Thursday, March 17, 2005
NBC PICKS UP FOUR CURRENT SERIES FOR RENEWAL IN 2005-06 AND ALSO SETS ‘ER’ TO CONTINUE FOR TWO MORE YEARS THROUGH THE 2007-08 SEASON

Released by NBC

Network Gives New Season Orders to Proven Favorites Including Dramas "The West Wing," "Crossing Jordan," "Las Vegas" and Freshman Comedy "Joey" and Assures "ER" Will Remain on NBC for Three More Years Through the 2007-08 Season

BURBANK – March 17, 2005 – NBC has extended "ER" for two more years through the 2007-08 season and renewed four current series, the dramas "The West Wing," "Crossing Jordan," "Las Vegas" and the comedy "Joey," it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"The continuing quality and popularity of these series make them the mainstays of our year-to-year schedules," said Reilly. "Coupled with our innovative current development plans, we feel we have the right mix of returning and fresh, new breakout hits for a promising 2005-06 schedule."

The Emmy Award-winning "ER" (Thursdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) is now in its 11th season (all in the same day and time period). With the addition of two more years to its existing contract, "ER" will be broadcast on NBC for three more seasons through 2007-08. The drama is currently tied with "The Apprentice 2" as NBC's top-rated series among adults 18-49 and the season's #6 series overall. "ER" is averaging a 7.8 rating, 20 share among adults 18-49 and 16.5 million viewers overall for the season.

"ER," set amid the chaos of a busy emergency room at Chicago's County General Hospital, is a winner of the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and has also earned 21 Emmy Awards and 112 nominations – breaking an all-time industry record. Also, the cast has won four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Drama Series. "ER" was named Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards in 1996.

"ER" is a production of Constant c Productions and Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television. Creator Michael Crichton is also an executive producer, along with John Wells ("China Beach"), Christopher Chulack and Dee Johnson.

Now in its sixth season, "The West Wing" (Wednesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET) is the winner of a record four consecutive Emmy Awards as Outstanding Drama Series. "The West Wing" delivers the highest concentrations of upscale viewers for any primetime series on any broadcast network in such key categories as adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 living in homes with incomes of $100,000 and more. This season, "The West Wing" is averaging a 3.4 rating, 8 share among adults 18-49 and 11.4 million viewers overall.

Under the direction of executive producer John Wells ("ER"), the political drama has seen a popular and critical resurgence this year as it offers viewers a realistic, behind-the-scenes peek into the Oval Office as seen through the eyes of its eclectic group of frenzied staffers and the devoted First Family. In addition to the sterling regular cast led by Martin Sheen, newly added characters this season also include Emmy winner Jimmy Smits ("NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law") and Emmy winner Alan Alda ("M*A*S*H").

"The West Wing" also holds the record for most Emmys won by a series in a single season (its first). Other awards include a Peabody Award for Excellence in Television, five Golden Globe nominations and one Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series, and three Television Critics Association Awards. "The West Wing" is from John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. Wells, Christopher Misiano and Alex Graves serve as executive producers. Aaron Sorkin is the creator.

"Crossing Jordan" (Sundays, 10-11 p.m. ET), starring Jill Hennessy in the title role, continues in its fourth season with a cadre of coroners eager to offer their forensic skills to the police in order to bring murderers to justice and to bring closure to the families of victims.

"Crossing Jordan" has generated a 14 percent increase for NBC this season in the Sunday 10 p.m. hour versus year-ago regular-program results. For the season, "Crossing Jordan" is averaging a 4.2 rating, 10 share among adults 18-49 and 12.1 million viewers overall.

Tim Kring ("Providence"), Dennis Hammer and Allan Arkush are the executive producers; Kring is also the creator of this production from Tailwind Productions in association with NBC Studios.

A hit since its premiere in Fall 2003, NBC's "Las Vegas" (Mondays, 9-10 p.m. ET) comes from Gary Scott Thompson -- the writer of the hit film "The Fast and the Furious" – and remains a fast-paced, sexy drama concerning the elite Las Vegas surveillance team charged with maintaining the security of one of "Sin City's" largest resorts and casinos.

This season, "Las Vegas" is building on its lead-in from "Fear Factor" among adults 18-49 and is the #1 Monday series on any network for the first quarter to date in the valuable demographic of adults 18-34 (excluding football). This season, "Las Vegas" is averaging a 4.5 rating, 10 share among adults 18-49 and 11.7 million viewers overall.

Oscar and Golden Globe Award nominee James Caan and Josh Duhamel star, and Thompson also serves as executive producer along with Gardner Stern (NBC's "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue"), Scott Steindorff ("The Human Stain"), Justin Falvey ("Undeclared") and Darryl Frank ("Taken") for this series from NBC Studios and DreamWorks Television.

In "Joey" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET), multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee Matt LeBlanc reprises his "Friends" role as charming and still-single Joey, who has struck out on his own and moved to Hollywood, hoping to truly make it as an actor.

"Joey" is the season's #1 new comedy among adults 18-49 and total viewers. Season-to-date, "Joey" is averaging a 4.6 rating, 13 share among adults 18-49 and 11.1 million viewers overall. From Bright-San Productions and Silver and Gold Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc., "Joey" is executive-produced by Kevin S. Bright, Scott Silveri and Shana Goldberg-Meehan.