TNT Greenlights Two New Drama Series: HAWTHORNE, Starring Jada Pinkett Smith, and DARK BLUE, Starring Dylan McDermott

HAWTHORNE Comes to TNT from Executive Producers John Masius, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jamie Tarses; DARK BLUE is Executive-Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, Danny Cannon and Doug Jung

Both Series Slated to Premiere on TNT in 2009

TNT, which has enjoyed enormous critical and popular success with such original drama series as The Closer, Saving Grace, Raising the Bar and Leverage, has given the greenlight to two new original series: the character-driven medical drama HAWTHORNE, starring Jada Pinkett Smith (The Women, The Matrix Trilogy), and the fast-paced, undercover police drama DARK BLUE, starring Golden Globe� winner Dylan McDermott (The Practice, TNT's The Grid). The two projects are the latest in TNT's aggressive strategy to ramp up its original series production. Both 10-episode series are slated to premiere later this year.

"We're excited to add DARK BLUE and HAWTHORNE to a lineup that is steadily establishing itself as one of the best slates of entertaining, smart dramas on television," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "Our new series are consistent with our belief that audiences are drawn to relatable, complex characters showcased in exciting, emotional settings and storylines. These new series also reflect our belief that great television comes from great talent. The talent at work on these shows is among the best in the business at delivering quality entertainment."

HAWTHORNE comes to TNT from Sony Pictures Television in association with Pinkett Smith's 100% Womon Productions, John Masius Productions and Jamie Tarses' FanFare Productions. It was created by Emmy� winner John Masius (St. Elsewhere, Providence, Dead Like Me), who also wrote the pilot script. Masius, Pinkett Smith and Tarses (My Boys) are executive producers for the pilot and the series. Mikael Salomon directed and executive-produced the pilot. The series co-stars David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites), Laura Kenley (Grey's Anatomy), Christina Moore (90210) and Suleka Mathew (Men in Trees).

HAWTHORNE takes place at Richmond Trinity Hospital in Richmond, Va., where the strong-but-caring director of nursing, Christina Hawthorne (Pinkett Smith), continuously fights battles she often knows she won't win. Whether treating the homeless woman in front of the hospital like a human being or trying to talk a suicidal cancer patient off the ledge, Christina must challenge hospital administrators, heartless doctors, apathetic colleagues and a system that sometimes forgets it's there to serve the sick.

Recently widowed and the mother of a smart, willful teenager, Christina juggles her career with her equally important role as a single parent. Between the two, she barely has time for herself and has difficulty keeping things together. But she knows she has to and can't give up on anyone. That's what her passion requires; it's what it takes to be a hero.

DARK BLUE comes to TNT from Warner Horizon Television, with prolific producer Jerry Bruckheimer (the CSI series, Without a Trace), Jonathan Littman (the CSI series, Cold Case), Danny Cannon (the CSI series, Eleventh Hour) and Doug Jung (Big Love) serving as executive producers. KristieAnne Reed (Eleventh Hour) is co-executive producer. Cannon directed the pilot episode. The series co-stars Logan Marshall-Green (The O.C.), Omari Hardwick (TNT's Saved) and Nicki Aycox (Supernatural).

McDermott stars as Carter Shaw, the head of a crack undercover team of police officers who are so covert, many of their own colleagues don't even know they are involved. Shaw is a deeply wounded character, having lost his wife and much of his former life as he struggles to bring down bad guys through complex undercover assignments. His team includes a recently married cop (Hardwick) who struggles with personal relationships he has developed while undercover; a shoot-from-the-hip officer (Marshall-Green) whose activities make fellow team members wonder if he has gone over to the bad side; and a green patrol cop brought in because of her excellent skill in lying and a shady past (Aycox).

TNT's success with original series includes the critically acclaimed The Closer, ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time; Saving Grace, which averages more than 5 million viewers; Raising the Bar, which set a new ad-supported cable viewership record when it premiered on Labor Day 2008; and Leverage, which earned TNT's best delivery ever of adults 18-49 (2.1 million) for an original series telecast during the broadcast season. The network's latest original series, the light-hearted drama Trust Me, starring Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh, premieres Monday, Jan. 26.

Turner Network Television (TNT), one of cable's top-rated networks, is television's destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Trust Me, with Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, Cold Case, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards�; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.