Showtime Launches Eighth and Final Season of WEEDS, 7/1

The show that introduced America to a pot-dealing soccer mom and changed the face of the network is sparking up its final toke: after eight unforgettable, jaw-dropping seasons, WEEDS is coming to an end. SHOWTIME will air the final 13 episodes beginning Sunday, July 1st at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. In addition, the series will achieve a much-coveted television milestone: the 11th episode of the season will mark the series' 100th. Created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Lionsgate, WEEDS has been honored with multiple award nominations, including 21 Emmys(R), 10 Golden Globes(R) and six SAG(R) Awards over the course of its seven seasons on air. Its success put SHOWTIME on the map as a destination for top-quality original series and set the stage for hits like DEXTER(R), NURSE JACKIE, CALIFORNICATION and HOMELAND.

"WEEDS has been a seminal series for SHOWTIME and was key in establishing the network as a home for great original programming," said David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc. "It has had a groundbreaking run, and will be one of the longest-running comedies in the history of cable. It was very important to us that we bring the story of Nancy Botwin and her family to a satisfying conclusion for the devoted fans who have spent years following these characters. Jenji has surprised us every step of the way with her storytelling and I am confident in her plan for a spectacular series conclusion."

Since its debut on August 7, 2005, viewers have watched and marveled as Nancy Botwin (series star Mary-Louise Parker in her Golden Globe Award-winning role) progressed from a suburban widow who turned to selling dime bags to make ends meet for her family to a full-fledged marijuana queenpin. She was aided by brother-in-law Andy (Justin Kirk) to help raise her sons Silas (Hunter Parrish) and Shane (Alexander Gould) - along with fellow Agrestic neighbor Doug (Kevin Nealon) in constant tow. Her narcissistic, danger-junkie antics paved the way for future sympathetic yet highly flawed anti-heroes who have since become standard television fare. The show and its many signature moments (including Nancy setting Agrestic ablaze, Shane's croquet mallet-bludgeoning, Andy's dog-eaten toes and self-gratification speech, the Armenian mafia Mexican stand-off, etc.) generated critical acclaim, a legion of fans and watercooler buzz for their sheer outrageousness.