When it comes to family, they say that blood is thicker than water, and nowhere is this more apparent than with the tight knit Walker clan. The hit ABC series, Brothers & Sisters,ù airs Sunday nights at 10 PM and centers around the recently widowed Nora Walker (Sally Field) and her children, Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Kitty (Calista Flockhart), Tommy (Balthazar Getty), Kevin (Matthew Rhys), and Justin (Dave Annable). The critically lauded series is the brainchild of Jon Robin Baitz and Ken Olin, the man responsible for hit television shows like thirtysomethingù and Alias.ù Greg Berlanti, the producer of the acclaimed series, Everwood,ù works as a consulting producer while Mark B. Perry, producer of The Wonder Yearsù and Party of Five,ù serves as an executive producer. Together, these men, along with several other guest writers, have woven a rich tapestry which chronicles the highs and lows of the Walker family as they celebrate their triumphs and learn from their mistakes. As Nora discovers a life beyond being just a partner to her now deceased husband William, she remains a stalwart figure who supports and guides her children through all their life experiences. Her daughter, Sarah, runs the family owned Ojai Food Company, as she comes to terms with her failed marriage and tries to raise her two children. Kitty is a staunch Republican who runs the campaign of her fianc, Senator Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe). Nora's son, Tommy, is running a new wine business while simultaneously trying to keep his own family together after the death of his infant son, the twin of his surviving daughter. Kevin is an openly gay lawyer navigating his way through relationships in an attempt to find Mr. Right while his brother, Justin, a veteran of the Afghanistan war, struggles through a drug addiction that came back with a vengeance upon returning injured from his service in the current war. To make matters worse, Nora discovered upon her husband's death that he had a mistress, Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig), during most of their marriage, and the affair resulted in a daughter, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp). Holly now runs the wine business with Tommy while Rebecca gets to know her half siblings. A show with this much going on requires incredible actors to bring depth to each character, and the talented cast of Brothers & Sistersù delivers in this regard. Veteran award winning, actress, Sally Field, has won Oscars for the films Places in the Heartù and Norma Rae,ù and recently won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role on the show. Rachel Griffiths, Calista Flockhart, Patricia Wettig and Emily VanCamp have all received rave reviews for their roles in the television shows, Six Feet Under,ù Ally McBeal,ù thirtysomething,ù and Everwood,ù respectively. Balthazar Getty grew up in the film business and has starred in movies such as Lost Highway,ù White Squallù and Ladder 49.ù Welsh born Matthew Rhys starred alongside Jessica Lange and Anthony Hopkins in Julie Taymor's Titusù and will soon be on the big screen again in Edge of Loveù with Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Cillian Murphy. Television viewers first took notice of Dave Annable in the short lived FOX series, Reunion,ù and he was recently named Sexiest Guy Next Door by People magazine. Rob Lowe was best known for being part of the infamous Brat Pack' in the 80s, but later on became a critic and television audience favorite for his role in The West Wing.ù Brothers & Sistersù currently ranks in the top 20 and has seen an increase in viewership in its current second season. The show has remained consistent in its storylines and does not shy away from sometimes difficult subject matter. It has received positive attention in the press for its depiction of an openly gay single man trying to find love in Los Angeles and has also added a new storyline, outing Nora's brother, Saul (Ron Rifkin). The show also regularly tackles hotbed political issues, like the morality of war and family values, through regular debates among the characters, who are made up of both Republicans and Democrats. With an amazing cast and some of the best written character development existing on television today, Brothers & Sistersù is a shining example of what makes a great television show, and is sure to continue to attract loyal viewers each and every week. We here at Young Hollywood tune in every Sunday night to share in the joys and the woes of the Walker clan, and we hope you do too!

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