It's Back-to-School Time as truTV Takes Viewers Inside One of the Most Frightening Places on Earth: THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

It's Back-to-School Time as truTV Takes Viewers Inside One of the Most Frightening Places on Earth: THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

New Half-Hour Original Series Gives Viewers Ringside Seats For the Daily Drama and Outrageous Excuses School Administrators Face

THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE Premieres with Back-to-Back Episodes Thursday, Aug. 21, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

NEW YORK, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Fall semester is right around the corner, so it's almost time for students to head back to class. For some kids, it won't be long before they face a trip to see a school administrator. From first bell to last after-school prank, from minor infractions to suspension-worthy violations, truTV will be there to capture the moments of truth in the all-new original series THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE, premiering with two back-to-back episodes Thursday, Aug. 21, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT).

THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE goes behind-the-scenes with some of America's most dedicated school administrators. The series provides an all-access look at the fear, paranoia, lies and humor that unfolds in their offices, from outrageous excuses to calling a student's parents. Viewers will cringe with students as they see how discipline is handed out on a daily basis.

Each half-hour episode features different principals, showing their unique styles and the schools where they work, all while closely following several issues. The administrators featured in the series include:

-- Assistant Principal Jessie Ballenger of Connecticut's Danbury High School, who scrutinizes the halls while still spying delinquent students from her office window. The ever-watchful Ballenger hands out punishment swiftly, firmly and professionally, yet with a touch of irony and sarcasm. When one student is caught smoking, Ballenger lectures him but allows the teen to take a wellness class instead of facing detention.

-- At Booneville High School in Arkansas, Principal Steve Halter has a no-nonsense philosophy. When one young man's excuse for tardiness doesn't pass muster (the teen says he was late because he escorted his girlfriend to class), he's given a choice: three paddle whacks or Saturday detention.

-- Eric Sheninger, a dynamic, funny and compassionate principal from New Milford High School in New Jersey, is faced with a star athlete who, during a bus ride, moons a passing car. The student's mother is called to the office for a discussion of the teen's future -- on the team and in school.

The following are synopses for the series' first two episodes, airing Thursday Aug. 21:

Ep. 101: "Three Licks" -- 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

A student named John is sick of school lunches, so he sneaks away from his Connecticut school to grab a bologna sandwich -- only to be caught red-handed by Assistant Principal Ballenger. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Principal Sheninger must deal with a class clown whose out-of-control behavior distracts his entire class. Finally, in Arkansas, a student who is consistently late to class faces an agonizing choice -- detention or a paddling by Principal Halter.

Ep. 102: "Puke or Prom!" -- 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT)

Francis is terrified of needles, so he's had trouble getting a physical for Principal Ballenger. If Francis doesn't submit to a physical Ballinger won't allow him in class. Cody has another kind of problem -- more than once, he's been caught photo-shopping pictures of Principal Sheninger. Cody insists his bizarre creations show respect, but Sheninger isn't amused. Meanwhile, Jessica is sick. If she goes home, however, she'll be absent for her in-school suspension. Principal Halter insists this will bar her from attending prom. Jessica pleads and cries, but Halter is unmoved. Now Jessica must make a decision -- puke or prom?

THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE comes to truTV from Leftfield Pictures, with Brent Montgomery (The Bachelor), Chris Bray (Wife Swap) and Colby Gaines (L.A. Diaries) serving as executive producers. For truTV, Robyn Hutt is executive in charge of production and Jessica Shreeve is executive producer.

truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 91 million U.S. households and enjoying more than a year of solid and consistent ratings growth, truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. Among truTV's primetime fan favorites are the original series Forensic Files, Ocean Force, Haunting Evidence, Psychic Detectives, Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice and Speeders. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name IN SESSION.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Contact:

Jaime Yandolino: Jaime.Yandolino@turner.com 212.692.7844

Zoe Meltzer: Zoe.Meltzer@turner.com 212.973.8949

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: truTV

CONTACT: Jaime Yandolino, +1-212-692-7844, Jaime.Yandolino@turner.com,
or Zoe Meltzer, +1-212-973-8949, Zoe.Meltzer@turner.com, both for truTV

Web site: http://www.trutv.com/

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