Philadelphia, PA - August 6, 2008 - PBS KIDS Sprout, the first
24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online
for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers will celebrate
"Good Sport Week" on the live Sunny Side Up Show each morning from
9 a.m. to noon ET the week of August 11. Special guests
Michael Weiss, Christa Mereen, Judy Kahn and Annie McLaughlin will
appear in various segments to share concepts of inclusion,
participation, persistence and being a good sport with Sprout's
preschool audience.
Proving that all things are possible and even the most
far-reaching goals can be achieved, three-time U.S. Champion,
two-time World bronze medalist and two-time Olympian figure skater
Michael Weiss will take Chica the Chicken, the puppet sidekick from
Sprout's The Sunny Side Up Show, out on the ice for her debut
skating lesson at the rink where he received his very first
medal.
"A national champion teaching a chicken to ice skate is just
priceless," said Andrew Beecham, senior vice president of
programming. "You have to see it to believe it."
He continued, "But along with all the fun and laughs, Sprout is
sharing some very valuable lessons for our preschool audience about
the importance of trying your hardest, not giving up and being a
good sport."
Michael Weiss has been skating since he was nine years old, and
his charisma and passion for the sport have made him a fan favorite
worldwide. Honored as one of the 1999 Fathers of the Year by
the National Fatherhood Initiative, Weiss has also been very
involved in helping young skaters develop their own talents.
To date, the Michael Weiss Foundation (MWF) has raised over
$100,000 for deserving applicants who possess Olympic potential in
the sport of figure skating.
Also participating in "Good Sport Week" is Special Olympian
Christa Mereen, jump roper Judy Khan and field hockey player Annie
McLaughlin, who will join The Sunny Side Up Show host Kevin Yamada
and Chica the Chicken live in the studio.
Mereen, a Special Olympics Global Messenger who has been
involved in year-round training for the past seven years for
softball, track and field, bowling, floor hockey and bocce, will
share experiences about developing her athletic skills, stories
about healthy competition and tips on the importance of being a
good sport, while Khan and McLaughlin will share video highlights,
sport equipment and ribbons showcasing how persistence, hard work
and focus helped them to become champion Junior
Olympians.
For additional information on Sprout programs or schedules,
visit SproutOnline.com. To find out where Sprout is available
in your area, call 1.866.9.SPROUT.
About Sprout®
PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available
on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and
caregivers, was created as a partnership among Comcast Corporation,
HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop. Since debuting
its video on demand (VOD) service in April 2005, Sprout has become
the #1 On Demand service for younger children, generating over 450
million orders. The 24-hour digital channel, which launched
in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the
only channel that follows the day of child from breakfast to
bedtime with its distinctive programming. Currently, Sprout
is available in 42 million unique households.
The network's program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based
children's shows includes: Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™,
Barney & Friends™, Thomas & Friends™, Angelina Ballerina™,
Caillou®, The Berenstain Bears™, Jay Jay the Jet Plane®,
Teletubbies™, Dragon Tales™, Pingu™, Make Way For Noddy™, The
Hoobs™, Fifi and the Flowertots™ and more.
###
Press Contact:
Jenni Glenn
PBS KIDS Sprout
215-286-2703
jenni_glenn@sproutonline.com