NBC MAXIMIZES �MEDIUM� AS HIT DRAMA WILL RETURN FOR A SECOND YEAR WITH FULL-SEASON ORDER IN 2005-06

OTHER-WORLDLY HIT ALSO ADDS THREE EPISODES THIS SEASON, GUARANTEEING ORIGINALS THROUGH MAY

BURBANK, Calif. -� January 28, 2005 �- NBC has given an early 22-episode renewal to its mid-season hit drama "Medium" (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) � starring Patricia Arquette as a troubled medium who helps solve crimes through her dreams and visions -- for the entire 2005-06 season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"With Glenn Gordon Caron's flair for developing characters, Patricia Arquette's winning performance and a unique concept for television, 'Medium' has resonated with viewers," said Reilly. "We are looking forward to more provocative stories from Caron through this year and into a second season as well."

Through its first four weeks on the schedule, "Medium" has delivered other-worldly numbers, averaging a 6.2 rating, 15 share among adults 18-49 and 15.7 million viewers overall to double NBC's averages in the time period from earlier this season. "Medium" is building by 27 percent on its 18-49 lead-in and is currently one of this season's top-15 series among adults 18-49.

"Medium" has also garnered praise from television critics across the country. Tom Shales of the Washington Post writes, "NBC's 'Medium': Rare and well done....It's white-knuckle television . . . Patricia Arquette, [is] sensationally sensitive and believable in the title role... It's smart and classy...."

Matt Roush of TV Guide says "Medium" "smartly blends domestic realism with the unnerving surrealism of Allison's paranormal adventures." The New York Times' Alessandra Stanley calls "Medium" "a stylish, well-made crime show that is suspenseful."

In addition to the early second season pickup, "Medium" will get an additional three-episode pickup for spring, bringing the total number of episodes ordered for its first season to 16 and guaranteeing original episodes through May sweeps. "Medium" is produced by Picturemaker Productions, Inc. in association with Grammnet Productions and Paramount Network Television.

From Emmy Award-winning executive producer, creator and director Caron ("Moonlighting"), "Medium" is a chilling drama series inspired by the real-life story of research medium Allison DuBois. Arquette ("Stigmata," "Flirting with Disaster") stars as a young wife and mother who, since childhood, has been struggling to make sense of her dreams and visions of dead people.

In "Medium," Allison DuBois (Arquette) is a strong-willed young mother of three, a devoted wife and law student who begins to suspect that she can talk to dead people, see the future in her dreams and read people's thoughts. Fearing for her mental health, she turns for support to her husband Joe (Jake Weber, "U-571"), an aerospace engineer, who slowly comes to believe that what his wife is telling him just might be true. The real challenge is convincing her boss, D.A. Devalos (Miguel Sandoval) -- and the other doubters in the criminal justice system -- that her psychic abilities can give them the upper hand when it comes to solving violent and horrifying crimes whose mysteries often reside with those who live beyond the grave.

Sofia Vassilieva and Maria Lark also star as Ariel and Bridget, the DuBois children. David Cubitt ("10.5") also recurs as Detective Lee Scanlon.

In addition to Caron, Kelsey Grammer ("Girlfriends"), Steve Stark and Oscar winner Ronald L. Schwary ("Ordinary People") are executive producers. "Medium" is produced by Picturemaker Productions, Inc. in association with Grammnet Productions and Paramount Network Television.