Also starring Frances Fisher and Tim Matheson
LOS ANGELES, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- USA Network has given a series
pickup to its newest original action comedy, TO LOVE & DIE (working title),
starring Shiri Appleby ("Six Degrees," "Roswell"), Frances Fisher
("Titanic," "Laws of Attraction") and Tim Matheson ("The West Wing,"
"Animal House"). The series also stars Kristin Dattilo ("Courting Alex")
and Christine Adams ("Home Again"). Sara Goodman is the creator and
executive producer along with Carla Kettner and JoAnn Alfano as executive
producers and Andrew Singer as producer. The project is from Lorne Michaels
Broadway Video Television in association with Universal Media Studios. The
series is slated to launch in 2008 with 12 episodes. The announcement was
made by Jeff Wachtel, USA's executive vice president, original programming.
"To Love & Die has a high-concept character with a light tone and a
slightly twisted soul at its core, which fits our brand perfectly," said
Wachtel.
TO LOVE & DIE centers on Hildy (Appleby), a sassy young woman with
intimacy issues who is convinced that her dating problems will be resolved
if she can track down the father (Matheson) she never knew. When she finds
him and discovers that he's a contract killer, she realizes she has a real
knack for her father's line of work. Hildy's intrusive and overbearing
mother (Fisher) is a refined, meddlesome woman who is on her seventh
husband and who constantly inserts herself into her daughter's messy love
life. Hildy often seeks advice from her older sister, Nancy (Dattilo), who,
unlike herself, has played it safe in life, opting for a quiet suburban
home, two kids and a nice, boring husband. Then there is Eddie (Adams), a
key member of Matheson's contracting organization -- a bi-sexual technical
genius whose skill in creating advanced weapons and high-tech gadgets often
comes in handy when planning and executing her boss's latest hit. Ivan
Sergei co-stars in the pilot as Hildy's father's protege, who meets his
match when he meets the boss's daughter.
Appleby began her acting career at the young age of four. After
appearing in various national commercials she earned her first television
job in daytime appearing on "Santa Barbara." Next came roles on
"thirtysomething," "Doogie Howser, M.D.," "7th Heaven" and "City Guys"
among others. Soon after, Appleby landed the role of Liz Parker on
"Roswell" and was most recently seen on the series "Six Degrees." She has
also appeared in numerous films including "Swimfan," "The Other Sister" and
"What Love Is" and will next be seen in "Charlie Wilson's War," written by
Aaron Sorkin, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Tom Hanks and Julia
Roberts.
Fisher began her career in the theater, starring in over 30 theatrical
productions including "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "A Midsummer Night's
Dream." She began her film career with roles in "Tough Guys Don't Dance,"
"Babyfever," "Patty Hearst" and "Female Perversions." She then added
starring roles opposite Clint Eastwood in the Academy Award-winning
"Unforgiven" and "True Crime" to her burgeoning resume. The versatile
actress is perhaps best known for her memorable performance as Kate
Winslet's mother in "Titanic," which garnered her a Screen Actors Guild
nomination as part of Best Ensemble Cast, while the film went on to receive
11 Academy Awards. Fisher has had many notable television roles, including
"Lucy & Desi: Before The Laughter" and recurring roles on "Becker" and
"Titus." More recently, Fisher earned rave reviews in "Laws of Attraction"
opposite Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan, and a co-starring role in "Mrs.
Harris" with Annette Bening and Sir Ben Kingsley. She will next be seen in
Universal Pictures' "The Kingdom" opposite Jamie Foxx and directed by Peter
Berg.
Matheson began his career by lending his voice to the animated series
"Johnny Quest" and "Space Ghost." In his adolescence, Matheson also played
the role of Mike Beardsley in the classic movie, "Yours, Mine and Ours,"
and appeared in "Leave it to Beaver," "My Three Sons" and "Bonanza." A
veteran actor/director/producer, Matheson has appeared in over one hundred
television and film projects. His most notable roles include Otter in
"Animal House" and a recurring guest role as the vice president on "The
West Wing," for which he was nominated for two Emmys. Behind the camera,
Matheson has directed episodes of "Third Watch," "Ed," "The Twilight Zone,"
"Cold Case," "Without A Trace," "The West Wing" and "Shark," as well as
PSYCH and BURN NOTICE for USA. In 2002 Matheson also appeared in "Van
Wilder."
USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series
and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television
shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA
Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site
is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of
NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies
in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and
information to a global audience.
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