THE WHITE HOUSE PROJECT AND USA NETWORK HOST "POLITICAL ANIMALS" SCREENINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ON IMPORTANT WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ISSUES RAISED IN THE LIMITED SERIES TELEVISION EVENT

NBC News' Andrea Mitchell to Moderate Panel Featuring POLITICAL ANIMALS Star Ellen Burstyn in New York on Wednesday, July 11 at the Tribeca Grand Hotel

Nearly 30 Local "Go Connect/"Political Animals" Events Planned for Women Across the Country

NEW YORK - July 11, 2012 -- USA Network and The White House Project are teaming up to co-host special advance screenings of POLITICAL ANIMALS and discussions to highlight the important issues pertaining to women's leadership and empowerment raised in the much-anticipated Limited Series Television Event of the summer. "Political Animals," centering on powerful women in a former first family and starring three-time Academy Award(R) nominee Sigourney Weaver and Oscar(R), Emmy(R), Tony(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner Ellen Burstyn, premieres on USA on Sunday, July 15 at 10p/9c.

The centerpiece of the initiative is an event to be held on Wednesday, July 11 at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York City, where Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and host of MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports," will moderate a panel discussion immediately following a screening of the premiere episode of POLITICAL ANIMALS. Panelists will include series star Ellen Burstyn, White House Project President Tiffany Dufu and former Deputy Public Advocate of New York City Reshma Saujani.

Across the country, throughout the week leading up to the POLITICAL ANIMALS premiere, supporters of The White House Project will be holding nearly thirty "Go Connect" events where hundreds of women will come to meet, network and get a special sneak peek at the first episode of "Political Animals." Events will be held in Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, Dayton, Detroit, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, among other cities.

The White House Project created a special POLITICAL ANIMALS viewers' guide to spark productive dialogue at each local market event. The guide, which will be used by event hosts following the screenings and also available online at politicalanimals.tv, focuses on a wide range of relevant and timely issues including the leadership style of women vs. men, the challenges women face balancing their personal and professional lives and the emphasis on women's dress and physical appearance.

The White House Project ignites the leadership of women in business and politics. As a national and nonpartisan nonprofit, the organization connects, coaches, and educates their ever-expanding alumnae network of 14,000 nationwide. With a focus on women early in their careers, The White House Project activates the ambition, creativity, and skills necessary for innovative and effective leadership. Learn more at: www.thewhitehouseproject.org

From creator Greg Berlanti, POLITICAL ANIMALS pulls back the curtain on the polished facade of politics to reveal a fractured family. Despite intense public scrutiny, this dynasty can't escape the magnetic pull of the high stakes world of sex, greed and politics. In her first television series regular role, two-time Golden Globe(R) winner and three-time Academy Award(R) nominee Sigourney Weaver stars as Secretary of State Elaine Barrish. In the wake of a divorce from her philandering ex-president husband (Ciaran Hinds), Barrish tries to keep her family together while dealing with crises of the State Department and a hungry DC journalist (Carla Gugino) who is bent on destroying her. Oscar(R), Emmy(R), Tony(R) and Golden Globe(R) winner Ellen Burstyn stars as Barrish's mother Margaret, a tough Chicago broad and one-time Vegas showgirl whose biting tongue and sharp wit haven't softened despite her daughter's position. James Wolk, Sebastian Stan and Brittany Ishibashi also star.

The #1 network in all of basic cable, USA Network is seen in 100 million U.S. homes. USA is a leader in scripted programming with a powerful stable of originals including POLITICAL ANIMALS, SUITS, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, WHITE COLLAR, ROYAL PAINS, BURN NOTICE, PSYCH, COVERT AFFAIRS, COMMON LAW and FAIRLY LEGAL. The network offers 52 weeks of spectacular live television with WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, a broad portfolio of acquired series and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.