David Hasselhoff Joins the SpongeBob SquarePants 20th Anniversary Special, 'SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout'

Update - Below is Nickelodeon USA's original press release announcing the exciting news!:

Nickelodeon Reveals First Look at SpongeBob SquarePants’ Voice Cast

as Human Versions of Their Characters in SpongeBob SquarePants, “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout” Mixed Live-Action/Animated Special

David Hasselhoff to Appear in Special, Premiering Friday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT)

Nickelodeon today revealed a first look of the upcoming SpongeBob SquarePants one-hour special, “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout,” featuring for the first time the celebrated voice cast behind SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, Squidward and Plankton playing human versions of their animated characters and guest star David Hasselhoff (Baywatch). The all-new mixed live-action and animated special premieres Friday, July 12, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

In the episode, Patrick and SpongeBob journey to the surface world, where the duo come across a few familiar faces during lunchtime rush at The Trusty Slab restaurant. Meanwhile the Bikini Bottom residents set up a surprise birthday party for SpongeBob.

Donning his famous lifeguard attire, Hasselhoff guests as himself in the special, where he runs into a little trouble in an ocean kayak and on the beach. Hasselhoff also notably played himself in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. His return is a special nod to his original performance for fans around the world.

“I experienced the world of SpongeBob first-hand when I appeared in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, which was an amazing experience,” said Hasselhoff. “After making that cameo, kids around the world recognized me from the movie. How awesome to now come back to be part of the 20th anniversary special. I got to interact with Tom Kenny and SpongeBob. It also was a heartwarming tribute to Steve Hillenburg. Happy 20th SpongeBob. Hooray!!”

“Steve Hillenburg gave me the gift of a lifetime when he asked me to voice his porous alter ego, SpongeBob SquarePants.” Said Kenny. “He changed my life and all of our lives. To reach the 20-year mark is a huge milestone and we wanted to celebrate by throwing a big party Bikini Bottom style. SpongeBob only comes up to the surface world on special occasions and this time one stop on his journey is The Trusty Slab restaurant. Stepping on the set and acting alongside my friends and fellow cast members was a true out of body experience. Fans are truly going to love it.”

Additional guest stars in the special include Kel Mitchell (All That), Jack Griffo (The Thundermans) and Daniella Perkins (Knight Squad).

SpongeBob launched July 17, 1999, and has reigned as the number-one kids’ animated series on TV for the last 17 years, generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base. The “Best Year Ever,” leads up to the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies theatrical, The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge, coming summer 2020.

###

Update (5/31) - “Happy birthday, Spongebob henny!”: To celebrate SpongeBob SquarePants' 20th Anniversary, RuPaul recorded a special birthday message for the beloved animated character during the taping for the 11th season finale of the hit show, RuPaul’s Drag Race! RuPaul also recorded a birthday greeting for Blue, but it's currently unknown whether he was referring to Blue Ivy Carter or Blue from Blue's Clues.

According to the attached photo, Tom Kenny will portray a character named JimBob (Jim Bob) in the live-action portion of the special.

Update: The live-action version of Squidward will be named Mr. Manford, Mr. Krabs will be named Mr. Slabs, and Plankton will be named Charleston.

Photos: Robert Voets / NICKELODEON/ROBERT VOETS, Nickelodeon

Original post:

David Hasselhoff joins the Spongebob Squarepants 20th anniversary special

Hasselhoff told EW "SpongeBob's Big Birthday Blowout" is a "heartwarming tribute" to creator Stephen Hillenburg.

SpongeBob Squarepants is bringing back one of its most iconic guest stars for its 20th anniversary special, “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout”!

Baywatch star David Hasselhoff is returning to the SpongeBob universe 15 years after he first tucked SpongeBob and Patrick in between his pecs and shotgunned them back into Bikini Bottom in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.

Hasselhoff tells EW, “After making that cameo, kids around the world recognized me from the movie. How awesome to now come back to be part of the 20th anniversary special.”

In “SpongeBob Big Birthday Blowout,” SpongeBob and Patrick reunite with Hasselhoff after a tour bus the two Bikini Bottom residents are on runs over the Hoff’s foot.

Hasselhoff also shares a scene with actor Tom Kenny, who is doing triple duty for the 20th anniversary special voicing SpongeBob, playing Patchy the Pirate, and cameoing as SpongeBob’s surface world counterpart who’s a fry cook at The Krusty Slab (the surface world’s version of The Krusty Krab).

The rest of the voice cast is in on the fun with Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star, Roger Bumpass as Squidward, Clancy Brown as Mr. Krabs, Carolyn Lawrence as Sandy Cheeks, and Mr. Lawrence as Plankton.

Kenny told EW that “stepping on the set [of The Krusty Slab] and acting alongside my friends and fellow cast members was a true out of body experience. Fans are truly going to love it.”

Both Kenny and Hasselhoff also highlighted how “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout” honors SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenberg, who sadly passed away in November 2018 following a battle with ALS, with Hasselhoff calling the 20th anniversary special a “heartwarming tribute” to him.

“Steve Hillenburg gave me the gift of a lifetime when he asked me to voice his porous alter ego, SpongeBob SquarePants,” Kenny said. “He changed my life and all of our lives.”

In addition to Hasselhoff, the 20th anniversary special will feature cameos from Jack Griffo (The Thundermans), Daniella Perkins (Knight Squad), and Kel Mitchell (All That, Game Shakers).

“SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout” airs Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Nickelodeon USA, kicking off "Best Year Ever", a year-long celebration of Nickelodeon's beloved SpongeBob SquarePants animated series, which will lead up to the Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies theatrical, The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge, coming summer 2020.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Marks 20 Years of "SpongeBob SquarePants" with the "Best Year Ever"!

Originally published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 4:27pm BST.

Additional sources: Nickandmore!, BuzzFeed.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!

'Are You Afraid of the Dark?' Movie/Miniseries Plot Unveiled

Production Weekly has unveiled more details about Paramount Players's movie adaptation of the '90s Nickelodeon horror anthology series Are You Afraid of the Dark?!

The official synopsis for Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark? miniseries is: "A group of kids meet in secret every week to tell scary stories in the woods. They're call the Midnight Society. But when a new girl arrives in town and auditions to join the group... things begin to get spooky. A reboot of the classic '90s Nickelodeon show."

The production listing also reveals that filming for the movie will begin Monday, June 10th and wrap Friday, July 19th in Vancouver, Canada, as well as the production credits are:

Produced by: Are You Afraid Productions Inc., Ace Entertainment, Nickelodeon West Coast, Paramount Players
Producer: Matt Kaplan, Robyn Marshall, Mallory Martin, Max Siemers
Writer: Gary Dauberman
Writer/Producer: BenDavid Grabinski
Director: Dean Israelite
LP: Chris Foss
PM: Tia Buhl
PC: Cathy Fullerton

Now, here's where it gets confusing. The production listing for the Are You Afraid of the Dark? project lists it as a new miniseries, although it has the movies' production credits. Paramount Players announced last year that they were producing a new movie adaptation of the '90s Nickelodeon hit. The only major difference is Dean Israelite (2017's Power Rangers movie) is now sitting in the directors chair, taking over from D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, xXx: Return of Xander Cage).

The Are You Afraid of the Dark? movie was set to be released in October this year, but Paramount Pictures recently took the film off their 2019 release schedule. Could Paramount and Nickelodeon have changed their minds about their Are You Afraid of the Dark? movie, and are now releasing it as a miniseries? The Are You Afraid of the Dark? miniseries was announced during Nickelodeon Upfront 2019 in February, and is slated to premiere in October 2019.

Of course, it could easily be just a typo, and it's the movie that's being filming in June 2019, not the miniseries.

Israelite made his feature film debut with the found-footage time travel flick Project Almanac. He then went on to direct Saban's 2017 Power Rangers, based on the wildly popular and long-running franchise. Next, he will write and direct Amblin’s supernatural thriller Minotaur.

It was recently revealed that The Prodigy director Nicholas McCarthy delivered the latest draft of the movie's script.

"I actually just turned in the script and we’re all pretty excited about it," he told SYFY WIRE. "I think the target is to shoot it this summer. I’ve had an absolute blast. There’s been a couple of writers before who have tried to crack it, and I think I’ve done it with this version. I love the series, too, and I’ve already had an amazing time writing it. The people that are behind it also love the series and it’s just been really really cool."

The "couple of writers" to which McCarthy refers are Gary Dauberman (It: Chapters 1 & 2) and BenDavid Grabinski (Skiptrace). When he was still writing an earlier draft of the screenplay last September, Dauberman promised that he would be sticking to the spirit of the original series, which could be incredibly frightening at times. McCarthy also went back to the beloved source material, rewatching those episodes that are truly representative of the show as a whole.

"I couldn’t watch all 90 or whatever it is, but I revisited a huge ton of them," he continued with a laugh. "I shouldn’t say too much more about it because I don’t know how they’re gonna frame what they’re doing with it. I don’t think any of the other writers who have been on it before have talked about the direction of the big screen version, but as a fan of the series and as someone who has really enjoyed going back and watching them, I’ve been really keen to try to capture the spirit of what makes that show so great."

Originally slated to open Oct. 11 of this year, it is now unclear when the movie version of Are You Afraid of the Dark? will reach theater-going audiences. After all, if the project plans to shoot over the summer, there's almost no way it can make a fall 2019 release. Indeed, fans may have to wait until Halloween of 2020 (most high-profile horror films usually open around the spooky holiday) to see it.

In addition, McCarthy confirmed that the tie-in miniseries, set to air on Nickelodeon this October (unless it's being pushed off with the film's production schedule), is still happening, although he isn't involved with it in any way. The Are You Afraid of the Dark? miniseries is slated to start filming in Vancouver, Canada on Monday, May 27, 2019.


Are You Afraid of the Dark? is a Canadian Twilight Zone-esqie anthology series created by D.J. MacHale and Ned Kandel. It revolves around a group of teenagers who called themselves the Midnight Society that meet weekly at a secret location in the woods, where one member tells a scary story to the rest of the group, some of which are based on public domain fairy tales, short stories or urban legends. Subjects range from abandoned houses and vampires to scary clowns, witches and aliens.

The series debuted in 1990 on the Canadian children's channel YTV and was picked up by Nickelodeon USA in 1991, though it didn’t debut until SNICK’s launch on Saturday, Aug. 15, 1992. The show ran until April 1996, and a revival series with new writers, directors, writers and cast members was produced by Nickelodeon from 1999 to 2000. In all, the series ran for 91 episodes over seven seasons. Tia and Tamera Mowry (Sister, Sister), Will Friedle (Boy Meets World), Neve Campbell, Hayden Christensen, Jay Baruchel, Tatyana Ali, Melissa Joan Hart (Clarissa Explains It All, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Jewel Staite (Space Cases), Emily VanCamp, and two-time Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling are just a few of the household names who have lent their acting skills to the anthology.

Each episode is introduced with the storyteller saying “Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society,” who then would announce the title of that segment. MacHale said the line was a tribute to the series The Twilight Zone, in which creator Rod Serling would introduce the episode by saying, “submitted for your approval.”

Paramount Players is a new division at Paramount Pictures that focuses on contemporary talent and properties for young audiences while drawing upon the vast resources of the Viacom brands. Nickelodeon is one of those Viacom brands, which Paramount Players will be releasing Dora and the Lost City of Gold, a live-action movie inspired by Nickelodeon's beloved animated preschool series, in Summer 2019.

Update (31/5) - Gary Dauberman has confirmed that he has parted ways from the Are You Afraid of the Dark? project. "That actually hasn’t shot yet," Dauberman confirmed with /Film when asked about the project. "That’s one of those things I’m no longer a part of. I just had a different vision to make it and thought it best to part ways."

He added, "I don’t think that’s out there. It’s unfortunate but as you said, that’s sometimes how it goes."

The writer previously detailed what his approach to the film would be.

“That show is so important to me. I didn’t want to age it down too much because for it’s time, it had some really disturbing episodes and some really dark episodes. Not every story the Midnight Society told ended with happily ever after or a person learning their lesson and it will never happen again," Dauberman admitted to /Film. "I really embraced that side of things and I think it’s been a long time. I think fear is healthy for kids. I don’t think we have to always sand down the edges of things and that’s something I really wanted to do with Are You Afraid of the Dark? I think it is scary and I think kids will be scared watching it at times, and also they’ll laugh at times. I think it’s got a great message. I think it’s got a great heart to it but it is still scary. I think that’s great. I think it’s going to open it up to a wider audience.”

More Nick: Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!

Originally published: Thursday, May 9, 2019 at 8:47pm BST.

H/T: GWW; Additional source: ComicBook.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Are You Afraid of the Dark? News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon USA to Premiere New Episodes of 'ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks' from Monday, June 10, 2019

Get set for more mischief and mayhem as the lovable Chipmunks and Chipettes are back in brand-new episodes of ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks, including the debut of season four, this June on Nickelodeon USA!

Below is a list of all-new ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks episodes set to debut on Nick USA in June 2019 (all times ET/PT)!:

Monday, June 10, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - The Devil Wears Rodentia; Career Day: Brittany's dream of being a fashion designer turns into a nightmare when she gets a job and her ideas are stolen; Alvin suspects Dave of being a local bank robber when Dave starts acting suspiciously and giving the boys gifts. (#322)

Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Lost in Space...Camp: Theodore must prove he's got the right stuff when the Chipmunks and Chipettes head off to space camp. (#323A)

Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Super Hot Chocolate: Theodore goes into a deep funk after he burns his tongue on some super-hot chocolate and loses his sense of taste. (#323B)

Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - The Great Chipmunk Detective: (#325A)

Monday, June 17, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Guitar Hero: Alvin begrudgingly agrees to teach Miss Smith guitar, but she won't reveal why she so desperately needs to learn. (#325B)

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - The C Team: (#326A)

Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Father Daughter Dance: The Chipettes each want Dave to be their date to the Father Daughter Dance. But how can he choose just one? (#326B; Season three finale)

Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - The Toy: (#401A; Season four premiere)

Monday, June 24, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Bloodlines: (#401B)

Tuesday, June 25, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Theodore's Calling: (#402A)

Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Clumsy Jeanette: (#402B)

Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. - Adventures in Babysitting: (#403A)

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA to Premiere '44 Cats' on Monday, June 10, 2019!

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks News and Highlights!

Brand Central to Rep Nickelodeon and MGM's ‘Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader’ Reboot

Nickelodeon and MGM Television have appointed Brand Central as the licensing agency for their upcoming revival of the family favorite game show, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, License Global reports!

Brand Central represented the game show during its initial run between 2007 to 2015. The agency oversaw the series’ licensing program that generated more than $175 million (USD) in retail sales. For the reboot, Brand Central is building an all-new consumer products program with licensing partners in verticals including toys, games, publishing and educational products.

“With one of the most game-changing shows, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader is coming back bigger and better than ever; we are excited that Brand Central will be returning and helping us secure best-in-class partners,” says Robert Marick, executive vice president, global consumer products, MGM. “Brand Central’s expertise will be critical for us in the development of a unique and exciting merchandise program.”

The rebooted series will feature all-new episodes hosted by WWE superstar John Cena, who will also serve as an executive producer. The new Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader follows the original’s premise of adult contestants putting their knowledge to the test by answering questions taken directly from a standard elementary school curriculum. This updated version will also include new game elements such as an additional “cheat” option, new ways contestants can enlist the help of their grade-school classmates as well as a timed “final exam.”

“We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with the franchise Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader and the team at MGM,” says Ross Misher, chief executive officer, Brand Central. “With the proven success of the consumer products program the first time around, we are confident the property will resonate with a whole new generation of fans and consumers, especially with a powerhouse platform like Nickelodeon and superstar host John Cena.”

The new Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader will launch on Nickelodeon USA with a week of premieres beginning Monday, June 10, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Hosted by John Cena, who also serves as executive producer, the new series follows the original premise of kids helping adult contestants put their knowledge to the test with questions taken directly from an elementary school curriculum. New episodes will continue to air Monday, June 17, through Wednesday, June 19, at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT), before moving to its regular Monday timeslot on June 24 at 7:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

Joining Cena this season is a rotating cast of 12 brainy fifth graders: Amira from Orlando, Fla.; Chloe from Queens, N.Y.; Colin from Dallas; Cooper from Porter Ranch, Calif.; Isabella from St. Cloud, Fla.; Jamir from Atlanta; Mia from New Orleans; Nick from Broomall, Pa.; Patrick from Lehigh Valley, Pa.; Quinne from Los Angeles; Saya from Peachtree City, Ga.; and Tristan from Aurora, Ill.

Nickelodeon announced plans to revive Are You Smarter Than A 5^th Grader as part of Nickelodeon's 2019 Upfront, and forms part of the network's slate of new programming for the whole family.

Nick’s insights reveal that family time is the most important passion point for kids and parents today, with their top priority being to spend time together and look for opportunities through shared experiences. Today’s families state that watching TV together is their favorite activity, corresponding to the current 10-year high in co-viewing, where 44% of kids’ viewing is with an adult. To capture co-viewing opportunities, Nick is producing shows with built-in appeal to every family member, including: The Substitute (hidden camera prank show), Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader (reboot), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (revival miniseries) and All That (revival).

For the reboot of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader, Mark Burnett, Chairman of Worldwide Television, MGM (Survivor, The Voice) and Barry Poznick, President, Unscripted Television, MGM (Beat Shazam, The World's Best) will return as executive producers of the reboot, which places kids squarely in the center of the action. Production of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader for Nickelodeon is overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader News and Highlights!

Rainbow Picks JLG to Rep ‘44 Cats’ in the U.S.; Toy Plus Partners with Bandai America to Distribute ‘44 Cats’ in North America

Rainbow has tapped The Joester Loria Group (JLG) to represent the 44 Cats animated series in the U.S. The appointment follows recent series deals with Nickelodeon for the broadcast of the series in the U.S., following a strong launch on Nickelodeon channels around the world.

“We are really pleased to announce The Joester Loria Group is on board for 44 Cats, and can’t wait to start our collaboration with such a brilliant partner to develop the brand’s huge potential across the U.S.,” says Cristiana Buzzelli, senior vice president, content and licensing, Rainbow Group.

Additionally, Bandai America has been appointed by master toy partner Toy Plus to distribute their full range of 44 Cats toys in the U.S., Canada and Australia markets. A collection including figurines, play sets, plush, and musical toys will debut at retailers early next year. Simba Dickie Group’s is the exclusive distributor for Europe and the Middle East.

“We’re really excited to launch the 44 Cats toy line to the U.S. and Canada,” says Shusuke Takahara, CEO at Bandai America. “Over the last year, we’ve been looking at new lines to distribute and couldn’t be happier to partner with companies like Rainbow and Toy Plus. From figurines to plush, we can’t wait to see consumer reactions as they collect toys from the adventurous and adorable TV show.”

Set in the world of animals, 44 Cats (52 eps x c. 13') follows the daily adventures of Lampo, Milady, Pilou, and Meatball – four adorable kittens who are part of a music band named The Buffycats.

The protagonists live and play in the Clubhouse, a garage beside old Granny Pina’s house. Their adventures explore the themes of friendship and altruism: the four cats love helping others and always find creative solutions to everyday hitches and help other cats in need. The series promotes positive attitudes and conveys educational messages dealing with important themes such as tolerance, diversity and solidarity in a funny way.

The series is created and directed by Iginio Straffi, the founder of Italian content powerhouse Rainbow Group, the makers of Winx Club and Regal Academy, and produced by Rainbow in collaboration with Antoniano Bologna and Rai Ragazzi.

Iginio Straffi, founder and president of Rainbow Group, said: “Nickelodeon is synonymous with quality and excellence in the kids’ and family content industry. We are truly excited to announce the airing of another Rainbow TV series on Nickelodeon in the U.S. 44 Cats has already proven to be a top-notch show that can work in any territory, and thanks to Nickelodeon’s huge reach, we will be able to bring the overwhelmingly positive energy of the show to millions of kids in the U.S. too.”

This eagerly anticipated show made its world debut on Rai Yoyo in Italy on Monday 12th November 2018. Nickelodeon International acquired the broadcast rights to the series in May 2018, and will roll the animated series out on Nickelodeon channels and branded blocks around the world, excluding Latin America, throughout 2019.

Nickelodeon USA will premiere 44 Cats on Monday, June 10, 2019 at 10 a.m. (ET/PT). Following launch, new episodes will continue to air weekdays at 10 a.m. (ET/PT).

44 Cats is inspired by the very popular Italian kids song "44 Gatti", which, in 1968, won the 10th edition of the Zecchino d'Oro and has since entered the collective imagination of Italians.

44 Cats is the first Rainbow Group production jointly developed with Bardel Entertainment, the Canadian animation studio it acquired in 2015, and jointly produced in collaboration with Antoniano Bologna and Rai Ragazzi, and combines great music and edutainment with high quality animation. The series also marks Rainbow’s (Winx Club, Regal Academy, Club 57, Mia and me, Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends) inaugural foray into preschool programming.

Rainbow inked a licensing deal for 44 Cats with Thai Group’s Hong Kong-based company, Toy Plus in August 2018. Under the terms of the agreement, Toy Plus will develop a variety of products including interactive plush, figurines, play sets, musical toys and more based on the music, creative play patterns and collectability featured in the series. The line of merchandise debuted in Hong Kong in October, and is slated to become available for purchase around the world in fall 2019.

Rainbow has also secured a new licensing deal for 44 Cats with holistic lifestyle company Artsana Group. Under the agreement, the company will develop a range of licensed 44 Cats-themed infant educational toys for infants and a nursing line under its Chicco brand, the largest infant brand in Europe. The deal also includes apparel and accessories collections by Prenatal and Chicco. Products are expected to hit retail shelves later this year and will be supported by a dedicated, high-level marketing campaign delivered jointly by Rainbow and Artsana Group, which is also based in Italy.

44 Gatti become the most watched Italian-produced cartoon of 2018 when it debuted on Rai Yoyo on Monday 12th November 2018, recording record ratings of 527,000 viewers and a 2.71% audience share, helping Rai Yoyo to continue to be the most watched children's channel in Italy! Since its debut, 44 Gatti has also held the record for the highest viewing share amongst children aged 4-7 years, reaching 16% and an average audience of 350,000 viewers in the 19.15 timeslot.

Viewers can visit the official 44 Cats show websites at 44cats.tv and nick.com to find out more about the show and its musical stars, as well as watch exclusive video clips, play pawesome games and download purr-tastic activities.

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's June 2019 Premiere Highlights!

Sources: License Global, The Toy Book.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!