On the heels of record ratings for their second season debuts, two of Showtime'S critically and audience acclaimed original comedy series Nurse Jackie and the Emmy winning The United States Of Tara, have both been renewed for a third season. Both half-hour comedy series have received 12 episode orders and will go into production later in the year. The announcement was made today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.

"Showtime is enormously proud of these two series starring two of the best actresses working today," said Greenblatt. "Both are iconic shows for our brand and our thanks to the dedicated producers, cast, and crews who work so hard to make them so great. Edie Falco's portrayal of the fierce 'Jackie' is another extraordinary example of her range and brilliance, and recent Emmy and Golden Globe wins for Toni Collette in her tour de force role as a woman with multiple personalities put her in a class by herself. Strong women will continue to rule on this network for a long time to come."

The first season of Showtime's hit dark comedy series Nurse Jackie starring Emmy Award winner Edie Falco was both an audience and critical success, culminating with its selection as one of AFI's Top Ten Television Series of 2009 and Golden Globe and SAG award nominations for Edie Falco. At the end of last season, Jackie's (Edie Falco) struggle to keep her dual lives appeared to be in jeopardy as Eddie (Paul Schulze) discovered the truth about her marriage and children. Season two picks up a few months after she has cut ties with Eddie and all seems well in Jackie's world as she is determined to spend more time with her husband (Dominic Fumusa) and two daughters (Ruby Jerins, Mackenzie Aladjem). With Eddie out of the picture both personally and professionally, her access to drugs has diminished, but her cravings have not. Last season, Jackie's extreme measures to keep her life on balance was a high wire act. In season two, the wire only gets higher.

Season 2 of the series also stars Eve Best, Merritt Wever, Paul Schulze, Dominic Fumusa, Anna Deavere Smith and Peter Facinelli. Ruby Jerins and Mackenzie Aladjem guest star and Stephen Wallem and Arjun Gupta co-star. Nurse Jackie was created by Evan Dunsky and Liz Brixius & Linda Wallem.

Nurse Jackie is co-produced by Lionsgate and Showtime Networks Inc.

The United States Of Tara stars Toni Collette, in her Emmy and Golden Globe winning role as Tara, a woman who juggles being a suburban wife, mother and sister while also having DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, Dave Finkel and Brett Baer and created and executive produced by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody, the series delves into how a family copes with the various personalities that may appear on any given day, including "Buck," a gun-toting Vietnam vet and "Alice," a Betty Crocker homemaker who thinks baking is the answer to all problems. John Corbett also stars as "Max" her supportive husband who tries to keep the family together and "Kate" (Brie Larson) and "Marshall" (Keir Gilchrist) are her children who just wish their mother was a bit more "normal."

The United States Of Tara is produced by Showtime Networks Inc. in association with DreamWorks Television.