BURBANK, Calif. -- April 26, 2002 -- The stars will be shining bright in New York when NBC celebrates 75 years as America’s first national broadcasting network with an historic live special, telecast from Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Sunday, May 5 (8-11 p.m. ET).

Joining the casts of NBC’s current hits “Friends,” “Will & Grace” and “ER” will be an incredible galaxy of more than 200 stars from today and yesterday, including Bill Cosby, Michael J. Fox , Kelsey Grammer, Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld.

Also appearing are: “Get Smart’s” Don Adams, ALF, Tom Brokaw, “Your Show of Show’s” Sid Caesar, “Julia’s” Diahann Carroll, Katie Couric, “I SPY’s” Robert Culp, “Cheers’” Ted Danson, “Policewoman”s” Angie Dickinson, Hugh Downs, “I Dream of Jeannie’s” Barbara Eden, “Columbo’s” Peter Falk, Bryant Gumbel, “KnightRider’” David Hasselhoff, “Miami Vice’s” Don Johnson, “Quincy’s” Jack Klugman, Matt Lauer, Jay Leno, “Emergency’s” Randolph Mantooth, “Golden Girl’s” Rue McClanahan,” “Adam-12’s” Kent McCord, “Cheers’” Bebe Neuwirth, Conan O’Brien, Jane Pauley, Joe Piscopo, “Facts of Life’s” Charlotte Rae, Tony Randall, Raven-Symone, “The A-Team’s” Mr. T, “Miami Vice’s” Philip Michael Thomas, “Hill Street Blue’s” Daniel Travanti, Leslie Uggams, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’s”Robert Vaughn and Barbara Walters.

Telecast from historic Studio 8H in New York, the star-studded gala will honor the NBC milestone with a live celebration featuring many surprises, including special guest appearances, amazing clips of the network’s most memorable moments, and reunions with the casts of some of NBC’s biggest hit shows, including "Cheers," "Family Ties," “Emergency,” “Chips,” “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “Miami Vice” and "I Spy." Oscar-winner Howard Shore (“Lord of the Rings”) will be on hand as musical director conducting a 52-piece orchestra. The historic special is executive-produced by Lorne Michaels and the “Saturday Night Live” creative team, including producers Marci Klein and Steve Higgins, with two-time Emmy nominee Beth McCarthy Miller directing. Andrew Solt is co-executive producer.

75th Anniversary festivities begin on Friday, May 3 when NBC celebrates with a variety of activities that include:

49th Street Renamed “NBC WAY” - On Friday morning, 49th street (between 5th & 6th Avenues) will temporarily be renamed “NBC WAY” in honor of NBC’s 75th Anniversary celebration. The dedication ceremony with NBC CEO Bob Wright will be broadcast live on the “Today” show.

Bill Cosby Induction to Walk of Fame - On Friday morning following the street renaming, Bill Cosby will be inducted into NBC’s Walk of Fame at the NBC Experience Store;

Closing Bell on the NYSE -Friday afternoon NBC CEO Bob Wright, cast members of “Law & Order,” and CNBC’s Ron Insana and Sue Herrera will ring the Closing Bell on the New York Stock Exchange.

In conjunction with NBC’s celebration of 75 years as America’s first national broadcasting network, NBC Enterprises and John Wiley & Sons Inc. have partnered in a commemorative book entitled BROUGHT TO YOU IN LIVING COLOR: 75 Years of Great Moments in Television & Radio from NBC (Wiley; April 12, 2002; $49.95; Cloth). With a foreword by Tom Brokaw, a preface by NBC Chairman & CEO Bob Wright, and an introduction by Kelsey Grammer, the book is an integral element of NBC’s comprehensive 75th anniversary celebration. Viewers will have the opportunity to purchase the book through retail outlets across the country, the NBC Experience Store at 30 Rockefeller Center and ShopNBC (http://www.shopnbc.com/nbcstore).