Spike TV and Bruce Willis Explore the Importance of Fatherhood in America With an Unprecedented Two Hour Primetime Special

'True Dads with Bruce Willis' Premieres on Spike TV Friday, December 17@9pm

Celebrity Dads Matt Lauer, Cedric the Entertainer, Alec Baldwin and NY Yankee Jorge Posada Share Their Wit and Wisdom as Fathers and Sons

Original Documentary Executive Produced by Four-Time Peabody(R) Award-Winning Team Paul & Holly Fine

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 -- There is a family crisis in America -- one out of every four homes with no father in sight. With a two hour special dedicated to tackling the issue, Spike TV examines the lives of men who've discovered the immeasurable rewards of being a father. Hosted by Emmy(R)-Award winning actor and father of three, Bruce Willis, "True Dads with Bruce Willis," premieres on Spike TV Friday, December 17 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

"Today's men are looking for new role models about how to be a dad - you can't just come home and watch TV anymore. According to research from Spike TV's recent nationwide study of men*, we found that nearly half of the men surveyed said they don't spend as much time as they would like with their kids," says Albie Hecht, President of Spike TV. "We hope this documentary will help to inspire a new generation of fathers."

More than ever, fathers are taking a more active role in their children's lives and are finding fatherhood to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. "True Dads with Bruce Willis" paints an evolving picture of fatherhood from the perspective of six everyday dads. Through their personal stories and experiences, viewers witness the full spectrum of fatherhood and see that although it can be challenging at times, fatherhood can also be the most creative, fulfilling and enriching experience of a man's life. Spike TV's "True Dads with Bruce Willis" features the following stories:

-- NASCAR legacy Kerry Earnhardt talks candidly about the influence the relationship with his famous father, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. had on his own experience as a father. Kerry pushed racing aside to be present in his children's lives, but has recently decided to pursue the sport that took his own father's life;

-- Dr. Jonathan Clark, husband of late astronaut Laurel Clark who was killed in the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy. Now a single parent, Dr. Clark has taken on the challenge of raising his now nine- year-old son on his own; This story includes never seen before NASA footage of Laurel talking to her husband and son from space;

-- The Daniel Men: the story of African-American father and son, Professor Jack Daniel and Poet Omari Daniel, who have penned a candid tale about their sometimes stormy relationship in their book, "We Fish: The Journey to Fatherhood;"

-- James Madison University football coach Mickey Matthews thought life was perfect when his son became a star quarterback. But after a car accident paralyzed his son, Coach Matthews' life goal shifted from doing whatever it takes to win games to doing whatever it takes to get his son to walk again;

-- Joseph T. Jones, a one-time heroin addict and deadbeat dad, Jones changed his life around and now wages a tenacious crusade to save Baltimore's children from the same fate, one father at a time;

-- First time father, Ben Passmore, experiences the amazing moment of the birth of his child -- a life altering event that reconnects him with his own father and teaches him that becoming a dad, is becoming a fully adult man.

In addition to these moving stories, Spike TV's "True Dads with Bruce Willis" will include commentary from some of America's most famous dads. Celebrities including Matt Lauer, Cedric the Entertainer, Alec Baldwin and NY Yankee catcher Jorge Posada offer their personal insight and advice about fatherhood.

"True Dads with Bruce Willis" is a production of Fine Films. Paul and Holly Fine serve as Executive Producers; Sean Fine, their son, and his wife, Andrea Nix, produced the special. Cindy D'Agostino was the Editor. Keith Brown is the Executive Producer of Spike TV Documentaries.

* Spike TV's "Men's State of the Union" study March 2004, conducted by Penn, Schoen and Berland (PSB) and Insight Research Group and covered a host of issues including relationships, the economy, family life, politics, sex, and religion. The margin of error is + or - 2.9%

Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 87 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VH1, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

SOURCE Spike TV
Web Site: http://www.spiketv.com