PREMIERE

THE WALKER FAMILY FACES A LIFE-CHANGING CRISIS, ON THE SERIES PREMIERE OF �BROTHERS & SISTERS,� SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK

�Brothers & Sisters� is a compelling, new one-hour primetime drama from executive producers Ken Olin and Jon Robin Baitz about the California-based Walker family. In the series, we meet five complicated adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. The series premieres SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER, 24 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

In the premiere episode, �Patriarchy,� Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart) returns home to California after having been estranged from her mother (Sally Field) for three years. Meanwhile, William Walker (Tom Skerritt) brings Sarah (Rachel Griffiths) into the family business, where she soon discovers some glaring financial discrepancies that could undermine the Walker family�s way of life.

The series follows the Walkers through the maze of American life today -- the pressures, limitless options and the struggle to grow beyond our backgrounds into ourselves. Through these fascinating siblings -- Sarah (Griffiths), the corporate VP who returns to the family business so she can give to her marriage as much as she does to her career; Tommy (Balthazar Getty), the loyal son trying to live up to his father�s expectations; Kevin (Matthew Rhys), the gay lawyer cautiously learning about love; Justin (Dave Annable), the baby of the family, grappling with war trauma and addiction; and Kitty (Flockhart), right-wing radio host turned TV pundit who has always been daddy�s little girl -- the show explores what it means to be a family in the 21st century, and how these brothers and sisters balance their own lives as they strive to accept their parents as people -- flawed, contradictory and forgivable -- rather than just as a father and mother. The parents are Skerritt as William Walker, the larger-than-life patriarch and president of the family business, and Field as Nora Holden, the opinionated wife and mother to the five Walker siblings. Then there�s Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Nora�s brother; John Pyper-Ferguson as Sarah�s husband, Joe; Sarah Jane Morris as Tommy�s wife, Julia; and Patricia Wettig as Holly, a woman who�s history with William could bring the Walkers and their company down.

�Brothers & Sisters� stars Calista Flockhart (�Ally McBeal�) as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths (�Six Feet Under�) as Sarah, Sally Field (�Norman Rae�) as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin (�Alias�) as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig (�thirtysomething�) as Holly, Balthazar Getty (�Alias�) as Thomas, Dave Annable (�Reunion�) as Justin, Matthew Rhys (�Titus,� �Love and other Disasters�) as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson (�Unforgiven,� �Nightstalker�) as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris (�Felicity�) as Julia.

Guest starring are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, Josh Hopkins as Warren Salter, Matthew Settle as Jonathan Sellers, Tyler Posey as Gabriel Whedon, Kerris Lilla Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Jay Juguley as White Peyton, Michael Beach as Noah Guare, Laura Jordan as Fawn, Stana Katic as Karen Wells, John C. Moskoff as Leo, Ryan Michelle Bathe as Sasha, Laraine Newman as Lyla, David Burke as Jack Bishop, Daniel Edward Mora as Jorge and Angela Sargeant as Gladys.

�Patriarchy� was written by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Ken Olin.

Ken Olin (�Alias,� �thirtysomething�) and Jon Robin Baitz (�The Substance of Fire,� �The West Wing�) are executive producers, and Greg Berlanti (�Everwood�) serves as creative consultant. The series is produced by Touchstone Television.

�Brothers & Sisters� is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC�s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning.

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