NBC ANNOUNCES NEW COMPETITION SERIES 'UNITED PLATES OF AMERICA' SERVING UP A CHANCE FOR CONTESTANTS TO CLAIM THE BIGGEST PRIZE IN REALITY SHOW HISTORY -- OPENING A RESTAURANT CHAIN IN FOUR CITIES ACROSS AMERICA

One-of-a-kind Culinary and Business Competition Series to be Produced by Magical Elves, the Emmy Award-nominated Producers of "Project Runway" and "Top Chef"

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - November 19, 2009 - NBC announced today the new alternative-competitive series "United Plates of America" (working title) - from Magical Elves the Emmy Award-nominated producers of "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" -- that will allow contestants to vie for arguably the biggest prize in reality show history -- the opportunity to open a new restaurant chain in four cities across America.

The contestants' fate will be decided by a panel of real investors who fund the chain of restaurants with their own money. As the competitors chase their American dream, viewers will also be fully engaged with interactive elements online at nbc.com.

The announcement was made by Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"This is the first time the culinary and business worlds have come together in a big event series where the prize is one of the largest in reality TV history," said Telegdy. "Not only will viewers get to watch the competition unfold, they'll be able to eat at the winning restaurant immediately after the show's finale."

"This show is going to make the American Dream come true for someone out there - all they need is one great idea," said executive producer Dan Cutforth.

Added executive producer, Jane Lipsitz, "With a prize of this magnitude, we believe this show will bring together everything we love about reality TV; creative passionate contestants, a dynamic panel of experts, and fierce competition."

"United Plates of America" challenges its creative and ambitious contestants to realize their dream of opening the next great restaurant. However, achieving that goal requires substantial financial backing and business connections that few people can claim.

The winner will be selected by a panel of some of the most important names in both the dining and business worlds who will invest their own money in the final restaurant chain and have a huge stake in the game's winner. Thousands of ideas will be narrowed down as each week the investors will put the chosen few through rigorous challenges to discover whose plan has the greatest potential for success. The stakes have never been higher for the contestants and the investors. The series will showcase larger-than-life personalities who will offer the hopeful restaurateurs expertise, support -- and the kind of tough love it will take to overcome great odds. Ultimately, after a much-heated debate, the panel will choose the winning concept and decide whose idea will be America's newest restaurant.

In 2009, the U.S. restaurant industry was a $566 billion business. "United Plates of America" will offer a lucky American who has a great idea the chance to be a vital part of that industry.

Prospective competitors can apply for a chance to be a contestant can log on to www.nbc.com/casting for more information.

"United Plates of America" is a Magical Elves production. Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz (the Emmy Award-nominated producers of "Project Runway" and "Top Chef") are the executive producers.