On the evening of June 11th, acclaimed performers and leading activists will join us for a staged reading that presents inspiring stories of fifty-one women and men from around the world who have stood up to oppression at great personal risk in the non-violent pursuit of human rights. The individuals portrayed include Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic and Baltasar Garzon of Spain, as well as Nobel Prize laureates The Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Elie Wiesel, Oscar Arias, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Jose Ramos-Horta, Bobby Muller, and Wangari Maathai.

NBC PICKS UP FOUR CURRENT SERIES FOR RENEWAL IN 2005-06
AND ALSO SETS ‘ER’ TO CONTINUE FOR TWO MORE YEARS
THROUGH THE 2007-08 SEASON
Published: March 17, 2005

Network Gives New Season Orders to Proven Favorites Including Dramas "The West Wing," "Crossing Jordan," "Las Vegas" and Freshman Comedy "Joey" and Assures "ER" Will Remain on NBC for Three More Years Through the 2007-08 Season.

BURBANK, Calif. -– March 17, 2005 -– NBC has extended "ER" for two more years through the 2007-08 season and renewed four current series, the dramas "The West Wing," "Crossing Jordan," "Las Vegas" and the comedy "Joey," it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"The continuing quality and popularity of these series make them the mainstays of our year-to-year schedules," said Reilly. "Coupled with our innovative current development plans, we feel we have the right mix of returning and fresh, new breakout hits for a promising 2005-06 schedule."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now in its sixth season, "The West Wing" (Wednesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET) is the winner of a record four consecutive Emmy Awards as Outstanding Drama Series. "The West Wing" delivers the highest concentrations of upscale viewers for any primetime series on any broadcast network in such key categories as adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 living in homes with incomes of $100,000 and more. This season, "The West Wing" is averaging a 3.4 rating, 8 share among adults 18-49 and 11.4 million viewers overall.

Under the direction of executive producer John Wells ("ER"), the political drama has seen a popular and critical resurgence this year as it offers viewers a realistic, behind-the-scenes peek into the Oval Office as seen through the eyes of its eclectic group of frenzied staffers and the devoted First Family. In addition to the sterling regular cast led by Martin Sheen, newly added characters this season also include Emmy winner Jimmy Smits ("NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law") and Emmy winner Alan Alda ("M*A*S*H").

"The West Wing" also holds the record for most Emmys won by a series in a single season (its first). Other awards include a Peabody Award for Excellence in Television, five Golden Globe nominations and one Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series, and three Television Critics Association Awards. "The West Wing" is from John Wells Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. Wells, Christopher Misiano and Alex Graves serve as executive producers. Aaron Sorkin is the creator.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kathy Kelly-Brown, NBC Entertainment Publicity, 818/840-4512

nb. This press release has been edited. To view the full release, please follow the link below.

Source | Full Press Release

'West Wing' Gets Vote of Confidence from NBC
(Wednesday, March 16 08:37 AM)

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) Fans of "The West Wing" won't be left hanging at the end of the Bartlet administration.

NBC, Warner Bros. TV and executive producer John Wells have just about finished a deal to bring the Emmy-winning drama back for a seventh season in 2005-06, which would take the show past its election storyline and into the first term of the new president, whomever that may be.

That could also bring significant changes to the cast, although regulars Allison Janney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer and Bradley Whitford are all under contract for next season, according to the Hollywood trade papers. Martin Sheen, who plays outgoing President Jed Bartlet, is also likely to return; Wells has said he's interested in exploring how a president returns to the real world.

"The West Wing" also has options for Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda, whose characters are being set up to square off in the show's election. A recent Zogby poll found that "West Wing" viewers favor Smits's character, Democratic Rep. Matt Santo, over Alda's Republican Sen. Arnold Vinick.

After hitting a low point -- at least in many critics' estimation -- last season, "The West Wing" has rebounded some this year with stories involving a staff shakeup in the White House and the various campaigns to replace Bartlet. Additionally, NBC has aired the show with only one short break during the holidays to keep its momentum rolling.

The show's ratings have taken a hit since "American Idol" returned to FOX in January, but its audience of 11.4 million viewers per week is fairly close to its 12 million-viewer average at this time last season. In both years "The West Wing" has been hampered by lackluster lead-ins.

Source | http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|94158|1|,00.html

Fathers And Sons

USA, 2004, 99 min, Color

World Premiere

Directed By: Rob Spera, Rodrigo Garcia, Jared Rappaport
Screenwriters: Rob Spera, Rodrigo Garcia, Jared Rappaport
Cast: Kathy Baker, Joseph Bologna, Ron Eldard, John Mahoney
Executive Producers: Jerry Offsay, Deborah Spera, Katy Coyle, Julie Lynn,


A triptych of intertwined tales, Fathers and Sons revolves around the lives of three families who grow up on the same street. The first section follows the marriage of Anthony (Bradley Whitford) and Jenny (Samantha Mathis) and the relationship that develops between Anthony and his newborn son over the course of 30 years. The second story revolves around the infidelities of an airline pilot (John Mahoney) who shares a home and family (but not the truth) with his wife (Kathy Baker) before spending an extraordinary night with his son (Ron Eldard). The final chapter follows Elliot (Gale Harold) and his return to his hometown and his estranged family (Barbara Barrie, Joe Bologna and Lisa Edelstein). Fathers and Sons is a wonderful ensemble piece about the nature of love between men and their children, and a deeply felt examination of the nature of family.

Screening Schedule

Sat, Jan 29 5:30 pm - Regal Hollywood 10 - $15.00
Fri, Feb 4 7:30 pm - Regal Hollywood 10 - $15.00