- Notes provided by New Line Cinema. -

In the early 1970s, there were two basketball leagues in America -- while the NBA ruled the sport, the ABA was defined by its outlaw flair and sensational showmanship. In the comedy Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, the one-hit singing sensation behind "Love Me Sexy," who relishes his role as owner, coach and power forward for the fictional Flint, Michigan Tropics of the ABA.

But when the NBA announces a plan to merge with the ABA and only take with them the four teams with the best records, disbanding the rest of the ABA squads forever, Moon, assisted by former NBA benchwarmer Ed Monix (Woody Harrelson) and flamboyant Clarence "Downtown" Withers (André Benjamin), decides to rally his motley team for an unlikely eleventh-hour pursuit of acceptance and glory.

New Line Cinema presents a Mosaic Media Group Production -- Semi-Pro. The film stars Will Ferrell, who leads an outstanding ensemble cast that also includes Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Will Arnett, Andy Richter, David Koechner and Rob Corddry, as well as DeRay Davis, Josh Braaten, Jay Phillips, Andrew Daly, Peter Cornell, Matt Walsh, Pat Kilbane and Academy Award®-nominee Jackie Earle Haley.

The film is directed by Kent Alterman, making his directorial debut, written by Scot Armstrong (Old School) and produced by Jimmy Miller (Talladega Nights). The executive producers are Lauren Shuler Donner, Michael Aguilar, Toby Emmerich, Cale Boyter, Kent Alterman and David Householter. The co-producer is Josh Church.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Shane Hurlbut, ASC, production designer Clayton Hartley, costume designer Susan Matheson, editors Debra Neil-Fisher, A.C.E. and Peter Teschner, and composer Theodore Shapiro.

New Line Cinema will release Semi¬-Pro (not yet rated by the M.P.A.A.) in theaters nationwide on February 29th, 2008.

REMEMBERING THE ABA

From 1967 to 1976, the American Basketball Association was a renegade basketball league that nipped at the heels of the NBA. Despite contributing some impressive innovations to the game and a style of play that emphasized flair and showmanship, the ABA was ultimately absorbed by its well-established competitor. Four of the ABA's most successful teams remained intact following the merger -- the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, New York Nets and Indiana Pacers.

Semi-Pro is the comedic story of the Flint Tropics, a fictitious ABA team that didn't quite make it. The Tropics bear similarities to some of the defunct teams of the ABA -- the Kentucky Colonels, the Anaheim Amigos and the Spirits of St. Louis. Though these teams are no longer in existence, they have a brief cinematic reprieve in Semi-Pro, as their logos and uniforms were painstakingly reproduced for the film's game sequences.

Perhaps the most famous player in the ABA was Julius Erving, better known as "Dr. J," who played for the Virginia Squires and the New York Nets. Other famous ABA players who went on to NBA glory include Artis Gilmore, George Gervin and James Silas (Erving and Gervin went on to be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame).

Though four of the ABA's teams were adopted by the NBA, the leagues were very different. "There were a number of things that were different," says Artis Gilmore, who played for the Kentucky Colonels. "Probably one of the most unusual was the basketball, the colors of the basketball itself." The ABA basketball was red, white and blue, and it was a bit smaller than the NBA regulation-size ball. The three-point shot, now a mainstay of NBA games, was also an invention of the ABA.

"Then, of course, the environment that we had to play in," adds Gilmore. Depending on the size of a team, ABA franchises would often share a court with a local high school or college. The huge stadium arena was not part of the ABA's identity.

"There were a number of franchises that were not totally established," says James Silas. "The San Diego Conquistadors, for instance, played at San Diego State. There were a number of other teams you played a game with one day and then a few weeks later you might find out they'd disbanded. That happened with the Floridians during the year that I was drafted. Stability was certainly a challenge."

The players supplemented their stability with ingenuity and creativity. George Gervin, whose nickname is "Ice," remembers: "We used to have marketing ploys. When I would travel into different cities, the opposing team would have try and `hold' Ice Gervin under thirty points. If they were successful, everybody would get free McDonalds or free Kentucky Fried Chicken" Needless to say, they were never successful at holding Gervin down. "My goal was to go in there and get 40 points and walk out of there saying, "Nobody's eating on Ice!'"

Some of these unusual marketing strategies are manifested in Semi-Pro via Jackie Moon's trademark flair. Moon's soul hit, "Love Me Sexy," has its own parallel in the real ABA world: singer Pat Boone owned the ABA team the Oakland Oaks.

Woody Harrelson, who plays Tropics teammate Ed Monix, remembers his childhood experiences watching the ABA. "I remember watching the ABA when I was younger and really liking Dr. J, of course. He was the guy who really made the ABA explode. There were other big players but Dr. J was the one for me at the time. At the time I didn't know the difference between the ABA and the NBA, but I've learned a lot since."

"The NBA was really where everybody wanted to be," George Gervin recalls. "That was the best basketball in the world, but we felt that we could compete against them with our talent. We couldn't compete with them as far as sponsorship and marketing, but we felt we had some very talented basketball players in the ABA."

"We had our own style," Gervin concludes. "We were a community, like a family. We went out to eat together, we played cards together. It was a family atmosphere. Once we had our chance to merge with the NBA, we took that same community and friendship with us."

FROM A FLINT TO A FIRE

Screenwriter Scot Armstrong first pitched the idea for Semi-Pro when he was in Los Angeles working on Todd Phillips's Old School, which Armstrong co-wrote and which co-starred Will Ferrell. Initially, he couldn't find a home for the story. "Whenever I pitched the idea I would hear, `It's too crazy to recreate the `70s,' or `It'll be too expensive' or `Can you do a modern version?' I wanted to do a real version of the ABA, which is what makes it special." Armstrong ultimately found supporters at New Line Cinema and the project was set in motion.

For Armstrong, Semi-Pro is the culmination of a lifelong affection for basketball. "As a kid I loved the ABA stuff. I even had a Dr. J ball. I liked the NBA, but the ABA invented the three point line and the slam dunk. They were the funkier, cooler league and I liked them better."

He took the independent, free-spirited sensibility of the ABA and the relaxed lifestyle that characterized the swinging `70s and found opportunities for comedy to flourish. "It seemed like a big idea and a big world," says Armstrong. "We recreated a league in the `70s with all the exact same logos, the same league, the same teams."

Although Armstrong made a concerted effort to infuse the script with authenticity, everything about the Flint Tropics of Michigan is fictional. Nevertheless, the Tropics are similar in spirit -- and game attendance -- to many of the teams that made up the ABA. "The Flint Tropics don't get very many fans," Armstrong says. "In fact, in the first game there are about ninety people in the stands. Will Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, is the owner, coach, player and the best promoter in the league -- or at least he's the most flamboyant. It doesn't always work but he'll go to extremes to get people into the seats."

Those extremes gave Armstrong many opportunities to create the enthusiastic, proud and sometimes goofy character of Jackie Moon. Will Ferrell's seemingly limitless comedic abilities inspired Armstrong to come up with inspired dialogue and situations. "There's nothing more fun as a screenwriter than writing in the voice of Will Ferrell," Armstrong says. "I'd be typing and I'd start cracking up because I'd get a picture of him doing what's written. He can do things that other people just can't do. You can write a really simple scene and he takes it to the next level. He makes you look good as a writer."

"I'd always kicked around the idea of doing a basketball film and I'm a big fan of the game, so when Scot told me he was working an idea for a movie about an ABA team, I thought it could be a lot of fun," says Ferrell. "I'm so glad he followed through on it."

DRAFTING THE TEAM

When the time came to enlist a director, the producers and New Line Cinema found an inspired candidate in Kent Alterman, who makes his directorial debut with Semi-Pro.

A former East Coast Head of Development for Comedy Central and writer/producer/director for Michael Moore's acclaimed television show, "TV Nation," Alterman most recently was Executive Vice President of Production at New Line Cinema. During his time at New Line, Alterman formed a close working relationship with Will Ferrell and producer Jimmy Miller during the development and production of the hit 2003 film, Elf.

When Alterman made the transition to first-time feature director, he had the trust of Ferrell as a result of the creativity and commitment he had shown during their collaboration on Elf. "The project came a long way," says Ferrell. "Kent was amazing. We were really impressed by the fact that he had really smart, creative ideas."

Coincidentally, Alterman has his own personal connection to the ABA, growing up in San Antonio, Texas in the mid-seventies when the Dallas Chapparals of the ABA moved to San Antonio and became the ABA Spurs. In an attempt to jump start fan interest and make the franchise more community-based, the majority owners offered shares of the team to the town at large. Alterman's father, uncle and a friend went in together and bought one share of the team (spending about $700 each). Alterman and his family then had mid-court seats on the third row and he became a smart-aleck fixture at the Hemisphere Arena. Alterman, using his megaphone to harass, once provoked a visiting player to come into the stands and threaten him harm, something Alterman is not proud of today.

Additionally, he and his family were invited by the majority owners to join the team on a road trip, traveling to New York to see the Spurs play the New York Nets (who were led by their star player Julius "Dr. J" Erving)

Several of Alterman's experiences at these games find their way in to Semi-Pro. For instance, he bought a game program before every home game and harassed the P.A. announcer to call his program number for a chance at the halftime three-point shot. It took nearly a full season to wear down the announcer, but when called, Alterman hit the shot and won a gift certificate to a local men's store. This inspired the sequence where the character Dukes, played by Jackie Earle Haley, hits a 3-point shot.

The first time the Spurs made it to the playoffs, the cover photo of the program was not the expected shot of Spurs star George Gervin, but a crowd shot featuring Alterman, megaphone in hand. That cover photo became the image for the Flint, Michigan Mega Bowl at the end of Semi-Pro.

The filmmakers set out to bring together an impressive cast of gifted comedians and actors to complement Ferrell.

Woody Harrelson plays Ed Monix, a former benchwarmer for the Boston Celtics who is acquired by the Flint Tropics in a trade for a washing machine. "I have a championship ring from my days on the Celtics, but I've been dropped down to the ABA and playing for the Kentucky Colonels," says Harrelson. "I get the golden opportunity to come to Flint, Michigan and play for the Tropics. That's my character's trajectory."

André Benjamin, a musician and actor who is half of the acclaimed, multi-platinum selling music duo Outkast and has appeared in films such as Four Brothers and Idlewild, plays Clarence Withers, the flamboyant "superstar" of the Tropics. "I guess he's the most athletic of them all," says Benjamin. "He has this natural ability from the neighborhood or from the playground style of playing. He likes to go for all the shots and doesn't like to pass the ball. He doesn't even run down the court to play defense."

Will Ferrell was impressed by Benjamin's contributions to the film. "For André to be thrust into a comedy like this and have to be the best player on the court, he's been amazing. He brings his whole charisma to the film. And he may be the most stylish person I will ever meet in my life!"

Josh Braaten plays Twiggy, a naïve country boy from somewhere out in the sticks. "I got the script and loved it," says Braaten. "I've been a huge fan of basketball all my life. During my audition, I got along great with Kent Alterman. We just talked about basketball for a while."

"I think I have the coolest name in the world for 1976," says Jay Phillips, who plays Scootsie. "I love that name. Scootsie is a Bible thumper, but the only reason he became a Bible thumper is because he's so bad that he had to hold himself down. And the only way he holds himself down is to keep that Bible with him."

Peter Cornell plays Vakidis, Lithuanian powerhouse of the Tropics. "Vakidis is the first kind of foreign player to play in the ranks of professional basketball in the US," says Cornell. "I like to say my character is the pioneer of, uh, the eastern European invasion."

Cornell is the only principal player who had a professional background. "I played basketball at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. And I spent the last nine years in the NBA, the minor leagues, Europe, Australia and Japan and China. I've seen a lot and I've really enjoyed it. It's been a very exciting career."

Andy Richter, who appeared in Talladega Nights with Will Ferrell, had also collaborated with several other members of the cast. He was happy to join the cast as team manager Bobby Dee. "It was a lot of fun and those guys are friends of mine and I've known them for a long time," says Richter. "It was a great excuse to hang out with your friends."

Maura Tierney plays Lynn, Monix's old flame who finds herself involved in an unusual romantic relationship. Tierney has a fond affection for the `70s. "This is the third movie I've done that takes place in the `70s and the second one I've done that takes place in 1976," she comments. "I really like it and think I'm suited to it."

Tierney found that she was a grounding force in the comedic cast. "I'm the straight man," she comments. "Even when I'm in comedies, I kind of play the straight man. When I did a sitcom, I was the straight man. I don't mind, because it's important, too. In this movie I'm a little bit more of a grounding character to the real comedy of it."

Tierney's shooting schedule had to be coordinated around her Emmy-nominated role on the NBC series, "ER." "I would go to `ER' for three days and then come to the film set for two days and then go back to `ER.' I have always enjoyed working in comedy and it was great to go back and forth between two completely different genres at the same time."

Will Arnett, who co-starred with Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory, plays team commentator Lou Redwood. "He's a former player and current color commentator for the Tropics and sometimes for the ABA, for the league itself," says Arnett. He's the right hand man of Dick Pepperfield, the play-by-play announcer for the Tropics. But not unlike the mighty Redwoods in the great northwest, Lou Redwood can stand alone and stand tall."

At Arnett's side is Andrew Daly, who plays Dick Pepperfield. Daly actually won the role as a result of his hilarious performance in a read-through of a draft of the script.

"Will and I have just had so much fun sitting next to each other, goofing off all day long," Daly says of his collaboration with Will Arnett. Daly and Arnett took liberties with their dialogue because their actual dialogue would not be heard until the crew got together to watch "dailies." "We knew that they're not hearing our dialogue until the next day," Daly explains. "We were just sitting there, amusing one another, and nobody else could hear it. We're just all alone, cracking jokes for one another's benefit. We had an incredible amount of fun -- on and off camera."

"After calling the game for a while, you start to see other stuff," Arnett adds. "And you just start calling it like you see it. And you also start trying to amuse yourselves as you watch the guys run the same play a hundred times in a row. I would say that ninety percent of good improv comes out of sheer boredom."

Rounding out the cast is Academy Award(C)-nominee Jackie Earle Haley, who plays the wiry, shirtless Dukes, and who worked with director Kent Alterman on the film Little Children during Alterman's tenure as an executive at New Line Cinema. "Kent was one of the main people that pushed Little Children through. When he started this process, he wanted me to come play Dukes. So I said, `You bet. Let's do it.'"

Comedian Rob Corddry, who plays Kyle, bluntly sums up the strategy behind assembling this group of talented actors: "The screenwriter, Scot Armstrong, has been a good friend of mine for years. We used to perform together in New York. This whole movie's about nepotism. It's all just buddies, and friends, and buddies of buddies."

PRE-SEASON

Once the cast was in place, director Kent Alterman put the actors through two weeks of basketball practice and blocking, led by sports coordinator Mark Ellis.

The cast had to figure out how to navigate the court like authentic ABA players. "It was just a different style," Will Ferrell says, noting that basketball in the `70s was markedly different from how it is played today. "We got acquainted with the style of play during that time. The players used a lot more straight-up defense. They didn't guard each other and they weren't as fancy with their dribble. It was a simpler game, and it was really spread out. We were able to get these plays down so that when we started filming, we could hit the ground running."

"It was pretty intensive," actor Josh Braaten remembers of the training camp. "The toughest thing about it was the warm-up. It was a 15 minute warm-up of three-men-weave drills and lay-up drills and getting winded. Once we got into the plays it was more of a real practice. I think I lost somewhere between 12 and 15 pounds in that two week span!"

Though he was challenged by the extreme physical activity, Braaten had a leg up on some of the other players because of his regular involvement with a charity basketball league. "I play in this league with other actors and musicians called the NBA Entertainment League, which is run through the NBA. We get together on Sundays and we wear the respective teams' costumes and then we'll do other events with NBA Cares on the side. Last year we went to Long Beach and helped people rebuild their houses. We also went up to Oakland and did a charity game for Baron Davis' Children's Hospital Charity."

Assisting the actors on screen are some "Special Ability Extras," who were enlisted to make the basketball sequences appear as professional as possible. Many of the Special Ability Extras had basketball and sport backgrounds, even at a professional level. Their skill set helped the actors build upon their existing level of play. Among the more recognizable faces in Semi-Pro is Pooh Richardson, who played professional basketball for eleven years for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Indiana Pacers.

Richardson notes that the actors improved dramatically as their practices and shooting continued. "Most athletic people that go out and play basketball, especially weekend-warriors, are not really under control," he says. "André Benjamin started learning how to play basketball a little bit, started to understand the game. Now when we play pick-up and run up and down, he can definitely make a couple of buckets."

"Woody Harrelson makes shots, he's a real competitor," Richardson continues. "Woody just goes after it. He always wants to challenge you, or he always asking you something to make him better so he can use it against you!"

Harrelson was no stranger to the sport, having famously played the game opposite Wesley Snipes in White Men Can't Jump. "I've been playing since I was twelve or thirteen years old, when someone told me that girls like basketball players," Harrelson jokes. "My motivation was simple. I wasn't really playing varsity ball, though."

Though Pooh Richardson was familiar with the history of the ABA, the experience of working on Semi-Pro enhanced his understanding of the league. "From watching tapes it seems to me that it was a fun league. Some of the players wore different hats. Someone might be the assistant general manager, or the general manager and coach, and one of the players would play and coach. Things you don't really find in today's basketball game with the NBA. The ABA was more colorful. It was more or less a league for showmen. If you were a showman, you flourished in the league."

THE GAME

Much of Semi-Pro takes place in the Flint Coliseum, which was designed and created by production designer Clayton Hartley in the gymnasium of the Los Angeles Fire Department Training Facility, located near Dodger Stadium.

"Their gym was just a barrel-shaped space that had a raw floor and two basketball courts side by side," director Kent Alterman recalls. "We finished the floor and built all of the stands. The only impediment that it had was a post-WWII big artillery gun that we called "The Cannon." When we first got there they told me that it couldn't be moved, so I said, `Let's build around it and give it a feeling of authenticity and texture.'"

"I love the barrel-shaped ceiling and the pattern," Alterman continues. "Even though it was built in the `30s, there was something about the pattern on the ceiling that felt like a period `70s sports arena."

It was in the arena that the most very hair-raising portion of the production, involving a scene where Jackie Moon wrestles a bear as a promotional stunt, was filmed. Thankfully for Ferrell, he was already familiar with wild animals. "I'm very good with animals. I have a lot of wild animals at home. I have a couple of rare jaguars. I really shouldn't admit that I have them because it's illegal. I have a couple of California condors. There's only like 12 of them out there and I've got two. I love wild game."

Ferrell ultimately emerged fairly unscathed. "It seemed to work out OK, except the bear did thrash me pretty good. But it's a bear, right? What do you expect?"

Additional basketball sequences were filmed at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. During the final week of production, the company traveled to the actual Flint, Michigan to film exteriors.

Further evoking the look and feel of the decade is Susan Matheson's costume design. The costumes all have a feel of authenticity. The sneakers are flat and lacking in support, which led to many shin splints and sore knees. The shorts are short and the jerseys are tight -- a lot has changed in basketball fashion since the `70s.

"I think the seventies are just intrinsically hilarious," cast member Andrew Daly comments. "People didn't know, I guess. They didn't realize at the time that their clothes were so comical and ridiculous, or that their hair was unacceptable. They had no idea. Their sideburns were extreme and their mustaches were foolish. But now we can look back on that, and we see it all with the clarity of thirty years' distance. It's ridiculous and it's so much fun to watch."

"It's funny that a lot of these styles are cool now," Will Ferrell says of the costume design. "I remember as a child of the `70s thinking -- even when this was the contemporary fashion -- `this does not look good.' I think it was a weird time where we were kidding ourselves. We thought bell bottoms were cool. But now, for some reason, they are cool."

Director Kent Alterman was pleased with the creative forces that helped bring the style and flair of the Flint Tropics pop from the page to the screen. "From the production design, the costumes and the photography, it's really proven that we that we're all creatively in sync," he says.

Given that the cast was made up of a group of comedians, improvisation was encouraged. André Benjamin loved to take part in the improvisation as well, noting that the process of improvising on set is somewhat similar to putting a song together in the recording studio. "In music it's the same thing," he says. "As long as you know your line or the basic structure of the song, you can play with it. You can go anywhere with your lines as long as you know your purpose."

Alterman was enthusiastic about fostering the comedic impulses of the gifted group of comedians, many of whom he's known for years. "When we got to the arena and we had Dick Pepperfield and Lou Redwood and Bobby Dee and Father Pat the Ref, the actors playing these roles are all my friends in real life," Alterman enthuses. "To see Andy Richter and Matt Walsh and Will Arnett and Andy Daly and these guys all coming together, and to be surrounded by your friends who are incredibly talented and funny, is really an amazing dream come true for me."

Of course, many of the actors were excited for the opportunity to see Will Ferrell become Jackie Moon. "It's a pretty daunting thing at first," Braaten says. "If you're a fan of movies or television, or pop culture, you know Will's body of work. To see how he goes about his day has been a cool experience for me. When it's 2:30 in the morning and we've still got two scenes left, he's supremely upbeat. He's happy to be here. It's been fun to work with Will and a lot of people whose movies I've admired."

"The difference with working with Will this time is that he is a lot shorter now that he's not on skates," jokes Will Arnett, who last worked with Ferrell on Blades of Glory. "Will is constantly hilarious in new ways every time that I've worked with him."

"The fact that it was a group who all for the most part knew each other, we just had the best time, on and off camera," says Ferrell.

"I think because we are an actual team, we had to band together," André Benjamin says of the camaraderie on set. "We looked out for each other and helped each other out. When you're together for three or four months and you're going through lines, and you're going through the plays, and you're sitting on the bench for hours talking about life, you become a true family. It's just like the Tropics. We've become Tropical for life."

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Kent Alterman (Director/Executive Producer)
Kent Alterman makes his directorial debut with Semi-Pro.

A veteran development executive, Alterman had been with New Line Cinema since 2001, and most recently served as Executive Vice President of Production for the studio. While at New Line, Alterman oversaw a diverse slate of projects from the blockbuster Christmas comedy Elf, starring Will Ferrell, to critically-acclaimed films such as A History of Violence, directed by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris and William Hurt, and Little Children, directed by Todd Field and starring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson and Jennifer Connelly.

Prior to joining New Line, Alterman served as head of East Coast development for Comedy Central. In addition to developing programming for the network, Alterman was executive producer and show runner for series including "Strangers with Candy," starring Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, and "Upright Citizens Brigade," starring Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh.

Alterman has also worked as an independent writer/director/producer in television. He collaborated with Michael Moore for two years on "TV Nation," the Emmy award-winning series on NBC and Fox. He developed, produced and directed segments for the show during the first season, and served as senior producer for the second season. He also produced and directed a pilot for MTV.

Before embarking on a career in television, Alterman was Vice President of Frankfurt Balkind, a design communications firm in New York. As head of the entertainment division in New York, he was responsible for the creative development and execution of multi-media projects for clients including Time Warner, Warner Bros. Music, HBO, Comedy Central, and the major motion picture studios.

Alterman lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.

Scot Armstrong (Screenwriter)
Originally from Chicago, Scot Armstrong studied improvisational comedy under Del Close at the Improv Olympic. Now with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, he's been seen in "Asscatt" and "Mother" in New York and the "Soundtrack" at UCB LA. For the stage, he directed "The Naked Babies" and "Secret Slut." In addition to writing Semi-Pro, Armstrong co-wrote the movies Road Trip," Starsky & Hutch, School for Scoundrels, Heartbreak Kid and Old School. He did uncredited work on Elf and Bad Santa. He is next attached to write and direct Multiple Mary for New Line. Armstrong's production company, American Work Inc. is making films with New Line Cinema, Dreamworks and Warner Brothers, as well as, TV with Universal and NBC. Armstrong lives with his wife, Kerry, his daughter, Lake, and his dogs, Dewie and Louise, in Los Angeles.

Jimmy Miller (Producer)
In addition to Semi-Pro, Jimmy Miller's film producing credits include Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Elf and the upcoming comedies Get Smart, starring Steve Carell and Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. He is currently producing Land of the Lost, also starring Will Ferrell.

Miller manages some of the most sought after comedy talent in the industry, including actors Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, and Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Ali G). He has also helped shape the careers of some of the most talented writers and directors in the comedy genre such as Jay Roach (The Austin Powers Trilogy, Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers), Judd Apatow (40 Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), Adam McKay (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Anchorman), Steve Rudnick and Leo Benvenuti (The Santa Clause Trilogy, Kicking & Screaming).

Lauren Shuler Donner (Executive Producer)
In the past two decades, Lauren Shuler Donner has established herself as one of the most successful and versatile producers in Hollywood. Her producing skill has enabled her to partner with top directorial talents including Nora Ephron, Oliver Stone, Bryan Singer, Richard Donner, Joel Schumacher, Ivan Reitman and John Hughes. To date, her films have grossed two and a half billion dollars worldwide. She was recognized for her body of work in 2001 by Premiere Magazine with the Producer Icon Award, and was recognized by Daily Variety with a Billion Dollar Producer Special Issue. In June 2006 she received the prestigious Crystal Award from Women In Film along with other honorees Jennifer Lopez, Dianne Warren and Geena Davis. She and her husband, Richard were honored by The American Cancer Society in June of 2006. They will be honored this May by Lupus LA.

Shuler Donner is having a particularly prolific year with four highly-anticipated films simultaneously in production. Currently shooting in North Carolina is The Secret Life of Bees for Fox Searchlight, which is written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo and Paul Bettany. The Secret Life of Bees is an adaptation of the best selling novel, which Lauren has been shepherding for the past 6 years. Also currently in production is X Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman, which is the next chapter in the successful X Men film franchise produced by Shuler Donner. The film is directed by Gavin Hood and is shooting in New Zealand and Australia. 20th Century Fox will release the film in May 2009.

Production has wrapped on DreamWorks' Hotel for Dogs which stars Emma Roberts and is based on the 1971 children's book of the same name. The project is Thor Freudenthal's feature directorial debut. Also upcoming is Cirque du Freak, a Universal film written by Paul Weitz who will also direct the adaptation of the bestselling young adult's book series by Darren Shan. Shooting on the film will begin in February in New Orleans.

In 2000, Shuler Donner began a new franchise with X Men, and followed up in 2003 with X2. The film was released by Twentieth Century Fox on May 2nd and broke box office records with an opening weekend total of $86 million dollars nationwide. Not only did the film gross $406 million dollars internationally, it is also the only sequel of 2003 to receive critical acclaim as well. X3- The Last Stand was released in May, 2006 and a month later it was on its way to the half billion dollar mark for domestic and international box office.

Shuler Donner was bound for success from the beginning, as the first feature film she produced was the smash hit comedy, Mr. Mom, which was one of the top ten grossing films that year. She then went on to produce Ladyhawke, starring Matthew Broderick, Michelle Pfeiffer and Rutger Hauer. Shuler Donner was responsible for two of the most popular "Brat Pack" movies of the `80's, St. Elmo's Fire and Pretty in Pink, both of which garnered platinum records for their soundtracks.

In the early `90's, Shuler Donner produced the box office smash hits, Dave and Free Willy, which were two of the top ten films of 1993. The critically acclaimed Dave was nominated for both an Academy Award (Best Original Screenplay) and a Golden Globe (Best Picture-Comedy). In the `90's, Shuler Donner's producer credits include: You've Got Mail, Any Given Sunday, Radio Flyer, 3 Fugitives, and the sequel to Free Willy. As head of The Donners' Company, she has executive produced Volcano, Bulworth, Just Married and Semi-Pro. Shuler Donner's other recent productions were Timeline with Paul Walker and Gerard Butler, Constantine with Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz, She's The Man with Amanda Bynes and Unaccompanied Minors with Lewis Black and Tyler James Williams.

Shuler Donner is a dedicated philanthropist who thrives on giving back to the community. She was on the Board of Directors for Hollygrove Children's Home until it merged with EMQ in 2006. She has been on the Advisory Board of Women in Film, the Advisory Boards of TreePeople and Planned Parenthood and the Executive Committee of the Producer's Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is serving currently on the Advisory Board of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, the Advisory Board of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Board of Directors for the Producers Guild of America.

Shuler Donner resides in Los Angeles with her husband, director Richard Donner.

Michael Aguilar (Executive Producer)
In March 2007, Michael Aguilar joined Mosaic Media Group as the President of Production. Prior to this, Michael founded Penn Station Entertainment in 2003 with writer-producer Dean Georgaris, which quickly developed a reputation for being a haven for the town's best young writers. Their slate landed them a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox.

Currently, Michael is finishing up production on the raucous romantic comedy What Happens in Vegas, starring Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz, directed by Tom Vaughan. Michael's recent credits include: the Warner Brothers supernatural thriller Constantine, starring Keanu Reeves and directed by Francis Lawrence. The film grossed over 230 million dollars at the box office. He was a co-producer on Academy Award winner The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg. Michael produced Warner Brothers family holiday adventure Unaccompanied Minors, directed by Freaks and Geeks creator Paul Feig, starring an ensemble cast including Wilmer Valderrama ("That `70s Show"), comedian Lewis Black, Rob Corddry ("The Daily Show") and Tyler Williams ("Everybody Hates Chris") among others. He executive produced Henry Poole is Here, starring Luke Wilson. He also recently wrapped Patriotville by writer/director Talmage Cooley and starring Justin Long, Rob Corddry, and Emanuelle Chriqui.

His current slate includes: a remake of the French film 36 Quais des Orfevres at Paramount Pictures penned by Georgaris, with Robert De Niro attached to star; a remake of George Romero's The Crazies at Paramount penned by Scott Kosar (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Machinist), to be directed by Breck Eisner (Sahara); an adaptation of Steve Niles' comic book Aleister Arcane at Paramount; Area 51 at Paramount by Georgaris; a remake of Le Convoyeur at Paramount by Andrew Kevin Walker (Seven, Sleepy Hollow) and David Ayer (Training Day, U-571); and Stain by Albert Torres to be directed by Mark Pellington (Mothman Prophecies, Arlington Road.) He is also producing the comedy Cool School by Derek Guilley and Dave Schneiderman, and attached Academy Award winning actress Rachel Weisz to romantic comedy Fear of Flying penned by Susan Brightbill.

The Phillips Exeter Academy and Kenyon College graduate began his career in entertainment hawking tickets for Boston comedy clubs, then scored an internship at RKO Pictures (L.A.), where he rose to director of development overseeing the storied company's massive library. He then went on to Paramount Pictures as a creative executive, overseeing such pictures as Face/Off, A Night at the Roxbury, and Event Horizon.

Aguilar spent the next six years running the Donners' company, a production company founded by producer Lauren Shuler Donner and director Richard Donner. There, he oversaw the development of the X-Men franchise along with Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday. He also produced Touchstone's Out Cold and co-produced Richard Donner's adaptation of Michael Crichton's Timeline.

David Householter (Executive Producer)
Householter previously collaborated with Ferrell on Talladega Nights for Columbia Pictures; Anchorman for DreamWorks and Elf for New Line Cinema. For DreamWorks, Householter executive produced 2007's hit comedy Norbit, starring Eddie Murphy and the Reese Witherspoon/Mark Ruffalo romantic comedy, Just Like Heaven. He also served as Co-Producer/Unit Production Manager on the 2003 Paramount Sci-Fi film, The Core, directed by Jon Amiel, as well as, the teen action movie Clockstoppers for Paramount and director, Jonathan Frakes.

Householter began working on films in 1984 as a set production assistant on Wes Craven's seminal horror film Nightmare on Elm Street and soon took the next step up the ladder as a second assistant director on Paul Verhoeven's Robocop. His credits as a first assistant director include: Drugstore Cowboy, The Marrying Man, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Heavyweights and The Nutty Professor. As a unit production manager, Householter worked on a number of projects beginning with The Chamber and including such films as Mystery Men and Little Nicky.

He also just finished Step Brothers for Columbia Pictures.

Josh Church (Co-Producer)
In addition to Semi-Pro, Josh Church serves as co-producer on two upcoming films, Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell & John C Reilly, and Land of the Lost, also starring Will Ferrell. He served as associate producer on Talladega Nights, where he worked under the guidance of Jimmy Miller and Judd Apatow. Church got his start by working as Judd Apatow's production assistant on the FOX television show "Undeclared" before moving over to Jimmy Miller's company, Mosaic Media Group, where he now serves as a production executive.

Theodore Shapiro (Music By)
Composer Theodore Shapiro is considered to be one of the finest musicians of his generation. While most would be intimidated by the idea of entertaining a career that encompasses creating music for both film and concert stage, Shapiro has taken both arenas by storm showcasing his stylistic diversity, depth of range, and limitless talent. In film music circles, he has proven himself to be a uniquely gifted artist and a force to reckon with by scoring a wide assortment of feature films, ranging from moving independent dramas to some of the more successful comedies of the last several years.

He most recently scored David Auburn's drama The Girl in the Park, starring Sigourney Weaver and Kate Bosworth, and the hit Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory. He also scored David Frankel's The Devil Wears Prada, nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical. His additional feature film composing credits include the comedies: Old School, Dodgeball, Fun With Dick and Jane, Idiocracy, Along Came Polly, and Starsky and Hutch; the David Mamet projects Heist and State and Main; the indie circuit hit Girlfight for director Karyn Kusama; John Hamburg's feature film screenwriting/directing debut, Safe Men; and the Academy Award-nominated documentary On the Ropes. Shapiro's upcoming projects include the Ben Stiller-directed film Tropic Thunder, the Will Ferrell comedy Semi-Pro, and Rawson Thurber's coming of age story The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, based on the Michael Chabon novel.

Shapiro, who was trained at Juilliard, also enjoyed early successes in the realm of concert music. He was just out of music school when his work began to garner accolades and The New York Post wrote, "Shapiro has clearly got a keen ear for orchestral colors, both delicate and robust." Among his symphonic compositions are: "Chambers" (for small orchestra), recently performed by the L.A. Philharmonic and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; "Avenues" (concerto for piano and orchestra), performed by both the Seattle Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra; and "Of Blood and Carnations' (for orchestra), premiered by the New York Chamber Orchestra and later performed by the Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Susan Matheson (Costume Designer)
Costume Designer Susan Matheson started her career designing clothes for the most famous fashion model of all, Barbie. Also during her time at Mattel Toys, she later revamped the style of all the Disney princesses. The upcoming summer release Step Brothers is Susan's second film with director Adam Mckay. She previously worked with Adam and Will Ferrell on the hit Nascar comedy, Talladega Nights and with Will on the upcoming basketball movie, Semi-Pro. She has worked twice with director Peter Berg, first on Friday Night Lights and then on The Kingdom. Other highlights include: Blue Crush, Crazy/Beautiful and her first film Dancer, Texas Pop. 81. Susan also designs for the stage. She has an ongoing collaboration with internationally touring performance artist Ron Athey and she recently designed the costumes for the new political musical The Beastly Bombing.

Debra Neil-Fischer, A.C.E. (Editor)
Prior to working with Director Kent Alterman on Semi-Pro, Debra Neil-Fischer worked with the Russo Brothers on the hit comedy You, Me and Dupree. She started her career editing commercials, trailers, and electronic press kits and has gone on to work with many of Hollywood leading filmmakers. Her extensive list of film credits include the box office hits: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Up Close and Personal, Fried Green Tomatoes, and the Academy Award winning short film, Ray Male Heterosexual Dance Hall. She also cut the films Without a Paddle, Welcome to Mooseport, Saving Silverman, Beautiful, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Black Dog, Dear God, and The War.

Peter Teschner (Editor)
Peter Teschner is an esteemed comedic Editor who has collaborated on many occasions with Betty Thomas, and worked with such renowned directors as Albert Brooks, Todd Phillips, and McG. Peter recently finished working on Definitely, Maybe with director Adam Brooks. His past credits include Borat, Kicking and Screaming, Legally Blonde 2, Charlie's Angels, and Private Parts. This Spring, Peter will collaborate with director Brad Silberling on Land of the Lost.

Clayton Hartley (Production Designer)
Production Designer Clayton Hartley grew up in Chicago, Illinois and from a young age found himself wanting to create environments that would affect the way the people feel. In 1985, Clayton worked on Friday the 13th Part V as a Construction Coordinator. Within the same year, Clayton was working as an Assistant Art Director on The Return of the Living Dead. Clayton continued to work as an Art Director, eventually working on pictures such as Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, and The Other Sister. Clayton received his first large credit as Production Design on Cheats, followed by American Wedding, before working for the first time with Will Ferrell on Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. In the years to come, Clayton worked with Will on Kicking & Screaming, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, until finally Semi-Pro and on Step-Brothers.

Shane Hurlbut, ASC (Director of Photography)
Shane Hurlbut grew up on Goose Lane Road on a 250-acre farm in Aurora, New York. It was a small community that valued hard work and close ties with neighbors. An incomparable work ethic and creativity resulted when Shane had to take over the farming at age 10 when his father injured his back. As a teen, Hurlbut and his best friends tapped maple trees and produced mouth-watering Grade "A" maple syrup. After graduating from Emerson College, Hurlbut began work in the film industry as a gaffer on commercials and music videos; collaborating with cinematographers Daniel Pearl and Joseph Yacoe. In 1995, he shot music videos for the Rolling Stones, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins. Commercials were the next step, followed by feature work in 1998.

HBO's award-winning biopic "The Rat Pack," directed by Rob Cohen and starring Ray Liotta, Joe Mantegna and Don Cheadle was Hurlbut's first feature. It was nominated by the A.S.C. for Best Cinematography in the category of Motion Picture, Miniseries or Pilot Television.

Hurlbut's passion for playing sports and knowledge of the game is evident in the many films he shot in that genre. First, he worked with director Charles Stone III, the baseball movie Mr. 3000 starring Bernie Mac and Angela Bassett. The story is about a retired baseball player who attempted to maintain his status of 3000 hits after a 10-year hiatus. Subsequently, actor/director Bill Paxton and Hurlbut teamed up to bring an action-oriented vision to the game of golf in The Greatest Game Ever Played. The film is a true story that followed the life of a caddie (played by Shia LeBeouf) who qualified for the 1913 U.S. Open and won. We Are Marshall with director McG was next and starred Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, David Strathairn and Ian McShane. It showcased the true events following a plane crash that claimed the lives of football players and fans from Marshall University in West Virginia.

In the drama category, Hurlbut and director Rob Cohen ignited the screen with Skulls starring Paul Walker and Joshua Jackson. The thriller delved into the legendary Skull and Bones secret society at Yale University. The critically acclaimed Crazy/Beautiful followed with Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez starring as deeply in love, yet troubled teenagers. Director John Stockwell and Hurlbut gave the film a beautiful, edgy look. Then, Drumline directed by Charles Stone III captured the musical excitement of show style marching band competition in the South. Finally, Hurlbut and director Greg Marcks teamed up for the dramatic thriller 11:14 for New Line. The project starred Hillary Swank, Barbara Hershey and Patrick Swayze.

Action movies come naturally to Hurlbut because of his infinite energy level and passion. Director John Stockwell reunited with Hurlbut on Into The Blue, a treasure hunting film that took place 80% underwater and starred Jessica Alba, Paul Walker, Scott Caan and Ashley Scott. It is a tale about a group of friends vacationing in the Bahamas who stumble onto an ancient shipwreck filled with buried treasure. Waist Deep was a thriller directed by Vondie Curtis Hall that Hurlbut shot in the summer of 2005. Tyrese Gibson starred in this current day Bonnie & Cyle bank-robbing thriller for Focus Features.

Recently, director Kent Alterman and Hurlbut united on Semi-Pro, a period sports comedy starring Will Ferrell as player, owner and coach for the Flint Michigan Tropics. The story centers around the ABA/NBA merger in 1976. This past summer, Hurlbut shot Swing Vote starring Kevin Costner as a working-class single father thrust on the world stage after the presidential election comes down to his single vote. Directed by Joshua Stern and produced by Jim Wilson, the talented cast included: Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci and Paula Patton. Currently, Hurlbut is joining forces again with Director McG on Terminator: Salvation which begins shooting in May of 2008.

ABOUT THE CAST

Will Ferrell (Jackie Moon)
Will Ferrell has come a long way since his days on "Saturday Night Live," crossing over from television icon to motion picture star shortly after joining the "SNL" cast in 1995.

Demonstrating that his dramatic gifts equal his comedic talents, Ferrell earned his second Golden Globe nomination (Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical) for his portrayal of IRS agent Harold Crick in last year's Stranger Than Fiction, starring opposite Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah and Maggie Gyllenhaal for director Marc Forster.

In the summer of 2006, Ferrell starred in the hit comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with co-stars John C. Reilly and Sacha Baron Cohen. Earning nearly $150 million at the U.S. box office, the film became the season's #1 comedy (non-animated) and continues to set records on DVD.

In the summer of 2004, Ferrell starred in the comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy for DreamWorks Pictures, which grossed over $85 million domestically. Ferrell co-wrote the script with "SNL" writer Adam McKay. Judd Apatow ("Freaks and Geeks") produced, with David O. Russell (Three Kings) executive producing. Ferrell portrayed Ron Burgundy, a 1970s anchorman with an inflated ego threatened by the arrival of an ambitious female newscaster who, unlike him, has mastered journalism.

Ferrell completed his seventh and final season on the legendary NBC late-night hit "Saturday Night Live" in 2002, having taken the nation by storm during "Indecision 2000" by impersonating President George W. Bush on the show. Some of his most memorable "SNL" characters include Craig the Spartan Cheerleader, musical middle school teacher Marty Culp, and Tom Wilkins, the hyperactive co-host of "Morning Latte." Among his many cross-gender impressions are Janet Reno, Alex Trebek, Neil Diamond and the late, great Chicago Cubs sportscaster Harry Caray. His work on "SNL" earned two Emmy nominations in 2001 (Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program, and Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program).

Ferrell recently completed filming the comedy Step Brothers, co-starring John C. Reilly, which Sony will release in theaters on July 25th, 2008. Previous film credits include Zoolander, Elf, the Woody Allen feature Melinda and Melinda, the comedies Bewitched and Old School, and the screen adaptation of The Producers, which earned Ferrell his first Golden Globe nomination in 2006 for Best Supporting Actor.

Raised in Irvine, California, Ferrell attended USC and graduated with a degree in sports information. Upon graduation, he worked as a sportscaster on a weekly show broadcast over a local cable channel. Soon after, he enrolled in acting classes and stand-up comedy workshops at a nearby community college and was eventually asked to join the esteemed comedy/improv group The Groundlings after just one year of training. It was at The Groundlings that Ferrell was discovered for "Saturday Night Live."

Woody Harrelson (Monix)
An accomplished actor in film, television and on the stage, Woody Harrelson has received Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Nominations as Best Actor for his critically-acclaimed portrayal of controversial magazine publisher Larry Flynt in Milos Forman's drama, The People vs. Larry Flynt.

Harrelson will be seen in the 2008 films The Grand, an ensemble comedy for director Zak Penn, and Battle in Seattle, directed by Stuart Townsand, as well as Transsiberian, directed by Brad Anderson and co-starring Emily Mortimer and Kate Mara. The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Harrelson can currently be seen in the Coen Brothers' No Country for Old Men, a film that has garnered much attention with multiple Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. Past credits include: After the Sunset, Play It To The Bone, The Thin Red Line, The Hi-Lo County, ED TV, Wag The Dog, Welcome To Sarajevo, Kingpin, Natural Born Killers, Indecent Proposal, White Men Can't Jump, The Big White, A Scanner Darkly, North Country, The Prize Winner of Definance, Ohio and A Prairie Home Companion.

Harrelson first endeared himself to millions of viewers as a member of the ensemble cast of NBC's long-running hit comedy, "Cheers." For his work as the affable bartender Woody Boyd, he won an Emmy in 1988 and was nominated four additional times during his eight-year run on the show. In 1999, he gained another Emmy nomination when he reprised the role in a guest appearance on the spin-off series "Frasier." He later made a return to television with a recurring guest role on the hit NBC series, "Will and Grace."

Balancing his film and television work, in 1999 Harrelson revived a career long commitment to the theatre by directing his own play, "Furthest from the Sun" at the Theatre de la Juene Lune in Minneapolis. He followed next with the Roundabout's Broadway revival of the N. Richard Nash play "The Rainmaker" in 2000, Sam Sheperd's "The Late Henry Moss" in 2001, John Kolvenbach's "On An Average Day" opposite Kyle MacLachlan in London's West End in the fall of 2002, and in the summer of 2003 Harrelson directed the Toronto premiere of Kenneth Lonergan's "This Is Our Youth" at the Berkeley Street Theatre. In the winter of 2005/2006 Harrelson returned to London's West End, starring in Tennessee Williams' "Night of the Iguana" at the Lyric Theatre.

A committed environmentalist, Harrelson joined his activism with his film efforts in Ron Mann's "Go Further," a road documentary following Woody and friends on their bicycle journey down the Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to Santa Barbara.

Along with being daddy to his three beautiful daughters, closest to his heart is www.voiceyourself.com, a website Harrelson co-created with his wife, Laura Louie, which promotes and inspires individual action to create global momentum towards simple organic living and to restore balance and harmony to our planet.

André Benjamin (Clarence)
André Benjamin is best known for his work as half of the world-renowned, pioneering, Grammy Award-winning duo, OutKast. Their album "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" sold over ten million copies, propelled by Benjamin's number one single, "Hey Ya!" For their distinguished body of work spanning over a decade, OutKast has received multiple Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" in 2004.

Fueled by his artistic passion, Benjamin now has turned his attention to other creative outlets and is making an indelible mark on the film and television world, having recently starred in Universal Picture's Idlewild, a musical set in the prohibition-era South in which Benjamin stars and for which he co-created the story and co-wrote the soundtrack with his OutKast partner, Big Boi; the drama Four Brothers for director John Singleton, in which he received rave reviews for his portrayal of an adopted brother opposite Mark Wahlberg; and Be Cool the sequel to the smash hit comedy, Get Shorty and co-starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, and Cedric the Entertainer. Benjamin also lent his voice to the anime feature Whasango and Paramount Picture's live-action/CG feature, Charlotte's Web.

Benjamin will next be seen in the drama, Battle In Seattle, co-starring Charlize Theron and directed by Stuart Townsend.

Benjamin is also creator and executive producer of "Class of 3000," an animated series for the Cartoon Network which is entering its second season. He also provides the voice of the series' main character as well as composes the series' music.

André Benjamin is also an accomplished painter and clothing designer, further solidifying his role as a true multi-media artist and entrepreneur. Among his many accolades, Benjamin has been named the World's Best Dressed Man by Esquire Magazine and was named as one of Premiere Magazine's "New Power Players."

Maura Tierney (Lynn)
One of the brightest acting talents to emerge in recent years, Maura Tierney is currently gracing television screens every week on the top rated NBC series "ER" for which she received her first Emmy nomination. Tierney has successfully managed to juggle both television and film careers.

Tierney stars in the upcoming Universal film Baby Mama with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Tierney can also be seen in the upcoming films The Go-Getter with Zooey Deschanel, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, and Finding Amanda with Matthew Broderick. Last summer, she appeared on the big screen in a film for Magnolia Pictures called Diggers, where she starred opposite Paul Rudd, Ken Marino, Josh Hamilton, Ron Eldard, Laura Ambrose and Sarah Paulson, directed by Katherine Dieckmann.

Tierney has starred in such films as Twentieth Century Fox's comedy Welcome to Mooseport opposite Ray Romano and Gene Hackman, Instinct opposite Sir Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr. and Dreamworks' hugely successful Forces of Nature with Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock. Additional film credits include Primal Fear, The Temp, White Sands, Oxygen and Scotland PA.

She earned critical praise for her role in Primary Colors as well as for her work opposite Jim Carrey in the smash hit Liar Liar. Tierney also appeared in the Christopher Nolan directed film Insomnia opposite Al Pacino, Hilary Swank and Robin Williams.

In 2006, Tierney starred in the Off-Broadway production of Neil LaBute's "Some Girl(s)" at the Lucille Lortel Theater. She joined a cast which also included Eric McCormack, Fran Drescher, Judy Reyes and Brooke Smith.

Prior to joining the cast of "ER", Tierney spent four years on the critically acclaimed NBC series "Newsradio."

Born and raised in Boston, she currently divides her time between Los Angeles and New York.

Will Arnett (Lou Redwood)
Will Arnett has been an extremely busy man of late. In the last year Arnett was seen opposite Will Ferrell, Jon Heder and his wife Amy Poehler in the figure skating comedy "Blades of Glory." He also recently starred in "Brothers Solomon" opposite Will Forte. In addition, Arnett lent his voice to the 20th Century Fox animated sequel "Ice Age 2: The Meltdown" and co-starred opposite Robin Williams in "R.V.", the family road trip comedy directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.

Arnett is currently attached to star in "Most Likely to Succeed" for Universal, "Dad Can't Lose" and "Get 'Em Wet" for Paramount, as well as "The Ambassador" for Dreamworks and Paramount, which he will also executive produce. He also soon will be heard as a voice in the highly anticipated animated comedy "Horton Hears a Who" which will be released in March 2008.

Arnett recently earned his first Emmy nomination for his work on the critically acclaimed Fox sitcom "Arrested Development," where he portrayed "Gob Bluth." The show also garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series for its final season. The series previously earned a Golden Globe nomination and won an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in its first season. The show also gained a cult-like following of loyal fans.

Before "Arrested Development," Arnett was a regular on the NBC comedy series "The Mike O'Malley Show." His additional television credits include guest-starring roles on "Sex and the City," "The Sopranos," "Boston Public," "Third Watch" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Arnett also appeared on NBC's "Will & Grace" playing Jack's dance nemesis while auditioning to become a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. Most recently Arnett was seen twice on NBC's "30 Rock" playing Devon Banks in a very memorable guest-starring role.

Arnett's feature credits include roles in Monster-In-Law, The Waiting Game, The Broken Giant, Southie and Ed's Next Move. Additionally, he served as the narrator for the film Series 7: The Contenders and can be heard in a variety of commercials most notably as the voice of GMC Trucks.

Arnett currently splits his residency between Los Angeles and New York where he lives with his wife, actress and "Saturday Night Live" star Amy Poehler.

Andy Richter (Bobby Dee)
Actor and writer, Andy Richter, rose to fame while having the best seat in the house on NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" as O'Brien's sidekick for seven years, beginning with its premiere on September 13, 1993.

Richter and the "Late Night" writing team were nominated yearly for the Emmy Award for Best Writing in a comedy or Variety Series, and won the 1997 Writer's Guild Award for Best Writing. Richter has made quite a leap off of the late night couch since his departure from the show in 2000.

This month, re-teaming with co-creator and producer Conan O'Brien, Richter will return to the small screen in the comedy "Andy Barker, P.I." Andy Barker, an earnest, hard-working CPA, is mistaken for a retired private investigator when he takes over his vacated office space. Embracing the twist of fate, the modest, gentle-minded accountant dives into his double life with the help of his strip-mall neighbors (Tony Hale from "Arrested Development", and Marshall Manesh from "Will & Grace").

In 2002, Richter starred in and produced the FOX comedy, "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" in which he portrayed a struggling writer with an overactive imagination. That year, it was named "the funniest new comedy of the spring" by Time, and garnered an Emmy nomination for writing. In 2004, he returned to television and to FOX, on its newest hit comedy "Quintuplets," playing the father of five teenage quintuplets. He has also had memorable cameo roles in such popular series as "Arrested Development" and "Monk," and this year -- in a hysterical three-episode arc as Christine's unlikely secret affair -- on the critically acclaimed series "The New Adventures of New Christine."

Richter continues to be very active in the feature film world as well as television. Richter recently worked with Will Ferrell in Blades of Glory and again in basketball comedy Semi-Pro, which is due out this February. He is also reprising the role of "Mort" for the animated feature Madagascar 2, which is to be released in 2008.

Richter can also be seen in Talladega Night: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Will Ferrell, Amy Adams, Sacha Baron Cohen, and John C. Reilly. Prior film credits include: If I Had Known I Was A Genius, Seeing Other People, New York Minute (with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen), Elf (alongside Will Ferrell), Dr. T And The Women, and Scary Movie 2. He also voiced a character in the animated feature Madagascar alongside Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Richter attended the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign and Columbia College, where he studied film and video. He currently lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles.

David Koechner
Actor, writer and producer David Koechner grew up in Tipton, Missouri working for his father in the family's turkey coop manufacturing business. He studied political science at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas and then transferred to the University of Missouri. After college, Koechner moved to Chicago where he studied improvisation at the IO (formerly the ImprovOlympic) with Del Close and Charna Halpern. He went on to become an ensemble member of Second City Northwest.

From there he spent one season on the cast of Saturday Night Live before moving to Los Angeles, where he landed guest appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Reno 911 and played a recurring character on Still Standing. He co-starred in indie films such as Dill Scallion, Wakin' Up in Reno, Dropping Out, and Run Ronnie Run, while turning solid performances in studio comedies such as Out Cold, My Boss' Daughter and A Guy Thing. Concurrently, Koechner and his partner, Dave "Gruber" Allen, developed and performed The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show on stage at Club Largo in Los Angeles, which later became a Comedy Central series.

His first major film break came when he was cast as Champ Kind in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Since then, Koechner has been seen in a variety of studio and independent films such as Daltry Calhoun and The Dukes of Hazzard with Johnny Knoxville, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Waiting, Let's Go to Prison, Snakes on a Plane, the animated feature Barnyard, the family film Yours, Mine and Ours, and the critically acclaimed Thank You for Smoking, opposite Aaron Eckhart and Maria Bello.

Koechner can also be spotted in cameo roles in 40 Year Old Virgin, Balls of Fury, and Reno 911!, Miami. He continues to play the recurring character Todd Packer on NBC's The Office as well. He most recently starred in the Fox Atomic comedy The Comebacks and can next be seen in the upcoming features Semi-Pro and Get Smart. He also just finished filming The Goods: The Story of Don Ready.

He currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and four children.

Rob Corddry (Kyle)
Rob Corddry was a regular on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" from 2002 through September 2006 as a political correspondent. He has also appeared on episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Arrested Development," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," and "Upright Citizens Brigade." Corddry also starred in the Fox television series "The Winner" from writer/producers Seth McFarlane and Ricky Blitt.
On film, Corddry was most recently seen in the Farrelly Brothers The Heartbreak Kid, opposite Ben Stiller. He will also be seen in the upcoming films Semi-Pro, starring Will Ferrell, Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, and Talmadge Cooley's Patriotville with Justin Long. Corddry previously starred as Bobby Dukes in the indie comedy BlackBalled: The Bobby Dukes Story; and also appeared in Todd Phillips' hit comedy Old School with Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn; Blades of Glory, with Will Ferrell and Jon Heder, and Tom Dey's Failure to Launch, starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. He just wrapped What Happens in Vegas with Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz.
DeRay Davis (Bee Bee)
DeRay Davis can be seen in the upcoming feature films: Semi-Pro (New Line) and Nowhereland (Paramount.) He is a series regular on the hit MTV series, "Wild N Out," and wrote/performed the comedy skits on Kanye West's LPs "Late Registration" and "The College Dropout." His past credits include: License to Wed, School for Scoundrels, The Cleaner, Scary Movie 4, The Fog, Barbershop 1 & 2, Johnson Family Vacation and Entourage.

Josh Braaten (Twiggy)
Josh has graced the big and small screen with his energetic and lively roles. We know him as Toby, in New Line Cinema's Dumb & Dumberer, and from his variety of reoccurring roles on many hit television shows. He has amused us as Tim on "Modern Men" and as Chris, on "Married to the Kelly's." He has impressed us as Charlie, on "Less Than Perfect." And, he has entertained us as Owen, on "That 80's Show. " Braaten has also had many remarkable guest-starring appearances on respectable shows such as "CSI: Miami" and "Life on a Stick."
Braaten has been interested in acting since age five, and he has been dedicated to the craft since a young age. In Minnesota, he made many dynamic impressions on people by starring in his high school plays, and he continued the same hard work in college. After performing in summer stock, he spent a year in Chicago working in theatre and doing voice-overs.
Shortly after, Braaten's talent was notably discovered, and with the help of an acting coach, he relocated to Los Angeles. In just two weeks, he landed a role on "Spin City," working with Tom Hertz, the executive producer of "Married to the Kelly's."
He currently lives in Los Angeles and enjoys spending time with his friends and family. He also loves sports and is specifically fond of playing basketball and football.

Jay Phillips (Scootsie)
Most recently, Jay Phillips wrapped shooting the role of "Scootsie" in New Line's Semi-Pro, opposite Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson and Andre Benjamin, as well as roles in Prom Night for Sony Screen Gems and Universal's Baby Mama, opposite Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Phillip's recent stand-up appearances include: HBO's "Def Comedy Jam," "The Late Late Show," "Jimmy Kimmel," Showtime's "Big Black Comedy Tour" and "Laffapalooza."

Andrew Daly (Dick Pepperfield)
Andrew Daly is an LA-based actor and comedian. He will be seen in the upcoming films What Happens in Vegas... starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher and Ticket to Ride, as well as, the upcoming TV shows "Lewis Black's The Root of All Evil" on Comedy Central and HBO's "Eastbound and Down," in which he plays the role of Terrence Cutler. Past TV work includes: two seasons as a cast member on Fox's "Mad-TV" and regular roles on Comedy Central's "The Showbiz Show with David Spade" and "Crossballs" as well as frequent appearances on "Reno 911" and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." You might also remember him as Ben Franklin on "The Office." Andrew can often be seen performing live at Hollywood's Upright Citizens Brigade Theater where is a regular cast member in the highly acclaimed and fully improvised Asssscat.

Peter Cornell (Vakidis)
Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, and raised in the small East Bay town of Piedmont, Peter graduated Piedmont High School in 1994 and went on to study and play his collegiate basketball at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where he graduated in 1998 as a two-time National Scholar Athlete with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. At an imposing 6'11", 260 lb., Peter has made a career playing professional basketball over the past 9 seasons as an exceptionally athletic, strong and heady, "blue collar" big man; playing for over 20 teams and counting in his professional career. From the NBA, to various minor leagues, and in Europe and Asia, Peter has been the quintessential journeyman.

During his several off-seasons and downtime in between teams, Peter has moonlighted as an actor while living in Los Angeles, dominating the commercial market as a niche actor over the past decade appearing in over a staggering 40 national and international commercials. Peter has had cameo roles in a few movies as a professional basketball player as well (Bedazzled, Like Mike). Last winter he made a strong transition into the world of film, landing a supporting role in Semi-Pro, which marks Peter's first role in a major motion picture. He has since been cast to play the legendary and first NBA "big man" George Mikan in the movie Sweetwater, scheduled to being shooting in the Spring of 08'.

Peter is currently in Tokyo, Japan playing for the Hitachi SunRockers of the prestigious Japan Basketball League for the 2007/2008 season.

When not during season, Peter resides in Beverlywood in Los Angeles.

Matt Walsh (Father Pat the Ref)
Matt Walsh is a founding member of the "Upright Citizens Brigade." Walsh was also instrumental in the start of "Upright Citizens Brigade's" two theaters, in NYC and LA, where he continues to perform and teach today. Additionally, he wrote and starred in their self entitled show on Comedy Central for three seasons. To date, "UCB" is the largest unaccredited university in the nation, teaching improve to more than 600 students at any given time.

Credits for Walsh include starring in Comedy Central's critically acclaimed "Dog Bites Man" and acting as a correspondent for "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" from 2001-2002. He has appeared in such movies as School For Scoundrels, Old School, Bad Santa, Road Trip, Elf and Starsky and Hutch.

He can next be seen in Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind, opposite Jack Black, for New Line and Kent Alterman's Semi-Pro, opposite Will Ferrell, also for New Line.

Walsh currently resides in Los Angeles.

Pat Kilbane (Petrelli)
Best known for his three-year run on Fox's "Mad TV," Pat Kilbane made his mark on the show with outrageous physical comedy and uncanny celebrity impressions. Among his more memorable characters were "Stan the Java Man," the shady "Spishak" spokesman, and the floppy superhero, "Rubberman." Kilbane's impressions are too numerous to list, but notably his mimicry of Howard Stern and Lyle Lovett fooled some viewers into believing that the stars actually appeared on the show.

After the expiration of his contract with "Mad TV," Kilbane was signed to a two-year deal with Dreamworks, during which he appeared in the movies Evolution and Eurotrip, and on ABC's hit show "Spin City." The deal culminated with "The Pat Kilbane Show," a smart edgy sketch comedy vehicle that Kilbane wrote and executive produced for Comedy Central.

Raised in Dayton, Ohio, Kilbane earned his bachelor's degree in French from Beloit College before beginning his career as a stand-up comedian. He headlined clubs throughout the United States and was featured on Showtime's "Full Frontal Comedy" as well as A&E's "Evening at the Improv" and "Comedy on the Road." After moving to Los Angeles, he appeared in over a dozen national commercials, made guest appearances on "The Single Guy" and "Arli$$," and played the role of the "Anti Kramer" in the Emmy nominated "Seinfeld" episode of "Bizarro Jerry."

Most recently, Kilbane co-starred in the 2008 releases Day of the Dead with Ving Rhames, Semi-Pro with Will Ferrell, and Starship Dave with Eddie Murphy.

Jackie Earle Haley (Dukes)
After a 15 year absence, Jackie Earle Haley has made a dramatic comeback for his role in Todd Field's acclaimed drama, Little Children (New Line) which garnered him an Oscar nomination. The talented actor also won a plethora of critics' awards (including New York Film Critics Award, Chicago Film Critics Award and San Francisco Film Critics Award) for Best Supporting Actor of 2006 for his role as a tortured sexual offender.

Thanks to a couple of producers with good long-term memories and some amazing luck, Haley's career is reigniting. In addition to Little Children, Haley also starred in All the King's Men (Sony), which is the role ultimately responsible for his resurgence into acting.

His first major screen role was as Adore in John Schlesinger's film adaptation of Nathanael West's novel Day of the Locust -- a role in which he was pummeled to death by Donald Sutherland's presciently named character, Homer Simpson. When Haley turned 14, his father took him to the audition that changed his life, and earned him the iconic role of the cigarette smoking, motorcycle riding hellion Kelly Leak in Michael Ritchie's Bad News Bears, indelibly earning him a place in 1970s pop culture. A year after this he won another role that he'd long be remembered for: the practical, laid back, short tempered Moocher in the 1979 Peter Yates' Oscar Winning film, Breaking Away. In 1983, he played the sex-obsessed Dave in Curtis Hanson's Losin' It, co-starring Tom Cruise. And on Broadway, he performed with Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon, and Val Kilmer in the Scottish play, Slab Boys. Even after all these years, in 2005 Jackie was prominently listed in VH1s "100 Greatest Kid Stars."

But, like so many on that list, the successful transition from child actor to adult actor was elusive and he was forced to quit, and join the ranks of blue-collar workers. From limousine driver to security officer, Haley struggled for years to make ends meet. One of his memories was delivering a pizza to Richard Halsey, an editor who cut one of the films he was in. Haley said "It's nothing to be sorry about, working to make a living. But it was strange. That kind of stuff happened all the time." After a decade, he finally found work where he could utilize his acting knowledge -- as a television commercial director.

Even though things were finally shaping up for him, he still had the desire to do what he loved most -- act. But the desire was subdued by a self-preserving stoicism.

And then...something amazing happened.

In October of 2004, Steven Zaillian was trying to find Jackie Earle Haley. He wanted him to audition for the part of Sugar Boy in All the King's Men. At first, Zaillian was told that Haley couldn't be found. But eventually he tracked him down in France...on his honeymoon. "I couldn't believe it," Haley recalls. "It was like a dream... I'm still pinching myself."

After filming All the King's Men, Haley was determined to continue working on projects that had meaning for him. He got a hold of an early draft of Todd Field's Little Children, and set his sights on playing Ronald James McGorvey. He made an audition tape and sent it to Field. "I'll never forget watching what Jackie prepared on that tape," says Field, "his work was so original, specific and unexpected -- I couldn't take my eyes off him." Field called him up, and asked if he would come to NYC to discuss the possibility of playing McGorvey. At the meeting Todd said, "So... you wanna do this?" "I wanted to play this role so badly," Haley recalls, "I'll remember that moment as long as I live."

Recently, Jackie has worked on several projects including a role in the Will Ferrell comedy, Semi-Pro (New Line) in which he plays a fan who wins a basketball-throwing contest. He will also co-star in the drama Winged Creatures, opposite Kate Beckinsale, Forest Whitaker, Dakota Fanning and Guy Pearce, portraying an abusive husband and angry father. In addition, Jackie will star in the indie-drama Bolden! in which he plays a New Orleans judge in the center of corruption in this biographical film that focuses on the life of jazz singer, Buddy Bolden. He is currently in Vancouver shooting a lead role in the action film, The Watchmen.