EMMY WINNER KRISTEN JOHNSTON ('3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN') RETURNS TO NBC IN DRAMATIC RECURRING ROLE AS UNFLAPPABLE NURSE MANAGER ON 'ER'

BURBANK, Calif. -- August 12, 2005 -- Emmy Award winner Kristen Johnston - who starred on NBC's outrageous comedy "3rd Rock from the Sun" - returns to the network in a dramatic recurring role on "ER" (Thursdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) as Eve Peyton, an inscrutable and unflappable nurse manager who's on a mission to whip the department into shape while mentoring Nurse Sam (series regular Linda Cardellini).

The first of Johnston's appearances is scheduled for broadcast on October 6.

Johnston first shot to fame in 1996 when she portrayed Sally Solomon, a frustrated alien who landed on Earth to do research along with other "family" members on "3rd Rock from the Sun." By the time the popular series wrapped production in 2001, Johnston won two Emmys as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1997 and 1999) for her performance as Sally.

After her 3rd Rock run, Johnston returned to her theatrical roots in New York. She appeared both On and Off Broadway in such plays as THE WOMEN, AUNT DAN AND LEMON, MUCH ADU ABOUT NOTHING and THE BALTIMORE WALTZ and co-starred with such actors as Jimmy Smits, Zach Braff, Cynthia Nixon, Julia Stiles, Lili Taylor, Sam Waterston and Oliver Platt.

Among her feature films, Johnston appeared in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," and as Wilma Slaghoople in "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas." Her other big-screen credits include the recent "Strangers with Candy,"

On television, Johnston narrated the series "Microscopic Milton." She also appeared in the "Christmas in Washington" holiday special in 1996, in addition to other credits.

Johnston's television guest-starring credits include "Sex and the City, and " "The Larry Sanders Show" Ironically, she made her small-screen debut in "Chicago Hope" as a doctor during the drama's first season when it opposed freshman "ER" on Thursday nights in 1994.