NBC Takes "The Office" Outdoors  9/15/05

NBC TAKES 'THE OFFICE' OUTDOORS IN SPECIAL STREET-SIDE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS IN CHICAGO AND SANTA MONICA PRIOR TO FIRST-TIME NBC WEBCAST OF SEASON PREMIERE ON SEPTEMBER 20

"My Name Is Earl" Also Gets Boost on the Street with Adwalker-brand Ambassadors Adorned in Special T-shirts Embedded with TVs Displaying New Comedy's Debut

BURBANK - September 15, 2005 - NBC's "The Office" (Tuesdays, 9:30-10 p.m. ET) goes both al fresco and on the web as the critically acclaimed comedy hits the streets of Chicago on September 15 and Santa Monica (California) on September 17 for an outdoor mini-premiere aided by the new Mazda5 vehicles -- while in an NBC first, the season premiere will be webcast in an edited version the day before the NBC debut on September 20.

At the same time and locations, the September 20 series premiere of NBC's new comedy "My Name Is Earl" (Tuesdays, 9-9:30 p.m. ET) will get an additional "front-loaded" boost at the Chicago and Santa Monica street fests. Adwalker-brand ambassadors will cruise the promenades attired in special T-shirts embedded with TV screens playing promos for "My Name Is Earl" while distributing special CD-ROMS that include a 17-minute promotional version of the premiere episode. The promotional disc also include previews of other new and returning NBC programs as well as a look at the new 2006 Mazda automobiles, including the Mazda5.

"The grassroots marketing campaign is one more element in our fall launch partnership with Mazda," said Jodi Flicker, Senior Marketing Director for The NBC Agency. "By 'taking it to the streets,' we are able to demonstrate the co-branded campaign with a fun and innovative visual that we know we generate buzz and grab attention. People will definitely talk about what they see."

On September 15, Chicago's upscale Michigan Avenue will feature an outdoor theater that displays a large TV screen mounted inside the sliding side doors of the new Mazda5 crossover vehicle. Chairs will be positioned on a red carpet behind velvet ropes for passersby to view "The Dundies" -- the debut episode of "The Office" on Tuesday, Sept. 20 (9:30-10 p.m. ET) as well as a compilation screening of NBC's new Fall schedule.

On September 17, the same setup will be accessible to shoppers on Santa Monica's popular and stylish 3rd Street Promenade.

NBC will also offer the first peek at the second season premiere of "The Office" - starring Steve Carell of this summer's box-office hit "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" - in an edited version on nbcfirstlook.com. The viewing times will be 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT) and will mark the first time that NBC has made an episode available for viewing online on nbc.com.

In "The Dundies," the season premiere of "The Office," the Dunder Mifflin employees suffer through the annual office awards ceremony called "The Dundies," hosted by pompous boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell) at their local watering hole -- a Chili's restaurant. Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, B.J. Novak and Rainn Wilson also star.