Press Release for Impact Part 1

Monday, June 01, 2009
ABC Television Network
PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - ENTERTAINMENT -
ABC PREMIERE EVENT: Impact, Part 1 (6/21)

PREMIERE


EARTH AND MOON ARE ON A COLLISION COURSE IN THE THRILLING
LIMITED SERIES "IMPACT," STARRING DAVID JAMES ELLIOTT AND
NATASHA HENSTRIDGE, JUNE 21 & 28 ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK

Steven Culp ("Desperate Housewives"), James Cromwell ("W," "Babe") Also Star


The most spectacular meteor shower in 10,000 years results in a direct hit to the moon, leaving it on a collision course with the Earth. A small group of international astronauts, scientists and soldiers band together in a race against time to save humanity, in the thrilling limited ABC series "Impact," airing SUNDAY, JUNE 21 and SUNDAY, JUNE 28 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET both nights), on the ABC Television Network.

David James Elliott ("Close to Home," "Jag") Natasha Henstridge ("Eli Stone," "Species"), Steven Culp ("Desperate Housewives," "ER") and Oscar and Emmy-nominated James Cromwell ("W," "L.A. Confidential," "Babe") are among the stars of the international cast.

The world watches as a large meteor shower streaks across the skies. Hidden in the meteor field is a brown dwarf , a dead star. It smashes into the moon in a tremendous explosion of rock and debris. Fragments of the moon itself penetrate Earth's atmosphere and make impact. Even though initial damage is minimal, nerves are frayed throughout the planet. Experts quickly conclude there will be no lasting ramifications. Then strange anomalies begin to manifest themselves on Earth. It starts small - cell phone disruptions, unusual static charges and odd tidal behavior. The world's leading scientists, including Alex Kittner (David James Elliott), Maddie Rhodes (Natasha Henstridge) and Roland Emerson (Benjamin Sandler), begin piecing together evidence that suggests that the moon and its orbit may have been permanently altered. Their fears are realized when the anomalies increase to the point where the effect of gravity is being manipulated by increased electromagnetic surges coming from the moon. People, cars and other objects are rendered momentarily weightless in random, isolated areas around the globe. Alex, Maddie, Roland and the rest of their team soon discover something far worse - the moon's new orbit has put it on a collision course with Earth!

The world now has 39 days to stop the moon or Earth, or all of mankind will perish. After a failed attempt by the United States to destroy the moon, the scientific team works together to mount an international mission to the moon. Alex, whose children and father-in-law (James Cromwell) have gone missing, is torn as he must join Roland on the mission to the moon. It's a race against time as the two celestial bodies are drawn closer and closer to impact.

The Cast: David James Elliott as Alex Kittner, Natasha Henstridge as Dr. Maddie Rhodes, Benjamin Sadler as Roland Emerson, Florentine Lahme as Martina Altmann, James Cromwell as Lloyd, Steven Culp as President Edward Taylor, Owen Best as Jake Kittner, Natasha Calis as Sadie Kittner, Yee Jee Tso as Jered O'Banno, Colin Cunningham as David Rhodes, Michael Kopsa as General Vaughn, Samantha Ferris as Renee Ferguson, Ron Lea as Tom Ranfield, Ben Ayres as Bob Pierce, Gerard Plunkett as Terence Young, Ty Olsson as Derek, Alex Zahara as Franz Henke, Kendall Cross as Courtney Batterton, Gideon Karmel as Sergei Pitinkov, Matthew Walker as Ian Wilson, Andre Hennicke as the pastor, Marina Dodlek as the waitress, Russell Roberts as Hal Boon, Terence Kelly as Hugh, Agam Darshi as Ella Barklow and Stephen Dimopoulos as Denny.

"Impact" was written by Michael Vickerman ("Superfire") and directed by Michael J. Rohl ("Smallville," "Supernatural," "Eureka.")

"Impact" is from Tandem Communications / Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment and Muse Entertainment Enterprises present an Impact Films Production. Executive producers are Jonas Bauer, Rola Bauer, Howard Braunstein, Greg Gugliotta, Tim Halkin and Michael Prupas. Co-executive producer is Irene Litinsky. Ted Bauman is producer and Jesse Prupas is associate producer.

"Impact" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-PG,L,V parental guideline.



ABC Media Relations: Ellen Gonzalez (818) 460-7185, Ellen.M.Gonzalez@abc.com
Photography is available at www.abcmedianet.com or at (818) 460-6611