LIFETIME Television's Fall Programming Highlighted by Network's First-Ever Miniseries, 'Human Trafficking' Starring Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland

LIFETIME Original Movies Showcase Kathy Bates In 'Ambulance Girl' and Kim Raver In 'Haunting Sarah'

'Will & Grace' Special As Popular Sitcom Joins LIFETIME Lineup

'Intimate Portrait' of Journalist Ann Curry Anchors 'Stop Breast Cancer for Life' Campaign

NEW YORK, Aug. 16 -- On the heels of nine straight months of primetime ratings growth, Lifetime Television's 2005 fall schedule is an enticing smorgasbord of programming choices, from a powerful miniseries ("Human Trafficking") about the global trade in human flesh starring Mira Sorvino and Donald Sutherland; Lifetime Original Movies showcasing Kathy Bates ("Ambulance Girl") in a midlife crisis and Kim Raver ("Haunting Sarah") in a supernatural thriller; a special celebrating the Emmy Award-nominated sitcom "Will and Grace" joining the network's schedule, to a profile of television journalist and breast cancer activist Ann Curry as part of the network's 11th annual award-winning Our Lifetime Commitment: Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign.

Along with the "Human Trafficking" miniseries - the network's first-ever - movies and specials, Lifetime's autumn schedule also features the powerhouse Sunday night drama lineup of "Strong Medicine" and "MISSING," the popular movie showcase "New Movie Monday," and the return of the hit reality series "How Clean is Your House?"

Highlights of Lifetime Television's Fall Schedule

Lifetime Original Movie "Ambulance Girl" - Monday, September 12 at 9PM (ET/PT) -- Academy Award(R)-winning actress Kathy Bates ("Misery," "About Schmidt") and Robin Thomas ("The Banger Sisters," "The Contender") star in a candid and heartwarming true story of how a celebrity food writer rescues herself and her marriage by creating a new life as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT).

"Ambulance Girl" is produced by Patricia Clifford Productions in association with von Zerneck-Sertner Films for Lifetime Television. Patricia Clifford (Lifetime's "The Secret Life of Zoey" and "Death of a Salesman"), Frank von Zerneck and Robert M. Sertner (Lifetime's "We Were the Mulvaneys," "Gracie's Choice") are the executive producers. Bates also directs.

"Will & Grace: Backstage Pass" - Monday, September 19 at 8PM (ET/PT) -- With Lifetime acquiring the cable syndication rights to "Will & Grace," the network celebrates the sitcom with the one-hour special, "Will & Grace: Backstage Pass," a retrospective look at some of the funniest TV moments ever! With a number of clip packages, behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive cast interviews, this is an inside look at an enduring hit series and the classic characters that continue to entertain us all. The special includes interviews with Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, Sean Hayes, Shelley Morrison, Michael Douglas, Blythe Danner, Minnie Driver and Sydney Pollack. "Will & Grace: Backstage Pass" is produced by Gay Rosenthal Productions, Inc. for Lifetime Television and NBC Universal Television Studio. Gay Rosenthal ("Friends: Finale Special," "Frasier: Finale Special" and "VH1: Behind the Music") and Paul Barrosse ("The Nanny Reunion: A Nosh to Remember") are executive producers. Nicholas Caprio ("TV Guide & TV Land Present: The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments") is co-executive producer.

"How Clean is Your House?" - Monday, September 26 at 11:30PM (ET/PT) -- Back by popular demand, Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie are invading America's filthiest homes with a mission to transform the grimiest dwellings into sparkling abodes in a second season of "How Clean Is Your House?" The series' freshman season was a rousing success in 2004, averaging 1.4 million total viewers and ranking #1 among W18-49.

"How Clean Is Your House?" is produced by FremantleMedia North America ("American Idol") for Lifetime Television. Tracy Verna is executive producer and Ginger Simpson is co-executive producer.

Lifetime Original Movie "Haunting Sarah" - Monday, October 3 at 9PM (ET/PT) -- Kim Raver ("24" and "Third Watch") stars in a chilling supernatural story about the aftermath of a young boy's death and the devastating impact on his family when his six-year-old cousin reveals he is contacting her from beyond the grave.

"Haunting Sarah" is produced by The Edelstein Company in association with von Zerneck Sertner Films for Lifetime Television. Michael Edelstein ("Desperate Housewives"), Robert M. Sertner, Frank von Zerneck (Lifetime's "We Were the Mulvaneys" and "Gracie's Choice") and Stacy Mandelberg are executive producers. Ralph Hemecker ("Witchblade" and "The X Files") directs.

"Intimate Portrait: Ann Curry" - Sunday, October 9 at 11PM (ET/PT) - As a centerpiece of the network's Our Lifetime Commitment: Stop Breast Cancer for Life, this half-hour Intimate Portrait focuses on the life and career of "Today" show and "Dateline" news anchor Ann Curry, and highlights her devotion to her family when she put everything on hold to save the life of her sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer. In addition to an in-depth interview with Ann Curry, interviews include: her husband Brian Ross; sister and breast cancer survivor Jean Hodson; "Today Show" colleagues Katie Couric, Matt Lauer and Al Roker; friend and 20/20" correspondent Deborah Roberts, and NBC's Jeff Zucker, among others.

Lifetime Original Movie "Human Trafficking" - Monday, October 24, 9PM (ET/PT) & Tuesday, October 25, 9PM (ET/PT) -- Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe(R)Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite," "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion"), Golden Globe(R) and Emmy(R) Award-winning actor Donald Sutherland ("M*A*S*H," "Citizen X") and Robert Carlyle ("Hitler: The Rise of Evil," "The Full Monty") star in a tough, uncompromising drama about the brutal realities behind the international trafficking of women and children for sex and the battle to rescue its victims enslaved in America.

The four-hour miniseries unfolds through the stories of a rookie New York immigration officer on the trail of a deadly criminal kingpin, two Eastern European women forced into sex slavery and trafficked into the United States against their will and the horrifying ordeal of an American teenage girl kidnapped off the streets of Manila for sale into sex slavery.

"Human Trafficking" is produced by For Sale Productions, Inc. ("Muse") for Lifetime Television. Executive Producer is Robert Halmi, Sr. ("The Lion in Winter," "Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven"). Christian Duguay (Lifetime's "Lies My Mother Told Me," "Joan of Arc," "Hitler") directs.

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Launched in 1984, LIFETIME serves 89 million households nationwide. In 1998, LIFETIME launched Lifetime Movie Network, now in more than 45 million homes, and in 2001, Lifetime Real Women. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Radio for Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE LIFETIME Television
Web Site: http://www.lifetimetv.com