Nikki Blonsky ('Hairspray') and Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Nominated Actress Annie Potts ('Men in Trees') Star in the Lifetime Original Movie 'Queen Sized,' Inspired by the True Story of an Overweight Teen Who Takes a Stand Against Bullying, Defies Expectations and Becomes Homecoming Queen
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 10 -- Following her leading role in the
summer blockbuster "Hairspray," rising young actress Nikki Blonsky stars
alongside Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominated actress Annie Potts ("Men
in Trees") in the Lifetime Original Movie, "Queen Sized," the inspirational
true story of an overweight teen who takes a stand against bullying, to
become her school's homecoming queen, and ends up with much more than just
a crown. "Queen Sized" premieres Saturday, January 12, 2008, 9PM (ET/PT) on
Lifetime Television.
In "Queen Sized," overweight high school senior Maggie Baker (Blonsky),
always felt sorry for herself for not being as skinny, pretty or wealthy as
the popular girls at school. When Maggie's name ends up on the list of
nominees for the homecoming court as a prank by her classmates, she is
mortified. Rather than drop out as expected, with her mother Joan's (Potts)
encouragement, Maggie chooses to stay on the ballot in to order represent
all the "outcasts" at school. As word of her courageousness spreads, Maggie
becomes a local celebrity and a symbol for all those who are bullied in
high school. But when Maggie's new-found fame goes to her head, the kids
who stood by her, including her best friend Casey, begin to resent her.
Maggie is forced to take a long hard look at herself and reevaluate what
battle she is truly fighting.
"Queen Sized" is produced by Starz Media for Lifetime Television. Frank
Von Zerneck (Lifetime's "Haunting Sarah," "For One Night") and Bob Sertner
(Lifetime's "Girl Positive," "We Were the Mulvaneys") serve as executive
producers. Judy Cairo (Lifetime's "The Staircase Murders") and Christopher
Morgan (Lifetime's "Fantasia Barrino: Life is Not a Fairy Tale") produced
the movie. Peter Levin (Lifetime's "Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray
Story") directed the movie from a story by Rodney Johnson and teleplay by
Richard and Nora Kletter.
"Queen Sized" is the first of three titles to premiere as part of
Lifetime's major international co-production deal with Starz Media. The
deal follows Lifetime's first partnership with French broadcaster TF-1
International to produce and distribute three original television movies
for worldwide release. For Starz Media, it's a continuation of the new
studio's expansion into top-quality primetime movies, and marks a new
production partner along with ABC, SCI FI Network, Cartoon Network, BET and
Starz Entertainment, among others. Starz Media will handle worldwide
distribution of the titles, including home entertainment through its Anchor
Bay Entertainment.
Starz Media, LLC, is a programming production and distribution company
operating worldwide. It includes the Film Roman, Anchor Bay Entertainment,
and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action
programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under
contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and
programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers,
theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and
Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally.
Starz Media is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation that is attributed to Liberty
Capital Group.
LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME
is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information
programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and
their families. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real
Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of LIFETIME
Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and
The Walt Disney Company.
SOURCE LIFETIME Networks
http://www.lifetimetv.com/
|