BET Turns the Tables on Unsuspecting Fans With New Celebrity Prank Show 'PLAYED BY FAME' Premiering Friday, January 30 at 10:00 p.m.*

Comedian/Actor Kevin Hart, Platinum Selling Rapper Ludacris, R&B Songstress Monica, Singer/Songwriter Mario and Others Featured

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12 -- Turning dreams into nightmares, brand new series PLAYED BY FAME premieres Friday, January 30 at 10:00 p.m.* on BET. In this fresh new series, patience is tested and boundaries are broken as celeb-fanatics partake in what appears to be the best opportunity of their lives -- spending the day with their favorite celebrity. But reality quickly sets in as a series of pranks turns what started off as a dream day into the worst time of their lives!

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

Hosted by comedian/actor Al Shearer, whose credits include BET's Hits From the Streets and Teen Summit and Universal Studio's motion picture Honey, PLAYED BY FAME features a hot lineup of celebrity pranksters including comedian/actor Kevin Hart, platinum selling rapper Ludacris, R&B songstress Monica and singer/songwriter Mario. Also featured are celebrities Jazzy Pha, Lamman Rucker, Toccara, Melyssa Ford, Brandon T Jackson, Fatima, , Raheem DeVaughn, Jackie Long, Tia Mowry, Young Buck, Bobby Brown, , E-40, Terry Crews, Keshia Knight-Pulliam, Melinda Williams, Stevie Williams, Charlie Murphy, Wood Harris, Matt Kemp, Mr. Bentley, Eva Marcille, Bobby Valentino, and .

PLAYED BY FAME is executive produced by DuBose Entertainment and BET Networks.

Viewers can visit www..com/OnTV/BETShows for more information about PLAYED BY FAME, including biographies, upcoming episodes and exclusive interviews.

*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 98 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub- Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses 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 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, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

SOURCE BET Networks -0- 01/12/2009 CONTACT: Crystal Thomas, +1-310-481-3779, [email protected], or Danielle Spigner, +1-212-205-3028, [email protected], both of BET Networks

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