Curious George's Next Big Adventure Begins Labor Day on PBS KIDS(R)

Curious George's Next Big Adventure Begins Labor Day on PBS KIDS(R)

CURIOUS GEORGE(TM) Makes Its Television Debut on PBS KIDS Monday, September 4, 2006

BOSTON and UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1941, children have delighted in the (mis-)adventures of Curious George in the best-selling book series. Now, hot on the heels of his successful big screen debut, Curious George swings on to television. Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston, and Universal Studios Family Productions, with the support of "Curious George" publisher Houghton Mifflin, are bringing the insatiably curious monkey to PBS KIDS daily, beginning Labor Day, Monday, September 4 (check local listings). The series will debut as part of PBS KIDS new hosted preschool destination.

The series is designed to inspire kids to explore science, math, and engineering in the world around them in a fun and entertaining way. Based on the best-selling "Curious George" books by Margret and H.A. Rey, and narrated by Emmy-winning actor William H. Macy ("Seabiscuit," "Pleasantville"), the daily series expands George's world to include a host of colorful new characters and original locales, while maintaining the charm of the beloved books. Each of the thirty half-hour episodes includes two animated stories followed by short live-action pieces showing real kids who are investigating the ideas that George introduces in his stories. The series will encourage inquiry and curiosity, promote hands-on exploration, and show parents and caregivers how to support children's science and math-related play.

"For more than 65 years, Curious George has entertained children and parents around the world, selling more than 27 million books in 17 languages. Across the globe, George's enduring popularity and multi-generational appeal has not only successfully fueled his recent entrie into film, but will assure a successful transition into television as he settles into his new home on PBS KIDS," said Glenn Ross, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Universal Studios Family Productions.

"Learning begins with curiosity, and who could be a better guide than Curious George, with his endless taste for adventure," said executive producer for WGBH, Carol Greenwald. "We know that once kids tune-in on Labor Day to watch George in his new series, they'll want to return every day to enjoy CURIOUS GEORGE."

CURIOUS GEORGE is a production of Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston, and Universal Studios Family Productions. Executive producers are Carol Greenwald (WGBH) and Ellen Cockrill (Universal). Funding for CURIOUS GEORGE is provided by public television viewers. The CURIOUS GEORGE Web site is pbskids.org/curiousgeorge. Curious George and related characters, created by Margret and H.A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Company and used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. Television series: (C) 2006. Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

About the CURIOUS GEORGE television series

Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston, and Universal Studios Family Productions, are producing an animated Curious George preschool television series based on the literary classic. Curious George will use his insatiable curiosity as a way of acquainting preschoolers with key concepts in math, science, and engineering. George's memorable (mis-)adventures -- from dismantling clocks to rounding up errant bunnies -- will offer a perfect vehicle for motivating kids to expand their own investigations of the world. William H. Macy narrates the series.

Universal Studios Family Productions

The Universal Studios Family Productions banner, which includes Universal Animation Studios, develops, produces, and acquires live-action and animated family productions directly for the home entertainment and television markets. Among the group's portfolio of prized properties is "The Land Before Time," the most successful feature-length children's home entertainment franchise of all time, having earned more than one billion dollars worldwide to date. Included in the group's forthcoming slate are the all new DVD Original releases "Bring It On: All or Nothing," the next installment in the hugely successful "Bring It On" film franchise; "Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses" and "PollyWorld" based on the world-renowned Mattel-branded dolls; and the widely anticipated television series launches of CURIOUS GEORGE on PBS this fall and "The Land Before Time" on Cartoon Network in early 2007. Universal Studios Family Productions is part of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

WGBH Boston

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcasting station. It produces one third of PBS's primetime lineup, and is the producer of award-winning children's series such as "Arthur," "Between the Lions," "Postcards from Buster," and "ZOOM" airing on PBS; "Peep and the Big Wide World" airing on TLC's Ready Set Learn! and the Discovery Kids Channel; and "Time Warp Trio" airing on Discovery Kids on NBC Saturday mornings and the Discovery Kids Channel. Under the leadership of Vice President Brigid Sullivan, the WGBH children's lineup leads the field in educational multimedia (including the Web, broadband, and interactive television) and in technologies and services that make media accessible to people with disabilities. WGBH's current children's series have been recognized with some of the world's most prestigious awards, including twelve Emmys, the George Foster Peabody award, three Prix Jeunesse awards, a BAFTA, and more than a dozen Parents' Choice awards. For more information, visit www.wgbh.org.

PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS new hosted preschool destination is one part of PBS KIDS Next Generation Media, a broad-based initiative to define public television's role in the changing digital children's media landscape. The new on-air and online destination, designed exclusively for preschoolers, incorporates proven teaching techniques guided by a live host to help parents and children benefit from the time they spend with PBS.

PBS KIDS is committed to providing the highest quality non-commercial content and learning environment for children across the country. Providing age-appropriate, diverse programming for kids, PBS KIDS' programs consistently earn more prestigious awards than any other broadcast or cable network. Only PBS KIDS has earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers. With additional PBS resources to complement its programming, including PBS KIDS online (www.pbskids.org), PBS KIDS GO! (www.pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (www.pbsparents.org), PBS TeacherSource (www.pbsteachersource.org), PBS Ready To Learn services, and literacy events across the country, PBS KIDS is providing the tools necessary for positive child development. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 348 public television stations, serving nearly 90 million people each week and reaching 99% of American homes.

Press contacts
Elizabeth Cote, WGBH Boston, 617-300-5336, elizabeth_cote@wgbh.org
Megan Johnson, Universal Studios, 818-777-4382, Megan.Johnson@nbcuni.com

Photography contact
Kelly Sweet, WGBH Boston, 617-300-5309, kelly_sweet@wgbh.org

Source: WGBH Boston and Universal Studios Family Productions

CONTACT: Press, Elizabeth Cote of WGBH Boston, +1-617-300-5336,
elizabeth_cote@wgbh.org; or Megan Johnson of Universal Studios,
+1-818-777-4382, Megan.Johnson@nbcuni.com; or Photography, Kelly Sweet of WGBH
Boston, +1-617-300-5309, kelly_sweet@wgbh.org

Web site: http://www.pbskids.org/

Web site: http://www.wgbh.org/

Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

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