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[via press release]

“Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” Hits The WB For Second Year Run

(November 19, 2002 – Burbank, CA) — Based on the hit song that became a worldwide holiday phenomenon, The WB presents the joyous one-hour animated special “GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER” for a second-year run on Thursday, December 12 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET). The Christmas special also will have a holiday encore presentation on Kids’ WB!, Monday, December 23 (4:00-5:00 p.m. ET/PT).

“GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER,” loosely based on the 1979 song with music and lyrics by Randy Brooks, is a goofy and heartwarming holiday escapade. Young Jake Spankenheimer’s beloved Grandma goes missing on Christmas Eve. To the disbelief of his doting parents, rebellious sister and fun-loving Grandpa, Jake sets out on the quest of a lifetime — to save the family store from his conniving, greedy cousin Mel, track down Grandma…and prove that Santa Claus is indeed real.

This lively, outrageous comedy features the voices of musician, writer, composer Elmo Shropshire (a.k.a. Dr. Elmo) as both the Narrator and Grandpa Spankenheimer; Michele Lee (“Knots Landing”) as Jake’s greedy Cousin Mel; Sue Blu (“The Smurfs”) as Grandma Spankenheimer; Jim Staahl as Santa Claus; and newcomer Alex Doduk as Jake. There are five songs in the special, including the title song, as well as “Grandma’s Killer Fruitcake,” “Grandma’s Spending Christmas With the Superstars” and “Grandpa’s Gonna Sue the Pants Off Santa,” co-written by Shropshire and Rita Abrams; and “Feels Like Christmas,” co-written by Shropshire and Pam Wendell.

“GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER” is directed by six-time Emmy Award-winning animation artist Phil Roman (“The Simpsons,” “Peanuts” specials). Jim Fisher and Jim Staahl (“Bobby’s World”) wrote the script from a story by Fred A. Rappoport (“I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special,” “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies” specials), Shropshire, Fisher and Staahl. The special is executive produced by Rappoport and Roman, and produced by Noel Roman, Fisher and Staahl. Atomic Productions created the storyboard and design animation. Nathan Wang is the composer. Susan Blu and Ginny McSwain are the voice directors. Gary Chase and Michele Lee provide the vocals for the songs.

“GRANDMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER” is a presentation of Phil Roman/The Fred Rappoport Company L.L.C., A Phil Roman Production & The Fred Rappoport Company Production. SFM Entertainment LLC is the worldwide distributor of the program.