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IT'S BACK AND MESSIER THAN EVER! "DOUBLE DARE 2000" JOINS NICKELODEON'S WEEKDAY SCHEDULE BEGINNING JANUARY 24 WITH PREVIEW IN "SNICK BLOCK" ON JANUARY 22

Jason Harris Hosts Game Show -- Based at Nickelodeon Studios Florida in Orlando -- Featuring All-New "Triple Dare" Challenge

New York, NY - December 20, 1999 - Double Dare - Nickelodeon's popular, classic obstacle-course game show that turned slime into the network's trademark substance -- returns for a new generation of kids as the all-new Double Dare 2000. The show's debut episode will air as a sneak peek in Nickelodeon's SNICK block on Saturday, January 22, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Double Dare 2000 will then assume its regular timeslot beginning on Monday, January 24, airing weekdays at 5 p.m. ET/PT. The announcement was made today by Cyma Zarghami, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon.

Jason Harris, formerly with Nickelodeon's Big Help on the Road, joins as host and receives the podium passed by Marc Summers (host of the original Double Dare) who now serves as a consultant on the new show. Production of 65 half-hour episodes begins on January 5, at Nickelodeon Studios Florida in Orlando.

"Double Dare was one of Nickelodeon's flagship original series and it enjoyed such a successful run on the network because it celebrated why it's great to be a kid," commented Zarghami. "We are thrilled to create a new version of the show and are fortunate to have the expertise of several members of the original production team," she added.

Double Dare 2000 is a fast-paced game show combining trivia knowledge, wacky physical competition, and tons of mess. During each episode, two families answer two rounds of trivia and can opt to perform a physical challenge instead of answering a question, or dare the opposing team to perform the same for double the points. The opposing team can then perform the physical challenge or double dare the first team back for triple the points.

A new element to Double Dare 2000 will be the Triple Dare Challenge - in the second round, instead of taking a double dare, a team can opt for an intensely messy physical challenge that is worth triple points. At the end of the second round, the team with the most points embarks on a gooey eight-stage obstacle course and wins a prize for every part they complete. If the entire course is finished within the time limit, a special grand prize awaits them.

Host Jason Harris, who in addition to serving as a host of Nickelodeon's Big Help on the Road, hosted School's Out on Cablevision's MSG Metro Leaning Channel seen in the New York City area, appeared on All My Children (ABC), and voiced Tales of the Wild for National Geographic Television. In addition, Manhattan native appeared in the film Mergers and Acquisitions (Lopsided Pictures), and numerous Off-Broadway productions including: Forbidden Fruit (Ensemble Studio Theatre); The Survivor (Manhattan Class Co.); Brimstone and Treacle (John Houseman Theatre); 6 Story Building (Judith Anderson Theatre); Sworn Enemies (Jewish Repertory); Psycho Beach Party (Chelsea Playhouse); and The Good Woman of Setzuan (Musical Theatre Works).

Many of Double Dare's creative and production team alumni have returned for Double Dare 2000, including host Marc Summers, who is now a creative consultant. Double Dare 2000 Executive Producer Eileen Braun was an intern; Co-Executive Producer Angelika Bartenbach-Kidd was a control room production assistant; Bob Mittenthal is the Co-Creator for both; and Byron Taylor is the Designer for both. In addition, Double Dare Unit Manager Marjorie Cohn is overseeing the launch of Double Dare 2000 as Nickelodeon's Senior Vice President for Current Series.

The original Double Dare debuted in 1986 as Nickelodeon's first originally-produced television program for kids. Hosted by Marc Summers, Double Dare re-invented the game show genre for kids and within a month, the sloppy obstacle-course game show more than tripled ratings for Nickelodeon's afternoon schedule. Double Dare aired on Nickelodeon for seven seasons, including variations Family Double Dare and Super Sloppy Double Dare. The show now airs regularly on Nickelodeon's new digital channel Nickelodeon GAS - Games and Sports For Kids.

Nickelodeon Studios is located at Universal Studios Florida within Universal Studios Escape in Orlando, and is the largest facility ever dedicated to producing kids' television. It's a state-of-the-art, fully-digital video production center with its own Green Slime Geyser. Kids and families are able to tour the facilities and participate in the Game Lab where new ideas for Nick shows are developed, as well as serve as a studio audience for Nickelodeon GAS - Games and Sports For Kids, and game shows now produced there, including Double Dare 2000 and Figure It Out.

Nickelodeon, which celebrated its 20th birthday in 1999, has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, magazines, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 75 million households, and has been the number one rated cable network for three consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.