LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- Showtime isn't letting the broadcast networks bully the cable channels from launching new programming during the traditional fall season as the network has slated Sunday, November 7 as the premiere date for its highly-touted new drama "Huff."

"Huff" will take over the Sunday, 10:00/9:00c hour from "Dead Like Me," which is expected to wrap its second season the previous week.

Here's how Showtime's press materials describe "Huff":

Dr. Craig Huffstodt (HANK AZARIA), better known as �Huff,� is a successful psychiatrist who is thrown into turmoil after a 15-year-old patient, who had just "come out" to his parents, commits suicide in Huff�s office. Forced to stay home now that his office is a crime scene, Huff must endure the conflicting personalities and complicated alliances within his own family. He is also under the burden of possible legal liability regarding the suicide and his own feelings of guilt and failure for his patient.

Amidst the turmoil, Huff finds himself plagued by a rich fantasy life populated by, among others, a random homeless Hungarian man who he is never sure is really there, but who makes Huff feel like a good person despite his internal struggles. Huff�s lawyer and good friend Russell (OLIVER PLATT) serves both as the voice of reality and provides comic relief with his one-liners and crass sense of humor. Huff�s family consists of his son Byrd (ANTON YELCHIN), brother Teddy (ANDY COMEAU), his antagonistic mother Izzy (BLYTHE DANNER), who is critical and nosey, but means well, and his strong-willed wife Beth (PAGET BREWSTER).

This is the story of a psychiatrist who has spent his entire life helping others find peace and clarity while his own state of mind is in constant question. The suicide of his patient has now forced him to re-evaluate everything. We watch as a midlife crisis erupts into brief outbursts of delusion. The series is interspersed with fantasy sequences which expose Huff's take on his family and work as he struggles with his daily life.

!HUFF stars multiple Emmy� Award winning actor and noted voice artist Hank Azaria (�Tuesdays With Morrie,� �The Simpsons�, �The Birdcage�) as psychiatrist Craig Huffstodt. Azaria is joined by Paget Brewster (�Friends�), Anton Yelchin (�Taken,� �Hearts In Atlantis�) and Andy Comeau (�One Hour Photo,� �8 Heads In A Duffle Bag�) with Emmy� nominee and Tony� Award winner Blythe Danner (�Meet The Parents,� �The Prince of Tides,� �The X Files�) and Emmy� nominee Oliver Platt (�The West Wing,� �Pieces of April�).

In addition, here's the network's two press releases regarding its guest cast for the show's inaugural season:

ANNIE POTTS, ROBERT FORSTER AND BOB SAGET TO GUEST STAR ON "!HUFF"

HOLLYWOOD, CA � June 9, 2004 � Emmy� nominee Annie Potts, Oscar� nominee Robert Forster and acclaimed actor-director-producer Bob Saget will guest star in multi-episode story arcs on the upcoming SHOWTIME drama series !HUFF, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. Potts has been cast as "Doris Johnson," the angry, yet guilt-ridden mother whose teenage son killed himself while in the care of Dr. Craig "Huff" Huffstodt, played by series star and Emmy� winner Hank Azaria. Forster will portray "Ben Huffstodt," Huff�s estranged and disconnected father, and Saget will play "Jonathan Young," a self-absorbed and undisciplined television actor. !HUFF, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television and consists of 13 one-hour episodes, is currently shooting in Los Angeles and will premiere on SHOWTIME November 7th, 2004.

Potts rose to television fame during the seven-year run of "Designing Women," with her multi-layered portrayal of Mary Jo, the divorced single mother in the group who tried to juggle career and family with varying degrees of success. Following that role she received an Emmy� Award nomination for the comedy series "Love and War." She also starred for four years in the one-hour drama series, "Any Day Now." Potts� feature film credits include "Elvis Has Left the Building," "Texasville," "Crimes Of Passion," and "Pretty In Pink."

Forster scored a "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar� nomination for his work in "Jackie Brown," and co-stars in "Cursed" to be released later this year. Other feature film credits include, "Supernova," "Me, Myself and Irene," and recently completed "All the Rage." On series television, Forster has starred in "Karen Sisco," "Banyon," "Nakia," and "Once A Hero."

Saget is perhaps best known for his eight-year network television run on "Full House," and as the host and co-writer of "America�s Funniest Home Videos." He has also played the role of "Matt Stewart" on the sitcom "Raising Dad." He directed the feature film "Dirty Work," an episode of "The Mind Of The Married Man," "Jitters," and "Becoming Dick," and also produced and starred in the television movie "Father and Scout."

In addition to Azaria, !HUFF stars Paget Brewster (Friends), Anton Yelchin (Taken, Hearts In Atlantis), Andy Comeau (One Hour Photo, 8 Heads In A Duffle Bag) withEmmy� nominee and Tony� Award winner Blythe Danner (Meet The Parents, The Prince of Tides, The X Files) and Emmy� nominee Oliver Platt (The West Wing, Pieces of April). As previously announced, Lara Flynn Boyle will also guest star in a multi-episode story arc.

Azaria plays Huff, a Los Angeles psychiatrist whose life and career is sent reeling when one of his patients, a 15-year-old boy, commits suicide in his office. Facing a possible malpractice lawsuit, Huff�s nurturing nature is also tested at home as he endures and deals with the conflicting personalities and small insanities within his own family.

Created by Bob Lowry, !HUFF is executive produced by Bob Lowry, Scott Winant, Mike Newell and Cameron Jones,. Hank Azaria and Nancy Sanders are producers. Danielle Gelber is the creative executive for SHOWTIME.

!HUFF adds to a successful slate of SHOWTIME series that includes proven hits such as THE L WORD�, QUEER AS FOLK, SOUL FOOD�, DEAD LIKE ME�, PENN AND TELLER: BULLSHIT! and FAMILY BUSINESS. The premium network will also launch the political reality series AMERICAN CANDIDATE this summer.

EMMY� NOMINEE LARA FLYNN BOYLE RETURNS TO TELEVISION TO GUEST STAR ON "!HUFF"

HOLLYWOOD, CA � April 29, 2004 � Emmy� nominee Lara Flynn Boyle will make her first television series appearance since leaving "The Practice" when she guest stars in a multi-episode story arc on the upcoming SHOWTIME drama series !HUFF, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. Boyle has been cast as Melody Coatar, a bipolar manic depressive patient of Dr. Craig "Huff" Huffstodt, played by series star and Emmy� winner Hank Azaria. !HUFF, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television and consists of 13 one-hour episodes, began shooting Monday in Los Angeles and will premiere on SHOWTIME this fall.

Boyle garnered an Emmy� nomination for her role as Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble on David E. Kelley's legal drama "The Practice." She also starred in David Lynch�s seminal television series, "Twin Peaks." Her feature film credits include "Men in Black II," Todd Solondz� "Happiness" and "Afterglow." Boyle is represented by UTA and Rigberg Rugolo Entertainment.

In making the announcement, Greenblatt said, "We�re thrilled that Lara Flynn Boyle wanted to take on the complex role of one of Huff�s more colorful patients. The character is bipolar and quite volatile, and she will complicate Huff�s life over the three episodes in which she appears. Lara's coming aboard so early in the series will show the audience how important and fascinating the psychiatry franchise is to this show."

In addition to Azaria, !HUFF stars Paget Brewster (Friends), Anton Yelchin (Taken, Hearts In Atlantis) and Andy Comeau (One Hour Photo, 8 Heads In A Duffle Bag) with Emmy� nominee and Tony� Award winner Blythe Danner (Meet The Parents, The Prince of Tides, The X Files) and Emmy� nominee Oliver Platt (The West Wing, Pieces of April).

Azaria plays Huff, a Los Angeles psychiatrist whose life and career is sent reeling when one of his patients, a 15-year-old boy, commits suicide in his office. Facing a possible malpractice lawsuit, Huff�s nurturing nature is also tested at home as he endures and deals with the conflicting personalities and small insanities within his own family.

Created by Bob Lowry, !HUFF is executive produced by Mike Newell, Cameron Jones, Bob Lowry and Scott Winant. Hank Azaria and Nancy Sanders are producers. Danielle Gelber is the creative executive for SHOWTIME.

!HUFF adds to a successful slate of SHOWTIME series that includes proven hits such as THE L WORD�, QUEER AS FOLK, SOUL FOOD�, DEAD LIKE ME�, PENN AND TELLER: BULLSHIT! and FAMILY BUSINESS. The premium network will also launch the political reality series AMERICAN CANIDATE this summer.