RACHEL BILSON, PATRICK DEMPSEY, CRAIG FERGUSON, JASON LEE, KYRA SEDGWICK AND JAMES SPADER CONFIRMED AS PRESENTERS FOR THE 57TH ANNUAL PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS Awards Broadcast Live From Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on September 18 on the CBS Television Net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

North Hollywood, CA, August 30, 2005 – Rachel Bilson, Patrick Dempsey, Craig Ferguson, Jason Lee, Kyra Sedgwick and James Spader have been confirmed as presenters for the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.  The show will broadcast live from Los Angeles’ historic Shrine Auditorium, Sunday, September 18 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET Live/PT tape delayed) on the CBS Television Network.

Rachel Bilson currently stars as ‘Summer Roberts ’ on the FOX series “The O.C.” which recently earned a Television Critics Association Award nomination for Outstanding New Program of the Year.  Bilson’s television credits include guest-starring roles on “That 70’s Show,” “MADtv,” “8 Simple Rules” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”  She appeared in the feature film “The Wrong Guys” and can next be seen in the DreamWorks feature “The Last Kiss” opposite Zach Braff.

Patrick Dempsey is currently starring as ‘Dr. Derek Shepherd’ in the ABC series “Grey’s Anatomy.” He earned an Emmy nomination in 2001 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as ‘Aaron Brooks’ on ABC’s “Once & Again.”  Dempsey’s numerous television credits include the critically acclaimed HBO production “Iron Jawed Angels” and telefilms “Crime and Punishment,” “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Jeremiah.”  He also guest starred on NBC’s “Will & Grace” in 2003 as Will’s love interest. Among Dempsey’s many feature film credits are the 2002 feature “Sweet Home Alabama,” Scream 3,” “With Honors,” “Outbreak,” “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Loverboy.”

Craig Ferguson currently stars as host of the “The Late, Late Show” on CBS.  He has numerous television and film credits including starring as ‘Nigel Wick’ on “The Drew Cary Show” from 1996-2003 and most recently, the feature “Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Ferguson wrote the feature films “The Big Tease” and “Saving Grace” and made his directorial debut with “I’ll Be There,” which he also wrote and starred in.   His book entitled “Between The Bridge and The River” will be released in Spring 2006.

Jason Lee stars in the new half-hour NBC comedy series, "My Name is Earl," about a petty thief who has an epiphany after winning a small fortune in the lottery.  Lee recently starred in the feature "The Ballad of Jack and Rose" and as the voice of ‘Syndrome’ in the Disney/Pixar film “The Incredibles.”  His other numerous feature film credits include “Vanilla Sky,” “Almost Famous,” "Mumford," “Dogma,” "Enemy of the State," and “Mallrats.”  Lee won an Independent Spirit Award for his role in “Chasing Amy.”

Kyra Sedgwick currently stars as ’Deputy Police Chief Brenda Jean Johnson’ in TNT’s original series “The Closer.”  Sedgwick has received two Golden Globe nominations: one for the feature film "Something to Talk About," the other for the television movie "Miss Rose White."  She recently received a 2005 Independent Spirit Award nomination for "Best Actress" for her work in Showtime's "Cavedweller." She also appeared in the Emmy-nominated telefilms “Something the Lord” and “Door to Door.”   Her numerous film credits include the critically acclaimed feature “The Woodsman,” “Personal Velocity,” “Just a Kiss,” Showtime’s “Behind the Red Door” and “Secondhand Lions.”  She can next be seen in the independent drama “Loverboy.”

Emmy winner James Spader currently stars as ethically-challenged attorney ‘Alan Shore’ on the ABC series “Boston Legal,” a role for which he has been nominated this year.   He won the 2004 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for this role on the series “The Practice.”  Spader has appeared in several feature films, including the critically acclaimed “Secretary,” “Speaking of Sex,” “Critical Care,” “Crash,” “2 Days in the Valley,” “Star Gate,” “Wolf,” “White Palace,” “The Music of Chance,” “Bob Roberts,” “True Colors,” “Bad Influence,” and Steven Soderbergh’s “Sex, Lies, and Videotape.”
For complete, up-to-date information regarding all presenters confirmed to participate in this year's ceremony, please click here:
Celebrity Presenter Confirmations release index

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The 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards is being produced by Ken Ehrlich Productions and is presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.  Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer; Michael B. Seligman and Renato Basile are the producers; Danette Herman is the coordinating producer and executive in charge of talent.  Bruce Gowers will direct. 

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946 just one month after network television was born. It is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunications arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunications industry. In addition to recognizing outstanding programming through its Emmy® Award, the Television Academy publishes Emmy® Magazine.

For additional press information and resources concerning the Primetime Emmy Awards or the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, please direct your inquiries to Robin Mesger of The Lippin Group at (323) 965-1990.

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Press Contacts:

CBS Publicity:
Andrea Ballas 323/575-2858 andrea.ballas@tvc.cbs.com
Susan Marks 323/575-2118 susan.marks@tvc.cbs.com
Kim Izzo-Emmet  212/975-3820 krizzo-emmet@cbs.com

The Lippin Group for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:
Robin Mesger 323/965-1990 rmesger@lippingroup.com
Pam Golum 323/965-1990 pgolum@lippingroup.com