They're Gangster and They're Back! VH1's Smash Hit "Mob Wives" Rings in Season 2 on New Year's Day The Family Expands in Spring 2012 with its First Spin-Off "Mob Wives: Chicago" from TWC, Electus and JustJenn Productions LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- There's no better way to start off the New Year than with 'the family.' "Mob Wives" is back and the drama has gone to a whole new level. The highly-anticipated second season premiere of VH1's hit reality television series premieres on Sunday, January 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Viewers will also be introduced to a new group of 'Syndicate Sisters' with the debut of the franchise's first spin-off "Mob Wives: Chicago" this Spring, where the legendary home of Al Capone will serve as the backdrop. Both shows are produced by TWC, Electus, Left/Right and JustJenn Productions. The second season of "Mob Wives" picks up where the first left off – with each cast member dealing with major personal life issues. The rift between Karen and Drita is far from over – will they ever be able to 'bury the hatchet'? Renee goes under the knife for major plastic surgery that may have some unexpected consequences, while also contemplating her future with her ex- husband Junior. Drita is considering her options when it comes to leaving her husband Lee – while Carla's relationship with her estranged husband Joe may take an unexpected twist. And, of course, everyone wants to know what's in Karen's soon-to-be- released book – the one she moved back to New York to write! Last season, "Mob Wives" gave viewers an unfiltered look into the closed-door society of Renee, Karen, Carla and Drita, four struggling "allegedly" associated women who have to pick up the pieces and carry on while their husbands or fathers do time for Mob-related activities. United by a bond which few understand, the women are all struggling with their identities and their futures as they raise their kids as single parents in the New York City area. The franchise expands as VH1 announced the pickup of "Mob Wives: Chicago." A spin-off from the original east coast-based series, "Mob Wives: Chicago" will introduce a new cast of women suffering the stronzi and agita of their Mafiosi connections. The series will air in Spring 2012. "Our viewers connected so strongly with our New York cast that we were skeptical about trying to repeat that success," said Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President, Original Programming & Production. "But once we met these ladies from Chicago and heard their truly unbelievable stories, we knew that viewers would become just as captivated as we did. These women's life experiences may be far different from our own, but their current struggles to stand on their own two feet are relatable to everyone." "After a terrific first season, Electus is incredibly proud to partner once again with The Weinstein Company, JustJenn Productions and VH1 to bring the second season of Mob Wives to air so that audiences can see how the ladies' compelling stories progress," said Jimmy Fox, Executive Producer and Head of Creative Development for Electus. "We are equally thrilled that Mob Wives will be coming to Chicago, a town that was once home to some of the mob's most notorious gangsters. Audiences will be blown away by the larger-than-life characters with their own unique stories to tell." "The first season of 'Mob Wives' pulled back the curtain on a much-discussed yet mysterious world inhabited by four fascinating and strong-willed women," stated Meryl Poster, TWC's President of Television. "The viewer response to the genuine and gripping storylines that unfolded on the show was immediate and passionate, and we are grateful to these extraordinary ladies for inviting the cameras back into their lives for season two. We know that the viewing audience will feel a similar connection to the cast of 'Mob Wives Chicago' and look forward to bringing their remarkable stories to the small screen this spring." "The furs, the money, the parties, the respect – it's all part of the intrigue of the world I grew up in," said series Creator and Executive Producer Jennifer Graziano of JustJenn Productions. "But at any time, the other shoe can drop and these women find themselves going on prison visits. I have long thought that this was a story that needed to be told, and am so thankful that we can continue this journey with the original 'Mob Wives' – as well as expanding the franchise to Chicago. I have always heard the legends about Al Capone and Chicago, but it wasn't until I actually went to the city that I became enamored with the rich mob history there. These women's lives are right off the pages of a storybook!" For additional information about "Mob Wives," visit the official VH1 Mob Wives site at MobWives.vh1.com. Viewers can also find series updates on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mobwives and on Twitter @VH1 with the hashtag #MobWives. Created and produced by Jennifer Graziano of JustJenn Productions, "Mob Wives" is produced by The Weinstein Company (Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein), Electus (Ben Silverman, Jimmy Fox) and Left/Right (Banks Tarver, Ken Druckerman and Nina Diaz), with Electus/Engine Distribution owning distribution rights across all platforms including television, motion picture, and digital. Executive producers for VH1 include Shelly Tatro, Kari McFarland, Rick Hankey and Jeff Olde. Sean Gottlieb serves as supervising producer for VH1. About Electus Electus is the first integrated multimedia entertainment studio to unite producers, creators, advertisers and distributors under one roof and produce all forms of content for distribution across a variety of platforms around the world. Headed by Ben Silverman, in partnership with IAC [NASDAQ: IACI], the company connects advertisers, distributors and content creators early on in the development process, enabling marketers and advertisers to be a true partner in campaigns and content creation. For more information on Electus, visit www.electus.com. ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE. Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, including Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I'M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD; HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; BLUE VALENTINE; THE COMPANY MEN; MIRAL; SCRE4M; SUBMARINE; DIRTY GIRL; and I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. Currently in release are APOLLO 18; OUR IDIOT BROTHER; SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD IN 4D; and SARAH'S KEY. Upcoming releases include MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, PIRANHA 3DD; THE ARTIST; W.E.; and THE IRON LADY. TWC is also active in television production, led by former Miramax Films President of Production and current TWC President of Television Meryl Poster, with credits including the Emmy® nominated and Peabody Award winning reality series Project Runway, the VH1 reality series Mob Wives, and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency which also received a Peabody Award. The company is currently producing After The Runway, Project Runway All Stars and Project Accessory and has 17 series in different stages of development, including Marco Polo, a scripted historical series about the great explorer; and The Nanny Diaries, being adapted for ABC by Amy Sherman Palladino (Gilmore Girls). 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 99 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, and extensive video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com. SOURCE VH1 B|W|R Public Relations/ Los Angeles: Michael Cilnis, +1-310-248-6104, [email protected]; B|W|R Public Relations/ New York: Raina Seides, +1-212-901-3920, [email protected]; VH1/ Los Angeles: Scott Acord, +1-310-752-8075, [email protected]; VH1/ New York: Toni Herron, +1-212-846-7528, [email protected] .