| November 8, 2004 Press
Release about the "Life of Luxury" specials: Eternally-tanned
film and TV star George Hamilton, a man whose name is synonymous with the good
life, has been signed to host "Life of Luxury", a series of hour-long
specials for the ABC Television Network that will take viewers behind some of
the most expensive closed doors in the world, announced by Andrea Wong, senior
vice president, Alternative Series and Specials. Hamilton, who last hosted
the critically-acclaimed reality series "The Family" for the network,
will appear in four upcoming editions of "Life of Luxury". "No
one knows better than George how the 'other half' lives. We're delighted to have
him return to ABC," said Ms. Wong. "George is an icon of class and elegance.
I can't think of a better person to act as our tour guide to a world that only
the very privileged have access to." Andy Friendly, the show's executive
producer, said: "George lives and breathes the 'Life of Luxury!' He epitomizes
it in his dress, his looks, his style and his experience . . . and he is the smoothest,
coolest guy around. His strong relationships with the people we want to profile,
his great looks, droll sense of humor and classy on-camera presence will take
"Life of Luxury" to even greater heights." The first "Life
of Luxury" special aired in December and reaped rich ratings for the network.
It posted ABC's highest rating in 7 months in the Monday 8:00-9:00 p.m. time period
- since 5/19/03 - with non-sports programming. In the Adult 18-34 'reality demographic',
the program scored the net's strongest performance in the time period in nine
months with non-sports programming. "Life of Luxury" gained viewers
and young adults from start to finish. Production is underway now for the
additional four hours, which will continue to take viewers into the lives of the
super rich and the super fabulous. Upcoming segments will include a look inside
the world of millionaire sports moguls and kings of the Las Vegas scene, the famously
rich and single Maloof brothers; living large with billionaire hip hop impresario
Damon Dash; a peek at Mob princess Victoria Gotti's pampered world; and a visit
to the fairy-tale Irish castle owned by Lord of the Dance star Michael
Flatley. "Life of Luxury" is from Andy Friendly Productions. Friendly
-- former president of programming and production, Kingworld -- is executive producer,
and Krysia Plonka (ABC's "InStyle" specials) is co-executive producer. •
• • From ABC
TV:
Life of Luxury returns with an all-access look at the lives
of the über-rich and the super-fabulous. George Hamilton, a man whose name
is synonymous with the good life, will take viewers behind some of the most expensive
closed doors in the world. In the season premiere episode, Hamilton strolls
the grounds of the ultimate bachelor pad, the Playboy Mansion, with Hugh Hefner
as his guide; tours Michael Flatley's multi-million-dollar collection of homes,
including an Irish castle where the "Lord of the Dance" truly lives
like a king; talks one-on-one with hip-hop mogul Damon Dash about his half-billion
dollar empire; and answers the burning question - just who's the queen of shopping
- Britney or Christina? Episode highlights: -Behind the scenes
of the Playboy Mansion with the ultimate bachelor, Hugh Hefner, where young Hollywood
still flocks to his legendary parties. And here's something viewers didn't know.
Hef's kitchen runs 24 hours a day, and when he wants something… he orders
one of his favorites, numbered 1-36. -Can you believe Michael Flatley made
$700,000,000 off Lord of the Dance? George takes us on a tour of the lord
of the manor's trio of multi-million-dollar homes: his fabulous Irish castle in
County Cork; his $30 million London mansion and his Mediterranean-style villa
overlooking the Côte D'Azur in the South of France, as the newly-single
entertainer talks about what he's looking for in a woman. -Thirty-three-year-old
hip-hop mogul Damon Dash is living phat on both coasts, with his 5,000-square-foot
Tribeca loft and a Moroccan-inspired Beverly Hills mansion. His half-billion dollar
Roc-a-Fella music and clothing empire keep him fresh in a new pair of sneakers
every day. "Life of Luxury" goes shopping with him to expand his collection
of what must be the largest sneaker collection in the world. -Everything's
"swell" for chic and trendy fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, who talks
with George about her multi-million-dollar clothing empire and how she is becoming
a style icon for the new millennium with her Swell line of products at Target.
Check out her cool Manhattan pad, where the colored lighting scheme changes to
suit her mood. -A look at the pooch platinum set - it's truly a dog's life
when Sweet Pea, a year-old mutt, celebrates her first birthday with diamonds,
private jets, a customized cake and a lavish Arabian Nights-style party thrown
by her over-the-top affluent owners… The price tag of this one-dog-day affair?
Only $30,000! -Who's the queen of shopping, Britney or Christina? George
does a little investigative journalism and interviews the owners of the trendiest
boutiques in Los Angeles to see which of the dueling divas spends the most dollars
in the shortest amount of time. We'll give you a hint: the winner dropped $60K
in 60 minutes. -George walks along the pristine sands of the lavish Las
Alamandas resort on the Mexican Riviera, where heiress Isabel Goldsmith reveals
how she turned this deserted property into the Hollywood resort hotspot for stars
such as Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt and Christy Turlington & Ed Burns.
• • • Click
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Feature: Bernadette
Price
Transcript: Louise Owen
Original Web Design: Alexander
Servas
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