NBC GIVES FULL-SEASON PICKUP TO FRESHMAN COMEDY 'KATH & KIM'

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - November 3, 2008 -- NBC has ordered an additional nine episodes of its freshman comedy "Kath & Kim" (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET) to complete a full-season order, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

"'Kath & Kim' is a show we love and believe in," said Teri Weinberg, Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment. "We have incredible confidence in the creative auspices of this show and we believe it's a perfect fit with our Thursday-night comedies."

In its four telecasts to date, "Kath & Kim" has retained 100 percent of its adults 18-49 lead-in from "My Name Is Earl," averaging a 2.6 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.0 million viewers overall (live plus same day). "Kath & Kim" has built on its "Earl" lead-in among adults 18-34 by 4 percent (with a 2.4 rating vs. a 2.3) and built on "Earl" among women 18-34 by 18 percent (2.6 vs. 2.2).

"Kath & Kim" is the American adaptation of the Australian hit comedy series that stars Molly Shannon (NBC's "Saturday Night Live") and Selma Blair ("Hellboy 2") as the hilarious and iconoclastic mother-daughter duo.

"Kath & Kim" focuses on Kath (Shannon), a cheerful, foxy, forty-something, and her self-absorbed daughter, Kim (Blair), who have the love/hate, push/pull dysfunctional relationship that only a mother and daughter could share.

Kath has finally found love in the form of a sandwich shop owner named Phil Knight, played by John Michael Higgins ("Best in Show"). Kim is a self-absorbed princess newly separated from her husband of six weeks, Craig (Mikey Day, MTV's "Short Circuitz"). Kim decides to move back home, putting a damper on Kath's new romance.

Michelle Nader ("King of Queens") is executive producer and writer of the series. Original series creators and stars Gina Riley and Jane Turner serve as executive producers of the new series along with Rick McKenna, Michelle Nader and Howard T. Owens. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Reveille.