Universal Television has signed a first-look development deal with Eva Longoria (NBC's "Ready for Love," "Desperate Housewives"), it was announced jointly today by Paul Telegdy, President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment, and Jennifer Salke, President, NBC Entertainment.
Terms include a non-writing, executive producer agreement with Longoria and her
Production Company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment.
"Having Eva Longoria on our team is a huge advantage for our Alternative program development as we have pleasantly discovered in implementing her ideas for 'Ready for Love,' which is shaping up as a terrific and upbeat series," said Telegdy. "She is passionate, fully engaged and has keen instincts for putting together a winning formula for her shows that always bear her imprint."
"We know that this new agreement with Eva Longoria is significant in continuing what has already been a productive relationship," said Salke. "She has exceptional energy, vision, a prestigious name and the creative knack for finding compelling new concepts for our growing studio."
"I am thrilled and excited to join Universal Television on what promises to be a wonderful and creative partnership, especially given all of the recent success at both the studio and the NBC network," said Longoria. "The collaboration between UTV and my
Production Company, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, on our 'Ready for Love' project has been extraordinary. Looking ahead it will be fun to find and develop unique scripted and non-scripted shows that excite television audiences."
Longoria is the Golden Globe-nominated, Screen Actors Guild Award-winning and ALMA Award-winning actress, producer, businesswoman and philanthropist who is best known for her starring role as Gabrielle Solis on "Desperate Housewives."
Longoria is also executive producer of NBC's upcoming "Ready for Love," an innovative and dramatic new relationship show about making real connections for Renegade 83, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and Universal Television.
She has received other numerous awards, including a People's Choice Award for "Favorite Female TV Star," a Teen Choice Award for "Choice TV Breakout Performance," TV Guide's "Sexiest Star," People's "50 Most Beautiful" and "100 Most Beautiful" and People En Español's "50 Mas Bellos." Her additional awards include Rolling Stone's "People of the Year," and for three years in a row, Longoria was included in the prestigious Forbes Celebrity 100, and named Forbes "Highest Paid TV Star" of 2011. Longoria also was named Maxim's "#1 Hottest Woman in the World" on their annual "Hot 100" list, for two years in a row. She was named "Philanthropist of the Year" by the Hollywood Reporter and selected as an honoree for Variety's "Power of Women Awards," among many others.
On the feature-film front, Longoria begins shooting "Frontera" in New Mexico this November alongside Michael Peña and
Ed Harris. Longoria stars in upcoming film "Baytown Outlaws" with
Billy Bob Thornton and "The Dark Truth," starring opposite
Andy Garcia and
Forest Whitaker. She will also star in and produce Hulu's animated series "Child Support," written and directed by "Family Guy" vet Michael Shipley. Longoria previously starred in "Cristiada" with
Andy Garcia and
Peter O'Toole earlier this year, and in 2011, Longoria starred in "Without Men" alongside
Christian Slater. She also voiced the holiday animated film "Arthur Christmas."
Longoria is executive producer of Lifetime's upcoming "Devious Maids," alongside "Desperate Housewives" alum
Marc Cherry. This September marked Longoria's sixth year as both host and executive producer of the National Council of La Raza "ALMA Awards," honoring Latino artistic achievement in the television, film and music industry. Additionally, Longoria,
Zoe Saldana and
Olivia Wilde were selected by
Glamour Magazine to each direct a "2011 REEL Moments" short film based on true-life stories of Glamour readers.
On the directing front, this year "Canon USA" selected Longoria as one of their directors for Project Imaginat10n, the first photography-inspired film festival in history. Longoria is joined by
Jamie Foxx, Biz Stone (founder of Twitter),
Georgina Chapman (designer for Marchesa), and James Murphy (musician, LCD Soundsystem), with
Ron Howard acting as their mentor.
In March 2008, she partnered with Celebrity Chef Todd English and opened the Hollywood steakhouse and bar Beso Hollywood. This was followed by SHe Restaurant and Nightclub by Morton's in Las Vegas which opens January in 2013. Longoria released her first New York Times best-selling cookbook "Eva's Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends" in April 2011, available in both English and Spanish. Longoria's first fragrance EVA, by Eva Longoria was launched in April 2010. Her second fragrance, EvAmour launched last March. Longoria's talent and charm has made her the perfect choice to represent L'Oreal Paris as an international spokesperson for the last seven years. This year also marked her first year as a spokesperson for the high-end jewelry designer Damiani.
Always the philanthropist, Longoria has her own charities and organizations that are very close to her heart. Longoria established The Eva Longoria Foundation (www.evalongoriafoundation.com) in 2010, which helps Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship. Additionally, she serves as the national spokesperson for PADRES Contra El Cancer (Parents Against Cancer) (www.iamhope.com), a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for Latino children with cancer and their families. Longoria also co-founded the non-profit organization "Eva's Heroes" (www.EvasHeroes.org), dedicated to enriching the lives of those with developmental challenges. Longoria currently works closely with the United Farm Workers, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and the National Council of La Raza, to name a few.
In addition, she was recently selected by
President Obama as a commissioner to the National Museum of the American Latino Commission. The National Museum will create a home for the historical artifacts, images, and personal stories documenting more than 500 years of American Latino contributions to the United States. Longoria was also personally selected by the President to serve as a National Co-chair for the re-elect Obama Campaign.
Ben Patton, a businessman from Dallas, Tim Lopez a musician from Santa Barbara, Calif., and Ernesto Arguello, an entrepreneur with a social vision from Miami, are the three men who will vie for the chance to find true love. In order to find their ideal partners, Longoria has enlisted the help of the three best matchmakers in the world: preeminent matchmaker Amber Kelleher-Andrews, best-selling relationship author Tracy McMillan and professional dating coach Matt Hussey. Bill and
Giuliana Rancic will co-host the series.
Longoria invited eligible women from across America to participate and find out how easy it can be to find true love. Women looking for love were able to sign up to be considered for the show through a new Facebook timeline app. This app, which was available atFacebook.com/NBCReadyForLove, allowed them to apply or share the opportunity with friends and family members that might be perfect potential love interests. The app also connected people to the eligible guys via the "Ready for Love" Facebook Page and the guys' Facebook timelines. The show launches into a romantic journey that will combine in-studio competition and reality show elements. Each week, the women who fail to make a connection with the men will be sent home. In an intense finale, the quest for love culminates when the three men each choose their final woman and the couples must then decide if they'll get engaged, married, or simply live happily ever after.
"Ready for Love" is produced by Renegade 83, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment and Universal Television. Eva Longoria ("Desperate Housewives"), Jason Ehrlich ("The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette"), Greg Goldman ("Secret Millionaire," "Don't Forget the Lyrics!"),
David Garfinkle ("Blind Date," "The 5th Wheel") and Jay Renfroe ("Blind Date," "The 5th Wheel") serve as executive producers.
Longoria is represented by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment, and Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman.
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