NEIL PATRICK HARRIS MAKES RARE
DRAMATIC SERIES TURN AS GUEST STAR IN NBC'S 'BOOMTOWN' ON JANUARY 5

Published: December 11, 2002

BURBANK, Calif. -- December 11, 2002 -- Neil Patrick Harris ("Doogie Howser, M.D.," "Starship Troopers") makes a rare dramatic episodic appearance on television when he guest-stars on NBC's critically acclaimed "Boomtown" (Sundays, 10-11 p.m. ET) as an amateur filmmaker who pays vagrants to fight each other.

Harris stars as Peter Casey, an ambitious amateur filmmaker, who is involved in producing black market videotapes of brutal battles between homeless men in the episode, "Monster's Brawl," which will be telecast on January 5. An investigation into the murder of a homeless man bludgeoned to death with a brick leads Detectives Stevens (Donnie Wahlberg) and Smith (Mykelti Williamson) to Casey and his wannabe filmmaker partner.

NBC recently renewed the critically hailed hit drama for a full season.

Harris first gained notice as a teen in 1989 for his performance in the series title role of "Doogie Howser, M.D." Among his feature-film credits are "Starship Troopers," "Undercover Brother," "The Next Best Thing" and "The Proposition." He also starred in the NBC series "Stark Raving Mad" and in the television movies "The Christmas Wish," "The Wedding Dress," "My Antonia," "Not Our Son" and "Cold Sassy Tree." Most recently, he received raves for his role in "Proof" on Broadway. Next up, Harris stars on Broadway as the emcee in "Cabaret" and is voicing the role of Peter Parker (Spiderman) on the upcoming MTV animated "Spiderman" series.

Gary Basaraba, Nina Garbiras, Jason Gedrick, Neal McDonough and Lana Parrilla also star.