Hitz

UPN-HTZ101

ANDREW "DICE" CLAY RETURNS TO PRIMETIME AS THE SWAGGERING
PRESIDENT OF A LOS ANGELES RECORD COMPANY
IN "HITZ," A NEW COMEDY SERIES PREMIERING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 (9:00-9:30 P.M., ET/PT) ON UPN

Claude Brooks, Rick Gomez and Rosa Blasi Star as A&R Executives
Series Also Stars Spencer Garrett, Reno Wilson and Kristin Daftilo

Rap Star Coolio Makes Special Guest Appearance as Himself

SERIES PREMIERE -- Busby and Robert, two lean and hungry talent executives for HiTower Records, are on the verge of seeing their bright future forever dimmed unless they can sign a hot new act within two days, when "Hitz" premieres on MONDAY, AUGUST 26 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT), on UPN. Rob Schiller directed the pilot episode written by Producer Mark Cullen. Tracy Gamble & Richard Vaczy are the executive producers.

"Hitz" is set in the high pressure, cutthroat world of Los Angeles' recording industry and follows the exploits of two hip, young music industry executives, Busby and Robert, with an ear for talent and a talent for trouble.

In the series premiere, HiTower company president Jimmy Esposito, who is not convinced of their self-proclaimed genius, gives Busby and Robert an ultimatum to sign, within two days, a hot act or they'll be out in the cold. Having seen their boss fired recently, the guys know Jimmy means business. While commiserating at their local hangout, Riff's, they learn from their always-in-the-know bartender, Neil, that Coolio is looking to change recording labels. Soon, Busby and Robert are onto Coolio like piranha on a slab of meat. But the rap star remembers that Busby dissed Coolio's mother and wants no part of him. Daunted, the guys return to Riff's to lick their wounds before facing Jimmy's unpleasant music.

Andrew "Dice" Clay, who's notorious for his in-your-face stand-up comedy, returns to primetime as a series regular, since starring in "Bless This House" last season, in the role of head HiTower music honcho Jimmy Esposito. Claude Brooks ("Claude's Crib") stars as the smooth-talking Busby and Rick Gomez ("The Adventures of Pete & Pete") as Robert, his music trivia-obsessed partner. Rosa Blasi ("The Bold and the Beautiful") stars as April, a fast-rising music exec. at HiTower. Also starring are Spencer Garrett as Tommy, the label's cynical promotions man, Reno Wilson as Neil the bartender and Kristin Dattilo as Angela, HiTower's business affairs executive, who makes her debut in a future episode.

Guest cast include Coolio as himself, Ali Marash as Sheila, Gregory Cooke as Ugo, Lane Davies as Hubie, Mel Jackson as Sid, Tembi Locke as Lisa and Rosey Brown as the security guard.

Executive Producers Vaczy & Gamble were previously co-executive producers of "Clueless" and "Hudson Street," and executive producers on "The Five Mrs. Buchanans."

"Hitz" is an MTV Production in association with Paramount Network Television.