PREMIERE

FOUR FABULOUS, HIGH POWERED WOMEN TAKE MANHATTAN BY STORM AND FIND THEIR ENDURING FRIENDSHIP IS THEIR MOST FORMIDABLE WEAPON IN HANDLING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL MISFORTUNES AND STUNNING TRIUMPHS, ON A SPECIAL PREMIERE OF ABC'S "CASHMERE MAFIA," THURSDAY, JANUARY 3

Special Guest Star Tom Everett Scott Portrays Lucy Liu's Fianc�

Four ambitious, sexy women who have been best friends since business school -- Mia, Zoe, Juliet and Caitlin -- try to have it all. They aren't just powerful and intelligent as singular executive sensations in today's corporate battlezones; they've bonded into a formidable unit � a "Cashmere Mafia" -- to support and counsel each other through good times and bad. How better to climb up the corporate ladder than with your buddies at your side? Whether it's coping with rocky marriages, fending off scheming colleagues or just trying to find themselves in the midst of their chaotic lives, these compelling women use their valuable friendship to keep centered, on a special premiere of "Cashmere Mafia," THURSDAY, JANUARY 3 (10:02-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Editors note: "Cashmere Mafia" will move to its regular day and time Wednesday, January 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET). This episode will repeat Friday, January 4, from 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET.

Set in glamorous New York City, where titans of media, finance, advertising and publishing reside, these driven women, who daily share their relatable and relevant problems dealing with both the boardroom and bedroom, combine their smarts, wit and humor to deal with personal and professional misfortunes and stunning triumphs.

In the premiere episode, "Pilot," Mia and Jack Cutting make a quintessential New York power couple. Just engaged, the two face off in a cut-throat, "survivor-style" competition in order to determine which of them will be promoted to U.S. Group Publisher at Barnstead Media Group. A smitten Caitlin must face up to the strange but wonderful feelings she is encountering with a new love interest at the office. Meanwhile, Juliet decides on a unique method of payback for her husband Davis' indiscretions and simultaneously, in a bold move, must decide whether to drop her public image to step out in the world. And Zoe and her husband, Eric, are on another 24/7 whirl of balancing their full-time careers and the challenge of being good parents to two small children -- all with good humor. But how long will it be before the wheels come off the cart?

"Cashmere Mafia" stars Lucy Liu ("Ally McBeal," "Charlie's Angels") as Mia, Frances O'Connor ("A.I. � Artificial Intelligence," "Mansfield Park") as Zoe, Miranda Otto ("Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "The Starter Wife") as Juliet, Bonnie Somerville ("NYPD Blue," "Kitchen Confidential") as Caitlin, Peter Hermann ("Law & Order: SVU," "United 93") as Davis and Julian Ovenden ("Related," "Butley" on Broadway) as Eric.

Guest starring in "Pilot" are Tom Everett Scott as Jack Cutting, Lourdes Benedicto as Alicia Lawson, Kate Levering as Katherine Cutler, Noelle Beck as Cilla Grey, Addison Timlin as Emily Draper, Nicholas Reese Art as Luke Burden, Peyton List as Sasha Burden, Anna Camp as Brooke Adaire, Rich Dreher as Jeremy, Daniel Geroll as Clive, Griffin Matthews as Patrick, James Yaegashi as Frederic, Kevin O' Rourke as Peter Johnson, Robert Jimenez as Senor Lopez, Malachy Cleary as Griffin Stern, Lily Mercer as smug mom, Kevin Murphy as Sam: driver, Regi Huc as bartender, Lawrence Wayne Ballard as ma�tre d', Matt Salinger as Gary Pell, Roy Carter as Caitlin's boyfriend, Darren Pettie as Father Dan and Kate Guyton as Tracy.

"Pilot" was written by Kevin Wade and directed by Michael Pressman.

Darren Star ("Sex and the City"), creator Kevin Wade ("Working Girl," "Maid in Manhattan"), Jeff Rake ("Boston Legal," "Miss Match"), director Michael Pressman ("Picket Fences," "Boston Legal") and Gail Katz ("The Agency," "The Perfect Storm") are executive producers. "Cashmere Mafia" is produced by Darren Star Productions, Back East Pictures, Inc. and Gail Katz Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television.

"Cashmere Mafia" 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.

This episode of "Cashmere Mafia" will be available on ABC.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.