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Heavy Duty Talent Weighs in for Showtime's 'FAT ACTRESS'
October 5, 2004
John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Jeff Zucker, Mark Curry to Appear
on Series Premiering March 2005
John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Mark Curry as well as NBC Universal TV
Group President Jeff Zucker will join two- time Emmy(R) Award-winner
Kirstie Alley for the first episode of FAT ACTRESS, the new
seven-episode comedy series debuting on Showtime in March 2005.
Production for FAT ACTRESS began in Los Angeles on September 20 and
the series is slated to premiere on SHOWTIME in March 2005. This
irreverent series, co-created and executive produced by Alley and
Brenda Hampton ("Seventh Heaven"), is unscripted, with
each episode emanating from a story outline and the actors largely
improvising the dialogue. Sandy Chanley ("Curb Your
Enthusiasm") also executive produces through her production
company, Production Partners, Inc. Tom Bull serves as supervising
producer.
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.
Bravely willing to lampoon her image, which has been mercilessly
ridiculed by the tabloids 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 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.
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 a venture between NBC Universal,
Robert Redford, and Showtime Networks Inc. 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 is available in
Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.
Source: Showtime Networks Inc.
CONTACT: Bryan Byrd of Showtime, +1-310-234-5219, or
bryan.byrd@showtime.net
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