Nickelodeon Networks Celebrate Black History Month

Nickelodeon Networks Celebrate Black History Month

All-New 'Nick News Bump' on Rosa Parks to Air on Nickelodeon and Six Nick News Specials Air Wednesdays and Fridays, 6 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon's Cable in the Classroom

NOGGIN Hosts Week Long Celebration Featuring Blues Legend Buddy Guy on Jack's Big Music Show

The N to Encore Hit Drama Series Miracle's Boys

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon Networks celebrate Black History Month by offering programming that explores the past, present and future impact of the African American culture on the nation. In an effort to bring national attention to the contributions of black Americans and the African American culture, the various Nickelodeon networks -- Nickelodeon, NOGGIN, and The N -- will offer diverse programming fare and enlightening new interstitials throughout February.

"Celebrating Black History Month is something we value at Nickelodeon, because we know that diversity is an important aspect of kids' lives," said Cyma Zarghami, President Nickelodeon Television. "In everything that we do, we try to reflect the many faces of our audience. With the culturally relevant programming throughout Black History Month, we hope to empower kids to proudly celebrate the African American heritage."

On Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon will air two new Black History Month "Nick News Burps" throughout the month, one on Rosa Parks and the other on the famous Apollo Theater. The Rosa Parks "Burp" features 15-year-old Tanya giving a tour of the Rosa Park Library and Museum. Tanya works at the museum and details Mrs. Parks' life and her historic civil rights act. The Apollo Theater "Burp" features a student giving a full tour of the historic venue and detailing its history. In another distinctive slate of interstitials on Nick, older kids in Philadelphia, Chicago, Oakland and New Orleans sound off on Black History Month and notions of pride, leadership, self-esteem, faith and compassion, and they express their vision and hopes for the future.

Nickelodeon's Cable in the Classroom February theme is Black History Month, and will feature several Nick News episodes celebrating the contributions of several African Americans, and taking a look at other relevant topics during the month. All episodes will air on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 a.m. ET/PT, including:

* Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Martin Luther King: A biography/history
piece on MLK Jr. told by Julian Bond, President of NAACP from 1973-87,
coupled with a segment featuring the 14 year-old boy who spoke at the
Million Man March, Ruby Bridges, the little girl who had to be escorted
into her school in the '60s, Jesse Jackson on hate crimes and where the
movement is today, and Ebenezer Baptist Church, where MLK Jr. started.
Airs Feb. 1 and 22.

* A Nick News Special with Linda Ellerbee: Do We Need Black History
Month?: How did Black History Month begin? Why? What does it mean to
you? Has Black History Month become tokenism? Is black history taught
at other times during the year? Is it integrated with American history
or taught as though it had no part in the rest of our history? Should
Black History Month be eliminated? Should history be taught in terms of
race at all? A serious studio show with taped pieces that are strong
and provocative. Airs Feb. 8 and 24.

* Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: A Lifestory of Mohammed Ali: Mohammad Ali
is a biography program for kids profiling the life and legacy of boxer
and humanitarian Muhammad Ali. This special covers Ali from the
beginning of his career to the decline and retirement as a boxer and his
battle with Parkinson's disease. Airs Feb. 15.

* A Nick News Special with Linda Ellerbee: The Legacy of Slavery: One of
the hardest things for kids, both black and white, was to talk about was
slavery in America. Linda Ellerbee talks to kids about slavery in
America, and deals with questions regarding how the history of slavery
is taught, the situation for children who lived under the institution of
slavery, and how slavery still affects us today. Airs Feb. 17.

NickJr.com celebrates Black History Month with a special Nick Jr. Video play list featuring Little Bill episodes and special shorts to commemorate the occasion. Nickjr.com for parents will include themed activities such as expert tips on teaching diversity to kids, printable Black History hero cards, book lists and much more. Nickelodeon Magazine in its February issue includes a tune-in mention of Nickelodeon's interstitials on-air, and Nick Jr. Family Magazine features Black History Month in the "Now Playing" and Nick Jr. News sections of its February/March issue.

On NOGGIN

Blues legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Buddy Guy will guest-star on NOGGIN's Jack's Big Music Show, to kick off the network's week-long celebration of Black History Month, on Monday, February 6. Buddy Guy is a Grammy Award-winning internationally renowned blues guitarist and singer. In this episode, "The King of Swing," Jack wins a visit from his favorite musician, The King of Swing (Buddy Guy).

Throughout the week ending February 12, NOGGIN will present episodes of Jack's featuring acclaimed African-American musicians: Yolanda Adams, Guy Davis, Anne Harris, Sweet Honey In The Rock, and Jerry Lawson and The Talk Of The Town.

Jack's Big Music Show is NOGGIN's hit live-action series hosted by Jack, a preschooler puppet and his melodious cast of friends who play everyday at Jack's clubhouse. It is a platform for kids' music and features videos and live, in-studio performances by popular children's musicians who visit the clubhouse every week. Each episode of Jack's Big Music Show features a music video performance by acclaimed children's recording artist Laurie Berkner.

On The N

The N, the nighttime network for teens, will air a three-part encore of Miracle's Boys on Friday, Feb. 24 through Sunday, Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. ET. The character-driven, acclaimed teen series reflects the humor and drama of the everyday lives of the Bailey brothers -- Lafayette (14 years old), Charlie (16 years old) and Ty'ree (20 years old), whose beloved mother, Milagros (Spanish for 'Miracle'), has recently died and whose father is also deceased. The series follows the trio as they are faced with the challenges of raising themselves. The drama is fueled by the sites and sounds of this historic Harlem neighborhood, which serves as a backdrop in the story of the three brothers who struggle against large odds. Brother to brother to brother, will they survive?

Nickelodeon, in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for more than ten consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

NOGGIN, the commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers owned by Nickelodeon, currently reaches 45 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV. NOGGIN, which airs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (ET), is like preschool on tv, with educational programming both on-air and online at www.noggin.com. NOGGIN and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

The N, the nighttime network for teens, is a programming arm of MTV Networks and is currently available in 45 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television. The N's mission is to be the authentic voice for teens and help them figure out their lives with relevant, topical programming on-air and online at the network's web site www.the-n.com. The N airs everyday from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (ET). The N and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, Sharyn Traub, +1-212-846-6381,
or Maria Poulos, +1-212-846-6283, all for Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/
http://www.noggin.com/
http://www.the-n.com/

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