or


[10/31/05 - 12:00 AM]
All I Want for Christmas' Becomes a Reality in 'Dear Santa,' a New Holiday Special to Premiere on FOX December 9

[via press release from FOX]

'ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS' BECOMES A REALITY IN 'DEAR SANTA,' A NEW HOLIDAY SPECIAL TO PREMIERE ON FOX DECEMBER 9

Lions Gate Television and Full Circle Entertainment Team Up with U.S. Postal Service to Produce the Unscripted One-Hour Show Addressing the Dreams of 'Dear Santa' Letter Writers

Los Angeles, CA, October 31, 2005 � FOX, Lions Gate Television and Full Circle Entertainment, in cooperation with the United States Postal Service, have struck a deal for an hour-long unscripted holiday special, entitled Dear Santa, to premiere on FOX December 9 at 8:00pm ET/PT. The announcement was made today by Ed Wilson, President Fox Television Network; Kevin Beggs, President, Programming and Production, Lions Gate Television; Robert Riesenberg, President and CEO of Full Circle Entertainment; and John E. Potter, Postmaster General and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service.

The reality show will be based on a selection of the most compelling letters the U.S. Postal Service receives from children and families asking for Santa's help. The dramatic stories of these families will be told as their holiday dreams are fulfilled.

Distributed by Lions Gate Television and produced in association with Full Circle Entertainment, Renegade 83, Inc. and Mann Made Productions, Inc., Dear Santa was created by Darren Mann and will be executive produced by Mann, Riesenberg, and Renegade 83 partners David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe (The Law Firm, The 4400, The Surreal Life, Blind Date).

An album is also being produced in conjunction with the special, which will include both original Christmas songs and four of the top ten most-played Christmas classics of all time. Alicia Keys, Nick Lachey and American Idol finalist Vonzell Solomon are among the stars featured on the CD, along with Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song," Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" and Johnny Mathis' "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." The CD will be on sale at more than 20,000 post offices across the country.

The U.S. Postal Service will be promoting the special with point-of-purchase displays in most of its 38,000 post offices; on its website at www.usps.com; and as part of a 40-city tour with Vonzell Solomon, who was an employee of the Postal Service prior to her run on American Idol.

"FOX is very excited to be working with Lions Gate Television, Full Circle Entertainment and the U.S. Postal Service on a special that sends such a positive message to our viewers and that every family can relate to," said Wilson.

"When Darren approached us about working with the U.S Postal Service on a holiday reality special, we jumped at the opportunity," said Beggs. "The concept has tremendous evergreen potential, the marketing campaign will be extraordinary and we are excited to be part of what could become a new holiday entertainment tradition."

"We have always sought to be involved with projects that strike a distinctive emotional cord with audiences," said Riesenberg. "Dear Santa is a heartwarming vehicle that will positively touch hearts across the demographic universe and will provide a perfect sponsorship vehicle."

"Through the power of the mail, the U.S. Postal Service has proudly connected families, friends, and loved ones during the holiday season," said Potter. "Every year thousands of postal employees, charitable organizations, corporations and individuals participate in making children's holiday wishes come true by answering the letters to Santa that we receive. We were happy to work on this production and hope it encourages others to visit their local post offices to do the same."

About Lions Gate Television
Lions Gate Television is the television production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF). With a total of four series currently on the air, the company is an important supplier of content to cable and broadcast networks. Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library is a valuable source of stable and recurring revenue and serves as a foundation for the continued growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.

About Full Circle Entertainment
Full Circle Entertainment was launched with the hiring of Mr. Riesenberg in February 2004 to develop and produce quality programming that has strong viewer appeal, while providing an ideal environment and marketing platforms for major sponsors. The company's production team is best known for executive producing numerous television series and movies including "The Restaurant," "House Rules," "Meet Mister Mom," "Young Americans," "He's a Lady," "The Winning Season," "Miss Lettie and Me," "Bojangles" as well as creating the highly-regarded movie franchises, Chrysler Showcase Theater, and Johnson & Johnson Spotlight Presentation. Full Circle Entertainment is part of Omnicom Media Group, the media services division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE), which also includes media agencies OMD Worldwide and the PHD Network, as well as ICON International, Novus Print Media and DaVinci Selectwork.

Omnicom Group Inc. is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded agency networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

About the United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service has proudly connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses via the U.S. Mail for well over two centuries. Delivering to over 144 million addresses every day, it is the largest independent agency of the executive branch of the federal government, but receives no taxpayer dollars; is required to operate like a business, but can make no profit and must break even over time; and, derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $68 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mail and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 43 percent of the world's mail volume�over 200 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year and serving seven million customers each day at its 38,000 retail locations nationwide.





  [october 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· BOJANGLES (SHOWTIME)
· HE'S A LADY (TBS)
· HOUSE RULES (TBS)
· MEET MISTER MOM (NBC)
· MISS LETTIE & ME (TNT)
· RESTAURANT, THE (NBC)
· WINNING SEASON, THE (TNT)
· YOUNG AMERICANS (WB)





[10/15/26 - 01:00 PM]
Fandango Expands Into Original Programming with "Bad Girls Club: Unfinished Business"
The special event reunites six unforgettable personalities from Season 7 of the iconic "Bad Girls Club" franchise, Fandango's most-watched season: Angie Castillo, Judi Jackson, Priscilla Mennella, Shelly Hickman, Stasi Townsend, and Tiara Hodge.

[10/15/26 - 12:01 PM]
National Geographic's "Wolves Up Close with Bertie Gregory" Premieres Nov. 6
Reconnecting with a pack of wolves he has followed for seven years, Bertie sets out to capture one of the Arctic's most dangerous and rarely filmed hunts: wolves taking on a bull moose, prey roughly ten times their size.

[10/15/26 - 12:00 PM]
Peacock's "Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together" Season Two Premieres on Thursday, Nov. 19
In the eight new episodes, the couple navigates love, family, and demanding careers while taking control of their legacy.

[10/15/26 - 11:01 AM]
Comedy Central Announces "The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Red Flags"
The special premieres immediately following "The Daily Show" on Monday, October 26 at 11:30pm ET/PT and will be available on Paramount+, "The Daily Show's" YouTube Channel, and VOD on Tuesday, October 27.

[10/15/26 - 11:00 AM]
The CW Network Sets Broadcast Schedule for 2026-27 Men's and Women's College Basketball
The network will also introduce "CW Courtside Wednesday" this winter, highlighting midweek marquee games across all three conferences in primetime.

[10/15/26 - 10:29 AM]
ESPN Delivered Its Most-Watched WNBA Playoffs Ever!
Across eight games, ESPN networks averaged 1.4 million viewers, up 23% compared to coverage through the semifinals last year.

[10/15/26 - 10:00 AM]
Skydance TV Networks to Re-Air "The Concert for New York City," Marking Its 25th Anniversary
Staged in the aftermath of 9/11, the landmark concert brought together the music community, first responders, dignitaries and New Yorkers in an extraordinary demonstration of unity, generosity and resolve.

[10/15/26 - 09:12 AM]
Paramount+ Scottish Highland Drama "Laird" Announces Additional Casting
Jennifer Ehle,Peter Mullan, Phia Saban, Ruaridh Mollica, Holliday Grainger, Douglas Hodge, and Corey Mylchreest are the latest additions.

[10/15/26 - 09:08 AM]
"Pardon the Interruption" Marks 25 Years of Must-See Sports Debate with Special Anniversary Celebration on ESPN
On Thursday, October 22, ESPN celebrates the silver anniversary of "PTI" with a special double-episode event.

[10/15/26 - 08:02 AM]
Al Pacino to Be Honored with the 2026 SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award
Pacino will be presented with the union's top tribute at The 33rd Annual Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA, which will stream live on Netflix Sunday, February 28, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT from the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall.

[10/15/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Paramount+ Reveals December 18 Premiere Date & Teaser for "Frisco King," Starring Samuel L. Jackson
Written by Taylor Sheridan, "Frisco King" follows seasoned New Orleans gangster Lee Washington as he lands in Frisco, Texas, and discovers a hustler's playground hidden beneath the polished surface of American suburbia.

[10/15/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Fall of El Mayo" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, longtime partner of "El Chapo", and a ghost to authorities for over three decades. The documentary that tells the story of his downfall.

[10/15/26 - 08:00 AM]
CBS Wins Its Premiere Week with Eight of the Top 10 Broadcast Shows and Delivers +9% Year-Over-Year Growth
Weekly viewership averaged 4.43 million viewers, growing +9% from its 2025 premiere week (4.08m viewers).

[10/15/26 - 07:01 AM]
TNT Sports & DAZN Present World Championship Boxing Doubleheader on "The Fight", Saturday, Oct. 17
Headlining the evening, WBC Super Welterweight Champion Sebastián "The Towering Inferno" Fundora (24-1-1, 16 KOs) will put his title on the line against unbeaten challenger Ermal Hadribeaj (23-0-1, 8 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round showdown.

[10/15/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "In a Holidaze" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Maddie Ziegler stars in this festive romantic comedy about second chances, tangled feelings, and a chosen family you'll want to spend the holidays with.