“WIGS,” THE NO. 1 CHANNEL FOR SCRIPTED DRAMA ON YOUTUBE

Press Release:

“WIGS,” THE NO. 1 CHANNEL FOR SCRIPTED DRAMA ON YOUTUBE,

PICKS UP POPULAR SERIES “BLUE” AND “LAUREN” FOR SECOND SEASONS AND ANNOUNCES NEW RELATIONSHIP SERIES “PALOMA”

Julia Stiles Returns in Popular Series BLUE, Premiering with New Episodes Friday, March 15

New Season of Fan-Favorite LAUREN, Starring Troian Bellisario and Jennifer Beals,

Plus New Series PALOMA, Written and Directed by Stiles, to Debut in Spring 2013

Watch Trailer for BLUE [Adult Language/Content Viewer Discretion Advised] at www.youtube.com/wigs

WIGS (www.watchwigs.com and www.youtube.com/wigs), the No. 1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube, announced today the return of two of its most acclaimed series, BLUE, starring Julia Stiles (“The Bourne Ultimatum”), and LAUREN, starring Troian Bellisario (“Pretty Little Liars”) and Jennifer Beals (“The L Word,” “Flashdance”). The channel also is announcing new series PALOMA, written and directed by Stiles, and starring Grace Gummer (“Gigantic,” “Margin Call”).

Returning with 26 all-new episodes, Season Two of BLUE will debut Friday, March 15 (9:00 AM ET/6:00 AM PT) on WIGS, with the release of the first seven all-new episodes.  More new episodes will be made available on Fridays: March 22, March 29 and April 5. The award-winning series stars Stiles as the title character, a single mother trying to protect her son from the consequences of her secret career as an upscale escort.

Written and directed by WIGS co-creator Rodrigo Garcia (“Albert Nobbs,” “In Treatment”) BLUE also features Mark Consuelos (“All My Children”), Holly Robinson Peete (“Mike & Molly,” “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper”), Uriah Shelton (“The Glades”) Kathleen Quinlan (“Apollo 13”), Carla Gallo (BONES, “Men of a Certain Age”) and James Morrison (“Revenge,” “24”). Karen Graci is co-writer on the series. The Season Two trailer for BLUE, as well as all episodes from Season One [Adult Content/Language Viewer Discretion Advised], can be viewed now at www.youtube.com/wigs.

Season Two of LAUREN, scheduled to return with all-new episodes in spring of 2013, will continue to explore the consequences of dealing with sexual assault in the military. Troian Bellisario and Jennifer Beals will return as “Lauren” and “Major Jo Stone,” respectively. The series also features Bradley Whitford (“The West Wing”), Raymond Cruz (“Major Crimes”), Sean Harmon (“NCIS”), Mykelti Williamson (“Justified,” “24,” “Forrest Gump”), Justine Ezarik (YouTube channel iJustine) and Sarah Jones (“Vegas,” “Alcatraz”) who will be reprising her self-titled role as a military veteran from WIGS series KENDRA. WIGS co-creator Jon Avnet (“Black Swan,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Risky Business”) directed the 12 new episodes of the series, which is written by Writers Guild of America award nominee Jay Rodan.

New four-episode series PALOMA, also set to debut this spring, is written and directed by Stiles, marking her second WIGS project. PALOMA stars Gummer as a young woman dealing with the unpredictability of relationships, both in romance and in the workplace. The series also features Rhys Coiro (“Entourage”) and Garret Dillahunt (RAISING HOPE, “Looper”).

“WIGS” SEASON TWO PICKUPS 

“We’re very excited about bringing Season Two of BLUE to the WIGS channel,” said Avnet. “Rodrigo’s work on BLUE with Julia Stiles is filled with surprises. LAUREN, starring Troian Bellasario and Jennifer Beals, again, digs much deeper into the characters and the impact this assault has on the lives of ‘Lauren’ and her fellow soldiers. Jay Rodan followed up on his WGA-award-nominated script with more powerful drama. I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to direct these screenplays with these actors.”

Added Garcia, “We’re looking forward to hearing what fans think of the new installments of these series but are hoping to introduce them to new viewers as well. The inability for content to ‘become old’ is one of the qualities intrinsic to the platform that drew Julia Stiles to WIGS. As a writer, director and actress on the channel, she is a huge advocate for us and we’re truly blessed to have her amongst our talented cast and crew on both BLUE and PALOMA.”

“The consumer feedback has been inspiring, and we expect this season to be even more spectacular than the first,” said Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, Senior Vice President, Multi-Platform Programming at FOX. “We’re thrilled to be supporting Rodrigo Garcia and Jon Avnet as they continue to trailblaze with this important endeavor.”

American Express is the Presenting Sponsor and Unilever is the Associate Sponsor for WIGS.

About WIGS

WIGS was launched in May 2012 by director/producers Jon Avnet (“Black Swan,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,“ “Risky Business”), Rodrigo Garcia (“Albert Nobbs,” “In Treatment,” “Big Love”) and Jake Avnet, and is now the No. 1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube, with over 24 million views to date and more than 100,000 subscribers. The channel offers high-end original series, short films, and documentaries, all starring female leads. 

Popular series on the WIGS channel include BLUE, about a single mother trying to protect her son from the consequences of her secret career as an upscale escort, starring Julia Stiles, Uriah Shelton, and Jeanne Tripplehorn; LAUREN, about the consequences of dealing with sexual assault in the military, starring Troian Bellisario and Jennifer Beals; SERENA, a story of lust, temptation and forbidden love, starring Jennifer Garner and Alfred Molina; and JAN, about a young woman whose first job goes awry, starring Virginia Madsen, Stephen Moyer and Caitlin Gerard.

In February of 2013, Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) entered into a multi-year pact with WIGS. The programming, marketing and distribution partnership is designed to expand the breadth of offerings through the WIGS channel, and test and nurture dramatic concepts and talent in the digital realm.

Additional WIGS offerings have included such actors as America Ferrera, Alison Pill, Dakota Fanning, Jimmy Wolk, Allison Janney, Walton Goggins, Maura Tierney, Michael C. Hall, Sarah Jones, Jason Isaacs, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Messina, Lois Smith, Gary Cole, Jena Malone, Gary Dourdan, Sarah Paulson and Eric Balfour. Writers and directors include Paul Brickman, Betty Thomas, Lesli Linka Glatter, Rose Troche, Mitch Albom, Ami Canaan Mann, Scott Turow, Amy Lippman, Neil LaBute, Leah Rachel, Mattie Brickman, Patricia Cardoso, Mykelti Williamson and Lee Krieger.

To watch all current WIGS series, please visit: www.watchwigs.com, www.youtube.com/wigs or www.youtube.com/wigsespanol.

“Like” WIGS at www.facebook.com/wigs; follow WIGS on Twitter @wigs and join the conversation at #watchwigs; find WIGS on Pinterest and on Google+

Contacts:
Kim Kurland / FOX
Kim.Kurland@fox.com
310-369-2415

Michelle Marron / MPRM
323-933-3399
mmarron@mprm.com

Karlyn Nelson / MPRM
323-933-3399
knelson@mprm.com

[EDITOR’S NOTE: For photos and more information about WIGS, please visit www.foxflash.com.]

FOX INKS PROGRAMMING, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP

WITH YOUTUBE ORIGINAL CHANNEL “WIGS”

No. 1 Digital Channel for Scripted Drama Created By Jon Avnet and Rodrigo Garcia

Explores Female Characters in Original Series

Extends FOX’s Efforts to Discover and Nurture Talent and Content on Digital Platforms

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) has entered into a multi-year pact with YouTube original drama channel WIGS. Building upon News Corporation’s initial investment, FOX and WIGS have formed a programming, marketing and distribution partnership designed to expand the breadth of offerings through the WIGS channel, and test and nurture dramatic concepts and talent in the digital realm.  Under the terms of the partnership agreement, FOX will assume a collaborative role in developing and marketing the channel to grow its base of female viewers, with an eye toward building content that can be programmed on FOX and/or other channels.

“Our overarching goal is to create an ecosystem where creative people and ideas can find expression independently in the online environment, but benefit from the resources that the larger platform of the network affords,” said Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “It takes unique creators and operators like Jon and Rodrigo and Jake Avnet, who not only understand the unfettered and entrepreneurial digital system, but also have a firm grasp on the mainstream – and can capitalize on both. They’ve spent a year building a novel production process and a vibrant alternative pipeline, and we’re excited to help them take those tremendous stories and talent and develop them into long-term digital or on-air assets.” 

“Rodrigo, Jake and I are looking forward to working with Kevin and his team on the next iteration of WIGS. We will continue to write, direct and produce quality scripted entertainment with many of the most talented actors, writers, directors and producers in our business for our YouTube platform. FOX will allow us to expand our horizons and offer us limitless possibilities, which we intend to fully take advantage of in all traditional media platforms, as well,” said Jon Avnet.

WIGS was launched in May 2012 by director/producers Avnet (“Black Swan,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,“ “Risky Business”), Rodrigo Garcia (“Albert Nobbs,” “In Treatment,” “Big Love”) and Jake Avnet, and is now the No. 1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube, with over 22 million views to date and more than 100,000 subscribers. 

The channel offers high-end original series, short films, and documentaries, all starring female leads. Popular series on the WIGS channel include “Blue,” about a mother with a secret life, starring Julia Stiles, Uriah Shelton, and Jeanne Tripplehorn; “Lauren,” a narrative about the complications from a military rape, starring Troian Bellisario and Jennifer Beals; “Serena,” a story of lust, temptation and forbidden love,starring Jennifer Garner and Alfred Molina; and “Jan,” about a young woman whose first job goes awry, starring Virginia Madsen, Stephen Moyer and Caitlin Gerard.

FOX PARTNERS WITH “WIGS” 

Additional WIGS offerings have included such actors as America Ferrera, Alison Pill, Dakota Fanning, Jimmy Wolk, Allison Janney, Walton Goggins, Maura Tierney, Michael C. Hall, Sarah Jones, Jason Isaacs, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Messina, Lois Smith, Gary Cole, Jena Malone, Gary Dourdan, Sarah Paulson and Eric Balfour.  Writers and directors include Paul Brickman, Betty Thomas, Lesli Linka Glatter, Rose Troche, Mitch Albom, Ami Canaan Mann, Scott Turow, Amy Lippman, Neil LaBute, Leah Rachel, Mattie Brickman, Patricia Cardoso, Mykelti Williamson and Lee Kriege

Wigs can be found at www.watchwigs.com www.youtube.com/wigs www.youtube.com/wigsespanol

-FOX-