CBS Announces Series Premiere of 3 Lbs November 14th  11/1/06

STANLEY TUCCI, MARK FEUERSTEIN, INDIRA VARMA AND ARMANDO RIESCO STAR IN "3 Lbs.," A NEW DRAMA ABOUT A TEAM OF CUTTING EDGE NEW YORK CITY NEUROSURGEONS AND DOCTORS WHO EXPLORE THE LAST MYSTERIOUS FRONTIER OF MEDICINE, THE HUMAN BRAIN, PREMIERING NOV. 14 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Stanley Tucci, Mark Feuerstein, Indira Varma and Armando Riesco star in 3 Lbs., a new drama about a team of cutting edge New York City neurosurgeons and doctors with different points of view, premiering Tuesday, Nov. 14 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Not your average medical drama, 3 Lbs., which refers to the weight of an adult human brain, is a show where hard science collides with the intricacies of personality, logic, emotion and faith as modern day heroes -- on the cutting edge of their profession -- explore the last mysterious frontier of medicine, the human brain.

The group is lead by Dr. Doug Hanson (Stanley Tucci, "The Devil Wears Prada"), a brilliant neurosurgeon with a sharp wit, who compares the workings of the brain to wires in a box. On the other hand, his thoughtful highly skilled protégé, Dr. Jonathan Seger (Mark Feuerstein, "The West Wing"), honors the mysteries of the mind, and feels that in order to operate on someone's brain, he needs to know a little bit about the person first. While Hanson prefers to focus on the intricacies inside peoples' craniums instead of the people themselves, Seger uses his charm, instinct and intuition to balance the emotional and psychological needs of his patients. These doctors have opposing points of view on how to treat their patients. However, this doesn't get in the way of their shared obsessions about the brain, and their growing, sometimes secret mutual respect for each other's talents and approaches which includes a healthy dose of humor that is also needed for these jobs.

A part of this gifted medical team is Dr. Adrianne Holland (Indira Varma, "Rome"), a coy calculating neurologist, and Dr. Flores (Armando Riesco, "Garden State") who is sympathetic to their patients needs.

In the premiere episode, Hanson treats a young concert violinist after she has a grand mal seizure during a performance. Hanson proposes brain surgery to the girl's mother in his own direct style with no holds barred. Seger tries to soften the blow and a conflict arises when Seger, Hanson's new associate, tells the mother that there is a non-surgical option and she can choose between the two.

Stanley Tucci won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Walter Winchell in the television movie "Winchell." He won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in the television movie "Conspiracy." He was also nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in the television series "Murder One." His additional television credits include the series "Wiseguy" and "The Equalizer," on the Network, "Monk," "Equal Justice," "thirtysomething" and "The Street." His feature film credits include "Road to Perdition," "Sidewalks of New York," "America's Sweethearts," "Deconstructing Harry" and "A Mid Summer Night's Dream." He co-wrote and co-directed the film "Big Night," then directed the films "Joe Gould's Secret" and "The Imposters" which he also wrote, co-produced and starred in. "The Imposters" was an Official Selection at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. Tucci graduated from State University of New York at Purchase in 1982. He and his wife Kate reside in N.Y. and are the parents of three children. He was born on Nov. 11 in Peekskill, New York. Tucci enjoys cooking and contributed to an Italian cookbook, Cucina & Famiglia, written by his mother. He is an avid skier and tennis player and goes to the theatre regularly. He also likes drawing and landscaping. He teaches during the summer at the Sundance Institute and is involved in the New York City Food Bank and Change for Kids charities.

Mark Feuerstein most recently starred opposite Toni Collette in the feature film "In Her Shoes." His other feature film credits include "What Women Want," "The Muse," "Woman on Top" and "Practical Magic." His television credits include "The West Wing," "Good Morning, Miami," "Sex and The City," and "Once and Again." He appeared on Broadway in "The Last Night of Ballyhoo" and starred in a stage production of "Turnaround" in Los Angeles. Mark graduated from Princeton University in 1993. From 1993-1994, he studied clowning and Shakespeare in London on a Fulbright Scholarship. He was a New York Private School state champion wrestler, and loves mountain-biking, yoga and meditation. Mark can't sing but loves to belt out a jingle or a television theme song. He was named one of People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2003. Mark was born on June 8 in New York and lives in New York and Los Angeles with his wife, Dana, and their newborn daughter, Lila Jane Feuerstein.

Indira Varma trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and made her feature film debut in "Karma Sutra: A Tale of Love." She appeared in many British television series including "Attachments" and "The Sea Captain's Tale then was seen in "Bride & Prejudice." Her breakthrough role in the U.S. was in the series "Rome" and will be seen in the upcoming mini-series "Comanche Moon," on the Network. Her feature film credits include "Basic Instinct 2." She was born on Sept. 27 in Bath, England to an Indian father and a Swiss mother. She enjoys sports including skiing, bicycle riding and roller skating. She also loves cooking, embroidery, traveling, the theatre and all kinds of music and art.

Armando Riesco's feature film credits include "World Trade Center" and "Garden State." Other feature film credits are "Bella," "Harsh Times," "Fever Pitch," "National Treasure," "Pieces of April," "25th Hour" and "Third Watch." His television credits include the television movie "The Path to 9/11" and the series "Third Watch" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." He was born on Dec. 5 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and attended Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He loves everything Latin American including food, film and literature. He's an avid basketball and boxing fan and loves the Chicago Cubs.

Peter Ocko, Scott Kaufer and Davis Guggenheim are the executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television.

Source: CBS Press Release