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via Cartoon Network press release:

Neil Patrick Harris Leads Cartoon Network’s Hit Animated Series ADVENTURE TIME to Best Performance in its 3-Season History

Cartoon Comedy Series Ranks as TV’s #1 Program of the Day on All Television Among Key Kids Demos

Cartoon Network’s Monday Night Comedies Rise to Highest Early Evening Delivery 2011-to-date

Cartoon Network’s Monday night (Sept. 5) presentation of an all-new episode of original animated series ADVENTURE TIME (8 p.m.), currently in its third season, scored its highest delivery among all targeted kids and boys demos – ages 2-11, 6-11 and 9-14 – in the history of the series, earning double-digit growth across all audiences, according to Nielsen Media Research. The Labor Day presentation out-paced all competition to rank as the #1 program of the day on all television among kids 6-11 and 9-14, as well as boys 2-11, 6-11 and 9-14. Additionally, the strength of ADVENTURE TIME’S record-setting performance – which attracted more than 3.3 million viewers 2+ – helped propel the network’s Monday night all-comedy line-up (7-9 p.m.) to its best performance 2011-to-date among total viewers.

The special episode, entitled “Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake,” featured guest-star Neil Patrick Harris (The Smurfs, How I Met Your Mother) who loaned his formidable speaking and singing vocal talents to play Prince Gumball. Harris starred in this gender-swapping, parallel universe episode which also features the female “Fionna” and her cat “Cake.”

“Since its premiere on April 5, 2010, ADVENTURE TIME has served as an anchor to our Monday nights, quickly becoming the #1 original series on our air,” said Stuart Snyder, president and chief operating officer of Cartoon Network. “With primetime Emmy Award nominations two years in a row for ‘Outstanding Animated Program,’ the series has been both a critical and popular success. Audiences – both kids and grownups alike – have made Monday night the destination for the next generation of great Cartoon Network animated comedies.”

Highlights of ADVENTURE TIME’s episode premiere performance, compared to the same 2010 time period, include the following:

• Kids 6-11 delivery (1,429,000) increased by 25%, and ratings (5.8) by 26%
• Kids 2-11 delivery (1,844,000) increased by 28%, and ratings (4.5) by 29%
• Kids 9-14 delivery (1,316,000) increased by 73%, and ratings (5.5) by 77%
• Boys 6-11 delivery (1,063,000) increased by 23%, and ratings (8.5) by 25%
• Boys 2-11 delivery (1,283,000) increased by 23%, and ratings (6.1) by 24%
• Boy 9-14 delivery (949,000) increased by 61%, and ratings (7.7) by 64%
• Total Viewers 2+ delivery (3,315,000) increased by 42%

Propelled by ADVENTURE TIME’s episode premiere, Cartoon Network’s overall Monday early evening (7-9 p.m.) also scored its best performance of the year to date. With strong performances from additional original animated series The Amazing World of Gumball (7:30 p.m.), Regular Show (8:15 p.m.) and MAD (8:30, 8:45 p.m.), Monday night grew significantly across the board – kids 6-11 average delivery (981,000) increased by 9% and ratings (4.0) by 11%, kids 2-11 delivery (1,307,000) increased by 8% and ratings (3.2) by 10%, kids 9-14 delivery (791,000) and ratings (3.3) both increased by 27%, boys 6-11 delivery (756,000) increased by 16% and ratings (6.0) by 15%, boys 2-11 delivery (958,000) increased by 14% and ratings (4.6) by 18%, and boys 9-14 delivery (595,000) increased by 36% and ratings (4.9) by 40%.

Adventure Time introduces viewers to unlikely heroes Finn and Jake, buddies who traverse the mystical Land of Ooo and encounter its colorful inhabitants. The best of friends, our heroes always find themselves in the middle of heart-pounding escapades. Finn, a silly boy with an awesome hat and Jake, a brassy dog with a big kind heart, depend on each other through thick and thin.

Adventure Time with Finn & Jake originated from the mind of creator Pendleton Ward, and is produced in partnership with Frederator Studios, with Fred Seibert serving as an executive producer on the series.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 99 million U.S. homes and 168 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animated and live-action comedy programming for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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RATING PERIOD: 9/5/10

SOURCE: Nielsen Media Research based on Live+7 blended with Live+ SD most current data. Rankers based on Live+SD.

NOTES: All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 114,500,000 homes.