Frances Fisher and Ivan Sergei Set to Co-Star in the USA Network Television Pilot 'TO LOVE AND DIE IN L.A.'

Frances Fisher and Ivan Sergei Set to Co-Star in the USA Network Television Pilot 'TO LOVE AND DIE IN L.A.'

Fisher and Sergei to Join Shiri Appleby and Tim Matheson; Directed by Mark Piznarski

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Frances Fisher ("Titanic," "Laws of Attraction") and Ivan Sergei ("Crossing Jordan," "The Break Up"), are set to star alongside Shiri Appleby and Tim Matheson in the USA Network pilot TO LOVE AND DIE IN L.A., it was announced today by Jackie de Crinis, senior vice president of original scripted series programming for USA. Sara Goodman serves as creator and co-executive producer. JoAnn Alfano ("30 Rock," "Sons & Daughters") and David Kanter ("Crime & Punishment") are executive producers. Andrew Singer ("Sons & Daughters") is producer and Mark Piznarski ("Veronica Mars," "NYPD Blue") will direct. The project is from Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video Television in association with NBC Universal Television Studio.

TO LOVE AND DIE IN L.A. is about a young woman (Appleby) with abandonment 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, her relationship issues begin to make sense and she realizes she may have found a new career path. Frances will star as Janet, Appleby's mother and Sergei will star as Blue, a potential love interest for Appleby who also works for Matheson.

"We're thrilled to have actors of this caliber on board with us," said de Crinis. "Fisher and Sergei's combined experience and comedic talents truly complement an already phenomenal cast, bringing these wonderful characters to life."

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.

Sergei has appeared in many successful television shows, including two seasons on the NBC hit series "Crossing Jordan," the disaster epic "10.5," "Charmed," "Hawaii," "Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)," "Jack and Jill," plus John Woo's "Once A Thief." Some of his popular film roles include the recent Jennifer Aniston/Vince Vaughn film "The Break Up," "The Opposite of Sex" with Christina Ricci and Lisa Kudrow, "The Big Day" with Julianna Margulies and "Scorched" with Woody Harrelson, Alicia Silverstone and John Cleese. His feature film debut was in "Dangerous Minds" with Michelle Pfeiffer.

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 basic cable network across the board in 3Q06, USA Network is seen in 90 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.

Source: USA NETWORK

CONTACT: Brad Bernstein (East Coast), +1-212-664-4401,
brad.bernstein@nbcuni.com, or Lynn Weiss (West Coast), +1-818-777-6682,
lynn.weiss@nbcuni.com, both for USA NETWORK

Web site: http://www.usanetwork.com/

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