USA NETWORK TO PREMIERE NEWEST ORIGINAL SERIES "WHITE COLLAR" FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 AT 10/9C

Series starring Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen and Willie Garson Starts Production in New York on Monday, August 10

WHITE COLLAR to Premiere with MONK leading at 9/8c

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA August 5, 2009 USA Network announces today the premiere of the network's next new original series, WHITE COLLAR, starring Matt Bomer ("Chuck," "Tru Calling"), Tim DeKay ("Tell Me You Love Me," "Carnivle"), Tiffani Thiessen ("What About Brian," "Fastlane") and Willie Garson ("Sex and the City," "John from Cincinnati"). On Friday, October 23 at 10/9c, WHITE COLLAR will debut with a special 90-minute episode followed by 13 one-hour episodes. The announcement was made by Jeff Wachtel, president, original programming, USA Network and co-head, original content, Universal Cable Productions.

"WHITE COLLAR is a fresh and fun take on the classic buddy formula, pairing a career criminal with a career federal agent," said Wachtel. "The series will offer viewers a distinct voice and style, inspired storytelling and memorable characters."

WHITE COLLAR will launch its first episode immediately following episode #10 of MONK in its eighth and final season.

The new series commences production on Monday, August 10, where it will be shot entirely on location in and around New York City.

WHITE COLLAR is about the most unlikely of partnerships between a con artist and an FBI agent. The story unfolds after charming criminal mastermind Neal Caffrey (Bomer) is caught by his nemesis, G-Man extraordinaire Peter Burke (DeKay). After escaping from a maximum-security prison to find his long-lost love, Neal is nabbed by Peter once again. Rather than returning to jail for this daring getaway, Neal suggests an alternate plan - providing his expertise to assist the Feds in putting away infamous and elusive criminals in return for his freedom. Thiessen plays Peter's wife, Elizabeth, an intelligent, high-status event planner with a certain intuition of her own. Garson plays Mozzie, a friend of Caffrey's with a strong distrust of the Feds and an unyielding belief in conspiracy theories. Diahann Carroll ("Grey's Anatomy," "Dynasty") guest stars in the pilot and will star as a dynamic recurring character.

WHITE COLLAR was created and is executive produced by Jeff Eastin ("Hawaii," "Meet the Marks") and comes from Fox Television Studios. Bronwen Hughes (USA's "BURN NOTICE," "Breaking Bad," "Forces of Nature") directed the pilot. Clifton Campbell ("Street Time," "Profiler") and Tom Garrigus ("Swingtown," "Everwood") serve as consulting producers.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 98.5 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.