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Nick at Nite Teams Up With Michael Eisner's Tornante Animation for New TV Series
Greenlights Production for Stop-Motion Animated Comedy, Glenn Martin
DDS.
20 Episodes of Tornante Animation's First TV Production to Premiere in
2009, Continuing Nick at Nite's Evolution to Serve Contemporary Families
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 29 -- As TV's home for the
modern-day family comedy, top-rated Nick at Nite has green-lit Glenn Martin
DDS., the first television series from Michael Eisner's Tornante Animation,
cuing production on 20 episodes of the original, stop-motion primetime
program. Giving the American family a whole new look, the 'trailblazing'
series buckles up with the Martins in their toothbrush-topped dental mobile
as they leave suburbia behind in the rear-view mirror and embark on a
cross-country adventure. Eisner and the newly formed division of The
Tornante Company -- Tornante Animation, have enlisted Eric Fogel -- the
creative force behind MTV's hit Celebrity Deathmatch -- to help design the
series.
"Michael Eisner has been the creative architect of some of the most
successful sitcoms in television history and we're very excited that the
first new series from his new company will be on Nick at Nite," said Cyma
Zarghami, President of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "Glenn
Martin, DDS is an innovative take on the modern American family and has the
potential to be a definitional program in Nick at Nite's lineup of family
comedies like George Lopez and Home Improvement."
For four decades, Michael Eisner has been a leader in the American
entertainment industry. While at ABC, he helped take the network to number
one with such iconic shows as Happy Days, Barney Miller and Roots. As
President of Paramount Pictures, he turned out hit films such as Raiders of
the Lost Ark and Saturday Night Fever. In 1984, he assumed the position of
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company and, in the
ensuing 21 years, transformed it from a film and theme park company with
$1.8 billion in enterprise value into a global media empire valued at $80
billion. In 2005, Eisner founded The Tornante Company; a privately held
company that makes investments in and incubates companies and opportunities
in the media and entertainment space.
"Nickelodeon is a global brand synonymous with innovative and creative
content for kids and families," said Eisner. "This network is a great fit
for Glenn Martin DDS and I look forward to helping Nick at Nite grow their
prime-time line up."
With its strongest showing in more than two years, Nick at Nite is
total day's number-one basic cable network with Adults 18-49 (tied with
TNT) and ranks second only to sister-channel Nickelodeon among total
viewers in second quarter 2008 (NMR: 3/31/08-6/29/08).
Nick At Nite is Nickelodeon's nighttime programming block that also
features popular hit family comedies including the Emmy Award-winning
series Home Improvement, George Lopez, and Family Matters, as well as The
Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Roseanne. Also coming in 2009 is the hit comedy
Everybody Hates Chris, from co-creator and narrator Chris Rock and inspired
by his real-life childhood experiences
Nickelodeon, now in its 29th year, is the number-one entertainment
brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids
first in everything it does. The company includes television programming
and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer
products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films.
Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million
households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 14
consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos
are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
ABOUT THE TORNANTE COMPANY
Founded in 2005 by Michael Eisner, The Tornante Company is a privately
held company that makes investments in and incubates companies and
opportunities in the media and entertainment space. The Tornante Company's
investments include Topps, Vuguru, Team Baby Entertainment, and Veoh
Networks. In the summer of 2008, the company launched Tornante Animation to
produce animation for television and multi media platforms.
All numbers above are based on Nielsen Media Research and Nick at
Nite's total programming day unless otherwise noted. *Nick at Nite: M-Th
and Sun: 9 p.m.-6 a.m.; Fr-Sat 10 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET/PT).
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