Nickelodeon Announces “All Growed Up” Series; “Rugrats” Pre-School Specials
via Nickelodeon press release:
OH, BABY, THEY’RE BIGGER THAN EVER! TOMMY, CHUCKIE, ANGELICA AND THE GANG TOP THE SCREEN AS TWEENS IN FIRST-EVER RUGRATS SPIN-OFF SERIES
NICKELODEON’S ALL GROWED UP BEGINS PRODUCTION ON 13 EPISODES FOR 2003-04
Production Also Gets Underway on Four Specials Spotlighting Angelica and Susie’s Pre-School Adventures
Santa Monica, CA — September 26, 2002 — Diaper-less at last, venturing far beyond the sandbox, Nickelodeon’s perennial tots are tweens – and not just for a day – in Rugrats’ first-ever spin-off series, All Growed Up, now in production in Los Angeles. The animated TV history-makers whose 10th anniversary special All Growed Up toppled records last July – a whopping 70 percent of all kids 2-11 tuned in – will continue their adventures above rug level on the cusp of teen-hood in the 13-episode series. Debut of the new Nick show from Klasky Csupo, Inc., which will run concurrently with Rugrats, is slated for the 2003-04 season.
In addition, a previously announced spin-off series centering on the pre-school adventures of Rugrats’ tempestuous Angelica and spunky Susie will take the form of four specials also targeted for telecast in 2003-04.
‘What better way to reward an incredibly loyal audience than to serve up a perennial favorite in an all new way,’ said Cyma Zarghami, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon. ‘The tween special proved kids are ready to embrace these beloved characters in a whole new realm. The Rugrats property is 11 years old – so it feels just right to have the babies turn into tweens in their twelfth year on the air.’
The still bonded members of the onetime baby brigade now manage to negotiate with bossy Angelica (Cheryl Chase) and even outmaneuver the trendy 13-year-old on occasion. A born leader, Tommy (E.G. Daily) stays protective of his best pal, worrywart Chuckie (Nancy Cartwright), a Middle Manager of Tomorrow trying hard to break out of the mold and be bold. Mischief-makers Phil and Lil (Kath Soucie) seek their individual styles outside of twindom: Phil revels in mess and Lil focuses on finding her place in the school social scene. As adventurous and confident as ever, Kimi (Dionne Quan) is a study in contrast to her loving brother Chuckie. A true individual, Tommy’s little brother Dylan ‘Dil’ (Tara Strong) marches to his own odd beat. And smart, spunky Susie (Cree Summer) — still a crusader for what’s right — upstages Angelica as a singer with real talent.
All embark on exciting, funny, exhilarating adventures of growing up. Flashbacks in the series, often courtesy of Tommy’s burgeoning directorial talents, will afford viewers a chance to re-explore moments from Rugrats as well as peek at the ‘missing years.’
In addition, in four Rugrats specials centering on Angelica and Susie’s pre-school adventures, humorously obtuse, hanger-on classmate Harold (Pat Musick) joins the duo.
Since premiering in 1991, Rugrats has emerged as a TV phenomenon and a formidable franchise including two box office hits – The Rugrats Movie and Rugrats in Paris — and a vast array of consumer products including toys, video, CD ROM, DVD soundtracks, video games, books and apparel.
A three-time Emmy Award winner with an enormous following of kids and adults, Rugrats was the top show on broadcast and cable among Kids 2-11 from 1996-2001 (source: Nielsen Media Research) and the highest rated kids’ show on cable for eight straight years. Currently, it ranks second only to Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and wins its timeslot wherever it airs. In addition, Rugrats is seen internationally in over 150 countries.
Rugrats was created by Arlene Klasky, Gabor Csupo and Paul Germain and is produced by Klasky-Csupo, Inc. for Nickelodeon, a programming service of Viacom International Inc. All Growed Up is created and produced by Klasky and Csupo through their company at production headquarters in Los Angeles.
Nickelodeon, now in its 23rd 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, music and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 86 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic-cable network for more than six consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.