PAUL REUBENS, A.KA. 'PEE WEE HERMAN,' AND PATRICIA HEARST GUEST STAR ON OCTOBER EPISODES OF SCI FI CHANNEL'S IRREVERENT ANIMATED SERIES "TRIPPING THE RIFT"

Reubens' Guest Spot to Air October 12; Hearst's October 19

NEW YORK -- September 28, 2005 -- Actor Paul Reubens, best known as his alter ego "Pee Wee Herman," along with actress and newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst, will guest star on upcoming episodes of SCI FI's salacious original animated series, 'Tripping the Rift.' Reubens doubles as both God and the Devil in an episode entitled "Chode's Near Death Experience" on Wednesday, October 12 at 10PM ET/PT. In "Six, Lies and Videotape," premiering Wednesday, October 19 at 10PM ET/PT, Hearst plays Haffa Dozen, the human after whom Six, the sexy cyborg voiced by Carmen Electra, was modeled.

Based on the award-winning webisode of the same name, 'Tripping the Rift' is a humorous and sexy send-up of all things sci-fi. Following the adventures of the Jupiter 42, a smuggling vessel led by a stumpy purple alien named Chode (Stephen Root) who, along with his colorful group of misfit shipmates, battles archenemies and new obstacles in space. Chode's crew includes "Six" (Carmen Electra), a sexy cyborg who happens to be the most advanced android ever created; "Gus," (Maurice LaMarche) Chode's sexually confused and verbally-abused robot slave; "T'Nuk," (Gayle Garfinkle) the ship's aesthetically-challenged pilot; and "Whip," (Rick Jones) Chode's teenaged slacker nephew. John Melendez ('The Howard Stern Show,' 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno') provides the halting voice of "Spaceship Bob," the fastest ship in the galaxy.

When the ever-gluttonous Chode chokes on a hamburger from a beloved fast-foot restaurant, the episode, "Chode's Near Death Experience," literally takes flight. While moving toward "the light," Chode's living years flash before him and he is visited by both "God" and "The Devil" (both voiced by Paul Reubens). Amazingly, Chode survives the nasty accident. Remorseful, he transforms himself into a nicer being. With the Jupiter 42 being chased by Chode's arch-enemy ("Darph Bobo") though, is the new Chode equipped to captain the ship?

In "Six, Lies and Videotape" space cops chase down the Jupiter 42 and arrest Six. Turns out she was pinched for a string of thefts throughout the galaxy, but they may have the wrong woman. While in jail awaiting her hearing, Six is visited by her "Mother," Haffa Dozen (Patricia Hearst) a heartless ex-stripper. Can Six bring out the maternal instinct in Haffa Dozen, or will she spend eternity rusting in the slammer?

SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 85 million homes, SCI FI Channel is network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.