ANDY FRIENDLY TO EXECUTIVE-PRODUCE "COUNTDOWN TO THE EMMYS 2004," ABC'S PRE-SHOW TO THE 56th ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS TELECAST

Prolific producer and television entertainment news pioneer Andy Friendly has signed on as executive producer of "Countdown to the Emmys 2004." The hour-long program will broadcast live from the red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium and will lead into the 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. "Countdown to the Emmys 2004" airs from 7:00-8:00 p.m., ET, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 on the ABC Television Network.

"The Emmy Awards ceremony is truly television's most thrilling night. Viewers anticipate all the excitement from the pre-show arrivals, including the first looks at their favorite stars, their spectacular outfits and hearing from them as they enter the big show. Our job is to capture the excitement and build anticipation for the ceremony, which we will do with a great team - in front of and behind the camera," says Friendly.

Friendly, whose talent and imagination gave birth to one of television's most successful magazines, "Entertainment Tonight," raised the talk show to exciting new levels on cable as executive producer of all of CNBC's primetime shows from 1990-95, including shows for Tom Snyder, Geraldo Rivera and Tim Russert, and he revived one of television's most venerable game shows, "Hollywood Squares." He also served as president of Programming and Production for King World, syndicators of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Wheel of Fortune," "Jeopardy" and "Inside Edition."

Hosts for the program will be announced soon. "Countdown to THE Emmys 2004" comes from Andy Friendly Productions, which currently produces the "Life of Luxury" specials for ABC, starring George Hamilton.