[01.17.07 - 09:43 AM]
NBC RENEWS HIT SERIES 'THE OFFICE,' 'MY NAME IS EARL,' 'HEROES' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' FOR FULL SEASON OF EPISODES IN 2007-08
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[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

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NBC RENEWS HIT SERIES 'THE OFFICE,' 'MY NAME IS EARL,' 'HEROES' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' FOR FULL SEASON OF EPISODES IN 2007-08

NBC RENEWS HIT SERIES 'THE OFFICE,' 'MY NAME IS EARL,' 'HEROES' AND 'LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT' FOR FULL SEASON OF EPISODES IN 2007-08

BURBANK January 17, 2007 NBC has ordered early full-season pickups for the 2007-08 season for four hit series -- the comedies "The Office" and "My Name Is Earl," and dramas "Heroes" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, " it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"These four series represent some of the best of what we consider to be the 'NBC brand' of quality shows," said Reilly. "It is a pleasure to give them an early renewal to develop more stories for next year since we know they will remain both critical and commercial successes for a long time to come."

"The Office" is delivering a 4.2 rating, 11 share in 18-49 and 8.7 million viewers through the first 16 weeks of the 2006-07 season and has matched or built on its 18-49 lead-in from "The Office" with every original telecast this season. "The Office" has improved the Thursday 8:30-9 half-hour for NBC this season by 20 percent versus year-ago averages in 18-49. "The Office" is network television's most upscale comedy, delivering primetime's #1 concentration of adults 18-49 living in homes with $100,000-plus incomes.

From Reveille and NBC Universal Television Studio comes the Emmy Award-winning "The Office" (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET), a documentary-style look into the sometimes poignant foolishness that plagues the world of 9-to-5, based on the award-winning BBC hit. "The Office" delves into the lives of the workers at Dunder Mifflin paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Regional manager Michael Scott (Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee Steve Carell, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin") is a single, middle-aged man who is the boastful tour guide for the documentary.

Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer, "Slither") is the friendly office receptionist who bears the brunt of Michael's routines. The bright spots in Pam's day are her conversations with Jim Halpert (John Krasinski, "Jarhead," "Kinsey"), a likable sales rep. Jim shares his working space with Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson, "Six Feet Under"), the arrogant assistant to the regional manager. Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak, "Punk'd") is a young, smart temp who quickly figures out the real office politics.

Also starring are Melora Hardin ("Monk") as Jan Levinson, David Denman ("When A Stranger Calls") as Roy, Leslie David Baker ("Malcolm in the Middle") as Stanley Hudson, Brian Baumgartner ("Arrested Development") as Kevin Malone, Kate Flannery ("The Heir Apparent") as Meredith Palmer, Angela Kinsey ("Tripping Forward") as Angela Martin, Oscar Nuez ("Halfway Home") as Oscar Martinez, Phyllis Smith ("Arrested Development") as Phyllis Lapin, Mindy Kaling ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin") as Kelly Kapour and Paul Lieberstein (writer, "King of the Hill") as Toby.

"The Office" is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, who developed the series for American audiences, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein.

"My Names Is Earl" is averaging a 4.0 rating, 11 share in 18-49 and 9.5 million viewers through the opening 16 weeks of the 2006-07 television season. "Earl" has improved the Thursday 8-8:30 p.m. half-hour for NBC this season by 38 percent versus year-ago results in 18-49.

In "My Name Is Earl" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET), Earl (Jason Lee, "Almost Famous") has taken one too many wrong turns on the highway of life. However, a twist of fate turns his life into a tailspin of life-renewing events when after winning a small lottery, Earl has an epiphany and is determined to transform his good fortune into a life-changing event as he sets out to right all the wrongs from his past.

In its inaugural season last year, the show received the People's Choice Award, two Television Critics Awards, a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and Emmys for executive producers Greg Garcia and Marc Buckland for writing and directing, respectively.

Joining Earl along his quest to cleanse his karma are his hapless brother Randy (Ethan Suplee, "Cold Mountain") and the very sexy Catalina (Nadine Velazquez, "The Bold and the Beautiful"). Even Darnell (Eddie Steeples, "Torque"), the owner of the Crab Shack where Earl drinks beer, offers his support. But it's Earl's ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressly, "Not Another Teen Movie") who won't help him unless there's something in it for her. Created and written by Garcia ("Yes, Dear"), "My Name Is Earl" is executive-produced by Garcia, Buckland ("Medical Investigation," "Ed") and Bobby Bowman ("Yes, Dear"). The series is produced by Amigos de Garcia and Twentieth Century Fox Television.

"Heroes" is the #1 new series of the season in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key categories and, through 16 weeks of the season, is tied for the #3 ranking among all shows in 18-49. "Heroes" is NBC's highest-rated first-year drama in 18-49 in 12 years, since "ER" debuted in Fall 1994. Through January 7, "Heroes" was averaging a 6.8 rating, 16 share in adults 18-49 and 15.3 million viewers overall.

From creator-executive producer Tim Kring (NBC's "Crossing Jordan") comes "Heroes" (Mondays, 9-10 p.m. ET) recently named the winner of the People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Drama is an epic drama that chronicles the lives of ordinary people who discover they possess extraordinary abilities and a destiny to save the world.

They include a genetics professor (Sendhil Ramamurthy, "Blind Guy Driving") in India who is led by his father's disappearance to uncover a secret theory that there are people with super powers living among us. Also featured are a young dreamer (Milo Ventimiglia, "Gilmore Girls") tries to convince his politician brother (Adrian Pasdar, "Judging Amy") that he can fly. A high school cheerleader (Hayden Panettiere, "Ice Princess") learns that she is totally indestructible while trying to relate to her father (Jack Coleman, "Dynasty") who has a keen interest in people with special abilities. A Las Vegas single mother (Ali Larter, "Final Destination") struggles to make ends meet to support her young son (Noah Gray-Cabey, "My Wife & Kids") and discovers that her mirror image has a secret.

In addition, a fugitive from justice (Leonard Roberts, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") continues to baffle authorities. A gifted artist (Santiago Cabrera, "Empire"), whose drug addiction is destroying his life and relationship with his girlfriend (Tawny Cypress, "Third Watch"), can paint the future. A down-on-his-luck Los Angeles beat cop (Greg Grunberg, "Alias") can hear people's thoughts, which puts him on the trail of an elusive serial killer. In Japan, a young man (Masi Oka, NBC's "Scrubs") develops a way to stop time through sheer will power.

Joining Kring as executive producer are Dennis Hammer (NBC's "Crossing Jordan") and Allan Arkush (NBC's "Crossing Jordan"). The drama is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) is averaging a 4.3 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49 and 12.9 million viewers overall through the first 16 weeks of the 2006-07 television season, making it NBC's #2 drama in total viewers. "SVU" remains in control of the Tuesday 10 p.m. hour, where an original episode hasn't lost the time period to regular competition in adults 18-49 in more than two and a half years. "SVU's" 18-49 margin of victory this season is nearly 50 percent.

"Law & Order" Special Victims Unit" is a hard-hitting and emotional series from NBC's "Law & Order" brand that chronicles the life and crimes of the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department, the elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes. Created by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is now in its eighth season.

The drama follows Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all, and his partner, Detective Olivia Benson (Emmy and Golden Globe winner Mariska Hargitay), whose difficult past a child of rape prompted her career move to the unit.

Captain Donald Cragen (Dann Florek) oversees the unit with his tough but supportive approach to the team's complex cases. Detective John Munch, (Richard Belzer, "Homicide: Life on the Street") brings his acerbic wit and street-honed investigative skills to the team. His partner, Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice-T), adds his unique sense of humor and investigative experience, making him a formidable match for Munch. Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak (Diane Neal) brings closure to the intense investigations with her legal expertise. Forensic psychiatrist, George Huang (B.D. Wong) often provides significant clues that lead to the resolution of a case, and Medical Examiner Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), uncovers more forensic evidence.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" is a Wolf Films production in association with NBC Universal Television Studio. Wolf, is creator and executive producer, Neal Baer (NBC's "ER", "China Beach"), Ted Kotcheff ("Fun with Dick and Jane," "Weekend at Bernie's") and Peter Jankowski are executive producers.

Even Darnell (Eddie Steeples, "Torque"), the owner of the Crab Shack where Earl drinks beer, offers his support.