“A CHRISTMAS MIKEY” PREMIERES ON NICKELODEON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 AT 7 PM AND ON NICKTOONS NETWORK, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 AT 7 PM

Special Episode Reveals Surprise Origins of Audience Favorite Guano

New York, NY, November 13, 2006 -- Kappa Mikey, the breakout hit animé comedy series about a struggling American actor-turned-Japanese animé star, will premiere a special half-hour holiday episode, A Christmas Mikey, on Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon and Saturday, December 9 at 7 p.m. on Nicktoons Network (ET). Kappa Mikey -- MTV Networks’ first global acquisition -- initially debuted to critical acclaim on Nickelodeon’s sister channel, Nicktoons Network, in February 2006 and launched on Nickelodeon this past August. The original animated comedy series was developed by Nickelodeon and created and executive produced by Larry Schwarz of Animation Collective.

New episodes of Kappa Mikey will debut on Nickelodeon in the regular series timeslot, Sundays at 11 a.m. (ET/PT). Episodes of Kappa Mikey will also continue to air on Nicktoons Network, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. (ET).

In this special holiday episode, A Christmas Mikey – drawing on everything from Charles Dickens and Frank Capra to Dr. Seuss – Mikey is tempted to give up acting and return to America after he experiences a crisis of confidence. However, on his way to the airport, Mikey bumps into his guardian angel who shows him how Tokyo and his friends’ lives would be different if he had never come. Meanwhile, LilyMu producer Ozu is visited by the ghosts of Japanese Christmas Past, Present and Future, who teach him the true meaning of the holiday.  A special surprise at the end of the episode makes a stunning revelation about Guano.

“Growing up, I always looked forward to this time of the year when holiday shows, like ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ and movies like ‘Babes in Toyland’ would air.  A Christmas Mikey pays homage to the Christmas specials I grew up with, while delivering all the things fans love about Kappa Mikey,” said Schwarz.  “The central theme of this episode is friends and family — the relationships between the characters and what they really mean to each other. It is both hilarious and heartwarming.”

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KAPPA MIKEY – PAGE 2

Kappa Mikey, noted for its frenetic animé action and over the top character comedy, is the only animé television series created and produced in the U.S. (New York City) and not in Asia. The 52-episode series is written like a sitcom and the story contains a show within a show. Each episode takes place on and off the set of LilyMu, a fictional Japanese TV series starring once-struggling American actor, Mikey Simon, as he adjusts to his new role as “Kappa Mikey,” the biggest animé star Japan has ever seen. With its distinct creative style, blending a combination of American and Japanese animation, Mikey, drawn in thick-lined Pop Graphic style, is the only character on the show not depicted in animé. The series contains many pop-culture references and jokes for kids and adults alike.

About Animation Collective

Animation Collective is the largest animation studio in New York City with more original series in production than any other animation studio in the world. The company is a leader in creating and producing children's programming for television, the Internet, home video and other platforms. Larry Schwarz is the creator and executive producer of all of Animation Collective's original television series including Kappa Mikey, Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF, Leader Dog, and Tortellini Western for Nicktoons Network and Ellen's Acres and HTDT for Cartoon Network.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, in its 27th 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 and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than eleven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B). 

About Nicktoons Network

Nicktoons Network is the fastest growing kids’ network* and offers a 24-hour schedule featuring programming such as the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, Kappa Mikey, Thumb Wrestling Federation, Corneil and Bernie and Martin Mystery, as well as a roster of hits that have defined kids’ and animation lovers’ TV, including The Angry Beavers, Yakkity Yak, Invader Zim, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents and Jimmy Neutron. Nicktoons Network is a part of the MTV Networks expanded suite of channels available for digital distribution. The new channels include MTV Hits, MTV Jams, Nicktoons Network and VH1 Mega Hits, expanding and strengthening MTV Networks’ digital offerings to thirteen services.

Nicktoons Network currently reaches 41 million homes via cable, digital cable and satellite, and can be seen on Cablevision, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, DirecTV, DISH Network and Time Warner Cable. Nicktoons, and all related titles and logos are property of Viacom, Inc.

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