PEANUTS Favorites Make Their DVD Debut This Holiday Season

HOLLYWOOD - Paramount Home Entertainment presents three beloved "Peanuts" holiday classics, each available on DVD for the first time, when IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN, A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING and A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS brighten up the gift-giving season on September 12. Timed for release the same day as the new PEANUTS title, IT'S THE PIED PIPER, CHARLIE BROWN hits stores, the three classics will be available on both DVD and VHS, in both a three-pack Gift Sets and as individual titles.

Each of the DVDs for IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN, A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING and A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS will include a bonus short feature (see individual titles below for details). The three-pack DVD gift-sets are priced at $57.97 in the U.S. and C$80.99 in Canada and are individually priced at $19.99 each in the U.S. and C$26.99 each in Canada.

The VHS clamshell titles IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN, A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING and A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS will also be available in a three-pack gift set. It includes a free inflatable kid's chair, valued at $14.95, which is packaged exclusively with the VHS gift set and is only available while supplies last. The gift-set is priced at $38.85 in the U.S. and C$44.85 in Canada. Individual titles will continue to be available for $12.95 in the U.S. and C$14.95 in Canada.

Paramount Home Entertainment is supporting these video and DVD releases with a national advertising campaign, including television network buys as well as on Lifetime, E! and Nick at Nite. Retailer-tagged print ads will run in People, Women's Day, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal, McCalls and InStyle.

In IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN, the PEANUTS gang celebrates Halloween and its legends. Teased by the others as he anxiously awaits a visit by the mysterious Great Pumpkin, Linus is convinced that this time he'll be able to prove the Great Pumpkin's existence to the rest of the gang. Meanwhile Charlie Brown gets invited to a big Halloween Party that requires his finding the perfect costume. The DVD has been re-mastered to include the short feature "You're Not Elected Charlie Brown."

In A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING, Peppermint Patty invites herself and the whole PEANUTS gang over to Charlie Brown's house for a Thanksgiving celebration. The Thanksgiving dinner turns out to be a disaster, until chef Snoopy and pilgrim Woodstock come and save the day, teaching the gang the origin of the holiday in which thanks is given. The DVD has been re-mastered to include the short feature "The Mayflower Voyagers."

In A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that manifests itself during the Christmas season. Seeing that he is upset, Lucy suggests that he become the director of the school Christmas pageant. Accepting the challenge, Charlie Brown finds himself faced with a real test of the season. When he fails to restore the holiday spirit, Linus jumps in to teach Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas. The DVD has been re-mastered to include the short feature "It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown."

The Classic Peanuts DVDs are presented in standard format, and use interactive menus and scene selection, while the audio tracks feature Dolby Digital English Mono. They are closed-captioned for the deaf and hard of hearing. Running times vary with each title.