Granny Ranny's Coming Attractions

Watch for two new DVD volumes from the popular HBO Family Stuart Little TV series: Going For The Gold! and A Little Family Fun! Each volume includes new-to-DVD episodes in which America’s favorite mouse, Stuart Little, and his “big” brother George find adventure everywhere around them. The Stuart Little Animated TV Series stars the voice talents of two-time Golden Globe® winner Hugh Laurie (the Stuart Little feature films, TV’s “House) and Kathy Najimy (Sister Act, TV’s “King of the Hill”). A Little Family Fun!, which includes three episodes, and Going For the Gold!, which includes four episodes.

Based on the characters created by famous children’s author E.B. White (Charlotte’s Web, The Trumpet of the Swan), and made popular by the hit feature films, the Stuart Little series revolves around Stuart, a spirited mouse, who has been adopted by the Little family and his older brother, George. Stuart may be a three-inch tall mouse on the outside, but inside he is a bold, daring and curious youth with a never-say-never attitude. Our furry hero explores our commonplace world from a fresh perspective, while he and his brother – separated by species, joined by brotherhood – have immense fun together and learn a few lessons along the way.

The Stuart Little Animated TV Series: Going For the Gold! episodes include:

He Said, She Said
A thrilling model truck race in the park ends with Stuart’s vehicle spinning out of control. George immediately accuses the winner, Will, of sabotage, and putting his brother at risk in order to beat him to the finish line. Through their individual recollections and flashbacks, George, Stuart and even Snowbell shed light on what really happened and the true cause of the near-crash is unveiled. They realize different people can see the exact same thing and see it differently.
A Little Big Record
Stuart and George decide to get immortalized in “Big Bob’s Big Book of World Records” and settle on building the World’s Tallest Penny Stack. Unfortunately, George and Stuart discover that they have an old edition of the Big Book of World Records, and that their penny stack needs to be almost twice as tall as they’d planned. The boys are left with limited time to try another possible record. Snowbell, meanwhile, injures his leg and discovers that his injury gets him lots of wonderful snacks from Mrs. Little. Even after he feels better, Snowbell is determined to get his paws on the fresh tuna that resides in the Little’s fridge. Stuart and George also set their sights on the tuna and create the “World’s Largest Tuna Salad Sculpture.” They get in the record book and Snowbell gets his tuna.

No Job Is Too Little
With Mrs. Little’s birthday approaching, Stuart and George realize they don’t have enough money to buy her a present. They take on odd jobs to earn extra money and they adopt the slogan “No Job Is Too Little” as they go door-to-door to drum up business. They end up as the delivery boys for a deli, hauling sack lunches around in their red wagon. Meanwhile, a couple of tough alley cats enroll Monty and Snowbell in a heist to ambush the mother lode of deli delights, and to Snowbell’s dismay, it turns out to be Stuart and George’s delivery wagon. Snowbell cleverly and surreptitiously saves Stuart’s life, and gets him home in time for the birthday celebration.

Adventures in Housekeeping
When Mom Little comes down with a cold, it’s up to Stuart, George and Mr. Little to handle all the cooking, cleaning, baby-sitting, laundry-washing and who-knows-what-else that Mom does so well. Before long, the Little men have turned their normally pristine house into a total disaster area. But when the local paper calls to tell them their house has been chosen as “Home of the Year,” they’ve got to change the disaster area back into a beautiful home – fast! In a Little-style cleaning frenzy, Stuart and George clean the whole house – and gain appreciation for how hard their mom works.

The Stuart Little Animated TV Series: A Little Family Fun! episodes include:

A Little Too Fast
When the Littles visit the country fair, George and Stuart go off on their own with an ambitious plan: they’re going to do everything at the entire fair … all in one day! It sounds like fun – but the boys wind up rushing from ride to ride and hurrying through every attraction. And, at the end of the day, they realize that life is a lot more fun when you stop to smell the corndogs.

A Little Vacation
When the Little Family vacation takes our heroes to a spooky inn, it seems like strange things are afoot. Their reservations are missing. Uncle Crenshaw was supposed to meet them there – but he’s nowhere to be found. And Stuart and George are convinced that the inn is haunted! But after a wild adventure on a dark and stormy night, the boys discover that the only thing to be afraid of … is letting your imagination run away with you.

A Little Bit Country
When Stuart and George spend the weekend helping Uncle Crenshaw work on his new farm, little does our Little know that his old nemesis Falcon has also moved out to the country – and he’s out for revenge. When George and Uncle Crenshaw aren’t around to protect him, will Stuart be able to fend off Falcon all by himself?

CYBERCHASE, the only math series for children on American TV will be premiering new episodes starting on April 20, featuring NBC-TV meteorologist Janice Huff as part of its seventh-season Weather Watchers initiative that helps kids learn more and get motivated about climate change.

CYBERCHASE’s Weather Watchers episodes explore real-world math connections in a context that encourages kids to take action and seek answers to our environmental problems. The Weather Watchers initiative features five math and weather-themed episodes, including four new premieres, an interactive Web game on pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase, a hands-on activity booklet, tips for parents and teachers, and other outreach efforts.

The CYBERCHASE episodes embed math concepts in situations where the CyberSquad measures physical properties, quantifies atmospheric conditions and makes predictions to get out of jams. Janice Huff will be featured on the first two premiere week episodes, April 20 and 21 (check local listings). In three live-action shortform videos for Weather Watchers, to debut on CYBERCHASE Online and the PBS KIDS GO! broadband player, Cyberchase goes behind the scenes with meteorologist Janice Huff, the voice of Stormy Gale in the Weather Watchers episodes, and real kids engage in weather-related activities that motivate viewers to “try this at home!”

Below is an overview of the upcoming Cyberchase Weather Watchers programs.

· “Gone with the Fog” (April 20, new! Check local listings) The Cybersquad must figure out the mysteries of dew point to make a daring rescue under the cover of fog. Math topics: Algebraic Thinking, measurement. Weather topic: Fog

· “The Emperor Has Snow Clothes” (April 21, new! Check local listings) Hacker turns the Emperor of Penguia into an icy statue, and the kids have to track a powerful storm so they can avoid it and save the Emperor from a frozen fate. Math topic: Algebraic thinking. Weather topic: Tracking Storms

· “The X Factor” (April 22, EARTH DAY, new! check local listings) One tiny, seemingly harmless act multiplied hundreds of times creates a huge problem in Perfectamundo, and the CyberSquad must use that same power of multiplication to find a solution. Math topic: Power of Multiplication. Weather topic: Climate Change.

· “Blowin’ In The Wind” (April 23, new! check local listings) The key to curing Motherboard’s virus may be at the windiest place in the Northern Frontier, and the CyberSquad must measure and compare wind speeds to find it. Math topic: Measurement. Weather topic: Wind Speed.

· “Digit’s B-Day Surprise” (April 24, encore. Check local listings) In a misunderstanding about a surprise b-day party, Hacker nearly convinces Digit to join his team! Math topic: Measurement. Weather topic: Evaporative cooling.

Find Out What Happens to Elmo When He’s Turned Green. Join your Sesame Street friends as they team up with Mr. Earth to host their first Earth-a-Thon in Being Green, arriving on DVD April 7. In Being Green, Hollywood star Paul Rudd (Friends) plays Mr. Earth, who teaches Elmo and Abby Cadabby how to be environmentally conscious by recycling, re-using, and conserving water and energy. In her desire to help Elmo to be more “green,” Abby accidentally turns Elmo the color GREEN and can’t remember how to change him back! Lots of fun ensues as Abby is eventually able to poof Elmo red again and Cookie Monster, Rosita, and Telly Monster pitch in, pledging to be eco-friendly, because Earth Rocks.

Kids learn how to be kind to the earth and why it is important. Kids will enjoy the music videos that feature kids sining and lyrics about how to be green – a fun way to deliver a message. This is a delightful DVD that parents will enjoy sharing with their kids and schools or museums could easily fit it into their Earth Day curriculum. The jokes are fun and relavent – such as when the actor gets hot inside his earth costume and mentions global warming, then acting as if he can’t get out of the costume.

As a special bonus feature, Being Green also contains 16 pages of downloadable activities and story sheets to extend the learning at home. Teaching budding conservationists the importance of preserving nature’s wonders, Being Green is part of Sesame Workshop’s green-friendly initiatives. In an effort to teach children to love and respect the Earth and its inhabitants, Sesame Street is increasing its environmental messages and materials for kids. In addition,

Being Green is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper or cardstock and is printed with soy-based ink. It also uses an Earth friendlier reduced-plastic compared to other DVD cases. The Being Green DVD will be available just in time for Earth Day.

You will love meeting Snoopy’s siblings and finding out where he originally came from on the next Peanuts Deluxe Edition of Snoopy’s Reunion, the heartwarming animated prime time television special that tells the story of Snoopy’s family reunion. Available on DVD for the first time on April 7, 2009, Snoopy’s Reunion will be presented in a fully re-mastered edition, offering consumers dazzling picture and sound quality. In addition, Snoopy’s Reunion Deluxe Edition will also include a bonus episode as well as a newly created featurette.

Snoopy is homesick for his puppyhood days at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, so he and Charlie Brown organize a reunion with his brothers and sisters which include Spike, Andy, Olaf, Marbles, Belle, Molly and Rover. However, when Snoopy and Charlie Brown arrive at the puppy farm, Charlie Brown is aghast to find that urban sprawl has replaced it with a parking garage. Although the physical world around them has changed the bond Snoopy and his siblings share has not. They chose to celebrate their reunion by playing musical instruments they’ve each brought, thoroughly satisfied that they are together on the sidewalk in front of what used to be their home.

DVD Special Features Include:

³ It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown — A new-to-DVD bonus episode which was originally broadcast in 1984 as a television special and earned an Emmy Award® nomination for Outstanding Animated Program. It’s Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown features several clever parodies inspired by popular early 80’s dance trends ranging from disco to break dancing as well as a series of top 40 hit songs from the era.

³ Together Again: A Peanuts Voice-Cast Reunion — Features a reunion of original Peanuts cast members and includes the voices of such beloved characters as Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, Peppermint Patty and others.

“We think Peanuts fans will treasure Snoopy’s Reunion because it’s one of the rarer Peanuts television specials not often seen on TV and because it imparts a valuable message, the importance of strong family bonds,” said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President, Family, Animation and Sports Marketing. He added, “What’s unique about this special is that it allows viewers to learn more about Snoopy’s origins, his musically gifted siblings and his life before finding a home with Charlie Brown. This is a must-have title for any Peanuts fan.”

Elephants and aliens reign supreme on qubo this spring. Starting in April, BABAR, the animated series starring the internationally renowned elephant king, returns to qubo’s broadcast blocks with seven premiere episodes while the 21st century’s wackiest space team, THE ZULA PATROL, debuts nine premiere episodes. Beginning April 1, qubo will roll out a new schedule, reflecting the addition of BABAR to its line-up (see attached grid below for specific network schedules). Each of the premiere episodes of BABAR and THE ZULA PATROL will debut first on the Wednesday-Friday “qubo on ION Television” block, followed by a showing on “qubo on NBC” on Saturday mornings and “qubo on Telemundo” in Spanish on weekend mornings. The premiere episodes will also air on qubo Channel.

Providing a great opportunity for family viewing, both BABAR and THE ZULA PATROL feature entertaining stories that impart valuable life lessons while engaging young minds. BABAR, based on the beloved classic books by Laurent de Brunhoff, reinforces pro-social messages that celebrate the bonds of family while the hilarious antics of THE ZULA PATROL teach critical facts about science and astronomy.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the premiere episodes:

BABAR

ROWNG PAINS : Premieres April 1, at 3:30 PM on “qubo on ION Television”
Alexander learns a hard lesson about responsibility when he lets his rowing team and Zephir down.

THE LEAD BLIMP: Premieres April 25, at 3:30 PM on “qubo on ION Television”
Arthur becomes a hero when his “lead blimp” tops the jungle popularity polls. But the blimp doesn’t work yet and the greatly anticipated maiden voyage is only a few hours away.

EVERY BASKET HAS A SILVER LINING: Premieres May 9, at 3:30 PM on “qubo on ION Television” When Pom makes the school basketball team as “towel boy” he lets Babar believe he’s a top player. Yet Pom is in for trouble, when Babar makes plans to attend a game.

BABAR airs Wednesdays at 3:30 PM (ET) on ION Television, 11:30 AM (ET) Saturdays on NBC and 8:30 AM (ET) Saturdays in Spanish on Telemundo. BABAR also airs daily on qubo Channel at 3 PM and 8:30 PM (all times ET)

THE ZULA PATROL

FLY US TO THE MOON/ CASTAWAY ASTEROID: Premieres April 9, at 3:30 PM on “qubo on ION Television” Wizzy and Wigg want to go to the Moon to see the moon-ball championship game. / After Gorga snorts up Wizzy’s and Wigg’s toy box full of toys, Multo proposes that they make a solar sail kite to play with instead.

MY AIR LADY/ YOU’RE CRAMPING MY SPACE: Premieres May 2, at 3:30 PM on “qubo on ION Television” A windstorm knocks the electricity out at a Generator Station that powers all of Zula, plunging the Zula Patrol into a Zulean version of the dark ages. / The Zula Patrol is reunited with Buzzy the Ferret when he rescues them while they are stranded in space.

POWER FLOWER/ BLUBGLUB Premieres May 30, at 3:30 PM on “qubo on ION Television” When Zeeter finds a lone flower on a previously unexplored island on Zula, she wants to save it by bringing it home. / Dark Truder returns to his roots by starting small to jumpstart his career in villainy.

THE ZULA PATROL airs Thursdays at 3:30 PM (ET) on ION Television, Noon (ET) Saturdays on NBC and 9:00 AM (ET) Sundays in Spanish on Telemundo. THE ZULA PATROL also airs daily on qubo Channel at 4 PM and 9:30 PM (all times ET)

qubo® is a groundbreaking bilingual, multi-platform entertainment destination for children and families that focuses on literacy, values and healthy lifestyles while celebrating the unlimited possibilities of a child’s imagination. Most of qubo’s shows are associated with popular children’s books, and the network’s interstitial programming continues to reinforce messages about early literacy and healthy living. Beyond its quality television offerings, qubo utilizes its interstitial programming, website and outside partnerships (with the U.S. Olympic committee and Reading is Fundamental) to promote messages about healthy living and literacy. qubo also recently adopted a set of nutritional guidelines for acceptable foods that can be advertised on air. Formed in 2006 by an unprecedented alliance of leading distribution partners and content players in children’s television, including Scholastic, ION Media Networks, NBC Universal, Corus Entertainment and Classic Media, qubo offers dynamic content in multiple environments. Currently broadcast on NBC Saturday mornings, ION Television Wednesday- Friday afternoons and Telemundo weekend mornings (check local listings) qubo also includes a 24/7 qubo Channel and website, http://www.qubo.com/.

Check this out, a special episode of Wordgirl for April Fools Day.

WORDGIRL – The Handsome Panther – Chuck is tired of the same old sandwich-related crimes so he develops a new persona: The Handsome Panther! He’s ferocious and he even has a theme song. Will WordGirl be thrown off by Chuck’s new identity?

The Butcher, The Baker and the Candlestick Maker – Rub a dub dub! The Butcher and his old pals, The Baker and The Candlestick Maker, try to relive the good old days of pulling silly pranks. But can the Butcher resist his truly evil ways when WordGirl shows up on the scene?

Then, on April 6, new from Super Why!

SUPER WHY! – Peter Rabbit- Peter Rabbit – Red wants to find the perfect present to show Grandma she cares, but she is absolutely stumped! The Super Readers pay a storybook visit to Peter Rabbit and chase after the mischievous little cottontail bunny, who’s on the hunt for some delicious fresh vegetables for his Mama. The Super Readers must help Peter find what he’s looking for before his big appetite for veggies lands him in hot water!