CBS TO SPONSOR ITS THIRD MULTICULTURAL SKETCH COMEDY TALENT SHOWCASE TO BE DIRECTED BY RICK NAJERA IN ASSOCIATION WITH AFTRA, EAST WEST PLAYERS, NOSOTROS, THE ROBEY THEATRE COMPANY, AMERICAN INDIANS IN FILM AND TELEVISION AND SAG, IN JANUARY 2008

Pictures and Resumes Should Be Sent to AFTRA by Friday September 7, 2007

CBS will sponsor its third talent showcase for multicultural sketch comedians in January 2008 in Los Angeles. Executive Producer, writer and newly appointed Vice President of the LATV Network, Rick Najera ("Mad TV," "In Living Color"), will again direct the showcase for CBS. "Rick brings consummate skills as a director, a writer and a teacher to these wonderful actors. He is a terrific mentor, as well. We are very pleased to have him with us again," said Josie Thomas, CBS Senior Vice President, Diversity.

Pictures and resumes should be sent to AFTRA, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., 9th floor, Los Angeles, Calif. 90036 - Att: Jasmine Vargas. The deadline for submissions is September 7, 2007. Please note: the showcase is focused on African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander actors and performers with disabilities who should possess extensive sketch comedy experience. Each audition will require a one-minute original comedy monologue.

CBS Entertainment executives, plus casting directors from the Network's primetime and daytime programs, will be on hand at the Showcase - and an invitation has also been extended to casting directors from production companies that work with CBS. "We are very proud of our last two showcases and the results speak for themselves. We're thrilled to be presenting a third show and giving actors the opportunity to introduce themselves to the television and film casting community," said Peter Golden, CBS Executive Vice President, Talent and Casting.

The Network's on-going talent showcases are part of the CBS Diversity Institute, a comprehensive program designed to identify and develop diversity within the writing, directing and talent communities. In addition to the Minority Talent Showcases, currently in their sixth year, the CBS Diversity Institute also includes the CBS Writers Mentoring Program and the CBS Directing Initiative.

Other CBS showcases have included Latino American Talent Showcases in partnership with NOSOTROS, Native American Talent Showcases in association with American Indians in Film and Television, Asian Pacific American Actors Showcases in association with East West Players, African American Showcases in collaboration with The Robey Theatre Company and a showcase for performers with disabilities in association with the California State Media Access Office. More events are planned with these and other groups.

For information regarding the CBS Diversity Institute, please go to http://www.cbsdiversity.com/.