June 6, 2005

SIXTEEN DESIGNERS COME TOGETHER IN THE BIG APPLE FOR THEIR FIRST CHALLENGE: TO DESIGN TWO BILLBOARDS IN TIMES SQUARE, ON THE SEASON PREMIERE OF “"THE CUT,”" THURSDAY, JUNE 9 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

"Circus Seximus”" –-- Sixteen designers competing to become the next great American designer are introduced to one another in New York City and embark onr their first challenge: to design two billboards in Times Square, on the season premiere of THE CUT in a special 90 minute episode on Thursday, June 9 (8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network.

For the first time, the designers meet their mentor, iconic design mogul Tommy Hilfiger, and are split into two teams. The contestants are sent to the heart of the Big Apple to tackle their first challenge: designing two billboards high above Times Square, the crossroads of the world, a location that welcomes over 26 million visitors each year. The teams must battle the elements of a New York City winter to complete their task by Tommy’'s deadline.

THE DESIGNERS:
Felix Arguelles, 35, Los Angeles, Calif.
Jeff Berin, 42, Chicago, Ill.
Deanna Bonin, 23, Hollywood, Calif.
Chris Cortez, 26, Bridgeport, Conn.
Wes Davis, 25, New Orleans, La.
Jessica Dereschuk, 22, Stacey, Minn.
Vlada Drukh, 24, St. Louis, Mo.
Julie O’'Connor, 37, St. Louis, Mo.
Elizabeth Saab, 30, Beverly Hills, Calif.
Amy Salinger, 26, Chicago, Ill.
Chris Sherrill, 25, Nashville, Tenn.
Shauna Storey, 39, New Orleans, La.
Rob Walker, 35, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tommy Walton, 42, Chicago, Ill.
Princess Warren, 22, Philadelphia, Pa.
James Wolfe, 27, San Diego, Calif.