LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The cable portion of the TCA's summer press tour began yesterday in which the networks outlined their plans for the 2004-05 season and beyond.

Here's a breakdown of some of the presentations:

A&E

CAESARS (New!) - Legendary Las Vegas casino Caesars Palace will be focus of the network's latest "docusoap," a potential companion piece to its successful half-hour "Airline." The project, which comes from 44 Blue Productions ("What Should You Do?") and Cypress Point Productions ("Nuremberg"), will focus on a recurring group of Caesars Palace employees as well as a revolving cast of tourists. Rasha Drachkovitch, Gerald Abrams and Michael Goldstein are the executive producers of "Caesars," which is expected to bow sometime in 2005.

FAMILY PLOTS/THE FIRST 48 - The network confirmed it has ordered second seasons of both series, with 26 new installments of the former and 13 fresh episodes of the latter set to bow early next year.

INTERVENTION/MONDO MAGIC - Both reality projects are set to move forward as the cable channel confirmed series orders for each. "Magic" tracks the lives of magicians J.B. Benn and Chris Korn as they travel the world while "Intervention" sees people confronting their darkest demons with the help of friends and family. Both are understood to be targeted for early to mid-2005 launches.

MI-5 - The show's 10-episode third season, which sees the addition of new cast members Rupert Penry-Jones and Olga Sosnovska, is set to roll out during the first quarter of 2005.

POIROT MOVIES - The cable channel has scheduled the first four of its planned eight telefilm return to the Agatha Christie franchise: "Death on the Nile" and "Sad Cypress" are set to air Sunday, September 19 at 8:00/7:00c and 10:00/9:00c respectively while "The Hollow" and "Five Little Pigs" are slated for Sunday, September 26 at 8:00/7:00c and 10:00/9:00c respectively.

THE RIVERMAN - The two-hour original movie is set to premiere Monday, September 6 at 8:00/7:00c . Bruce Greenwood, Sam Jaeger, Kathleen Quinlan and Cary Elwes star in the project, about the true story of how serial killer Ted Bundy (Elwes) helped two homicide detectives (Greenwood, Jaeger) solve the gruesome Green River murders, a case which served as the basis of the popular book/movie "Silence of the Lambs."

In addition, A&E has issued several press releases confirming the news:

A&E NETWORK PRESENTS UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO VICTORIA GOTTI�S LIFE IN THE REAL LIFE SERIES GROWING UP GOTTI

PREMIERES MONDAY AUGUST 2, 9:30PM ET and PT / 8:30pm CT

LOS ANGELES, CA, July 21, 2004 - Opening historically closed doors into a very private world, A&E Network premieres its newest real-life series, GROWING UP GOTTI, exposing for the first time the day-to-day life of author Victoria Gotti and her family. GROWING UP GOTTI premieres Monday, August 2, 2004 at 9:30PM ET and PT / 8:30PM CT.

GROWING UP GOTTI reveals the life of a most intriguing woman. Victoria Gotti is a best-selling author, a nationally syndicated columnist and a celebrated personality, who also happens to be a divorced mother of three teenage boys, and the daughter of the late John Gotti. Now, Victoria Gotti is allowing viewers unprecedented access to her unique work and social life, along with her home life with her sons.

GROWING UP GOTTI is an unscripted look inside Victoria�s real life of Victoria Gotti as she balances family, work, and the dating scene. Those who only know her as the daughter of the late John Gotti are in for a surprising look at a multi-dimensional working mom. From interviewing A-list celebrities on the red carpet to going on a date arranged by a celebrity match maker to contemplating and undergoing her first round of Botox injections to whipping up a big pot of �gravy� for a Sunday family dinner, each episode offers an unvarnished look at one of America�s most fascinating women. GROWING UP GOTTI also features the explosive presence of her three sons, Frank, Carmine, and John (or as they are sometimes called, �the Hottie Gottis�). The four Gottis are an incredible centerpiece to this bold new real-life series.

Executive Producers for A&E are Nancy Dubuc and Robert Sharenow. The Executive Producers are Gary R. Benz, Michael Branton, Victoria Gotti, Judith Regan and Bill Stanton. GROWING UP GOTTI is produced by GRB Entertainment for A&E Network.

About A&E Network
Now reaching more than 88 million homes, A&E Network brings viewers the Art of EntertainmentTM through a unique combination of three genres - The Art of Biography, The Art of Documentary, and The Art of Drama. A brand synonymous with excellence in television, A&E Network offers a diverse mix of programming ranging from critically acclaimed original series and movies, to innovative documentaries, to the Emmy Award-winning Biography(R) series, to dramatic specials, feature film presentations, and contemporary performances. In 2004, A&E Network holds the distinct record for the most Primetime Emmy nominations (24) for a basic cable network. - more -

The 2004 primetime line-up includes several new series, featuring the premieres of: Airline, a behind-the-scenes look at the drama and the hilarity of commercial air travel with Southwest Airlines; Family Plots, a groundbreaking new reality show that takes a look at the personal and professional lives of the family members who run the Poway Bernardo Mortuary; and Growing Up Gotti, chronicling the life of Victoria Gotti, famous daughter of John Gotti, successful magazine editor, and mother of three. The 2004 schedule also includes a host of topical and timely documentary specials, including Washington Wives, In Harm�s Way, and a quarterly series titled Behind the Blockbusters, bringing viewers the true stories behind the topics of Hollywood�s biggest releases. Great drama also remains the heart of the A&E Network brand with upcoming original movies such as See Arnold Run, Hillary�s Choice, The Brooke Ellison Story, and Riverman.

The A&E Network website is located at www.aetv.com and the Biography(R) website is located at www.Biography.com. The Biography Club is located at www.BiographyClub.com. For more information and photography please visit us on the web at www.aetvpress.com.

DAVID SUCHET IS BACK AS AGATHA CHRISTIE�S POIROT

FOUR NEW MYSTERY MOVIES TO PREMIERE ON A&E NETWORK

Death On the Nile - Sunday, September 19 at 8pm ET / PT and 7pm CT Sad Cypress - Sunday, September 19 at 10pm ET/PT and 9pm CT

The Hollow - Sunday, September 26 at 8pm ET / PT and 7pm CT Five Little Pigs - Sunday, September 26 at 10pm ET/PT and 9pm CT

LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 21, 2004 - He�s brilliant, he�s vain, he�s fastidious, he�s dressed to kill - and he�s back! David Suchet returns to A&E Network as Agatha Christie�s beloved Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot in four new mystery movies premiering on two consecutive Sundays this September. On Sunday, September 19: DEATH ON THE NILE premieres at 8pm ET / PT and 7pm CT, followed by SAD CYPRESS at 10pm ET/PT and 9pm CT. On Sunday, September 26: THE HOLLOW at 8pm ET/PT and 7pm CT; followed by FIVE LITTLE PIGS at 10pm ET/PT and 9pm CT.

DEATH ON THE NILE - Sunday, September 19 at 8pm ET / PT and 7pm CT With an exotic setting on an old river-steamer, DEATH ON THE NILE boasts colorful and engaging characters � and a masterly denouement. Linnet Doyle (Emily Blunt) is young, beautiful and rich. She�s the girl who has everything - including the man her best friend loves! Linnet and her new husband take a cruise on the Nile, where they meet Poirot. It should be an idyllic trip, but Poirot has an uneasy feeling that something is dangerously wrong. Often considered to be one of Christie�s most perfectly plotted mysteries, the twists and turns in DEATH ON THE NILE test the indomitable detective to use his power of deduction to the hilt. The cast includes James Fox (THE LOST WORLD, ARMADILLO) and David Soul (Starsky and Hutch). The script was written by Kevin Elyot (My Night With Reg; Five Little Pigs) and the director is Andy Wilson (Gormenghast, Spooks).

SAD CYPRESS - Sunday, September 19 at 10pm ET/PT and 9pm CT Beautiful Elinor Carlisle stands accused of a double murder � that of her wealthy Aunt Laura and also of her rival in love. Mary Gerrard. Elinor had the motive and the opportunity to administer the fatal poison to both women. Poirot believes the evidence to be irrefutable, but when his little grey cells get to working overtime, he begins to piece together an entirely different version of events. Will time run out for Elinor? The cast includes: Elisabeth Dermot Walsh (Bertie and Elizabeth); Rupert Penry-Jones (Hilary & Jackie); Kelly Reilly (Sexual Perversity In Chicago, Prime Suspect 4, Tom Jones); Paul McGann (HORATIO HORNBLOWER, Withnail & I); Phyllis Logan (Secrets & Lies, LOVEJOY); Marion O�Dwyer (Rebel Heart) and Diana Quick (Saving Grace, Brideshead Revisited). The script is by David Pirie (Woman In White, Breaking The Waves), and the director is David Moore (Forty, Forsyte Saga).

THE HOLLOW - Sunday, September 26 at 8pm ET / PT and 7pm CT Lucy Angkatell arranges a weekend gathering at her English country house �The Hollow,� seemingly overlooking the fact that most of the guests absolutely loathe each other. To complete the weekend, she�s invited a strange little criminologist too. Down by the swimming pool, in what appears to be part of a murder game staged for Poirot�s amusement, one of the guests is found holding a smoking gun over her husband�s body. But this is no charade, and Poirot�s investigations pit him against one of his toughest adversaries yet. Nothing is what it seems at The Hollow�. The cast includes: Jonathan Cake (The American Embassy, Medea on Broadway); Megan Dodds (Spooks, Love In A Cold Climate); SARAH MILES (Dandelion Dead, White Mischief); Edward Fox (The Importance Of Being Earnest, Nicholas Nickleby) Lysette Anthony (Husbands And Wives, Krull) and Claire Price (MIDSOMER MURDERS). The story was adapted by Nick Dear (Byron, Eroica), and directed by Simon Langton (Pride and Prejudice, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Murder Rooms).

FIVE LITTLE PIGS - Sunday, September 26 at 10pm ET/PT and 9pm CT Renowned painter Amyas Crale was allegedly poisoned to death by his wife Caroline, who went to the gallows for the crime. Fourteen years later in 1938, their adult daughter Lucy returns from her life in Canada with new evidence - a letter written to her by her mother, on the eve of her hanging, declaring her innocence. Poirot agrees to dig up the past, but warns Lucy he may discover things she will not wish to hear. But she has to know the truth! The cast includes: Rachael Stirling (Tipping The Velvet), Aidan Gillen (Queer as Folk), Toby Stephens (Die Another Day), Marc Warren (Reversals), Julie Cox (Byron), Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones�s Diary), Patrick Malahide (Captain Corelli�s Mandolin), Annette Badland (Cutting It), Aimee Mullens (Cremaster 3) and Sophie Winkleman (Waking The Dead). The screenplay is by Kevin Elyot (My Night With Reg), and the director is Paul Unwin (The American, Syrup).

Delia Fine is executive producer and Emilio Nunez is supervising producer for A&E Network. POIROT is an A&E Network/Granada co-production. Michele Buck, Damien Timmer and Phil Clymer are executive producers. Margaret Mitchell is producer, and David Suchet is associate producer.

CAESARS: A&E NETWORK TO PRODUCE A NEW REAL-LIFE SERIES AT THE WORLD�S MOST FAMOUS CASINO RESORT

THE REAL-LIFE STORY OF GLITTER, GLAMOUR, AND GAMBLING ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP

LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 21, 2004 - Caesars Palace has granted unprecedented access to A&E Network to create a new real-life series offering the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at Las Vegas� most legendary resort and casino, it was announced today by Abbe Raven, Executive Vice President and General Manager, A&E Network.

In the spirit of A&E�s hit series AIRLINE, CAESARS will focus on trials, triumphs and tribulations of a compelling cast of Las Vegas characters, including a regular cast of Caesars Palace employees and a revolving cast of wide-eyed tourists, first-time gamblers, and other visitors of all descriptions who come to party in the world�s most famous adult playground.

Viewers will experience the Entertainment Capital of the World as they have never seen it before - through the eyes of the indomitable pit boss, the savvy sports book odds maker, the tactful hotel concierge, glamorous showgirls, imperious high-rollers, excited low-rollers, Vegas newlyweds and any number of the 60,000 visitors and employees who pass through the marbled hallways of Caesars Palace each day.

�We�re thrilled to have Caesars Palace as the setting for our next real-life series,� said Abbe Raven, Executive Vice President and General Manager, A&E Network. �Viewers will have the unique opportunity, thanks to the unprecedented access Caesars has given us for the show, to experience the compelling stories that happen behind the scenes at the world�s most famous resort and casino.�

�We are pleased to have a television partner of the caliber of A&E Network to capture the innumerable intriguing stories to be found inside the storied walls of Caesars Palace,� said Mark Juliano, president of the renowned resort. �Caesars Palace possesses a mystique that eludes any other casino in Las Vegas. It is the perfect venue for A&E to create an engaging and entertaining television program which will showcase Las Vegas in an unscripted style as has never been done before.�

Encompassing over 80 acres of property at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars employs over 5,000 people to service more than 2,400 guest rooms as well as five wedding chapels, 22 restaurants and a five-acre swimming pool complex, providing a perfect backdrop for non-stop action.

Nancy Dubuc will be the executive producer for A&E Network. CAESARS will be produced for A&E Network by 44 Blue Productions (�What Should You Do?� �Cell Dogs� �True Story of Black Hawk Down�) and Cypress Point Productions (�Nuremberg� �Out of the Ashes� �44 Minutes�). Rasha Drachkovitch Gerald Abrams and Michael Goldstein are executive producers.

�BLACKOUT� HITS IN 2005

LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 21, 2004 - A&E Network is fast-tracking development on an original four-hour movie, titled BLACKOUT. The fictional miniseries will chronicle the dramatic consequences of a nationwide power grid failure, as it rolls from the heartland on to each coast, enveloping the nation in darkness, and bringing the country to its knees. A&E Network is developing the miniseries, BLACKOUT, in association with Sony Pictures Television. A&E Network plans to turn the lights off across the nation in 2005.

Paul Lussier (CBS�s� Watergate� and HBO�s upcoming �Eleventh Hour�) will write the script and be the executive producer of BLACKOUT. Jason Leopold, the former Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal�s Dow Jones newswires, will serve as the top consultant and technical advisor. Emmy award winner Delia Fine serves as executive producer for A&E Network and Emilio Nunez serves as the supervising producer. The deal was brokered by the William Morris agency.

Inspired by last summer�s real-life power failure, BLACKOUT dramatizes a plausible series of disastrous events, which could have been prevented if the nation had only taken note sooner. The events to be portrayed, based on current analysis of our national power grid, could really happen. The haunting truth is that a nation-wide blackout could take less than 17 seconds to actually occur.

MARIEL HEMINGWAY TO PLAY MARIA SHRIVER IN A&E NETWORK�S ORIGINAL MOVIE SEE ARNOLD RUN

JURGEN PROCHNOW TO PLAY ADULT SCHWARZENNEGER, ROLAND KICKINGER TO PLAY YOUNG ARNOLD

LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 21, 2004 - Mariel Hemingway will play California�s First Lady Maria Shriver in the story of her husband�s unlikely rise to the Governorship of California, SEE ARNOLD RUN. The two-hour A&E Network original movie is scheduled to begin shooting in San Diego at the end of this month, and make its World Premiere in early 2005, it was announced today by Abbe Raven, Executive Vice President and General Manager, A&E Network.

Portraying Schwarzenneger the Hollywood-superstar-turned-pol will be distinguished German actor Jurgen Prochnow, who has appeared in such films as Das Boot, The English Patient and Air Force One. Arnold the ambitious young Austrian bodybuilder, will be played by Roland Kickinger (�Son of the Beach�).

Hemingway has starred in nearly 40 films since 1976, among them Lipstick, Manhattan, Star 80 and as former Second Lady of the United States Tipper Gore in the television movie �Warning: Parental Advisory�. Hemingway also starred in the television series �Civil Wars� and �Central Park West�.

SEE ARNOLD RUN follows both Schwarzenegger�s successful campaign for Governor, as well as his pursuit of an unprecedented 4th �Mr. Olympia� title three decades ago. In both cases - and in his film career � Schwarzenegger�s dogged determination and personal charisma proved to be a potent combination.

Delia Fine is executive producer and Emilio Nunez is supervising producer for A&E Network. SEE ARNOLD RUN will be produced for A&E Network by Cypress Point Productions (�Nuremberg� �Out of the Ashes� �44 Minutes�) and Stu Segall Productions. Executive producers are Gerald W. Abrams, Michael Goldstein and Matt Dorff. J.B. Rogers (American Pie 2) is the director. The script was adapted by Matt Dorff (Inside the Osmonds, Growing Up Brady). See Arnold Run will be distributed by Paramount Television.

A&E NETWORK(R) PREMIERES ITS NEW REAL-LIFE SERIES �DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER� WITH BACK-TO-BACK EPISODES BEGINNING TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 AT 10PM/9 C and 10:30PM/9:30 C

He�s fierce. He�s real. Run!

LOS ANGELES, CA July 21, 2004 � Dueling Chapmans, 40 miles-per-hour arguments, violent fugitives on the run, reading bedtime stories aloud - it�s all in a day�s work for the world�s most legendary bounty hunter. And, it�s all part of the World Premiere back-to-back episodes of A&E Network�s new real-life adventure series DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER on Tuesday, August 31, 2004. Episode One, �To be a Bounty Hunter,� premieres at 10PM/9PM C, followed by �The Competition� at 10:30PM/9:30 CT.

Bounty Hunter Duane �Dog� Chapman and his wife and business partner Beth are rare finds in unscripted television - they�re characters that truly capture your attention�at the same time they are capturing real life criminals on the run! DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER will feature the home and professional life of Dog as he balances his bounty hunting caseload - he has caught 6,000 so far � alongside his tumultuous relationships with Beth and his twelve children, some of whom work in the family business.

After serving time in a Texas penitentiary Chapman vowed to redeem himself by operating on the right side of the law. It is his own criminal past that inspires Dog to help the fugitives he hunts down to go straight. At his core, Dog is the quintessential all-American macho male who wants to help to make the world a better place in the best way he knows how. Dog believes strongly in the American judicial system, but he shows mercy to everyone he can. This sympathy for his prey comes from having truly walked in their shoes. Now, DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER will let viewers walk in his.

Day after day, Dog and Beth are on an emotional and physical roller-coaster, chasing down fugitives and living their own peculiar brand of family life. The recurring characters are: Duane �Dog� Chapman, 51 years old; Beth Smith, his 34-year old wife and bondsman partner; Leland Chapman, Dog�s 27 year-old son, who works with him as a bondsman and bounty hunter; Tim Chapman (no relation), another bondsman/bounty hunter who is a lifelong friend; Justin Bihag, Dog�s 21 year old nephew, now a bounty hunter in training; office manager Wesley Yoon; and Dog and Beth�s children Cecily (11), Bonnie Jo (5), and Garry, known as �Local Boy�(3yrs) because he�s the only one of the brood born in Hawaii.

Below are program descriptions for the first two episodes of DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER:

EPISODE # 1 - �To be a Bounty Hunter� TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 10PM ET and PT / 9PM CT Dog introduces us to his work and his life. He�s assembled quite a team. In the series premiere episode they�re chasing yet another unrelated Chapman, this one named Floyd, who is a heavily -more- tattooed bail jumper. They begin with an elaborate series of phone ruses, and then head out to get Floyd. On the way, Dog and Beth have a fight between two cars that culminates in Beth passing a file (and a few choice expletives) from her car to Dog�s at 40 MPH. Once Floyd is arrested, Dog and crew experience an emotional arc of intense aggression towards the fugitive (and one another) followed by concern and affection for poor Floyd. The team finishes the day with some much needed beach time. And just to make sure we all see Dog�s tender side, Dog and his 5-year-old daughter Bonnie release a Hawaiian state fish back into the ocean.

EPISODE # 2 - �THE COMPETITION� TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 10PM ET and PT / 9PM CT With Tim out sick, Dog decides to liven things up with a competition - he and Beth will hunt for one fugitive while Leland and Justin will chase another. Whoever catches their fugitive first, wins! Dog and Beth get lost but manage to befriend an informant that leads them to the family home of Fredo Augustine, their fugitive. They capture him at the beach, and allow him to bid farewell to his girlfriend, wife, and children. Then, Dog and Beth decide to play a trick on Leland and Justin - they won�t tell them that they already captured their guy. Meanwhile Leland and Justin get a lead on their fugitive, Toni Vierra, from her ex-boyfriend. They rendezvous with Ili, a freelance bounty hunter and Samoan tough-woman. Ili poses as a friend of Toni�s looking to buy drugs and gets a phone number for Toni. She speaks to her and sets up a drug buy for just after dark. Leland then calls in his Dad to help with the capture. After hiding in the bushes in a small park, the whole crew then race to another location and are able to capture Toni on the street. Leland and Justin are delighted to have �won� the competition � until Dog and Beth break the bad news.

Nancy Dubuc and Robert Sharenow serve as the A&E executive producers. DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER is produced by Hybrid Films for A&E Network. Daniel Elias and David Houts serve as the executive producers for Hybrid Films.

A&E NETWORK�S EMMY-AWARDWINNING SERIES BIOGRAPHY(R) PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERES IN 3Q04 ON SOME OF AMERICA�S MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE:

BIOGRAPHY: JOHN KERRY - TO BE SCHEDULED BIOGRAPHY: DAVID CASSIDY - Friday, July 30 at 9pm ET/8pm CT BIOGRAPHY: CARMEN ELECTRA - Tuesday, August 3 at 8pm ET/ 7pm CT BIOGRAPHY SPECIAL: JACK NICHOLSON, Sun., September 8, 8-10pm ET/7-9pm CT BIOGRAPHY: ANDRE AGASSI - Tuesday, August 24 at 8pm ET/7pm CT BIOGRAPHY: STEVE MCQUEEN - Wednesday, September 1 at 8pm ET/ 7pm CT BIOGRAPHY: LAURA BUSH - Wednesday, September 8 at 8pm ET/ 7pm CT BIOGRAPHY: TONY DANZA - Wednesday, October 20, at 8pm ET/ 7pm CT

Los Angeles, CA, July 21, 2004 - The man who could be President, the woman who is First Lady, America�s most iconic teen idol and one of its most prolific actors, are among the intriguing real-life characters being profiled in upcoming World Premiere episodes of A&E Network�s Emmy Award-winning series BIOGRAPHY(R). Fridays are theme nights, featuring everything from �70s pop stars on July 31 (The Osmonds, David Cassidy and The Partridge Family) to wrestlers on August 13 (Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley) and even serial killers on August 27 (August 27-Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy).

BIOGRAPHY: JOHN KERRY - TO BE SCHEDULED A Vietnam War hero who became famous for his anti-war stance once he came home, a dashing U.S. Senator who married the wealthy widow of a former Senatorial colleague from the other side of the aisle, and now the Democratic nominee for president of the United States, John Kerry has already lived a full and fascinating life. But is the next chapter his most challenging? Featuring new exclusive interviews with the candidate and members of his family.

BIOGRAPHY: DAVID CASSIDY - Friday, July 30, 9pm ET/8pm CT Sure, he had hit records, sold-out concerts and every girl in America had his picture on her wall in 1971, but for most teen idols, stardom lasts about as long as it takes to turn out the lights. A full thirty years after The Partridge Family went off the air, David Cassidy is still packing them in from coast to coast - and getting better reviews than ever!

BIOGRAPHY: CARMEN ELECTRA - Tuesday, August 3, 8pm ET/7pm CT Nineteen-year-old Ohio native Tara Leigh Patrick had just moved to LA as �Carmen Electra� when she chanced upon a meeting with the artist known as Prince, who quickly signed her to a record deal. But it took Playboy and Baywatch to make her a star! Older, wiser and with a hot show on MTV, the former Mrs. Dennis Rodman recently starred in Starsky & Hutch, and has more movies on the way.

BIOGRAPHY SPECIAL: JACK NICHOLSON - Sunday, Aug. 8, 8-10pm ET/7-9pm CT Jack Nicholson has gone a long way in Hollywood, from teenage office boy at MGM to one of the most popular and critically acclaimed actors in film history. His five decade career includes three Oscars and innumerable hit films, like Five Easy Pieces, Easy Rider, One Flew Over The Cuckoo�s Nest, The Shining, Prizzi�s Honor, Batman, A Few Good Men and Something�s Gotta Give, to name just a few. But Jack may be just as well known for his lovable, mischievous demeanor, on public view at Laker�s games and on the town, with beautiful lady after beautiful lady.

BIOGRAPHY: ANDRE AGASSI - Tuesday, August 24 at 8pm ET/7pm CT The son of an Olympic boxer, Andre Agassi was a bona fide tennis prodigy, so renowned by age three that he first played against Jimmy Connors at age four in Las Vegas! By the time he turned pro at age 16, he had already won five USTA national junior titles. He has enjoyed - and suffered - tremendous ups and downs, both in his career and personal life. One of only five players to ever win all four Grand Slam events, he is as famous for his changing hairstyles, extravagant clothing and a failed marriage to actress Brooke Shields.

BIOGRAPHY: STEVE MCQUEEN - Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 8pm ET/7pm CT Has there ever been another Hollywood star as cool as Steve McQueen? Former drifter, ex-Marine, McQueen burst onto the scene as the star of the TV western Wanted: Dead or Alive in 1958. Five years later, The Great Escape cemented his position as a Hollywood superstar - and his persona as a rebel. By the time of his death in 1980, he was as big as it gets, having taken the lead in blockbusters like Bullitt, The Cincinnati Kid, Papillon and The Towering Inferno.

BIOGRAPHY: LAURA BUSH - Wednesday, September, 8pm ET/7pm CT Texas born and bred, Laura Bush is a former teacher and librarian who has made education her top priority as First Lady of Texas, and now First Lady of the United States. Married since 1977 to George W. Bush, the mother of twin daughters remains her own person, in spite of the spotlight cast upon her from the international media.

BIOGRAPHY: TONY DANZA - Wednesday, October 20, 8pm ET/7pm CT Hollywood is littered with former sports superstars who failed as actors. Tony Danza is a genuine rarity - a failed boxer whose acting career has endured for a quarter of a century. The son of a Brooklyn garbage collector, Danza scored a starring role in the TV series Taxi, which lasted from 1978 until 1983. Almost immediately, he followed with another hit, Who�s The Boss? And now, as Danza�s new talk show is set to premiere this September, A&E BIOGRAPHY has unlimited and unfettered access to the show, backstage, onstage and everywhere in between!

This Fall, BIOGRAPHY will premiere additional new episodes on Don Adams (September 29), Jimmy Fallon (October), Richard Gere (two hours, in October), Hollywood Home Movies (November), Brad Pitt (two hour special) and Biography of the Year in December.

About A&E Network
Now reaching more than 88 million homes, A&E Network brings viewers the Art of EntertainmentTM through a unique combination of three genres - The Art of Biography, The Art of Documentary, and The Art of Drama. A brand synonymous with excellence in television, A&E Network offers a diverse mix of programming ranging from critically acclaimed original series and movies, to innovative documentaries, to the Emmy Award-winning Biography(R) series, to dramatic specials, feature film presentations, and contemporary performances. In 2004, A&E Network holds the distinct record for the most Primetime Emmy nominations (24) for a basic cable network.

The 2004 primetime line-up includes several new series, featuring the premieres of: Airline, a behind-the-scenes look at the drama and the hilarity of commercial air travel with Southwest Airlines; Family Plots, a groundbreaking new reality show that takes a look at the personal and professional lives of the family members who run the Poway Bernardo Mortuary; and Growing Up Gotti, chronicling the life of Victoria Gotti, famous daughter of John Gotti, successful magazine editor, and mother of three. The 2004 schedule also includes a host of topical and timely documentary specials, including Washington Wives, In Harm�s Way, and a quarterly series titled Behind the Blockbusters, bringing viewers the true stories behind the topics of Hollywood�s biggest releases. Great drama also remains the heart of the A&E Network brand with upcoming original movies such as See Arnold Run, Hillary�s Choice, The Brooke Ellison Story, and Riverman.

The A&E Network website is located at www.aetv.com and the Biography(R) website is located at www.Biography.com. The Biography Club is located at www.BiographyClub.com. For more information and photography please visit us on the web at www.aetvpress.com.

LOOK OUT, BAD GUYS EVERYWHERE... MI-5 IS BACK ON THE JOB AT A&E NETWORK, FIRST QUARTER �05

PRODUCTION COMPLETED ON 10 NEW EPISODES

LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 21, 2004 � Production has just completed on the third season of A&E Network�s critically-acclaimed fast-paced spy series MI-5, set to return to the schedule in early 2005. Each week, MI-5 follows the intense adventures of Section B as they work to thwart the activities of terrorists, immigration rings, arms smugglers and drug cartels by using their powers of perception and deception. All the while, they must balance the extreme psychological demands of their work and the effect they can have on their personal lives. Section B leader Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) is in charge, relying heavily on his Senior Case Officer Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen, also slated to star in the new screen remake of �Pride and Prejudice�), undercover operative Zoe Reynolds(Keeley Hawes) and surveillance expert, Danny Hunter (David Oyelowo). This season picks up where last season left off, with the disappearance of Tom Quinn after he is accused of assassinating a senior defense official and shooting his own boss, Harry.

During this edgy and timely new season, Zoe (Keeley Hawes) will find herself in an impossible situation regarding her loyalty to the agency and to her country and will be forced to make a life-altering decision. Along the way, the team must defend their countrymen while dealing with nuclear terrorism threats, missing Middle East peace negotiators, a rogue scientist seeking to mass produce a pneumonic plague, the Turkish mafia, international arms smugglers, and even the indignity of having to work on a kidnapping case for a fading rock star and his supermodel wife.

Season three introduces two new lead characters:

Rupert Penry-Jones plays the very dashing and notoriously unconventional Adam Carter, an agent of MI-6, Britain�s version of our CIA. Adam is hired by Harry to help MI-5 in the wake of the disappearance of Tom Quinn. -more-

Penry-Jones� film credits include the films The Four Feathers, Hilary and Jackie, and A&E Network�s JANE EYRE.

And, Olga Sosnovska plays the mysterious and sexy Fiona Carter, Adam Carter�s sexy wife, who is also an MI-6 agent. Due to her relationship with Adam, her path will cross frequently with the members of MI-5, and the lines will become blurred between the two agencies, much as we�ve seen happen here in the U.S. in the wake of 9/11. Olga is best known for her role as the sexy, corporate spy, �Lena Kundera� on �All My Children.�

MI-5 is a Kudos Production for BBC ONE in association with the A&E Network. Delia Fine is the executive producer for A&E Network, Stephen Garrett, Jane Featherstone and Simon Crawford Collins are the executive producers for Kudos, and Gareth Neame is the executive producer for the BBC. David Wolstencroft is the series� creator and Andrew Woodhead is the producer.

For more information on Kudos Production please visit their web site located at www.kudosfilmandtv.com

THE RIVERMAN: BRUCE GREENWOOD, SAM JAEGER, KATHLEEN QUINLAN AND CARY ELWES STAR IN THE ORIGINAL A&E NETWORK MOVIE ABOUT THE TRUE SERIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION THAT INSPIRED SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

WORLD PREMIERE ON A&E NETWORK MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2004, 8-10pm ET/PT/7-11pm CT

Los Angeles, CA, July 21, 2004 - Bruce Greenwood (Thirteen Days, Hollywood Homicide); Sam Jaeger (NYPD Blue, CSI, Scrubs, ER), Kathleen Quinlan (Apollo 13, American Graffiti) and Cary Elwes (Ella Enchanted, Days of Thunder) will star in the upcoming A&E Original Movie THE RIVERMAN, premiering on Monday, September 6, 8-10pm ET and PT / 7-9pm CT. Fox Television Studios is producing this A&E Network presentation.

Based on the best-selling book, The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer (Pocket Books), THE RIVERMAN is the true serial crime investigation that inspired Silence of the Lambs � the chilling true story of how notorious serial killer Ted Bundy (Elwes) helps former homicide detective Robert Keppel (Greenwood) and clean cut detective Dave Reichert (Jaeger) solve the gruesome Green River murders before his own electrocution in 1989. Keppel and Reichert desperately need the help of Bundy - an infamous, handsome, young death row inmate who possesses a very rare insight into the mind of a serial killer - to stop a series of ongoing murders in Seattle. Keppel, who had tracked Bundy for years, knows all too well how much Bundy can help - but is it worth reviving the grueling psychological toll of reconnecting with Bundy�s crimes, or worth jeopardizing his family and his marriage to Sande Keppel (Quinlan)?

Last year, Gary Leon Ridgway, a.k.a. �The Green River Killer,� was sentenced to life in prison for committing more murders than any other serial killer in U.S. history. Ridgway confessed to killing more than 40 women. The real-life liaison between Keppel and Bundy inspired Silence of the Lambs.

Bruce Greenwood has appeared in nearly 70 feature films since 1979, including Hollywood Homicide (2003), Thirteen Days (2000), and Exotica (1994). In 2002, Mr. Greenwood starred in the original A&E mini-series THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS.

Sam Jaeger has made numerous TV appearances on some of the hottest shows on TV such as, NYPD Blue, CSI, ER ,West Wing among many others. He has also appeared in such films as Girl�s Club (2002) and Behind Enemy Lines (2001). Oscar(R)-nominated actress Kathleen Quinlan has appeared in nearly 30 feature films since 1972, including The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003), My Giant (1998), A Civil Action (1998), Apollo 13 (1995) and American Graffiti (1973). She also had an ongoing television role in Family Law (1999-2002). Among Cary Elwes� most notable films are Ella Enchanted (2003), Cradle Will Rock (1999), Quest for Camelot (1998), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), Hot Shots (1991), Days of Thunder (1990) and The Princess Bride (1987).

Based on the best-selling book, The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer by Robert D. Keppel and William J. Birnes, the adaptation is by Tom Towler and Peter Lance. Delia Fine serves as the executive producer for A&E Network and David Craig is the supervising producer. Bill Eagles (BOOK OF RUTH, TOUCHING EVIL 3) is the director. Hawk Koch (Primal Fear, Frequency, Hostage starring Bruce Willis) and Peter Lance (JAG, The Sentinel, Wiseguy) are the executive producers. A&E Network will co-produce the film with Fox Television Studios. David Madden and Lisa Demberg are the executives for Fox Television Studios.

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Showtime

BARBERSHOP (New!) - The pay channel is developing a small screen version of the successful film franchise. John Ridley ("Undercover Brother") will shepherd the project along with "Barbershop's" George Tillman Jr. and "Soul Food's" Robert Teitel for State Street Pictures in association with MGM Television. No cast has been announced for the Showtime version although it's expected offers will be made to several of the feature's cast.

DAVE CHAPPELLE COMEDY SPECIAL - While promoting his upcoming standup special, due to air on Labor Day weekend (the exact date and time remains unannounced), Dave Chappelle said talks are still ongoing for him to return for a third season of "Chappelle's Show" on Comedy Central.

FAMILY BUSINESS/PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT - The pay channel confirmed both series have been given third season orders, 13 episodes of "Bullshit" and 10 installments of "Business," with each likely to return in mid-2005.

FAT ACTRESS (New!) - Kirstie Alley ("Veronica's Closet") is set to topline a new unscripted comedy at Showtime in which she'll play fictional version of herself, an actress whose weight consistently serves as fodder for the tabloids. The project, which has a six-episode order, was co-created and will be executive produced by Alley and Brenda Hampton ("7th Heaven"). "Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Sandy Chanley will also serve as an executive producer on the series, which is will begin production in September for a 2005 launch.

HUFF - Robert Greenblatt, the network's new entertainment president, surprised reporters - and the cast members themselves - by announcing he has renewed the series for a second season even though the show won't premiere until November 7. His decision comes after seeing the first five episodes as well as scripts to next five beyond those produced. The move isn't completely unfamiliar for Greenblatt as his drama "Six Feet Under" got a second season order before its launch on HBO.

LAUGH WHORE (New!) - Mario Cantone's ("Sex and the City") one-man show will be the focus of a special on the network in 2005.

S.F.C. - Much like "The Ranch" and the upcoming "Paradise," the two-hour Spike Lee-produced drama pilot will not go forward to series. Instead Showtime plans to broadcast the project as an original movie in early 2005.

In addition, Showtime has issued a press release confirming the news:

Showtime Throws Weight Behind Unscripted Comedy Series 'Fat Actress' Starring Emmy(R) Winner Kirstie Alley

Semi-Autobiographical Look at Being an Overweight Woman in Hollywood Created by Brenda Hampton and Kirstie Alley

LOS ANGELES, July 23 Showtime has greenlighted "Fat Actress," a six-episode, half-hour hybrid comedy/reality series starring two- time Emmy(R) Award winner Kirstie Alley that was inspired by Alley's real life, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. Taking her life experiences and recreating them in the extreme, Alley plays a fictional version of herself -- a successful television and movie star whose weight gain has become the subject of every tabloid imaginable as well as the bane of her existence as she tries to find work and true love in an unforgiving Hollywood. This irreverent series, which will be co-created and executive produced by Alley and Brenda Hampton ("Seventh Heaven"), will be unscripted, with each episode emanating from a story outline and the actors largely improvising the dialogue. "Fat Actress" will begin production in September in Los Angeles and will air on Showtime in 2005. Sandy Chanley ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") also executive produces through her production company, Production Partners, Inc.

"Kirstie Alley came to see us -- with 24 dozen Krispy Kremes in hand -- and said she was so tired of seeing unflatteringly fat pictures of herself on the cover of The Star that it was time for her to send-up her own image as well as Hollywood's obsession with weight and beauty," said Greenblatt. "Kirstie is an incredibly gifted comedian and a beautiful woman (regardless of her size), and we jumped at the chance to go behind the scenes of her life in a unique comedy series format which will blend reality and fiction. This is quintessential premium cable for us -- not only will the show garner a ton of attention, it also has something to say."

"Finally, a network that feels just like home," Alley added. "They don't give a damn how much I eat or how many men I sleep with as long as it's on camera."

Bravely willing to lampoon her image that has been mercilessly ridiculed over the past few years, Alley will give us a glimpse of the humor and the irony in her battle to lose weight and get back on television in a tough business that prefers the once-svelte version of the Emmy(R) Award-winning star of "Cheers." Stories will be drawn from a heightened perception of her real-life experiences, and some of Alley's friends have promised to appear as themselves in guest cameos to further blur the lines between truth and fiction. Anyone struggling with issues about weight or self-esteem -- or just looking for love and happiness -- will identify with Alley's life.

Brenda Hampton, co-creator of the series, created and currently executive produces "Seventh Heaven," the smash hit drama that has been running for eight years on The WB. While known primarily for this family drama, Hampton has actually spent most of her career writing and producing several successful sitcoms such as "Mad About You," "The John Larroquette Show" and "Blossom."

Kirstie Alley became a household name playing "Rebecca Howe" on the hit television series "Cheers" for which she won both a Golden Globe(R) and an Emmy(R) Award. Her flair for comedy translated to the big screen in movies like Woody Allen's "Deconstructing Harry," "Look Who's Talking" and "Look Who's Talking Too." In 1997, Alley returned to television to produce and star in the sitcom "Veronica's Closet," which ran for three seasons.

Sandy Chanley, who produced the first two seasons of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," brings incredible knowledge of unscripted comedy series production to the creative team. She has also produced a number of highly- regarded comedy specials including: "Bill Maher: Be More Cynical," "Chris Rock: Bigger and Blacker," "Chris Rock: Bring The Pain," "D.L. Hughley: Goin' Home," "Janeane Garofolo," and many others.

"Fat Actress" was packaged by Sam Haskell on behalf of the William Morris Agency. Pearlena Igbokwe is the creative executive on behalf of Showtime Networks Inc.

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns 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(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. 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. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME(R) is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.