NBC Slates Hybrid Culinary-Business Competition

UNIVERSAL CITY: From Magical Elves, the producers behind such hits as Project Runway and Top Chef, comes a new competition series for NBC that sees contestants vie for the opportunity to open a restaurant chain in four cities across the U.S.

Tentatively titled United Plates of America, the series will showcase larger-than-life personalities who offer hopeful restaurateurs expertise, support and tough love. After a debate, a panel of real investors will choose the winning concept and fund the chain of restaurants with their own money. The restaurants will then launch in four cities across the U.S.

Paul Telegdy, the executive VP of alternative programming at NBC and Universal Media Studios, said: "This is the first time the culinary and business worlds have come together in a big event series where the prize is one of the largest in reality TV history. Not only will viewers get to watch the competition unfold, they’ll be able to eat at the winning restaurant immediately after the show’s finale."

"This show is going to make the American Dream come true for someone out there—all they need is one great idea," commented executive producer Dan Cutforth.

Added executive producer Jane Lipsitz: "With a prize of this magnitude, we believe this show will bring together everything we love about reality TV; creative passionate contestants, a dynamic panel of experts, and fierce competition."