"ACCORDING TO JIM" AND "AMERICA'S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS" JOIN 2005-06 EARLY PICK-UPS

ABC has added "According to Jim" and "America's Funniest Home Videos" to its list of early pick-ups for the 2005-06 season, the network announced today.

"According to Jim," now in its fourth season, is TV's No. 1 comedy on Tuesday night this season and also qualifies as ABC's top comedy in Total Viewers (10.3 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.0/10). Although its time period is more competitive, facing the lead-off half-hours of CBS' "Amazing Race" and Fox's "House," "According to Jim" is drawing more viewers this season than last (10.3 million vs. 10.2 million). The series stars Jim Belushi as Jim, Courtney Thorne-Smith as Cheryl, Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Dana, Larry Joe Campbell as Andy, Taylor Atelian as Ruby, Billi Bruno as Gracie and Conner Rayburn as Kyle. Executive producers are Jonathan Stark, Suzanne Bukinik, Marc Gurvitz, Jim Belushi, Jeffrey B. Hodes and Nastaran Dibai. The series is from Touchstone Television in association with Brad Grey Television.

In a very competitive Sunday time period where it often faces sports over-runs on CBS and Fox, "America's Funniest Home Videos" places a competitive second in its hour among Adults 18-49 (2.7/8), while ranking No. 1 among Women 18-49 (3.0/9), Women 18-34 (2.3/8) and Kids 2-11 (2.3/9). The show has been very competitive recently, ranking No. 1 in its hour among Adults 18-49 on three of its last four telecasts. "AFHV" is up from its delivery at the same point last season by 6% in Total Viewers (8.6 million vs. 8.1 million) and by 8% in Adults 18-49 (2.7/8 vs. 2.5/7). The series is up from its delivery at the same point last season by 6% in Total Viewers (8.6 million vs. 8.1 million) and by 8% in Adults 18-49 (2.7/8 vs. 2.5/7). Vin Di Bona is executive producer, with Todd Thicke and Terry Moore serving as co-executive producers. The series, now in its 15th season, is hosted by Tom Bergeron.

As previously announced, already renewed for next season are "Alias," "Boston Legal," "Desperate Housewives," "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Lost."