BET's 'Baldwin Hills' Returns This Summer with Fresh Faces, New Drama

Premiering Tuesday, July 8 at 10:00 P.M.*, Five New Cast Members and Returning Favorites Heat Up Season Two and a "Sneak Peek" on Tuesday, June 24 Following the "BET AWARDS '08" Post-Show

NEW YORK, June 16, 2008 -- During its first season, the BET original series BALDWIN HILLS redefined what it meant to be young and privileged in Los Angeles as it followed the everyday lives of a group of African American teens from a very real and very exclusive enclave called Baldwin Hills.

The top-rated first season brought the world of ordinary middle-class African American families out of the shadows and onto the national stage -- proving to be a hit with parents and teens alike. The second season revisits five favorites while introducing five newcomers into the mix. A teaser will air Tuesday, June 24 after BET AWARDS '08, followed by the official series premiere on Tuesday, July 8 at 10:00 p.m.*

Season two of this 10-episode, half-hour series opens with a "kick-back" hosted by returning fan-favorite and aspiring rapper Sal. The party reveals a hotbed of warring cliques and shocking revelations as new faces and old friends get together for what's supposed to be a good time. Veteran cast member Staci is struggling to balance college life and financial realities; supermodel-in-training Gerren is still stuck on showing her ex Moriah that he's lost a good thing; and "mean girl" sister act Lor'Rena and Aunjel are intent on wreaking havoc with Moriah's new relationship.

Behind the scenes of her catty new alliance with Lor'Rena and Aunjel, it seems that Ashley is still struggling to decide whether she wants to follow in her mom's (actress Vanessa Bell Calloway) footsteps after attending Spelman College, or pursue her dream of dancing. New additions Seiko and Justin find that they have a checkered past in common, but Justin reveals a surprise that could be a deal-breaker for Seiko. Football star and newbie Johnathan is working overtime to balance athletics and the dream of giving back to his community, and basketball cutie Moriah finds out that a "kick-back" can also be a minefield as ex-girlfriend Gerren and aggressively determined Lor'Rena corner him all in clear view of his new girlfriend.

Ultimately they are held together by a camaraderie that cuts across social class, as they grapple with back-stabbing; boyfriend treachery; former friends turned foes; prying parents; and much more while they face the biggest challenge of all -- the looming specter of adulthood.

BALDWIN HILLS is produced by Michael McNamara, Sheri Maroufkhani and Bill Rademaekers of MCFilmworks, in conjunction with BET Networks. Robyn Lattaker-Johnson (SVP, Development -- Original Programming) is the executive in charge for BET, with Kevin Morrison as Senior Director of Development.

Integrated Marketing partnerships include AT&T Mobility.

For show highlights and access to the exclusive BALDWIN HILLS blog, visit bet.com/baldwinhills.

*All times ET/PT

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

SOURCE BET Networks

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