CRAVING NORMALITY, JOAN REJECTS GOD'S ATTEMPTS TO RECONNECT WITH HER, ON THE SECOND-SEASON PREMIERE OF THE EMMY AWARD-NOMINATED "JOAN OF ARCADIA," FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

"Only Connect" -- Desperate to feel normal, Joan rejects God's attempts to reconnect with her, on the second-season premiere of JOAN OF ARCADIA, Friday, Sept. 24 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. James Hayman, one of the series' executive producers, directed the episode that was written by series creator and one of the series' executive producers, Barbara Hall.

Having just returned from several weeks at a special camp meant to rehabilitate her from the "hallucinations" she'd reported as a perceived symptom of her bout with Lyme disease, Joan is especially eager to be deemed normal at home, at school and by Adam. As a result, she attempts to ignore God, tries to discount Adam's revised belief that God may, in fact, have been appearing to her -- and begins to seem even odder than before by suppressing the colorful side of her personality. Meanwhile, Joan's not the only mysterious one in the Girardi clan; Helen, Will and Luke each harbor secrets of their own.

The Emmy Award-nominated and People's Choice Award-winning JOAN OF ARCADIA is a drama that follows a typical family facing atypical situations, not the least of which is their teenage daughter's conversations with God. A tough but soft-hearted police detective in Arcadia, Will Girardi (Joe Mantegna) dreams of providing a safe haven for his family and community. An outbreak of serious crime in his idyllic new town has challenged Girardi's desire for order, as have the ups and downs he faces with his family. Daughter Joan (Amber Tamblyn), an average teenager, has been acting a little strange. Most don't know that it has to do with the unusual way various people keep popping up, introducing themselves as God and then giving her specific directions to do things, such as get a job, join the debate team or volunteer with children. The appearances are hard for her to believe, even more so as she never knows who's going to turn up next. One minute it's a cute boy her own age, the next it's the lunch lady or a little girl. She had been keeping it a secret from everyone but she has finally revealed it to her artistic and sensitive boyfriend, Adam (Christopher Marquette), who believes she's been experiencing hallucinations. Rounding out the Girardi family are her art-teacher mother, Helen (Mary Steenburgen); her 16-year-old science-geek brother, Luke (Michael Welch), and her newspaper writer brother, Kevin (Jason Ritter), a former high school sports star who is in a wheelchair as a result of a car accident. Joan's unlikely best friend is her publicly caustic and rebellious, but privately insightful and supportive classmate, Grace (Becky Wahlstrom). Unsure of what God wants, if God exists, and if she's even sane, Joan tentatively follows God's cryptic directives, all the while trying to retain a normal teenaged existence.

JOAN OF ARCADIA is produced by Barbara Hall Productions, Inc., and CBS Productions, in association with Sony Pictures Television. Barbara Hall, James Hayman, Stephen Nathan are the executive producers.

Will Girardi: Joe Mantegna
Helen Girardi: Mary Steenburgen
Joan Girardi: Amber Tamblyn
Kevin Girardi: Jason Ritter
Luke Girardi: Michael Welch
Adam Rove: Christopher Marquette
Grace Polk: Becky Wahlstrom
Friedman: Aaron Himelstein
Glynis Figliola: Mageina Tovah
Ms. Lischak: Elaine Hendrix
Det. Carlisle: Mark Totty
Sister Lilly Watters: Constance Zimmer
Cute Boy God: Kris Lemche
Skateboarder God: Craig Champion
Little Girl God: Juliette Goglia
Old Lady God: Kathryn Joosten
Father Ken Mallory: David Burke
Process Server: Reggie Jordan
Tom Murphy: Christopher Cousins
Sammy: Patrick Breen
Andy Baker: Riley Smith
Heidi: Cheryl White
Student: Eddie Hassell

RATING: To Be Announced