The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles Announce 10 New SID THE SCIENCE KID Episodes That Will Delight Young Viewers Starting February 9 on PBS KIDS(R)

The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles Announce 10 New SID THE SCIENCE KID Episodes That Will Delight Young Viewers Starting February 9 on PBS KIDS(R)

Acclaimed Science-Based Preschool Series Sparks Curiosity and Wonder with Two New Science Themes And Introduces a New Friend for Sid!

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Grab your magnifying glass, your chart and your bug jar! Young scientists, their parents and caregivers can get ready for 10 all-new episodes of the acclaimed preschool series, SID THE SCIENCE KID, which encourages viewers to explore and ask questions about the world around them. Starting Monday, February 9, 10 new episodes will premiere over a two-week period, with each week introducing a new scientific theme, on the popular PBS KIDS preschool destination, an educational, hosted two-hour morning television block. (Please check local listings.) An interactive site at www.pbskids.org/sid extends the series' fun and learning.

The week of February 9 will premiere five episodes that provide a basic introduction to physical science and engineering featuring simple machines, like levers, wheels and pulleys. The five episodes debuting the week of February 16 will explore backyard science, giving kids a chance to take a closer look at the nature all around them, including dogs, birds, bugs, leaves and nests. This week will also introduce Sid's newest friend, Philbert, a dog Sid's Grandma adopts who will help Sid investigate animal communication.

Like all of the characters in SID THE SCIENCE KID, Philbert was brought to life using the groundbreaking Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, which allows performers to puppeteer and voice digital characters in real-time, creating an unprecedented level of spontaneity and warmth. For Philbert, an actual dog performed on a motion capture stage to record the body movements while Philbert's face and barking was puppeteered in real time by a Henson performer. The two images were then simultaneously composited together to create a single integrated character. (To learn more about the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, visit www.creatureshop.com ).

Developed to inspire a lifelong curiosity and love for learning in young children, SID THE SCIENCE KID appeals to children's instinctive quest to figure things out, using a relatable multi-cultural cast, humor and music as key teaching tools.

Sid, the show's energetic and inquisitive preschool star, starts each episode with a new question and embarks on a fun-filled day of finding answers as he encourages preschoolers to think about how to find answers to their own questions. Joining Sid are a colorful supporting cast, including his friends Gabriela, May and Gerald; his teacher Susie; Grandma; Mom (aka Alice); Zeke, Sid's baby brother; and Dad (aka Mort).

Synopses:

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9: SIMPLE MACHINES

"The Broken Wheel"

When a wheel falls off Sid's favorite toy truck, he tapes it back on. But now the wheel won't spin, and Sid wonders how exactly wheels work. At school, Sid explores how wheels are simple machines that help move all kinds of things like cars, trains, tricycles and even toy trucks!

"My Slide"

Sid wonders how he can lift up his big, heavy stuffed animal dinosaur onto his bed. Sid and his friends explore how inclined planes are simple machines that make it much easier to push up heavy things...including big stuffed animal dinosaurs!

"Sid's Amazing Invention"

Sid believes that he has discovered a new invention to put toys away! Sid learns his invention is actually a simple machine called a lever, which is not only useful for launching toys, but can also help lift up really heavy things.

"The Treehouse"

Sid wonders how he can lift his heavy box of toys way up to his treehouse. After investigating at school, Sid discovers that a pulley is the perfect simple machine to help lift heavy things up to high places, like a treehouse!

"Climb, Ignatz, Climb"

Sid pretends that his stuffed animal panda is going on an adventure to the top of the playground slide. Sid and his friends make a plan and use simple machines like wheels, inclined planes, levers and pulleys to get the panda all the way to the top of the slide!

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16: BACKYARD SCIENCE

"Hello Doggie"

When Sid hears dogs barking in his neighborhood, he wonders if they're talking to him. At school, Sid discovers that animals do communicate in lots of different ways, like using body language, making sounds, and barking!

"Home Tweet Home"

Sid wonders why there aren't any birds living in the birdhouse he built with his Dad. Sid and his friends discover that lots of animals build and live in their own homes, like beehives, anthills, and bird nests!

"The Dirt on Dirt"

In an Earth Day-themed episode, Sid wants to know what makes dirt so dirty. At school, Sid and his friends discover that dirt is really important to the Earth because it helps things grow, and it's also filled with tiny rocks, pieces of leaves and even living things like bugs and worms!

"Don't Forget the Leaves"

Everybody thinks flowers are special, but Sid wants to know: what makes leaves special? Sid and his friends investigate and discover that leaves are food for animals, they provide shade, and they help make nutrients so flowers and trees can grow!

"The Bug Club"

It's a special day at school, it's Bug Club Day! Sid and his friends use their magnifying glasses and discover ants, rolie polies, and caterpillars around the playground.

Major funding for SID THE SCIENCE KID is provided by First 5 California, The Boeing Company, The Rose Hills Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations and PBS.

SID THE SCIENCE KID is a co-production of The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles for PBS KIDS. Brian Henson, Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford of The Jim Henson Company, along with Bradley Zweig, serve as executive producers. Joyce Campbell is executive producer for KCET. Mary Mazur is executive in charge of production for KCET. The Jim Henson Company is handling all ancillary use of the property including licensing, video and merchandising. The Web site at pbskids.org/sid is being produced by KCET New Media, which has partnered with multimedia design studio FableVision. Executive producer of the Web site is KCET's Jackie Kain.

About The Jim Henson Company

The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets (the rights to which are now owned by The Walt Disney Company), Henson is the recipient of over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Credits include the Saturn Award-winning "Farscape" and the features "MirrorMask," "Five Children and It," "Good Boy!" and the recently released direct to DVD "Unstable Fables," which features "3 Pigs and a Baby," "Tortoise vs. Hare" and "The Goldilocks and the Three Bears Show." With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop(TM), a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state of the art and vintage equipment. The Company is currently completing production on 40 episodes of SID THE SCIENCE KID, a science readiness animated series for preschoolers that debuted on PBS KIDS in September 2008, and recently premiered the preschool live-action puppet series "Pajanimals" on PBS KIDS Sprout. The Company's Henson Alternative brand continues to produce "Puppet Up! - Uncensored," a live puppet improvisational show that has played to sold out crowds around the world and runs monthly at the Avalon Hollywood. The Company has also announced the creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collection inspired by Jim Henson's earliest sketches, and The Jim Henson Company: Discoveries, an acquisitions banner that celebrates outstanding third party produced independent film, television and video productions from around the globe embodying the Company's enduring legacy. www.henson.com

About KCET

KCET, the West Coast flagship station of PBS, is public television for Southern and Central California. KCET is watched by four million viewers a month in 11 counties, the largest broadcast reach of any public television station in the United States. National PBS series produced from the station's Hollywood studios include four-time NAACP Award winner TAVIS SMILEY and the Peabody Award-winning A PLACE OF OUR OWN and its Spanish-language companion LOS NINOS EN SU CASA, a series for caregivers of young children. SID THE SCIENCE KID, a new series co-produced for PBS KIDS by KCET and The Jim Henson Company, premiered in 2008.

Other KCET productions for PBS have included SCHOOL: THE STORY OF AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, narrated by Academy Award(R) winner Meryl Streep; AMERICAN FAMILY, the first primetime drama to feature an all-Hispanic cast; THE FIRST YEAR, a documentary about five beginning teachers in the Los Angeles public school system; STORYTIME, a series aimed at getting young children interested in stories and books; and PUZZLE PLACE, a single comedy/drama storyline featuring a multiethnic cast of puppets who helped children learn about sharing, decision making, and other daily encounters in a child's life.

Throughout its more than 40-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services, and its Web site, kcet.org. KCET is donor-supported community television. More than half of the funds raised to support KCET's operating budget come from individual support. For additional information about KCET productions, Web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit www.kcet.org.

About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!

PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children - from every walk of life - the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and outreach programs. With positive character role models and content designed to nurture a child's total well-being, PBS's online and community resources - including PBS KIDS online (pbskids.org), PBS KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (pbsparents.org), PBS Teachers (pbsteachers.org), PBS KIDS Raising Readers and literacy events across the country - leverage the full spectrum of media, technology and community to build knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity. Empowering children for success in school and in life, only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! have earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 356 public television stations, serving more than 115 million people on-air and online each month.

About First 5 California

First 5 California, also known as the California Children and Families Commission, was established after voters passed Proposition 10 in November 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund education, health, childcare and other programs for expectant parents and children ages 0 to 5. First 5 California's vision is that all children 0 to 5 in California enter school ready to achieve their greatest potential. For more information, please visit www.first5california.com.

About The Boeing Company

The Boeing Company is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft. With customers in more than 90 countries, Boeing is committed to being a leading global corporate citizen around the globe. For Boeing, this means partnering with communities in 26 states in the U.S. and 16 countries and four regions internationally to drive strong, positive change in the world. It's what makes Boeing a good citizen--sharing what the company knows and who Boeing is to convene, collaborate and lead in building vibrant communities and making the world better for everyone. In the area of education, Boeing aligns and leverages its resources to support systemic and continuous improvement in school systems, concentrating on teacher effectiveness in literacy, math and science, and on school leadership. In particular, the company is fully committed to making sure all students show up in kindergarten ready to learn. That's why the company is increasing its focus on supporting early learning programs because it believes that children need the foundation of quality early learning experiences before they enter school.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST OR BY VISITING
http://digital.ihenson.com/ssk_press OR http://pressroom.pbs.org

PHOTO CREDIT - 2008 The Jim Henson Company. JIM HENSON'S mark & logo,
SID THE SCIENCE KID mark & logo, characters and elements are trademarks of The
Jim Henson Company. All Rights Reserved.
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Source: The Jim Henson Company

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Web Site: http://www.henson.com/

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