ERIC McCORMACK TO HOST "THE 10TH ANNUAL CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS" ON THE WB ON MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2005

Burbank, CA - November 18, 2004

The WB Network, which recently announced a three-year deal for the exclusive broadcast right to the CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS, today announced that Emmy Award-winning actor Eric McCormack will return as the host. The WB's inaugural telecast of this prestigious event will take place on Monday, January 10 (previously announced to air on January 9) with a two-hour award show (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET).

McCormack, who first hosted the Critics' Choice Awards in 2004, is currently starring in his seventh season on the hit comedy "Will & Grace." For his role as Will Truman, McCormack has received five Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

"I'm delighted to be hosting the show again this year," said Mr. McCormack. "At last, I've pleased the critics."

Said Keith Cox, Senior Vice President, Alternative Programming for The WB: "We are thrilled to have Eric back hosting the show. The network has a three-year deal to broadcast the Critics' Choice Awards and having Eric further enhances this important franchise for the network."

Nominations will be announced on Wednesday, December 15. The January 10 telecast will be produced by Bob Bain Productions ("Teen Choice Awards," "Billboard Music Awards," "Miss America"). This broadcast will mark the 10th anniversary of the CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS.

The CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS is the first major film awards show of the season and has proven to be an uncanny predictor of the outcome of the Academy Awards. Last year, the winners of the Big Six Awards - Best Picture ("The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"), Best Actor (Sean Penn), Best Actress (Charlize Theron), Best Director (Peter Jackson), Best Supporting Actor (Tim Robbins) and Best Supporting Actress (Renee Zellweger) - were identical in both the CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS and the Academy Awards.�

The CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS are selected by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, which is comprised of the top film critics and entertainment reporters on television and radio stations coast to coast. The Broadcast Film Critics Association was founded in 1995 and is the largest film critics association in the United States and Canada, representing 192 television, radio and online film critics. The BFCA presents its CRITICS' CHOICE AWARDS annually to honor the finest achievements in filmmaking.