MEDIA ALERT

MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG TO GUEST STAR ON "WEEDS"

"Gossip Girl" Star Signs on as Nancy's Rival for Two Episodes of New Season, Which Premieres Tonight at 10p PT/ET

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 27, 2011) - Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, who plays the devious, pot-stirring "Georgina Sparks" on the hit CW series Gossip Girl, is coming to SHOWTIME's hit comedy WEEDS as a guest star this season. Trachtenberg will play "Emma," a sexy, intelligent, low-level, pot-dealing rival to Nancy (series star Mary-Louise Parker) who catches Silas' (Hunter Parrish) eye in two episodes of the series, which debuts its 7th season tonight, June 27th at 10p ET/PT. WEEDS is produced by Lionsgate and executive produced by creator Jenji Kohan, Roberto Benabib, Matthew Salsberg and Mark A. Burley.

Trachtenberg has been acting consistently since she was a child. She has earned recognition for her memorable starring roles and guest arcs on television shows, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, Mercy, Robot Chicken and Love Bites. On the big screen, she's been featured in Harriet the Spy, Black Christmas and 17 Again. Trachtenberg joins fellow WEEDS season 7 guest stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Martin Short, Aidan Quinn, Lindsay Sloane, Pablo Schreiber and David Clennon.

SHOWTIME's top-rated comedy series WEEDS stars Parker, in her Golden Globe(R) Award-winning role as Nancy Botwin, a former suburban mom-turned-pot dealer. We pick up the new season as she has just completed a three-year stint in Federal prison for murder. She's now in New York and a braver, bolder Nancy is re-starting the business from scratch. Meanwhile, the boys - Andy (Justin Kirk), Silas (Parrish) and Shane (Alexander Gould) - who were camped out in Copenhagen are now Big Apple-bound - with Doug (Kevin Nealon) in tow, of course - and they all will be stirring up major trouble this season.