BRAVO LAUNCHES NEW DOCU-SERIES "SHAHS OF SUNSET" ON SUNDAY, MARCH 11 AT 10PM ET/PT

NEW YORK - January 23, 2012 - Bravo gives viewers a never-before-seen look inside the captivating lives of six young Persian-American friends in Los Angeles when "Shahs of Sunset" premieres on Sunday, March 11th at 10PM ET/PT. Partnering for the first time with Ryan Seacrest Productions, the network's latest docu-series follows a group of friends who are trying to juggle their active social lives and up-and-coming careers while balancing the demands of their families and traditions. These passionate socialites are fervent on the dating and party scene, but seeking approval from their families they face pressures to settle down and marry within the community. From outings on Rodeo Drive to traditional Persian feasts at home, this series celebrates the unique lifestyle of a group of friends who have worked hard for what they have and are not afraid to flaunt it. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.

For a sneak peek, visit: http://www.bravotv.com/shahs-of-sunset/season-1/videos/from-the-old-country-to-beverly-hills .

"Shahs of Sunset" cast includes:

Mercedes "MJ" Javid

MJ is a 30-something year old, luxury real estate agent living in the Hollywood Hills. A known party girl, she sometimes struggles balancing her "networking" at night with her early mornings at the office. Coming from different sides of the spectrum MJ and her overbearing and unconventional Persian mother, Vida, fight over everything including the way MJ dresses. MJ struggles to find out who she really is and what she really wants from her friends, from her work, and from her family.

Reza Farahan

Born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in Beverly Hills, Reza is a 38 year old prominent player in the Los Angeles real estate world. He is one of few openly gay Persians in the community and often struggles with gossip and prejudice regarding his sexuality. Reza's family supports him in spite of the pressure they feel to ostracize him. Despite his untraditional style, Reza is an old fashioned guy at heart who wants a partner, a family, and the American White Picket Fence happy ending, but he is going to have to get past the baggage he carries from his upbringing to achieve it.

A$a Rahmati

A$a is a controversial singer/artist who prides herself on living the "Modern Persian gypsy bohemian lifestyle" and is prominent in the Venice artist scene. A refugee who fled Iran as a young girl A$a grew up in Europe before moving to Los Angeles as a teenager. The sassy 35 year old is often considered an outsider in the group doing whatever she wants, whenever she wants including dating outside her race and religion. With little desire to settle down any time soon, A$a's main priority in life is staying true to herself and her career.

Sammy Younai

Sammy is a residential developer in Beverly Hills specializing in building multi-million dollar homes specifically for the Persian community. Constantly working to make a deal, Sammy feels the pressure from his family and culture to be wildly successful in his career. The 35 year old is a "ladies man" and is always on the prowl for his next fling, but recently began debating if it's time to find the right Persian girl who appreciates what's in his heart and not in his wallet.

Mike Shouhed

Mike is part of the self-appointed "Persian Real Estate Mafia" in Los Angles. After being a high roller in the Vegas commercial real estate market, Mike lost his shirt in the crash and has moved back home to rebuild. The 33 year old reformed player has the best of intentions, but old habits are hard to break and Mike can't seem to stop charming every girl in the room. His friends joke he's looking for "the one" every night at the club, but ultimately he is looking for a woman he can bring home to his mother.

Golnesa "GG" Gharachedadhi

GG is an exotic beauty with a fiery temper and very little filter. Fully supported by her father, this classic "Persian Princess," goes out to lunch with her friends during the day and shops for Mr. Persian Right at night. More than ready to start a family, GG is definitely looking to settle down, but the 29 year old is having a hard time finding a man that can support the lavish lifestyle and handle her unapologetic personality.

"Shahs of Sunset" is produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions for Bravo with Ryan Seacrest, Adam Sher and Pete Tartaglia serving as executive producers on the series.

Bravo is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBCUniversal cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BravoPR.