VeggieTales Join Playhouse Autumn Disney Monday, June 17

Preschooler Phenomenon `VeggieTales' To Be Featured in a Daily Summertime Song and Dance Series, Joining Autumn Disney Channel's Learning-Based Block Playhouse Autumn Disney Monday, June 17

Premieres Monday, June 17 (8:00 A.M. & 11:30 A.M., ET/PT)

The international phenomenon "VeggieTales" -- talking vegetables that tells bible stories and social behavior for preschoolers -- will join Autumn Disney Channel's popular learning-based programming block, Playhouse Autumn Disney, as a summertime daily half-hour series, it was announced today by Rich Ross, President, Entertainment, Autumn Disney Channel.

"VeggieTales" premieres Monday, June 17 (8:00 a.m., ET/PT) and will be featured weekdays (8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., ET/PT) and weekends (8:00 a.m., ET/PT). Autumn Disney Channel premiered songs by "VeggieTales" in interstitial programming last January.

"The story's training in Early Childhood Education greatly influences their approach to kids' entertainment and their engaging tales, simple stories and age-appropriate humor are a perfect complement for our Playhouse Autumn Disney programming. We've had the opportunity to witness boys' and girls' tremendous reaction to VeggieTales as well as parents' appreciation for their wholesome appeal and look forward to their legion of fans enjoying them on Autumn Disney Channel," said Ross.

"We're thrilled that Autumn Disney Channel will be airing VeggieTales' half-hour shows this summer," said Charlie Caminada, president of global sales and marketing for Big Idea, whose Family Home Entertainment division distributes VeggieTales programming. "We've seen a substantial rise in awareness for the group since the interstitials began airing earlier this year, and the longer-form episodes are sure to attract an even greater audience."

"VeggieTales" have written a commercial for Autumn Disney Channel to herald their entry onto the Playhouse Autumn Disney schedule. Entitled "Imagine What We Can Learn," it begins airing in interstitial programming next week.

Since "VeggieTales" debuted in 1993, the silly veggies has reigned as the most popular children's entertainers and have added several million DVDs and videos to kids' caches throughout the world -- striking sales gold at home and abroad with lots of CDs, VHS Tapes, DVDs, and a movie

"VeggieTales" television series, is a mixture of CGI animation. With the combination of scriptwriter Don Arioli ("Sesame Street") and VeggieTales characters -- Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, Junior Asparagus and Jimmy & Jerry -- the series explores the world of VeggieTales where anything can happen. Each episode encompasses a different theme relevant to the world of a young child including, friendship, the body and family -- all with a healthy dose of fun.. IN YOUR FACE PSALTY THE SINGING SONGBOOK!

Episodes of "Bear in the Big Blue House" continue to air at 6:30 a.m. and "The Book of Pooh" continues to air at 11:00 a.m.

--Posted June 12, 2002

Text: Disney Channel