USA NETWORK RETURNS TO FRIDAYS WITH "FAIRLY LEGAL" AND "IN PLAIN SIGHT" - NEW SEASONS OF ORIGINAL SERIES PREMIERE MARCH 16, 2012

TV's Hottest Mediator Returns For A Second Season In Hit Original Series FAIRLY LEGAL and Fan favorite IN PLAIN SIGHT To Enter Witness Protection After Its Unforgettable Fifth And Final Season

Ryan Johnson Joins the Cast of FAIRLY LEGAL as Kate's Sexy New Nemesis

NEW YORK - January 4, 2012 - USA Network will premiere two original series on Friday, March 16 with the sophomore season premiere of FAIRLY LEGAL at 9/8c followed by the final season premiere of IN PLAIN SIGHT at 10/9c. The return to Friday is a homecoming for USA, having successfully launched three of the most popular original series in the network's history that night with MONK, PSYCH and most recently WHITE COLLAR.

In the second season of FAIRLY LEGAL, feisty and passionate mediator Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi) has a new conflict - and potential hot romance - on her hands in the form of the sharp, hustling, up-and-coming trial attorney Ben Grogan, played by new series regular Ryan Johnson. Hired by managing partner Lauren Reed (Virginia Williams) to save the firm on the verge of collapse, Ben's presence adds fuel to Kate's already at-odds relationship with her same-aged stepmother and puts pressure on her relationship with her soon-to-be-ex-husband, Justin Patrick (Michael Trucco). While Ben's ambulance chasing ways represent everything Kate hates about lawyers, their sexual tension and chemistry is undeniable.

Driven by her passion for justice, Kate continues her crusades against the endless bureaucracy and daily injustices of the system using her unorthodox methods, pull-no-punches attitude and legal savvy to resolve conflicts in the face of a wide variety of adversaries. Getting people what they need and finding the "true win" is Kate's specialty, expertly handling multi-million dollar corporate disputes, personal family feuds and everything in between. Caught in the middle of it all, as always, is Kate's geek-chic assistant, Leonardo Prince (Baron Vaughn). Returning guest stars this season include Gerald McRaney as Judge Nicastro and Esai Morales as D.A. Aaron Davidson. Additional guest stars include Mark Moses and Barry Shabaka Henley.

From Universal Cable Productions, the series is executive produced by Steve Stark and Peter Ocko, who also serves as showrunner. Joining this season as producer/director is USA veteran Anton Cropper. The series is co-commissioned by Universal Networks International (UNI), the global channels division of NBCUniversal.

The fifth and final gripping season of IN PLAIN SIGHT will keep viewers on the edge of their seats with heart-pounding storylines building to an unforgettable finale. Can Mary (Mary McCormack) balance motherhood with a demanding profession or will she put her baby up for adoption? Will Marshall (Frederick Weller) finally be truthful about his feelings for Mary, or can he make his relationship with Abigail (Rachel Boston) work? What will come of Brandi (Nichole Hiltz) and Peter (Josh Malina)? After opening up her heart to only a few men in the past, will Mary ever fall in love again? And the question that has haunted Mary her entire life -- where is the father that abandoned her?

IN PLAIN SIGHT stars McCormack as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal working in the highly secretive branch of the Witness Protection Program (WITSEC), which relocates federal witnesses, most of whom fall into three categories: career criminals, whistle-blowers or innocents who had the misfortune of witnessing a crime. They all have one thing in common - someone wants them dead. Mary's job is to see that doesn't happen, while at the same time attempting to manage her own dysfunctional family. The series also stars Weller, Paul Ben Victor and Boston, with Lesley Ann Warren and Tangie Ambrose recurring. Ed Decter and John J. Strauss return as executive producers with Dan Lerner as executive producer/director. Natalie Chaidez also serves as executive producer with Michael Reisz as co-executive producer. IN PLAIN SIGHT is produced by Universal Cable Productions and is shot entirely on location in and around Albuquerque, N. M.

USA finished 2011 as the #1 cable network for the sixth consecutive year, and is currently the home to ten original scripted series: BURN NOTICE, COMMON LAW, COVERT AFFAIRS, FAIRLY LEGAL, IN PLAIN SIGHT, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, PSYCH, ROYAL PAINS, SUITS and WHITE COLLAR. The network recently announced three pilot pickups: LOCAL TALENT (fka THE UNTITLED DOUGLAS MCGRATH PROJECT), a half-hour comedy pilot from Universal Cable Productions, starring Nathan Lane, Cheyenne Jackson, Ken Jenkins, Caroline Rhea, Laura Bell Bundy and Richard Kohnke. Douglas McGrath serves as writer, director and executive producer with Lane also executive producing; PAGING DR. FREED, a half-hour comedy from Fox 21 and Universal Cable Productions. Michael Feldman will write and executive produce with Katy McCaffrey and Brad Johnson serving as producers; THE UNTITLED JEFF EASTIN PROJECT, a one-hour drama, from Fox Television Studios and executive producer Jeff Eastin (WHITE COLLAR), starring Aaron Tveit, Vanessa Ferlito, Brandon Jay McLaren and Manny Montana.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 102 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.