IMTA Alum Brooke Burns Hosts “Hole in the Wall“

Sneak previews lead to hour-long debut

"We havesumo wrestlers versus jockeys. We have a team of beauties and a team of geeks. And we have male body builders going up against a team of little people."– Mike Darnell, Fox President of Alternative Programming

As befits a series about people trying to fit themselves into tight spaces, the FOX Channel managed to squeeze a couple of sneak previews for the new reality game show "Hole in the Wall" into its schedule. And the effort seems to have paid off. With the premiere officially set for Thursday evening, “Hole in the Wall” is already generating reviews that say the show is “big,” it’s “fun,” “it works,” and it is “a cut above usual game shows.”

Co-hosted by IMTA alum Brooke Burns, along with TV personality Mark Thompson, and based on the popular Japanese game show format, "Hole in the Wall" asks contestants to wedge their bodies through cut-out shapes in a swiftly approaching barrier wall. Failure to fit through the hole results in a splash, as contestants are pushed into a pool of water behind them. The team with the most points at the end of the competition wins $25,000 and the chance to face the "Blind Wall" for the opportunity to win an additional $100,000. The series is being produced by Fremantle Media North America, which also produces “American Idol” for FOX. This is not Burns first hosting gig. During the 2002-2003 television season, she served as host on the reality show “Dog Eat Dog” on NBC. She has also hosted the “Radio Music Awards” and “Miss Teen USA.”

Burns recently completed filming Dancing Trees,a drama about an autistic girl who witnesses her mother’s murder. She plays the girl’s free-wheeling aunt who must face the responsibility of caring for her niece. A theatrical release date has not yet been scheduled. Burns also completed filming the television drama Smokejumpers in which she plays a firefighter unfairly blamed when her father dies in afire. She works to redeem herself and her reputation by successfully becoming a “smoke jumper,” an elite type of firefighter who jumps out of an airplane directly into the flames. Burns is currently filming another television movie, Mistresses, that also stars Holly Marie Coombs, Molly Sims and Rochelle Aytes. Based on the popular BBC series, the plot revolves around a quartet of thirty something women who have been friends since college. Burns will play Shannon, an outspoken and sharp attorney.

Also appearing on tonight’s “Hole in the Wall” premiere as a contestant is fellow IMTA alum Americus Abesamis. Abesamis, who is signed with TalentInk LA/NY, Ward Agency, Origin Talent and KSA West, “faces the wall” as a member of Team “Sumo Sandwich.” He appeared recently on “Big Brother 10” and has a featured role in the upcoming martial arts feature Duel of Legends.