VH1 and 495 Productions Teach Helpless 'Tools' How to Repair Their Broken Relationships

"ToolAcademy" Premieres January 11, 2009 at 10pm*

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 5 -- We have all encountered them before: those strutting, preening, over confident alpha-males who lie, cheat, and treat their girlfriends like door mats. They are "tools," and they desperately need a wake up call. VH1 and 495 Productions are taking 9 of these unsuspecting bad boys and sending them to relationship boot camp in a new series titled "ToolAcademy." The eight episode series, hosted by Jordan Murphy, is slated to premiere January 11 at 10pm.*

The guys, all secretly nominated by their girlfriends, initially believe they are taking part in a competition in search of "Mr. Awesome." But the tables are turned almost immediately and they quickly learn that they are actually recruits in the "Tool Academy," where they will be schooled in proper boyfriend behavior--covering topics like honesty, fidelity, maturity, and communication with resident relationship counselor Trina Dolenz. Each week the guy who shows the least progress in the group is deemed a hopeless tool and dismissed from the academy. But there's a twist: he must then plead his case before his girlfriend, who decides on the spot if she wants to keep him or kick him to the curb. In the end, only one man will be rewarded for his transformation with a $100,000 cash prize and the title of "Mr. Awesome."

"This show carries the hope that buried deep inside even the world's most incorrigible tool, there may actually be a good boyfriend waiting to be revealed," said Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President of Programming & Production for VH1. "Sometimes all it takes is a little self reflection...and eight weeks of intensive TV therapy."

Jordan Murphy's previous hosting duties include all four seasons of NBC's For Love or Money, USA's Before & After'noon Movies, and Reality Remix. He has also appeared on such shows as Las Vegas, Scrubs, Charmed, and JAG among others. Murphy is represented by IMG Broadcasting's Babette Perry and continues to be managed by Kathy Carter.

Trina Dolenz trained as a couples counselor in Cambridge, England, obtaining a Graduate Certificate in Marital and Couples Counseling, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Couples Therapy from the University of East London. She has run private practices in couples therapy in London as well as her adopted home of Los Angeles.

The series will be produced by SallyAnn Salsano for 495 Productions. Jim Ackerman, Dave Hamilton, Mike Riley and Jeff Olde will oversee the series for VH1.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

*all times ET/PT