PBS KIDS Premieres “CURIOUS GEORGE SWINGS INTO SPRING” on Earth Day

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This Earth Day, PBS KIDS invites viewers to join America’s favorite monkey for a new CURIOUS GEORGE special: CURIOUS GEORGE SWINGS INTO SPRING. From spring fever to spring cleaning, from a canoe ride to a hot air balloon journey, George and his friends get viewers ready to explore the outdoors this Earth Day. The one-hour adventure premieres Monday, April 22 and will repeat Friday, April 26 and throughout the weekend (check local listings). The special will also be available on DVD and digital download on March 12.

“produced in Boston, shared with the world”

“As the number one preschool program,* CURIOUS GEORGE is a family favorite that brings science and engineering concepts to life,” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Programming, PBS. “At PBS KIDS, our goal is to encourage kids’ natural thirst for learning, so we are excited to offer CURIOUS GEORGE SWINGS INTO SPRING, which will take families on a science adventure that will inspire them to go outside and explore the world around them.”

On-air Program Description:

You know it must be springtime if a curious monkey named George is dancing on the balcony at sunrise! The Man with the Yellow Hat is sure that George has spring fever, and he takes George to the park to experience all the wonders of spring. George is so excited about spring that he wants Hundley to have spring fever, too, but Hundley and the Doorman are busy trying to win the Mayor’s spring cleaning prize. When a broken water pipe floods the building, Hundley has to stay with George in the country, and George tries to make sure Hundley enjoys spring, too.

Even blooming flowers, baby animals and a canoe ride can’t make Hundley love spring. What’s worse – Hundley gets lost in the country! Searching for his lost friend, George accidentally launches a hot air balloon rally and, piloting a balloon, sails over the countryside. Luckily George manages to grab Hundley from a hilltop along the way. Together they balloon triumphantly to the city. The Man with the Yellow Hat and the Doorman stage a daring rooftop rescue. Not only are George and Hundley saved, but they manage to win the coveted Spring Building Prize! Finally, to George’s delight, Hundley now has spring fever, too!

Online and Mobile Content:

Clips from CURIOUS GEORGE SWINGS INTO SPRING will be available on the PBS KIDS Video Player at PBSKIDS.org/video and on the PBS KIDS Video App beginning April 22.

A new CURIOUS GEORGE online game will launch in late April. Featuring natural science concepts such as plant growth and butterfly metamorphosis, the game will give kids an opportunity to create their own music videos about spring.

DVD:

Filled with high-flying springtime adventure, the all-new movie CURIOUS GEORGE SWINGS INTO SPRING will be available on DVD and digital download on March 12.

Images from CURIOUS GEORGE SWINGS INTO SPRING are available on PBS PressRoom. Screeners are available upon request.

CURIOUS GEORGE is a production of Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston and Universal 1440 Entertainment, LLC. Executive producers are Ron Howard (Imagine), Brian Grazer (Imagine), Ellen Cockrill (Universal), Carol Greenwald (WGBH), Dorothea Gillim (WGBH), Jon Shapiro and David Kirschner. Curious George and related characters, created by Margret and H.A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLP. Television series: ©2013. Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

*Ratings Source: PBS Top Rated Kids Programs and Monthly Highlights January 2013 Report, Kids 2-5 years old

ABOUT THE CURIOUS GEORGE TELEVISION SERIES

CURIOUS GEORGE the television series is designed to inspire kids to explore science, math and engineering in the world around them in a fun and entertaining way. Based on the best-selling Curious George books by Margret and H.A. Rey, the two-time Emmy® Award winning daily series on PBS KIDS expands George’s world to include a host of colorful characters and original locales, while maintaining the charm of the beloved books. Each half-hour episode includes two animated stories followed by short live-action pieces showing real kids who are investigating the ideas that George introduces in his stories. The series encourages inquiry and curiosity, promotes hands-on exploration and shows parents and caregivers how to support children’s science and math-related play.

Imagine Entertainment was founded in 1986 by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to create movies, television and other original programming. Since its inception, Imagine Entertainment has been honored with more than 60 prestigious awards, including 10 Academy Awards and 37 Emmys. Their past productions include the Academy Award-winning films A Beautiful Mind, 8 Mile and Apollo 13, in addition to The Da Vinci Code and Curious George, and the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning television series 24 and Arrested Development. Imagine Entertainment has a longstanding production/distribution agreement with Universal Pictures.

About WGBH Boston

WGBH Boston is the number one producer of PBS content for TV and the web, including such innovative, entertaining, curriculum-based children’s media as ARTHUR, CURIOUS GEORGE (the most-watched show for preschoolers on American television, proven to boost understanding of science and math), MARTHA SPEAKS (and its Dog Party mobile app, with measurable impact on kids’ vocabulary), DESIGN SQUAD NATION, FETCH! WITH RUFF RUFFMAN, POSTCARDS FROM BUSTER, BETWEEN THE LIONS and ZOOM. These join such “produced in Boston, shared with the world” productions as MASTERPIECE, NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and ANTIQUES ROADSHOW (PBS’ most-watched program). WGBH also is a major source of programs for public radio (including PRI’s The World) and a pioneer in educational multimedia and in technologies and services that make media accessible to the 36 million Americans with hearing or vision loss. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards … even two Oscars. Find more information at wgbh.org.

About Universal

The Universal 1440 Entertainment banner develops and produces live-action and animated productions directly for home entertainment, television and the stage. Since its formation in 2005, the group has assembled an exceptional roster of animated family fare including the brand-new animated feature-length home entertainment release “The Little Engine That Could”; the Daytime Emmy®-winning CURIOUS GEORGE television series on PBS KIDS; and a string of hit Barbie movies, based on the world-renowned Mattel-branded doll. The group also has successfully built upon some of Universal’s highly celebrated live-action franchises, most recently launching the hit touring stage production Bring It On: The Musical; the epic surfing adventure Blue Crush 2; the latest holiday crowd-pleaser Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure, based on the beloved family property; and most recently, the popular action-adventure epic The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption. Projects currently readying for release include the all-new home entertainment features Death Race 3: Inferno and Dead in Tombstone, which are both set to debut in 2013. The group is part of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global learning company with the mission of changing lives by fostering passionate, curious learners. Among the world’s largest providers of pre-K–12 education solutions and one of its longest-established publishing houses, HMH combines cutting-edge research, editorial excellence and technological innovation to improve teaching and learning environments and solve complex literacy and education challenges. HMH’s interactive, results-driven education solutions are utilized by 60 million students in 120 countries, and its renowned and awarded novels, non-fiction, children’s books and reference works are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com.

About PBS KIDS

PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for kids, offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online, mobile and community-based programs. Kidscreen- and Webby-award winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including the PBS KIDS video player, now offering free streaming video accessible on computer- and mobile-device-based browsers. For more information on specific PBS KIDS content supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter and Facebook.

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