Disney Channel Sets Sail on Columbus Day With Two Special Marathons.

Entertainment Editors

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2001

Disney Channel celebrates the Columbus Day holiday with two special marathons on Monday, Oct. 8 featuring the network's original programming.

First, preschoolers and their caregivers can spend the morning with "Stanley," the star of Playhouse Disney's newest series, from 6AM - 8PM ET/PT. Tag along for the adventure and fun as Stanley and his best friend, a talking goldfish named Dennis, explore the animal kingdom while, at the same time, using their newfound knowledge to navigate the tumults of kid-dom!

Then in the late afternoon and evening, kids and tweens can get in on the act with a special marathon of their own. Disney Channel's "I Love Lizzie Marathon," from 4PM - 10PM ET/PT, features 12 hilarious episodes of the popular Zoog Disney series, "Lizzie McGuire." To add to the excitement, fans of the series will have an opportunity to see their very own emails appear on the air. Since Sept. 21, "Lizzie McGuire" fans have been invited to log on to www.ZoogDisney.com and to send emails expressing what they love about "Lizzie McGuire." Selected emails will be tickered across millions of television screens during the "I Love Lizzie Marathon" for all viewers to see!

"Stanley" follows the adventures of six-year-old Stanley Griff, an extremely imaginative and creative little boy who is wild about animals. In fact, he loves to make simple drawings of his favorite animals and to do research using his "Great Big Book of Everything." Through Stanley's antics and explorations, children have an opportunity to learn what it means to be imaginative and to have a passion for learning and caring about the world around them. The show provides opportunities for children to acquire problem-solving skills, early math, science and language skills, and lots of interesting information about animals.

"Lizzie McGuire," what's on her mind these days? For a direct answer, just ask her brassy, animated counterpart in this totally original Disney Channel comedy series mixing live-action and animation. In the world of 13-year-old Lizzie McGuire, every day's a popularity contest, every class is a crisis, and her Mom wants to know about every bit of it. Aside from being the focal point of her parents' good intentions, Lizzie hangs with her two best friends Miranda and Gordo, and somehow manages to deal with her pesky little brother Matt. While charting her course through an alternately awesome and awkward adolescence, events, flashbacks and details are shown in a variety of images, including 16 mm film, high-8 video and digital stills. And, no matter what's happening, count on animated Lizzie to give the real, unrestrained and often hysterical scoop on the emotions that her flesh-and-blood self feels all too well.

Disney Channel, combining original series, movies and specials with timeless classics, is the first general entertainment television network designed for kids and families. Currently available in more than 77 million homes, Disney Channel is a division of ABC Cable Networks Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.