USA NETWORK GREENLIGHTS NEW ORIGINAL SERIES "COVERT AFFAIRS"

Series stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher, Kari Matchett and Anne Dudek

A Universal Cable Production

LOS ANGELES, CA � January 7, 2010 � USA Network has announced today that it has picked up the original series COVERT AFFAIRS starring Piper Perabo ("Coyote Ugly," "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"), Christopher Gorham ("Ugly Betty," "Jake 2.0"), Peter Gallagher ("The O.C.," "American Beauty"), Kari Matchett ("Invasion") and Anne Dudek ("House," "Mad Men"). COVERT AFFAIRS will premiere with a 90-minute episode followed by 11 one-hour episodes. The series will be shot on location in Toronto. The announcement was made today by Jeff Wachtel, president, original programming, USA Network, and co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions.

"Covert Affairs is a perfect fit with USA's other top rated original series," said Wachtel. "It combines the best of the network's brand attributes � high concept characters with an aspirational tone set in an exciting location � this time in the intriguing and surprisingly rich world of the CIA."

In COVERT AFFAIRS, we meet Annie Walker (Perabo), a young CIA trainee who is thrust into the inner sanctum of the agency when she is unexpectedly promoted to field operative. While it appears that she has been plucked from obscurity for her exceptional linguistic skills, there may be something or someone from her past that her CIA bosses are really after. Gorham plays Auggie Anderson, a CIA military intelligence agent, blinded while on assignment, and Annie's guide in this world of bureaucracy, excitement and intrigue. Gallagher plays Arthur, the formidable Director of Clandestine Services for the CIA. Dudek plays a married mother of two and is and Annie's older sister and Matchett plays Joan, head of the CIA's Domestic Protection Division who happens to be married to Arthur.

From Universal Cable Productions, COVERT AFFAIRS is executive produced by Doug Liman (the "Bourne" trilogy, "Heist") and Dave Bartis ("The O.C.") through Dutch Oven and written and co-executive produced by Matt Corman ("Deck the Halls") and Chris Ord ("Deck the Halls"). Tim Matheson (USA's BURN NOTICE, PSYCH, "Criminal Minds") directed the pilot.

USA is the home to seven hit original scripted series: BURN NOTICE, ROYAL PAINS, WHITE COLLAR, PSYCH, IN PLAIN SIGHT, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and the record-setting final season of MONK.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 98.5 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.