Court TV Paints the Country "Blue" With A Series of Special Events to Launch NYPD Blue, Beginning Labor Day Weekend

Business Wire, August 9, 2001

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--August 9, 2001

Network Will Kick Off Weeknight Schedule of Award-Winning Series

With a Marathon of Episodes and the Establishment of Two Guinness

World Records

Court TV today announced that it will launch its weeknight schedule of the hit drama NYPD Blue with a series of special events beginning Labor Day weekend, which include the airing of an 18-hour marathon of episodes from season two on Monday, September 3 (9:00 AM ET/PT) and the establishment of two Guinness World Records.

The series will launch in its regular time slot, weeknights at 8:00 PM (ET/PT), on Tuesday, September 4, 2001.

To celebrate the premiere of the award-winning NYPD Blue on Court TV, the network announced several elements surrounding the launch including:

-- The Establishment of Two Guinness World Records

Court TV has been sanctioned by Guinness World Records(TM) to set two new world records. Beginning Friday, August 31, approximately 50 contestants will come together at a 42nd Street venue, just off of Times Square to watch as many episodes as possible, as they set the world's record for "Most Shows of an Episodic Television Program Watched Consecutively." At the same time, Court TV will set a second record for "Consecutive Hours of Television/Video Watched."

-- An 18-Hour NYPD Blue Labor Day Marathon

On Monday, September 3, Court TV will air a Labor Day marathon of NYPD Blue episodes back-to-back from the drama's second season. Eighteen one-hour episodes will run between 9:00 AM and 3:00 AM (ET/PT). The second season features Jimmy Smits, who replaced David Caruso after episode four, and Dennis Franz as detectives "Bobby Simone" and "Andy Sipowicz." Other regular cast members from season two include Nicholas Turturro, James McDaniel, Sharon Lawrence, and Amy Brenneman, star of the CBS series "Judging Amy." Season two guest stars include Peter Boyle, Giovanni Ribisi, Vanessa Williams, as well as Debra Messing from NBC's Emmy award-winning "Will & Grace," and Melina Kanakaredes, star of NBC's hit drama "Providence."

-- A Special Documentary on the Making of NYPD Blue

Court TV will produce a documentary special on the making of NYPD Blue. The one-hour special will take a behind-the-scenes look at the history and making of the hit drama, and is scheduled to air on Court TV in November 2001. The special will include an historical perspective of the groundbreaking series in the crime and justice genre, as well as interviews with the current and former members of the NYPD Blue cast and crew. In addition, Court TV will be producing a ha-lf-hour version of the special that will be aired on ABC affiliates throughout the country.

-- An E-Bay Charity Auction of NYPD Blue Memorabilia - Proceeds

Given to the New York Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund

Beginning Thursday, August 30, Court TV will auction off cherished NYPD Blue memorabilia, including autographed scripts, on e-Bay. The auction will run through Wednesday, September 6. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the New York Widow's and Children's Benefit Fund, which is run by former New York Met Rusty Staub, and benefits the wives and children of both police and firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

-- NYPB Blue on Courttv.com

Court TV will provide extensive coverage of the series on its Web site, www.courttv.com, which will include show history and background, cast, schedule and other pertinent information.

NYPD Blue will begin its ninth successful season on the ABC network this fall. The series ranks among television's highest rated and most critically lauded franchises.

Court TV (www.courttv.com or AOL keyword: Court TV), a basic cable network, provides a window on the American system of justice through distinctive programming that both informs and entertains. As the destination for crime and justice programming, Court TV broadcasts trials by day and compelling stories of the criminal justice system in the evening. A service of AOL Time Warner and Liberty Media Corp., Court TV has over 60 million subscribers and expects to reach 65 million by early 2002.