2002 by Ben Silverman, the company produces innovative entertainment programming across all television genres such as the Emmy Award-winning “The Office” (NBC), which has also received two Television Critics Association Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award; “Ugly Betty” (ABC), winner of two Golden Globe Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award; “The Biggest Loser” (NBC); “Identity” (NBC); “House of Boateng” (Sundance Channel); “30 Days” (FX); “Blow Out” (Bravo); “Bound For Glory” (ESPN); “Nashville Star” (USA); “Date My Mom” (MTV); and “The Restaurant” (NBC). Reveille is also the world leader in creating integrated marketing opportunities for leading advertisers while developing alternative financing paradigms. In addition, Reveille’s growing library of programming is distributed to more than 150 countries worldwide through Reveille International. The company also creates, acquires and develops a broad slate of diverse films through its feature film division, Reveille Motion Pictures. Reveille maintains offices in Los Angeles and New York.

Epic, a division of Sony BMG Entertainment, is a trailblazing multi-media entertainment company and the creative habitat of some of today’s most vital and diverse musical artists such as Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, The Fray, Natasha Bedingfield, Matisyahu, Fiona Apple, Incubus and Los Lonely Boys to name a few.”

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