PREMIERE

HEATHER GRAHAM STARS AS AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST -- IN LIFE AND LOVE -- ON �EMILY�S REASONS WHY NOT,� PREMIERING MONDAY, JANUARY 9 ON ABC

�Emily�s Reasons Why Not� explores the world of Emily Sanders (Heather Graham), a successful career woman who has terrific instincts in every arena of her life but one -- relationships. From a manipulative ex-boyfriend to a passive-aggressive family member and a back-stabbing former assistant who is clearly after her job, Emily has a lot to contend with and even more to figure out, on the new comedy series �Emily Reasons Why Not,� premiering MONDAY, JANUARY 9 (9:00-9:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Determined now to make better choices, Emily employs a �Reasons Why Not� list-making system designed to serve as an internal warning on when it�s time to cut bait and move on.

As a publisher of self-help books, Emily finds distributing advice easy, but following it less so. Prone to operating by �committee,� she often looks to her closest friends for guidance: Josh (Khary Payton), a gay man who believes in the power of yogic breathing and the occasional colonic -- he works at a healing teashop called �Chi for Two�; and Reilly (Nadia Dajani), a self-proclaimed �nonconformist� who remains blissfully unattached and less blissfully unemployed� Having known Emily since childhood, Reilly has no problem telling it like it is.

Navigating a thriving career, a string of would-be boyfriends and an office rival named �Glitter� (Smith Cho) means that Emily�s plate is always pretty full. But with the aid of Josh, Reilly and the �Reasons Why Not,� Emily might �self-help� herself yet!

In the premiere episode, �Pilot,� Emily begins dating Stan, her very attractive co-worker, but then questions the relationship when Stan�s level of passion doesn�t seem to match her own.

�Emily�s Reasons Why Not� stars Heather Graham stars as Emily Sanders, Nadia Dajani as Reilly, Khary Payton as Josh and Smith Cho as Glitter Cho.

Guest starring are Victor Webster as Stan, Michael Benyaer as Aknad and Mark Valley as Reese.

�Pilot� was written by Emily Kapnek and directed by Michael Patrick Jann.

�Emily�s Reasons Why Not,� which is based on the novel by Carrie Gerlach, is produced by Pariah in association with Sony Pictures Television. Gavin Polone, Emily Kapnek, Vivian Cannon and Bill Diamond are executive producers. The series is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC�s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to airdate.