IT'S THE ULTIMATE BLIND DATE WHEN SINGLE CONTESTANTS MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME AND TAKE ON AN OBSTACLE COURSE, PROVING LOVE HURTS, ON ABC'S "WIPEOUT"

"Blind Date 2012" -- In a special two-hour blind date-themed episode of "Wipeout", co-host Vanessa Lachey introduces single men and women who have never met before, and they are challenged with the toughest first date ever when they run the Wipeout course together as a couple. Just as life presents obstacles that make dating difficult, the Wipeout course this week does the same when couples encounter big challenges while going Head Over Heels promenading down Lovers Lane and eventually land in the Wipeout Nursery. Everybody also gets a chance to show off to their new mate in the first ever Big Ball Bonanza. In the end, only two of the bravest new couples will seal their date fate in the Wipeout Zone. Whether love is in the cards or just money in their hands, two freshly matched people will go home with an enormous $100,000 prize. Hosted by John Anderson (ESPN's "SportsCenter"), John Henson (E! Entertainment's "Talk Soup") and co-hosted by Vanessa Lachey (ABC's "True Beauty") "Wipeout" airs THURSDAY, JULY 26 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.

Each week, 24 energetic new contestants of all ages, shapes and sizes go head to head through four rounds of demanding but hilarious obstacle courses to win the title of "Wipeout Champion" and the $50,000 grand prize. In the end, only one contestant will be victorious, while everyone else will Wipeout! "Wipeout" executive producers are Matt Kunitz ("101 Ways to Leave a Game Show" "Fear Factor") and Scott Larsen. Shye Sutherland, Kevin Wehrenberg, Trice Barto and J. Rupert Thompson are co-executive producers. The series is produced by Endemol USA. David Goldberg is the chairman of Endemol North America.

About Endemol USA

Endemol USA is a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. The company produces the break-out hits "Deal or No Deal," "Wipeout," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Big Brother." Endemol USA is a division of the Endemol Group, a prominent international content developer, producer and distributor of television and online programming. The company, headquartered in the Netherlands, has subsidiaries and joint ventures in 25 countries, including the major European markets, the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. Endemol is owned by a consortium consisting of Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Mediaset Group and Cyrte Group. For more information, please visit http://www.endemolusa.tv. Endemol is a privately held company.

"Wipeout" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

For more information on "Wipeout," visit ABC.com