PREMIERE

NEW DRAMA SERIES "COMMANDER IN CHIEF," STARRING ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER GEENA DAVIS, PREMIERES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 ON ABC

"Pilot" - Mackenzie Allen (Academy Award-winner Geena Davis), the 45-year-old Independent Vice President of the United States, is about to venture into territory no woman has entered before. While at an official ceremony with husband and Chief of Staff, Rod Allen (Kyle Secor), she is informed by the President's Chief of Staff, Jim Gardner (Harry Lennix), and the Attorney General that President Bridges is about to undergo emergency brain surgery for a tumor.

Mackenzie is stunned when Gardner tells her that in the event the President does not recover, the party doesn't want her to succeed him. Instead, she's asked to step down in order to allow the Speaker of the House to assume the post, as he shares the party's ideals.

Mackenzie's doubts are confirmed when she visits President Bridges at the hospital and hears from him directly that he wants her to resign. Bridges dies before transition plans are finalized, however, and after sitting through an insulting and sexist conversation with Speaker of the House, Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland), Mackenzie decides to forge ahead and assume the presidency despite the obstacles that lie ahead.

Aside from the challenges Mackenzie faces, husband Rod has his own hurdles to overcome, as he finds himself being ushered into a pink and feminine office by the first lady's aide. Her children, six-year-old Amy (Jasmine Anthony), as well as twins Horace (Matt Lanter), one of the most popular kids in school, and Rebecca (Caitlin Wachs), a rebellious teenager with raging hormones, must also learn to deal with their mother's new role of the leader of the free world.

Meeting with a saddened Congress and addressing a stunned nation, Mackenzie delivers an inaugural speech with the help of press secretary Kelly Ludlow (Ever Carradine), which manages to unite a grieving country, quell the critics who feel she's not up to the task, and look to the bright future which lies ahead, led by the first female President of the United States, on the premiere of "Commander In Chief," TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (9:00 -10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Editors please note: This program will repeat Saturday, October 1, from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET.

"Commander In Chief" stars Geena Davis as Mackenzie Allen, Donald Sutherland as Nathan Templeton, Harry Lennix as Jim Gardner, Kyle Secor as Rod Calloway, Ever Carradine as Kelly Ludlow, Caitlin Wachs as Rebecca Calloway, Matt Lanter as Horace Calloway and Jasmine Anthony as Amy Calloway.

Guest-starring in "Pilot" are Will Lyman as President Bridges, Anthony Azizi as Vince Taylor, Julie Ann Emery as Agent Joan Greer, Mary Page Keller as Grace Bridges, Stan Kelly as Roman Wolfe, Al Brown as General Pollack, Dave Bridgewater as Charlie Witherspoon, Hans Josephson as Chief Justice, Talia Balsam as Ruth (Secretary), Greg Cooper as Mark, Ato Essandoh as Manute Obama, Donald Campen, Jr. as Sergeant at Arms, Joe Inscoe as reporter AF One (Robert), Dean Shelton as Sam Wilkins, Jackie Ling as reporter no. 1, Juan Conde as reporter no. 2, Sherri McKinney as reporter no. 3, Jenna Gavigan as Jenny, Kristen Shaw as Norah Woodruff, Matt Barr as Kenny, Ed Sala as Mr. Libner, Whit Baldwin as helicopter pilot, Ric Young as reporter no. 4, Leslie Ann Hope as Melanie Blackston, Stephanie Nightlinger as college girl, Stephen Zaleski as Honor Guard commander and Thomas Joe Craig as Joint Chief.

"Pilot" was written and directed by Rod Lurie.

The series was created by Rod Lurie, acclaimed writer/director of the Oscar-nominated film, "The Contender." Mr. Lurie, Marc Frydman and Dee Johnson serve as executive producers. "Commander In Chief" is produced by Touchstone Television in association with Battle Plan Productions.

"Commander In Chief" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.

This program carries a TV-PG,D,L parenal guideline.

PREMIERE

NEW DRAMA SERIES "COMMANDER IN CHIEF," STARRING ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER GEENA DAVIS, PREMIERES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 ON ABC

"Pilot" - Mackenzie Allen (Academy Award-winner Geena Davis), the 45-year-old Independent Vice President of the United States, is about to venture into territory no woman has entered before. While at an official ceremony with husband and Chief of Staff, Rod Allen (Kyle Secor), she is informed by the President's Chief of Staff, Jim Gardner (Harry Lennix), and the Attorney General that President Bridges is about to undergo emergency brain surgery for a tumor.

Mackenzie is stunned when Gardner tells her that in the event the President does not recover, the party doesn't want her to succeed him. Instead, she's asked to step down in order to allow the Speaker of the House to assume the post, as he shares the party's ideals.

Mackenzie's doubts are confirmed when she visits President Bridges at the hospital and hears from him directly that he wants her to resign. Bridges dies before transition plans are finalized, however, and after sitting through an insulting and sexist conversation with Speaker of the House, Nathan Templeton (Donald Sutherland), Mackenzie decides to forge ahead and assume the presidency despite the obstacles that lie ahead.

Aside from the challenges Mackenzie faces, husband Rod has his own hurdles to overcome, as he finds himself being ushered into a pink and feminine office by the first lady's aide. Her children, six-year-old Amy (Jasmine Anthony), as well as twins Horace (Matt Lanter), one of the most popular kids in school, and Rebecca (Caitlin Wachs), a rebellious teenager with raging hormones, must also learn to deal with their mother's new role of the leader of the free world.

Meeting with a saddened Congress and addressing a stunned nation, Mackenzie delivers an inaugural speech with the help of press secretary Kelly Ludlow (Ever Carradine), which manages to unite a grieving country, quell the critics who feel she's not up to the task, and look to the bright future which lies ahead, led by the first female President of the United States, on the premiere of "Commander In Chief," TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 (9:00 -10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Editors please note: This program will repeat Saturday, October 1, from 10:00-11:00 p.m., ET.

"Commander In Chief" stars Geena Davis as Mackenzie Allen, Donald Sutherland as Nathan Templeton, Harry Lennix as Jim Gardner, Kyle Secor as Rod Calloway, Ever Carradine as Kelly Ludlow, Caitlin Wachs as Rebecca Calloway, Matt Lanter as Horace Calloway and Jasmine Anthony as Amy Calloway.

Guest-starring in "Pilot" are Will Lyman as President Bridges, Anthony Azizi as Vince Taylor, Julie Ann Emery as Agent Joan Greer, Mary Page Keller as Grace Bridges, Stan Kelly as Roman Wolfe, Al Brown as General Pollack, Dave Bridgewater as Charlie Witherspoon, Hans Josephson as Chief Justice, Talia Balsam as Ruth (Secretary), Greg Cooper as Mark, Ato Essandoh as Manute Obama, Donald Campen, Jr. as Sergeant at Arms, Joe Inscoe as reporter AF One (Robert), Dean Shelton as Sam Wilkins, Jackie Ling as reporter no. 1, Juan Conde as reporter no. 2, Sherri McKinney as reporter no. 3, Jenna Gavigan as Jenny, Kristen Shaw as Norah Woodruff, Matt Barr as Kenny, Ed Sala as Mr. Libner, Whit Baldwin as helicopter pilot, Ric Young as reporter no. 4, Leslie Ann Hope as Melanie Blackston, Stephanie Nightlinger as college girl, Stephen Zaleski as Honor Guard commander and Thomas Joe Craig as Joint Chief.

"Pilot" was written and directed by Rod Lurie.

The series was created by Rod Lurie, acclaimed writer/director of the Oscar-nominated film, "The Contender." Mr. Lurie, Marc Frydman and Dee Johnson serve as executive producers. "Commander In Chief" is produced by Touchstone Television in association with Battle Plan Productions.

"Commander In Chief" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.

This program carries a TV-PG,D,L parenal guideline.