Handy Manny roars into primetime in Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure on
Family Channel

    
               Kris Kristofferson and Donny Osmond Guest Star

              Los Lobos and Wilmer Valderrama Perform New Songs

       Special family-themed programming event airs Monday, October 12
                     including network premiere of Tarzan
    

TORONTO , Sept. 29 /CNW/ - This Thanksgiving weekend Astral Media's Family Channel takes viewers on a road trip with Handy Manny and his tools in Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure, a primetime special for the whole family. This 40-minute special starring Wilmer Valderrama and guest-starring Kris Kristofferson and Donny Osmond premieres Monday, October 12 at 7 p.m. ET /PT, following the network premiere of the jungle adventure movie, Tarzan at 5:30 p.m. ET /PT. Younger audiences can take control of the household viewing during Family Channel's special family-themed line-up.

In Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure, Manny and his tools (stars of the hit Emmy and Imagen Award-nominated Playhouse Disney series) - Felipe, Pat, Turner, Flicker, Stretch, Squeeze, Dusty, Rusty and Flicker - head off on Manny's motorcycle to his family reunion, but Pat gets separated from the group when he sets out with Squeeze and Flicker to find his own family. As Manny and the other tools work to find them, they are helped by a farmer (played by Donny Osmond ) and gas station owner (played by Kris Kristofferson ). In the end, Pat learns the importance of his family.

Renowned East Los Angeles rockers Los Lobos and Wilmer Valderrama each perform new songs in the special. Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure also features the new song "Somebody Somewhere (Just Like Me)," written by Tom Kenny and Andy Paley and performed by Kenny's character, Pat, and his sidekick Squeeze.

Before holding on tight on a motorcycle adventure, families can swing with the Disney animated movie Tarzan at 5:30 p.m. ET /PT. Featuring the voices of Minnie Driver , Rosie O'Donnell, Glenn Close , and music by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Phil Collins , Tarzan follows the adventures of an orphaned human infant raised by a family of gorillas who accept him as one of their own. Together with his wisecracking ape buddy Terk and neurotic elephant pal Tantor, Tarzan learns how to "surf" and swing through the trees and survive in the animal kingdom. As Tarzan matures into a young man his two worlds collide with the arrival of humans, forcing Tarzan to choose between a "civilized" life with the beautiful Jane and the life he knows and loves with his gorilla family.

Family Channel is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in 6 million homes across Canada . Dedicated to celebrating family life and providing a fun experience for all, Family airs a unique mix of series, movies and specials, with a large portion of programming supplied by Disney. Family Channel also offers Family OnDemand in select areas, a Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service that features hit Disney movies and series, top-rated Canadian series and Playhouse Disney programming. Visit us at Family.ca.

Family Channel is an Astral Television Network. Astral Media is a leading Canadian media company, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media. Astral Media's solid and dynamic presence in the country's major markets rests on its commitment to offer a unique combination of high-quality, targeted media for all its audiences. For more information about Astral Media, please visit www.astralmedia.com.

For further information: Geneviève Parent at [phone] or [email protected]