Alyson Hannigan

CBS WILL AIR FOUR EPISODES OF UPN’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DRAMA "VERONICA MARS," BEGINNING WITH TWO EPISODES ON FRIDAY, JULY 29 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT)

As part of an effort to increase exposure and reach new viewers for VERONICA MARS, four episodes from the first season of UPN’s critically acclaimed drama will be broadcast on CBS. Two episodes will air on CBS on Friday, July 29 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and single episodes on Friday, August 5 and 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).

"With all of the various divisions now working together under the CBS banner, our company is in a unique position to provide the kind of support and promotional platform that no one else can match," said Leslie Moonves, Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer, Viacom and Chairman, CBS. "Summer broadcasts of VERONICA MARS on CBS provide something fresh for the CBS viewer in this time period, and will generate more awareness for this great UPN drama as it heads into its second season."

"VERONICA MARS is a smart, intelligent show with a fabulous star in Kristen Bell, and like many other great series, it simply needs more exposure to gain real traction. This is that opportunity," said Dawn Ostroff, President. "By airing these episodes of VERONICA MARS on America’s number one network, CBS, our hope is that even more people will discover how wonderful this drama is and become loyal viewers in the fall."

As part of UPN’s summer schedule, VERONICA MARS has already moved to its new Wednesday time period and is currently airing an encore of the first season as it prepares for its sophomore debut on Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT).

VERONICA MARS stars Kristen Bell ("Reefer Madness") as a smart, fearless 18-year-old apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the toughest mysteries of her wealthy seaside community, Neptune, Calif., where the rich and powerful make the rules, own the town and the high school, and desperately try to keep their dirty little secrets just that...secret.

VERONICA MARS airs Wednesdays (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

The series stars Kristen Bell ("Reefer Madness") as Veronica Mars, Enrico Colantoni ("Just Shoot Me") as Keith Mars, Percy Daggs III ("The Guardian") as Wallace Fennel, Teddy Dunn ("The Manchurian Candidate") as Duncan Kane, Jason Dohring ("Judging Amy") as Logan Echolls and Francis Capra ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation") as Eli "Weevil" Navarro. Joel Silver and creator Rob Thomas are executive producers. VERONICA MARS is from Silver Pictures Television in association with and distributed by Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. Production services provided by Stu Segall Productions, Inc.

The episodes airing include:

Friday, July 29 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) "Pilot" — After coming to the aid of the new kid, sophomore Wallace Fennel, who’s been duct-taped to the school’s flagpole, Veronica ends up incurring the wrath of the thugs who put him there, Eli "Weevil" Navarro and his P.C.H. Biker Boyz. To get Weevil and his gang off her and Wallace’s case, Veronica devises an intricate plan that helps some of Weevil’s cronies avoid trouble with the law.

Friday, July 29 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) "Echolls Family Christmas" — When Weevil’s poker winnings go missing after a game at Logan’s place, Veronica questions each player to piece together the evening’s events and catch the thief. Meanwhile, on the eve of the Echolls’ annual Christmas party extravaganza, Keith is hired by Lynn Echolls (guest star Lisa Rinna) to track down one of her husband Aaron’s (guest star Harry Hamlin) potential stalkers.

Friday, August 5 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) "Clash of the Tritons" — When a family accuses Veronica of providing a fake ID to their son, now in an alcohol-induced coma, and files suit, the search to find who’s really responsible leads Veronica to a clandestine, exclusive organization operating on Neptune High’s campus with a possible connection to Duncan. Meanwhile, Aaron Echolls (guest star Harry Hamlin) hires Keith to find out who’s been supplying pictures to the tabloids that have humiliated his wife Lynn (guest star Lisa Rinna). Later, Veronica bugs Ms. James’ (guest star Paula Marshall) office to eavesdrop on grief counseling sessions, and learns some surprising information about her friends. Friday, August 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) "Ruskie Business" — Veronica surprisingly finds herself working as a "love detective" when she’s asked to track down her friend Meg’s secret admirer and a Russian bride’s estranged fiancé. Meanwhile, after discovering that one of Lynn Echolls’ credit cards is in use, Veronica and Logan go to a Los Angeles hotel in hopes of finding her or a clue. Alyson Hannigan (UPN’s "Buffy The Vampire Slayer") guest stars as Logan’s half-sister Trina Echolls.