September 24, 2002

NICK MUST BECOME THE GUARDIAN TO A 13-YEAR-OLD WHO KILLED THEN RAPED HIS ADOPTIVE MOTHER, ON "THE GUARDIAN," TUESDAY, OCT. 1

"Monster" - Nick is forced to become the guardian to a young boy who killed then raped his adoptive mother, on THE GUARDIAN, Tuesday, Oct. 1 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Steve Gomer directed the episode written by David Hollander, one of the executive producers, and Anne McGrail.

Nick and the boy's attorney are trying to get the case transferred from adult to juvenile court. Then Nick discovers that years earlier Laurie ignored the recommendation that the boy seek counseling, instead pushing him through the adoption process and now her reputation is put on the line. Nick now must put personal feelings for this case aside and do everything he can to keep the boy's case out of adult court - thus sealing the young boy's fate.

Meanwhile, Nick meets Kim McPherson, a police officer and friend of Lulu's, via a fender bender in the parking lot. Tempers flare, but soon Nick and Kim have other thoughts in mind.

Nick Fallin Simon Baker
Burton Fallin Dabney Coleman
Alvin Masterson Alan Rosenberg

Louisa "Lulu" Olsen     Wendy Moniz
Jake Straka     Raphael Sbarge
James Mooney    Charles Malik Whitfield
Laurie Solt     Kathleen Chalfant

Judge Damsen Denise Dowse
Vic Lafferty Frank John Hughes
Ronnie Wagner Andrew Lawrence
Kim McPherson Katherine Lanasa
Wallace Novicki Christopher Gehrman

Charlie McPherson       Steven Kozlowski
Paul Butler     Dane Northcutt
Matty Butler    Jimmy Bennett
Corrections Officer     Wayne Lopez

Cyndy Landry Adina Porter
Judge Franklin Mack Dryden
Jerry Stevens Michael Dorn

RATING: TVPG-S

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Press Contacts: Beth Haiken                     323/575-2103            beth.haiken@tvc.cbs.com
                                Kate H. Fisher          212/975-3818            khfisher@cbs.com