This is the announcement on the ABC website for Brothers and Sisters...the new show following Desperate Housewives on Sunday nights.


Brothers and Sisters
Premieres Sunday, September 24 @ 10/9c


Brothers and Sisters is a compelling, new one-hour primetime drama from executive producers Ken Olin and playwright Jon Robin Baitz about the California-based Walker family. In the series, we meet a collection of incredibly intertwined and somewhat damaged adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. In the days ahead, they will navigate waves of temptation, deception and grief.

Brothers and Sisters follows the Walkers through the maze of American life today -- the pressures, limitless options and the struggle to grow beyond our backgrounds into ourselves. Through these fascinating siblings -- Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), the corporate VP who returns to the family business so she can give to her marriage as much as she does to her career; Tommy (Balthazar Getty), the loyal son yet charming womanizer; Kevin (Matthew Rhys), the gay lawyer cautiously learning about love; Justin (Dave Annable), the baby of the family, grappling with war trauma and addiction; and Kitty (Calista Flockhart), right-wing radio host turned TV pundit who has always been Daddy's little girl -- the show explores what it means to be a family in the 21st century, and how these brothers and sisters balance their own lives as they strive to accept their parents as people -- flawed, contradictory and forgivable -- rather than just as a father and mother.

The parents are Tom Skerritt as William Walker, the larger-than-life patriarch and president of the family business, and Sally Field as Nora Holden, the opinionated wife and mother to the five Walker siblings. Then there's Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden, Nora's dandyish brother; John Pyper-Ferguson as Sarah's husband, Joe; Sarah Jane Morris as Tommy's wife, Julia; and Patricia Wettig as the mystery woman who could bring the Walkers and their company down.

Brothers and Sisters stars Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal) as Kitty, Rachel Griffiths (Six Feet Under) as Sarah, Sally Field (Norman Rae) as Nora Holden, Ron Rifkin (Alias) as Saul Holden, Patricia Wettig (thirtysomething) as Holly, Balthazar Getty (Alias) as Thomas, Dave Annable (Reunion) as Justin, Matthew Rhys (Titus, Love and other Disasters) as Kevin, John Pyper-Ferguson (Unforgiven, Nightstalker) as Joe and Sarah Jane Morris (Felicity) as Julia.

Ken Olin (Alias, thirtysomething), Jon Robin Baitz (The Substance of Fire, The West Wing) and Greg Berlanti (Everwood) are executive producers. The series is produced by Touchstone Television.
Cast
Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, Sally Field, Ron Rifkin, Patricia Wettig, Balthazar Getty, Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, John Pyper-Ferguson and Sarah Jane Morris.
http://a.abc.com/primetime/schedule/2006-07/images/hdtv.gif (http://abc.go.com/site/hdtvfaq.html)

I watched the premier episode of this last night and really enjoyed it. The character's are an interesting mix...the family unit strong, but...a bit flawed...the story line so far...has captured my interest...and I'll definately watch this one again.

It did capture my interest as well... My wife and I thought it was pretty good. They also set up a really good plot line at the end of the premiere...

Ratings from Sunday night.

Brothers & Sisters (ABC) - premiere
Overnights: 11.0/17 (#2), Viewers: 16.10 million (#2), A18-49: 6.2/15

Press release from ABC:

BROTHERS & SISTERS PICKED UP FOR A FULL SEASON

ABCs new hit series Brothers & Sisters was picked up for a full season order, Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, announced today. The critically acclaimed drama marking Calista Flockharts triumphant return to primetime television focuses on the Walker family, five complicated adult siblings who embrace one another unconditionally while striving to reflect the perceived perfection of their role model parents. The series is executive-produced by Ken Olin, playwright Jon Robin Baitz and Greg Berlanti.

Brothers & Sisters is a great addition to our Sunday night lineup and has given us a strong complement to Desperate Housewives, said McPherson.

This past Sunday Brothers & Sisters won the 10 oclock hour among Adults 18-49 (4.9/12) and across key women (W18-34 - 5.3/14, W18-49 - 7.2/17 & W25-54 - 8.2/18), defeating both CBS and NBC in the hour (fast affiliate ratings for 10/15). The ABC freshman is the top new program on any night in the 10 oclock hour among Adults 18-49 and is the second-highest-rated new series of the season among Adults 18-49. Brothers & Sisters leads its CBS drama competition in the time period across key adults demos by 47% in Adults 18-34 (4.4/12 vs. 3.0/8) and 22% with Adults 18-49 (5.5/14 vs. 4.5/11).

I caught the show for the first time last sunday and have watched all of the other shows on abc.com since and I really enjoy all of the characters, the political debates, the relationships and humor etc etc.... it is a well rounded show... and I look forward to watching it more !!!

The Emmy screeners went out and these were the episodes that were submitted:

Northern Exposure
Mistakes Were Made, Part ll
Valentine's Day Massacre