Semi-Finalists for the New Menudo to be Revealed

“MTV Tr3s gives viewers front-row access to the nationwide search to find the talented and hungry young Latino artists that will get their shot at making it big in the fast-paced world of the music industry as the New Menudo in “Road to Menudo” starting May 12 at 2 PM Eastern. Casting sessions that took place in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas and New York before celebrity judges that included Johnny Wright, Don Omar, Luis Fonsi, Howie Dorough and Frankie J are all chronicled in 30-minute specials over four weeks. Each special reveals the semi-finalists from each audition city that will participate in the next round of auditions and ultimately be considered members of the new Menudo.

Immediately following each “Road to Menudo” episode, MTV Tr3s VJ Carlos Santos hosts “Road to Menudo: From La Calle to the Stage,” a half-hour special that showcases musical success stories from the Menudo audition cities such as Miami’s PitBull and Enrique Iglesias and New York’s Jennifer Lopez and Obie Bermudez.

Saturday, May 12″Road to Menudo” Casting Special Miami, Saturday, May 12th at 2 PM Eastern.”Road to Menudo: From la Calle to the Stage” featuring Miami’s Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Carlos Ponce and Luis Fonsi, Saturday, May 12th at 2:30 PM Eastern. Saturday, May 19″Road to Menudo” Casting Special Los Angeles, Saturday, May 19th at 2 PM Eastern.”Road to Menudo: From la Calle to the Stage” featuring Los Angeles’ Akwid, Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, Cypress Hill, Robi Rosa “Draco” and Ozomatli, Saturday, May 19th at 2:30 PM Eastern Saturday, May 26″Road to Menudo” Casting Special Dallas, Saturday, May 26th at 2 PM Eastern.”Road to Menudo: From la Calle to the Stage” featuring Texans Jennifer Pena, Franki J, Kumbia All Stars and Selena, Saturday, May 26th at 2:30 PM Eastern. Saturday, June 2″Road to Menudo” Casting Special New York, Saturday, June 2nd at 2 PM Eastern.”Road to Menudo: From la Calle to the Stage” featuring New York’s Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Aventura, Obie Bermudez and Fat Joe, Saturday, June 2nd at 2:30 PM Eastern.

“MTV Tr3s has captured hundreds of young and talented hopefuls aspiring to join Menudo and win their spot on the world stage,” said Lily Neumeyer, Vice President of Programming and Production for MTV Tr3s. “It’s an opportunity that young Latinos have longed to have and ‘Road to Menudo’ brings our viewers all the excitement, anticipation and persistence of all who auditioned. ”

Legendary music manager and casting session judge Johnny Wright added “I’m really thrilled at all the talent that showed up for the auditions for ‘Road to Menudo.’ Having had success in the urban and pop worlds, it’s exciting for me to get the opportunity to be a part of bringing back a brand that has such a great history.”

Following the “Road to Menudo” series, the 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 Tr3s will air a one-hour special in late July, “Road to Menudo: The Finals,” where the final members of the new Menudo will be revealed.

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 airs the 10-episode reality series (title TBD.) Once selected, Menudo will be part of the Epic Records family. The partnership between Epic and Menudo kicks off with the group’s “debut” album in December 2007.

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. Rod Aissa is executive in charge of production for MTV.

The original Menudo, which took the US and Latin America by storm during its run in the late ’70s and ’80s, recorded 35 albums, sold more than 40 million records, 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.

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.

MTV Tr3s is the most-widely distributed TV network dedicated to superserving today’s bicultural Latino youth. MTV Tr3s’ programming is rooted in the fusion of American and Latino music, cultures, lifestyles and languages. Music programming is at the core of MTV Tr3s and the channel features hitmakers, emerging artists and new sounds that resonate with young U.S. Latinos. In addition to music programming, MTV Tr3s programming slate also features lifestyle series, news, documentaries and other long-form programs that celebrate US Latino hybrid identity and culture.

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.

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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