Source:Showtime Networks Inc.

July 18, 2008

Three-time Emmy Award winner Edie Falco is coming to a New York City hospital for Showtime's new half-hour single camera dark comedy series "Nurse Jackie" (working title), it was jointly announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime, and Kevin Beggs, President of Programming and Production for Lionsgate. The twelve episode, half-hour series will star Falco as a strong-willed, iconoclastic New York City nurse juggling the frenzied grind of an urban hospital and an equally challenging personal life. The series will go into production in New York in late 2008, and will premiere in 2009.

"Nothing is more thrilling for us than bringing Edie Falco to Showtime in this unique, quirky, touching comedy/drama," said Greenblatt. "If you suddenly found yourself in the hospital and fighting through our health care system, you would want no one other than Edie Falco -- or Nurse Jackie -- by your side. This show will illuminate the complex and often heroic people who devote their lives to healing the sick while simultaneously trying to make sense of their own complicated personal lives. It's quintessential premium cable, and with Edie on board, quintessential Showtime."

"We're thrilled about the pick-up of 'Nurse Jackie' and the expansion of our relationship with Showtime on what we expect will be another groundbreaking series," said Beggs. "This subversive, yet wildly entertaining examination of our broken health care system, brought to life by the incomparable Edie Falco and an amazing creative team, promises to excite and provoke audiences."

The series is a co-production of Showtime and Lionsgate. The pilot was written by Liz Brixius, Linda Wallem ("The Comeback," "That '70's Show"), and Evan Dunsky. Wallem and Brixius are executive producers and show runners. Caryn Mandabach will serve as an executive producer. Richie Jackson will serve as co-executive producer.

"Nurse Jackie" is a half-hour dark comedy that is at turns wicked, heartbreaking and funny. Edie Falco stars as the title character Jackie O'Hurley, a strong-willed and brilliant -- but very flawed -- emergency room nurse in a complicated New York City hospital. A lapsed Catholic with an occasional weakness for Vicodin and Adderall to get her through the days, Jackie keeps the hospital balanced with her own kind of justice. Every day is a high wire act of juggling patients, doctors, fellow nurses and her own indiscretions. The series also stars Eve Best, Peter Facinelli, Merritt Wever, Haaz Slieman and Paul Schulze.

The show is co-produced by Lionsgate and Showtime in association with Caryn Mandabach Productions and Madison Grain Elevator Inc.