NEW YORK, NY: (March 4, 2003) Showtime Networks Inc. has acquired three series that focus on the truths, comic situations and struggles of some extraordinary women as they search for happiness and meaning in their lives. The series, licensed by BBC Sales Company, will premiere on SHOWTIME WOMEN in early 2003. They include THE BUCCANEERS, starring Mira Sorvino, LINDA GREEN with Liza Tarbuck and RESCUE ME starring Sally Phillips.

 

A four-part period mini-series set in the 1800s, THE BUCCANEERS stars Mira Sorvino "Mighty Aphrodite," "Norma Jean & Marilyn"), Carla Gugino ("Spy Kids," "Chicago Hope"), Alison Elliott ("the Spitfire Grill," "The Wings of the Dove"), and Rya Kihlstedt ("Home Alone 3," "Deep Impact"). Because of their "new money" backgrounds, these four young American women find it difficult to break into upper-crust society in New York to find suitable marriage prospects. Deciding on a London season, the girls head to England and soon find eligible husbands -- but happiness is more elusive. It becomes all too apparent that British aristocracy is not what they hoped for or imagined. The mini-series is produced and directed by Philip Saville from a screenplay by Maggie Wadey, based on the Edith Wharton novel of the same name.

 

LINDA GREEN is a critically-acclaimed comedy series with a fresh and unlikely lead in star Liza Tarbuck ("Passport to the Sun," "The Hound of the Baskervilles.") In the series, Linda Green works a desk job during the day and sings karaoke-style for a local bar at night. With a love-life wrought with complications and disaster, Linda relies on her tight circle of friends who always manage to save her with amusement and adventure. The cast also includes Christopher Eccleston ("The Others," "Elizabeth") and Claire Rushbrook ("The Sins," "Shiner"). Producers are Matthew Bird and Nicola Schindler. The screenplay was written by Paul Abbott, who also directs.

 

RESCUE ME stars Sally Phillips ("Bridget Jones's Diary," "Smack the Pony") as Katie Nash, a thirty-something journalist who writes about love and romance for a glossy women's magazine. Behind the scenes however, she's struggling with a marriage that is falling apart and the pleasure and pitfalls of getting back into life as a single woman. Also starring are Stewart Wright ("Wild West," "Fierce Creatures") and Vincent Regan ("Eureka Street," "Rebel Heart"). The producer is Christine Langan and the screenplay is by David Nicholls.

 

Negotiating on behalf of Showtime Networks were Vice President of Acquisitions Gary Garfinkel and Manager of Acquisitions Valerie Watts Meraz. Negotiating for the BBC were Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs Vernon Chu and Director, Coproductions and Sales Susanna Pollack.

 

BBC Worldwide Americas (BBCWA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BBC Worldwide, the commercial consumer arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Sales Company, a joint venture of BBC Worldwide Americas (BBCWA) and Discovery Communications, Inc. (DCI) licenses, co-produces and distributes television programs in the United States and Canada on behalf of the BBC and DCI.

 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL" and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO", SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC xtra. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HDTV®, SHOWTIME® ON DEMAND" and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND". SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. 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 SET (Showtime Event Television) Pay Per View". Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME® is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.