Blockbuster Theatricals, Original Telefilms and Television Premieres of Disney Classics Set For ``The Wonderful World of Disney'' on ABC

Business Wire, Jan 12, 1999

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 12, 1999--

The No. 1 Family Vehicle of the Season Announces Remaining Airdates

"The Wonderful World of Disney" continues to provide quality programming suitable for viewing by the whole family in its second season back on ABC. The series is thus far the 1998-99 season's top family fare, consistently outperforming every other primetime program each week drawing an average 14 million viewers weekly and ranking among the top 25 primetime programs in overall viewership.(a)

For ABC's Sunday night, "The Wonderful World of Disney" consistently ranks either No. 1 or No. 2 in its time period among Women 18-49 and Teens and Kids 2-11. The ratings also reflect a trend that began last season when the series returned to its original ABC home: families are gathering together on Sundays from 7-9 PM to watch "The Wonderful World of Disney."(a)

The Disney family movie franchise promises an exciting line up of theatrical films, original telefilms and Disney classics for the second half of the 1998-99 television season. Highlights include the broadcast television premieres of the animated films "The Little Mermaid" and "Peter Pan," and the network television premieres of "Mr. Holland's Opus" starring Richard Dreyfuss, "Flubber" starring Robin Williams, and Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Martin Short in "Father of the Bride Part II," the eagerly awaited sequel to the 1991 blockbuster, "Father of the Bride." In addition, several original Disney telefilms will make their world premieres, such as "Selma, Lord, Selma," a true story about Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama, during the civil rights movement, told from the point of view of two young girls; "A Saintly Switch," a comedy about switched identities directed by Peter Bogdanovich; and the whimsical "Balloon Farm," starring Rip Torn and Laurie Metcalf, based on the well-known children's book. An encore presentation of "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" will highlight Valentine's day for ABC. -0-