CBS ANNOUNCES THE NEW ONE-HOUR SPECIAL

MVP: MOST VALUABLE PERFORMER,” TO BE BROADCAST LIVE THURSDAY, JAN. 25

An Interactive Talent Show to Find the Professional Football Player

with the Best Talent off the Field

Voting Is Now Open Online at si.com/mvp for the 32 Participating Players

Finalists Will Be Matched with Celebrity Mentors

Who Specialize in Their Talent

During the Jan. 25 Broadcast, Viewers Can Vote from the Final Three

on CBS.com, with the Winner Revealed Live

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLING OF PERFORMANCES

CBS announced today the new one-hour special MVP: MOST VALUABLE PERFORMER, an interactive talent show to find the pro football player with the best off-the-field talent, to be broadcast live from the Avalon Hollywood, Thursday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

The MVP contest begins today with the first videos of the 32 participating players available online at si.com/mvp for fans to watch and vote for their favorite performer. The videos showcase various unique talents, such as Irish step dancing, rapping and archery, among others. Each week, a new group of players’ auditions will be available online for fan voting during December. The finalists will be announced in January.

“While we knew pro football players had talents off the field, we had no idea how deep their talents go,” said Robert Horowitz, JUMA Entertainment President. “The focus, discipline and competitive fire that serve them so well on the field will be on full display as they step into the MVP spotlight. Watching many of these players perform their skills, it quickly becomes apparent that, if they had picked up a violin when they were 5, they probably would have ended up a concert violinist. Also, just know for any finalist whose day job might take them to the Super Bowl and prohibit them from appearing live on the show, we still plan to honor and call attention to their talent.”

Players who have entered the contest include Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers (Piano); AJ Green, Cincinnati Bengals (Juggling); Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers (Archery); Juju Smith-Shuster, Pittsburgh Steelers (Cooking); Domata Peko, Denver Broncos (Guitar); and Miles Killebrew, Detroit Lions (Drums). The complete list is below.

The top finalists will advance to the live show and be assisted by an entertainer who will mentor them and enhance their performances. During the show, a panel of celebrity judges will critique each player’s performance before viewers vote live online at CBS.com to determine the MVP: MOST VALUABLE PERFORMER. The winner will be revealed at the end of the show.

Additional information will be available closer to air.

The following is the current list of pro football players who have entered the MVP competition.

Ameer Abdullah

Detroit Lions

Acro-Yoga

Prince Amukamara

Chicago Bears

Dancing

Joe Barksdale

Los Angeles Chargers

Guitar

Justin Bethel

Arizona Cardinals

Drums

Patrick Chung

New England Patriots

Cooking

Alex Collins

Baltimore Ravens

Irish Step Dancing

Fletcher Cox

Philadelphia Eagles

Archery

Mason Crosby

Green Bay Packers

Archery

John Denney

Miami Dolphins

Violin

Max Garcia

Denver Broncos

Singing

Robert McClain

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Artist

AJ Green

Cincinnati Bengals

Juggling

Jacob and Cody Hollister

New England Patriots

Singing/Guitar

Miles Killebrew

Detroit Lions

Saxophone

Marquette King

Oakland Raiders

Piano

Christian Kirksey

Cleveland Browns

Drums

Bennie Logan

Kansas City Chiefs

Archery

Greg Mabin

San Francisco 49ers

Rap

Arthur Moats

Pittsburgh Steelers

Piano

Corey Nelson

Denver Broncos

Poetry

Robert Nkemdiche

Arizona Cardinals

Saxophone

Pat O’Donnell

Chicago Bears

Trick Shots

Domata Peko

Denver Broncos

Guitar

Juju Smith-Schuster

Pittsburgh Steelers

Cooking

Jonathan Stewart

Carolina Panthers

Piano

Joe Thuney

New England Patriots

Rubik’s Cube

Dalvin Tomlinson

New York Giants

Artist

Stephon Tuitt

Pittsburgh Steelers

Cooking

Brandon Williams

Baltimore Ravens

Singing

Eddie Yarbrough

Buffalo Bills

Ukulele/Singing

Kevin Zeitler

Cleveland Browns

Dog Tricks


MVP: MOST VALUABLE PERFORMER is produced by JUMA Entertainment in conjunction with ACE Media, the content arm of the NFL Players Association. Robert Horowitz and Josh Greenberg of JUMA are the executive producers along with Scott Langerman of ACE. Michael Simon will direct.

CHEAT TWEET: CBS announces new LIVE 1-hour interactive talent show “MVP: Most Valuable Performer” featuring pro football players & their special talents off the gridiron! 1/25 8PM #CBS http://bit.ly/2zW8ZNr

RATING: To Be Announced

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CBS Press Contacts:

Kate Fisher

212-975-3818

khfisher@cbs.com

Vernon Cheek

818-655-1588

vernon.cheek@cbs.com

 

Photo Contact:

Paula Breck

212 975-3811

pjbreck@cbs.com