SHOWTIME PRESENTS FAVORITE EPISODES FROM THE NETWORK'S HIT SERIES

 

NEW YORK, NY, December 3, 2003 -- Saluting the end of 2003 in style, Showtime Networks will showcase its top original series with a month-long "Best of The Best" programming event beginning December 6th  and running through New Year's Eve.  Favorite episodes from veteran series such as QUEER AS FOLK, SOUL FOOD, THE CHRIS ISAAK SHOW and STREET TIME will be featured as well as episodes from new hit favorites like DEAD LIKE ME, FAMILY BUSINESS, FREE FOR ALL, INTERSCOPE PRESENTS THE NEXT EPISODE and PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT!

 

The "Best of the Best" will kick off on December 6th with THE CHRIS ISAAK SHOW, a quirky 'behind the scenes' look at the unusual life of celebrated rock star Chris Isaak.  The series is executive produced and written by Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider and executive produced by Chris Isaak and Phoenix Entertainment's Mike Medavoy and Arnold Messer.  Featured episodes include "Wages Of Fear," "Lost & Found," "Storytime," "Our Place" and "Behind The Isaak."

 

STREET TIME will follow on December 8th with its tales of the intertwined lives of parole officers struggling to keep their charges on the straight and narrow.  STREET TIME is produced for SHOWTIME by Columbia TriStar Domestic Television and is executive produced by Richard Stratton and Marc Levin. "Best of" episodes include "Lockdown," "High Holy Roller," "Cop Killer," "Hostage" and "Fly Girl."

 

Hit newcomer INTERSCOPE PRESENTS THE NEXT EPISODE will air on December 13th, giving fans a chance to catch up on this dramatic reality series that chronicled the trials and triumphs of undiscovered rappers from across America struggling to become the country's next top MC.  Directed by Moses Edinborough, the series is executive produced by Interscope's Jimmy Iovine along with Jillian Fleer of 4Battle Enterprises and Paul Rosenberg (Goliath Artists/Shady Records), Randy Sosin and Gene Kirkwood.  All five episodes of the series will be featured in the marathon.

 

The Best of the Best continues on December 15th with DEAD LIKE ME, a critically-acclaimed new series laced with edgy humor and irreverence that centers on a group of unlikely heroes -- grim reapers - whose job is to escort the souls of the recently departed to their final destinations.  The series is produced for SHOWTIME by MGM and executive produced by John Masius.  The featured episodes include "Dead Like Me," "Dead Girl Walking," "Reaping Havoc," "My Room" and "Reaper Madness."

 

Showtime's new animated series FREE FOR ALL will be showcased on December 20th.  The series, based on the cult comic strip by Brett Merhar, follows Johnny and Clay, the strip's cynical, dysfunctional best-friends, who struggle with out-of-the-ordinary daily woes.  The series is produced in association with Film Roman and is co-written and executive produced by Merriwether Williams. Featured episodes include five from season one.

 

The five best episodes from PENN & TELLER: BULLSHIT! will air on December 22nd.  The series offers viewers an aggressive, irreverent exposé of taboo topics using master showmen Penn & Teller's trademark humor, knowledge of carnival tricks and con-artistry, as well as hidden cameras and blatant confrontation.  The series is produced by the Wolper Organization.    Executive Producers are Mark Wolper and Star Price.  The "Best of" marathon will include "Alien Abductions," "Alternative Medicine," "Taking To The Dead," "Feng Shui/Bottled Water" and "Eat This!"

 

QUEER AS FOLK will have its marathon on December 27th featuring five favorite episodes from season three.  The series focuses on the relationships, careers, loves and ambitions of a group of young gay men and lesbians living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Blending strong drama with charm and humor, the series offers a compelling, realistic and graphic depiction of a world which is rarely seen on television.  QUEER AS FOLK is executive produced by Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman and Tony Jonas.  Sheila Hockin produces.  The featured episodes include 306, 307, 312, 313 and 314.  (Note: QAF episodes are untitled).
 
On December 29th SOUL FOOD, one of the network's most beloved series, will be showcased. This Paramount Network Television drama follows the struggles, rivalries and triumphs of a multi-generational African-American family in Chicago.   SOUL FOOD is also produced by Edmonds Entertainment and State Street Pictures and is executive produced by Tracey E. Edmonds, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Robert Teitel and George Tillman, Jr.  Felicia D. Henderson is the consultant and developed the series for television.  The "Best of" episodes include "All Together Alone," "Life 101," "Attracting Opposites," "Nobody's Child" and "Falling From Grace."
 
Ringing in the New Year on December 31st is FAMILY BUSINESS, a comedy/reality series about an average guy trying to make a living in the adult film industry.   A hilarious blend of real-life absurd situations and eccentric characters, FAMILY BUSINESS focuses on the charismatic Adam Glasser and his alter ego, "Seymore Butts," who has created over 70 popular adult films.  The half-hour show is executive produced by Arnold Shapiro and Allison Grodner.  The featured episodes include "Personal Ads," "Reunion," "Casa De Butts," "Sex Toys," "Strictly Biznass," "Seymore's Other Assets," "Assistants," "Las Vegass," "I Want To Be An Adult Film Star" and "Roller Disco Boogie."

Times for the marathons are as follows:

  

Showtime Original Series                               Day   Date    Start Time     No. of Episodes

 

The Best Of The Chris Isaak                          Sat    12/6     11:30 PM      5

Show

 

The Best Of Street Time                                Mon   12/8     8:00 PM        5

 

The Best Of Interscope Presents                    Sat    12/13   11:00 PM      5

The Next Episode

 

The Best Of Dead Like Me                             Mon   12/15   8:00 PM        5

 

The Best Of Free For All                                Sat    12/20   9:00 PM        5

 

The Best Of Penn & Teller: Bullshit!                Mon   12/22   8:00 PM        5

 

The Best Of Queer As Folk                            Sat    12/27   10:00 PM      5

 

The Best Of Soul Food                                  Mon   12/29   8:00 PM        5

 

The Best Of Family

Business --"Ring in the New Year" with 

Seymour Butts in this 5 Hour Marathon.          Wed 12/31   11:00 PM      10

 

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