NURSE JACKIE Works A Double

SHOWTIME Renews Its New Critically-Acclaimed Dark Comedy Series

Starring Emmy(R)-winner Edie Falco For A Second Season

LOS ANGELES, June 10 /PRNewswire/ – In the wake of one of SHOWTIME’s most critically acclaimed original series debuts, the network has renewed its new dark comedy series NURSE JACKIE, a co-production with Lionsgate starring Emmy(R)-winner Edie Falco for a second season. The announcement was made today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. Production of 12 new episodes will begin this fall in New York City.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060131/SHOWTIMELOGO)

“NURSE JACKIE was a home run for us when Edie Falco decided to come aboard over a year ago,” said Greenblatt. “We’re thrilled that the critics, our affiliates, and the public in general have had the reaction to the show that we hoped they would. While SHOWTIME was already in the pink, we’re grateful to get a big shot in the arm from this feisty little nurse.”

NURSE JACKIE premiered Monday, June 8 to both audience and critical acclaim. After making her return to premium television, Falco has received some of the best reviews of her accomplished career for her role as the complicated Nurse Jackie Peyton. USA Today gave NURSE JACKIE 4 Stars, stating, “Here’s a cure for TV’s summer doldrums; Take one great actress and one great role; repeat for 12 weeks;” The Washington Post says, “Nurse Jackie is one of the true choice cuts of the year,” and TV Guide noted, “Watch Edie Falco become one of those rare talents who will someday add comedy Emmys to her drama stash.”

The series is a co-production of Showtime Networks Inc. and Lionsgate Television and was created by Evan Dunsky and Liz Brixius & Linda Wallem (The Comeback, That ’70′s Show). Wallem and Brixius are executive producers and show runners. John Melfi and Caryn Mandabach are executive producers. Richie Jackson, Christine Zander, Mark Hudis and Evan Dunsky are co-executive producers.

NURSE JACKIE is a half-hour dark comedy that is at turns wicked, heartbreaking and funny. Edie Falco stars as the title character Jackie Peyton, a strong-willed and brilliant — but very flawed — emergency room nurse in a complicated New York City hospital. A lapsed Catholic with an occasional weakness for Vicodin and Adderall to get her through the days, Jackie keeps the hospital balanced with her own kind of justice. Every day is a high wire act of juggling patients, doctors, fellow nurses and her own indiscretions. The first season also stars Eve Best, Peter Facinelli, Merritt Wever, Haaz Sleiman, Paul Schulze, Anna Deavere Smith, Dominic Fumusa, Ruby Jerins, Daisy Tahan and Stephen Wallem.

The show is co-produced by Lionsgate and Showtime Networks in association with Caryn Mandabach Productions and Madison Grain Elevator Inc. & Delong Lumber.

About Showtime

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(TM), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(TM) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(R) PPV.

About Lionsgate

Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury, reality programming through its joint venture with ISH Entertainment and an array of channel platform assets. Lionsgate has nearly 20 television series airing or scheduled to air on 11 different networks from its in-house production operations, through distribution by Debmar-Mercury or as part of its ISH Entertainment joint venture. Its programming roster is headed by such critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking shows as “Mad Men,” “Weeds,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Crash,” “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” “Meet The Browns,” “The Wendy Williams Show” and “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF.” Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

SOURCE SHOWTIME