Singapore, 30 March 2010 - From 6 April 2010, savour the sweet taste of justice every Tuesday with AXN! AXN is proud to announce the Asian premiere of NCIS: Los Angeles, the Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J vehicle that rocked US TV ratings. Oscar-winning Timothy Hutton also returns to AXN with Leverage Season 2 to dish out a different flavour of justice: vigilantism.

NCIS: Los Angeles premieres 6 April @ 10PM (SG, MY, PH) 9PM (JKT) 11PM (HK)
Starring Chris O’Donnell (Batman Forever, The Bachelor) and American Rapper LL Cool J, NCIS: Los Angeles (NCIS: LA) is the brand new spin-off of NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Critically acclaimed by both critics and the popular vote, NCIS: LA has ranked number one in its timeslot for 11 consecutive weeks with an average audience of 16.8 million US viewers. The stellar ratings can partly be attributed to the two charismatic leads, who were introduced via a special two-hour episode on NCIS, with a cliffhanger ending that set up the action-packed, tech-savvy and glitzier spin-off of the original series.

In the high stakes world of the Office of Special Projects (OSP) based in the City of Angels, undercover agents apprehend dangerous and elusive criminals that pose a threat to the nation’s security. Secrecy is the name of the game and the criminal prey is stalked with the manipulative finesse of a team specially trained for covert operations. By assuming false identities and the latest that technology has to offer, the secret agents go deep undercover, putting their lives on the line to bring down their targets.

Special Agent “G” Callen (Chris O’Donnell) is a chameleon; able to transform himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld. His partner, Special Agent Sam Hanna (LL Cool J), is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a surveillance expert with a bag of tools that include state-of-the-art monitoring equipment to help find crucial intelligence information. The sizzling chemistry between the two actors bring the buddy-cop genre to a whole new level.

"We come from very different worlds and have different personalities. I think that as far as a working relationship, we have both been around the block and really want this to work. I think that we get a kick out of each other. Nothing's off limits, we just poke fun," O’Donnell said of his co-star.

LL Cool J also had praise for O’Donnell: “I always tease him. I say ‘Teamwork makes the dream work.’ So us working together is phenomenal.”

Veteran actress and Oscar winner Linda Hunt (The Year of Living Dangerously, Stranger Than Fiction) lends her acting chops to the show as Henrietta “Hetty” Lange. The most senior on the team, she runs the office and is known for dishing out professional and personal advice to anyone who might need it. Assisting the team is Special Agent Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah), the exceptionally bright daughter of a slain Marine who lives for the adrenaline rush that comes with undercover work. Rounding up the team is Operational Psychologist Nate Getz (Pete Cambor, Notes from the Underbelly), adept at getting into anybody's head and Special Agent Dominic Vail (Adam Jamal Graig, The Office), the most recent addition to the team, is highly qualified but lacking in practical experience. Armed with the latest in high tech gear and sent regularly into life-threatening situations, this tight-knit unit relies on each other to do what is necessary to protect national interests.

The show’s witty dialogue, interesting characters, and captivating plot lines have made NCIS: LA one of the best performing TV series in the United States since NCIS. More than 18.3 million people tuned in for the US premiere and this most-watched new drama has proven its mettle by continuing to rake in high ratings. LL Cool J has even written and performed a new single titled ‘NCIS: No Crew is Superior’ inspired by his role in NCIS: LA! Now airing exclusively on AXN for the first time in Asia, the franchise is expected to grow even further as it extends its global reach through AXN’s expansive broadcast footprint of more than 85 million.

Leverage Season 2 premieres 6 April @ 9PM (SG, MY, PH) 8PM (JKT) 10PM (HK)
Thrills, cons and the pursuit of justice are back with the return of Leverage on AXN. Academy Award winner Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People) stars as mastermind Nate, along with his specialized team of four - Gina Bellman (Coupling) as the grifter Sophie, Christian Kane (Into the West) as the retrieval specialist Eliot, Beth Riesgraf (Alvin and the Chipmunks) as the kooky thief Parker and Aldis Hodge (Friday Night Lights) as the hacker Alec - return to settle more scores against those who use power and wealth to victimize others.

Picking up from Season One’s destruction of the headquarters and the decision to go their separate ways, the team of five is unwittingly pulled back together when Nate witnesses an attempted murder of a bank whistleblower. A new headquarters is created at Nate’s new Boston home, cementing the team’s return as modern day Robin Hoods.

True to its promise of fresh plotlines and compelling story telling, Leverage Season 2 will include scamming a hedge-fund manager who happens to be in the custody of U.S. Marshals, using Eliot’s martial arts skills to corner a corrupt fight promoter, and taking over a private school to recover millions of dollars lost in a Ponzi scheme. Relationships, old and new, also come into the spotlight with Nate revealing his feelings for Sophie and reuniting with his ex-wife Maggie Collins (Kari Matchett, Heartland) on a case. To further complicate matters, Nate’s sworn enemy Jim Sterling (Mark Sheppard, Battlestar Galactica) will appear hot on his heels again.

Having learnt in the last season to work as a team and to rely on each other’s unique skills, the motley group of five has developed a strong emotional bond while having the most wicked fun fighting evil. As Matt Roush from TV Guide put it so succinctly, “The terrifically enjoyable feel-good caper Leverage… They get a kick out of their work and so will you”. What more with scrumptious guest star Elisabetta Canalis (George Clooney’s girlfriend) making her acting debut this season, we couldn’t agree more!

NCIS: Los Angeles premieres 6 April, 2010
@ 10PM (SG, MY, PH), 11pm (HK), 9pm (JKT)

Leverage Season 2 premieres 6 April, 2010
@ 9PM (SG, MY, PH), 10pm (HK), 8pm (JKT)