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[via press release]

Cartoon Network Pitches Camp Lazlo onto Summer Schedule

Wild New Series from Joe Murray to Debut in July 8 at 8 p.m. (ET, PT)

Monkeys don’t like rules, and Lazlo, star of Cartoon Network’s upcoming animated series Camp Lazlo, is a monkey who wreaks good-natured havoc on his highly structured summer home, Camp Kidney.  His friendly mischief-making, wacky camp shenanigans and a budding, confusing relationship with a very cute mongoose named Patsy Smiles drive the action in the new series from Joe Murray, creator of Rocko’s Modern Life.  Camp Lazlo, a 30-minute animated comedy, is scheduled to debut on Friday, July 8, at 8 p.m. (ET, PT) during Fridays, Cartoon Network’s signature weekend franchise.

Camp Kidney is a wonderful place, nestled on the bucolic shores of Leakey Lake.  It has everything a camper could want: rustic cabins named after all the famous beans (such as soy, garbanzo, jumping and cocoa); a beach and boat dock for aquatic fun; an outdoor amphitheater and campfire pit; a loudspeaker for blasting announcements to all the campers; and a mess hall.  On top of that, there’s one uptight moose, Scoutmaster Lumpus, running the whole thing.

Lazlo is a natural-born non-conformist, with a great imagination and optimistic spirit. He lives in Jelly Cabin with his pals and co-conspirators Raj, a reluctant, compulsive Indian elephant, and Clam, an eccentric, misfit, genius, albino pygmy rhino.  Together this trio turns to eager persuasion and good-natured meddling when it comes to things like finding buried treasure, saving a rare giant mulberry tree, staking out the best mud puddle and setting Scoutmaster Lumpus up on a date.  Sometimes Lazlo’s fellow Bean Scouts, like Edward the Platypus, the Dung Beetles, the Loon Brothers and Samson the Guinea Pig, join him; other times, it’s just Lazlo and the rest of the Jelly Cabin habitués fighting the good fight.  Adding to the tension in Bean Scout Camp is the fact that just across the lake are their natural rivals, the girls of Squirrel Scout Camp.

Murray is a noted animator, artist and author of children’s books.  Murray created Rocko’s Modern Life, about a wallaby who has emigrated to America, which premiered in 1993.  He has also written and illustrated two children’s books, Who Asked the Moon to Dinner? and The Enormous Mister Schmupsle – An ABC Adventure.  Prior to beginning his animation career, Murray worked as a political cartoonist in San Jose, Calif., and as a commercial illustrator.

Joining Murray as a co-producer of Camp Lazlo is Mark O’Hare, who served as a writer and storyboard artist on SpongeBob SquarePants and Rocko’s Modern Life.  The voice cast includes Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends) as the voice of Scoutmaster Lumpus and his obsequious assistant, Slinkman, a banana slug, and Carlos Alazraqui (Fairly OddParents, Reno 911) as Lazlo and Clam.  Jeff Glen Bennett (Johnny Bravo) joins in as Raj.

Camp Lazlo is currently in production at Cartoon Network Studios.  Twenty-six episodes have been ordered.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in 88 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families.  Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.