NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION-DRAFT ONLY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ARTHUR® PREMIERES A VERY SPECIAL ALL-NEW SEASON
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 ON PBS KIDS GO!sm
-- Lance Armstrong Returns For an Important Two-Part Episode
As Cancer Touches Elwood Elementary’s Lunch Lady Mrs. MacGrady --
(Boston, MA, August 11, 2009) For twelve years, ARTHUR has helped children and families talk about important issues—from asthma, to dyslexia, to the death of a pet. Now, in its 13th Season, the series once again takes on a difficult topic that impacts kids and their parents in a profound way—cancer. Lance Armstrong returns to Elwood City for the two-part episode “The Great MacGrady,” about an illness that affects the lives of so many children. The special story is part of five new episodes premiering Monday, October 12 on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings).
When Lakewood Elementary’s beloved lunch lady Mrs. MacGrady is diagnosed with cancer, Arthur and his friends all react differently to the news—Arthur and D.W. rush to her side with heaps of chicken soup and stuffed animals, Muffy tries to pretend that nothing in her life has changed, and Francine is so upset she can’t even bring herself to visit Mrs. MacGrady. In this moving episode, both parents and kids learn how they can come together to support Mrs. MacGrady and each other—and Lance Armstrong makes a special appearance to show Francine and the Elwood City residents how they can take a stand, or ride a bike, for cancer survivors. “The Great MacGrady” will air every day the week of Monday, October 19.
“Cancer affects nearly everyone in some way,” said Executive Producer Jacqui Deegan. “We hope that this two-part episode will empower kids, families and caregivers to talk about all the feelings that can come up when a loved one has cancer, and how they can work together and remain positive and hopeful through difficult times.”
Philip Seymour Hoffman Kicks off the Season in “No Acting Please”
Kicking off the season, Academy Award-winning actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman lends his voice as director Will Toffman, in “No Acting Please,” a unique premiere episode about theater and the joy of the performing arts. When Fern lands a role in the Elwood City community production of “It Began With a Whistle,” she fears she’s not talented enough to be a star actress. But Will Toffman teaches Fern how to have fun, be herself and truly shine.
Additional episodes premiering this fall include “Prunella and the Disappointing Ending;” Prunella and Marina are thrilled that the latest volume of the Henry Screever series, The Knights of the Boillabiasse, is finally out. The two friends immediately begin competing to see who can finish the book the fastest, but quickly learn that speed-reading doesn’t always pay off. Then, in “MacFrensky,” when Francine and Brain are locked in a stiff competition to win student of the month, Muffy talks Francine into “borrowing” Buster’s toy and letting Brain take the blame for it. As the lies grow and the prize gets closer, however, Francine's guilt increases. Can she come clean and wash her hands of this dastardly deed? Finally, in “Brain Gets Hooked,” Brain is hooked on the latest tween reality show “Junior Island.” When he starts to ignore his friends and his schoolwork, he knows he’s got a problem. But what can he do to break the addiction?
Tune-in for these episodes and more when the all-new Season of ARTHUR premieres Monday, October 12 on PBS KIDS GO!
ARTHUR Adds to New “Social Networking”-Themed Activity Area Online at arthur!
The award-winning ARTHUR Web site is home to many games and activities, including a new activity area, “The Tree House,” which launched in April 2009. Coming in October, “The Tree House” will merge with the site’s Friends section, to create a small-scale social networking space for Arthur and ALL his Pals. “The Tree House’s” goal is to demonstrate community and interconnectedness amongst the Arthur gang online, with each character hosting a page that represents their unique interests and activities related to the season’s theme. Kids can see what their favorite characters are doing to help the environment and also participate in a ‘Go Green’ Challenge. The ARTHUR Web site is also home to most of the series educational materials including resources, lesson plans, and activities and has features to help kids understand their neighbors, near and far, and gain a better appreciation for the world around them. Kids can also watch video clips and full episodes of ARTHUR at video.
About ARTHUR
ARTHUR, based on Marc Brown's best-selling books, is the highest rated weekday children’s series on PBS among children 6-11 (Source: For PBS, NTI Pocketpiece, October 2007-June 2008). ARTHUR has won numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, a BAFTA and six Daytime Emmys—four for Outstanding Children's Animated Program. ARTHUR is produced by WGBH Boston and Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. Executive producers are Jacqui Deegan (WGBH), Toper Taylor (Cookie Jar), and Marc Brown (Marc Brown Studios). Directed by Greg Bailey.
Funding for ARTHUR is provided by public television viewers. Corporate funding is provided by Chuck E. Cheese's®.
About WGBH Boston
WGBH Boston is America’s preeminent public broadcasting producer, the source of one-third of PBS’s prime-time lineup along with some of public television’s best-known lifestyle shows, many public radio favorites, and a roster of children’s programs that empower kids with innovative, entertaining, curriculum-based content. Among the WGBH-produced children’s titles: Arthur, Curious George, Postcards from Buster, Between the Lions, Design Squad, Martha Speaks and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman. WGBH is the number-one producer of websites on , one of the most trafficked dot-org websites in the world, and a pioneer in educational multimedia and in technologies and services that make media accessible to the 36 million Americans who rely on captioning or video descriptions. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards . . . even two Oscars. In 2002, WGBH received a special institutional Peabody Award for 50 years of excellence. For more information, go to .
About Cookie Jar Group
Cookie Jar Group develops, produces, distributes and markets quality products to children, their caregivers, parents and teachers. Cookie Jar Group’s products reflect its commitment to providing the best in children’s published content, animated and live action programming and innovative educational and entertainment-driven products worldwide. The group of companies consists of Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. and Cookie Jar Education Inc. Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc., Cookie Jar Group’s entertainment operation, is a leading, global, independent producer, marketing and brand manager of such renowned children’s properties as “The Doodlebops,” “Caillou,” “Arthur,” “Spider Riders” and “Johnny Test”. Combining globally renowned intellectual properties with an industry-recognized management team, Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. is a market-driven, brand building company that is committed to children first and foremost and is dedicated to the development and production of quality programming that embraces the whole child, with animated and live-action series that entertain, inspire and enlighten children and family audiences worldwide.
About PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community outreach programs. With positive role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, PBS’s children’s media and family and educator resources - including PBS KIDS online (), PBS KIDS GO! online (), PBS Parents (), PBS Teachers (), 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.
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Press Contact:
Jennifer Welsh
WGBH Boston
617.300.5470
jennifer_welsh@
Photography Contact:
Marya McLaughlin
WGBH Boston
617.300.5342
marya_mclaughlin@
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