Corus Entertainment’s kids networks usher in 2011 with six new series and a brand new programming block Big Fun Movies on YTV. Highlights include: Pound Puppies featuring the voice of Betty White and the Canadian original production Almost Naked Animals on YTV; and two exclusive Canadian premieres on Nick including T.U.F.F. Puppy starring Jerry Trainor (iCarly). Treehouse reclaims everyone’s favourite ponies with the series premiere of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and The Adventures of Chuck and Friends based on the famous Tonka toy.
YTV JANUARY 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
POUND PUPPIES – SERIES PREMIERE
Stemming from the original 1980s cartoon and toy line by Tonka, Pound Puppies follows the adventures of a group of seemingly average dogs in a city pound, who in reality are part of an underground secret society whose goal is to find loving homes for pets. Led by a wily charmer of a mutt named Lucky (Eric McCormack), the series follows this fearless group of dogs called the Pound Puppies as they outsmart their human wardens who never figure out what they’re saying. This 26-episode half-hour 2D-animated series produced by Canada’s 9 Story Entertainment and Hasbro Studios in the U.S. also features the voice of Betty White and premieres during YTV’s Playtime block on Tuesday, January 4 at 12 p.m.
ALMOST NAKED ANIMALS – SERIES PREMIERE
This fast-paced 2D-animated comedy follows a cast of shaved, underwear-clad animals who live in a beachfront hotel called The Copabanana. Managed by a hyper, fun-loving canine called Howie and his misfit friends Octo, Bunny, Narwhal, Duck, Sloth and Piggy, the hotel is well known for offering its guests an atmosphere of mayhem, destruction and general debauchery. But it’s not always fun and games at the hotel as Howie’s over-achieving sister and manager of the competing high-end Chateau Chattoo is desperate to take over The Copabanana from her incompetent brother. Produced in Canada by 9 Story Entertainment in association with YTV, this 26-episode half-hour series stars the voice of comedian Sean Cullen and premieres during YTV’s cartoon block CRUNCH hosted by Andy on Saturday, January 8 at 9:30 a.m.
BIG FUN MOVIES LAUNCHES ON YTV
Giving families another reason to cuddle up for some family fun, YTV delivers a brand new programming block, Big Fun Movies. Offering three films back-to-back every Sunday at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., Big Fun Movies will be hosted by YTV’s newest on-air personality Laura, who will take audiences at home behind-the-scenes to check out all things movie related during her interstitials. Whether it be exploring a movie set or interviewing A-list stars, Laura will be on a mission to find out everything about the magic of movie making. Beginning on Sunday, January 2, Big Fun Movies will kick off with Over The Hedge at 2 p.m., Ice Age at 4 p.m. and the Canadian broadcast premiere of the animated fable Igor starring John Cusack at 6 p.m.
YTV MOVIE PREMIERES
Igor (2008) premieres Sunday, January 2 at 6 p.m. – starring John Cusack and Steve Buscemi
Kit Kitteridge: An American Girl (2008) premieres Friday, January 21 at 7 p.m. – starring Abigail Breslin
Groundhog Day (1993) premieres Friday, January 28 at 7 p.m. – starring Bill Murray
Open Season II (2008) premieres Sunday, January 30 at 6 p.m. – starring Billy Connolly
Slapshot 3: The Junior League (2008) premieres Monday, January 31 at 8 p.m. – starring Doug Gilmour
Viewers can visit www.ytv.com for the latest and greatest YTV activities, games and programming schedules.
NICKELODEON JANUARY 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
T.U.F.F. PUPPY – SERIES PREMIERE
Created by Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents), this action-packed 2D-animated series centers around Dudley Puppy (voiced by iCarly’s Jerry Trainor), a gung-ho, dim-witted dog who finds himself accidentally thrust into the role of secret agent when he is recruited by the super-secret, crime-fighting organization, T.U.F.F. (Turbo Undercover Fighting Force). Puppy partners with Kitty Katswell, a feline superspy who is a skilled kung-fu and weapons expert. Naturally, they don’t get along, but together they protect their hometown of Petropolis and the rest of the world against the evil animal organization, D.O.O.M. (Diabolical Order of Mayhem). This 26-episode half-hour original series premieres exclusively on Nick Wednesday, January 5 at 6 p.m.
PLANET SHEEN – SERIES PREMIERE
This CGI animated Nick original series follows the intergalactic adventures of Sheen Guevera Estevez, the hyperactive kid from Nick’s hit TV series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. Sheen finds himself stranded in outer space after he accidentally borrows a rocket from Jimmy Neutron and crash lands on the planet Zeenu, a world of limited technology that is inhabited by not-too-bright creatures and ruled by an Emperor who becomes fascinated with Sheen. Sheen makes it his mission to teach the inhabitants of Zeenu everything Earth-like – although he possesses no skills to do so. This 13-episode half-hour series premieres exclusively on Nick Friday, January 7 at 6 p.m.
Viewers can visit www.nickcanada.com for all things Nick.
TREEHOUSE JANUARY 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC – SERIES PREMIERE
Based on Hasbro’s iconic 1980s My Little Pony franchise, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic takes on a new look in this animated series created by Lauren Faust (The Powerpuff Girls). Set in the magical land of Equestria, a kingdom inhabited by colourful ponies, Twilight Sparkle, a studious pony with magical powers, is given the important task of making new friends. On her journey to the quaint fairytale village of Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle meets five new ponies who take her on all sorts of exciting adventures and teach her about the powerful magic of friendship. Produced by Hasbro Studios and Studio B Productions My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic premieres Monday, January 3 at 6 p.m.
THE ADVENTURES OF CHUCK AND FRIENDS – SERIES PREMIERE
Produced by Hasbro Studios in association with Nelvana Studio, The Adventures of Chuck and Friends is a fast-paced, high-energy animated series based on the original Tonka toy, Chuck the Truck. Preschoolers can follow this curious, smart and adventurous truck named Chuck, whose imagination is fuelled by every visitor that pulls into the truck stop where Chuck lives. With the help of his pals Digger, Boomer, Rowdy, Soku, Biggs and Handy, Chuck turns all of his fantasies into reality. This 26-episode half-hour animated series premieres Wednesday, January 5 at 6 p.m.
