PRESS RELEASE from Nickelodeon
NICK NEWS WITH LINDA
ELLERBEE “KIDS PICK THE PRESIDENT: THE CANDIDATES” SPECIAL PREMIERES
OCT. 15, AT 8P.M. (ET/PT)
“The
Candidates”
Special
Kicks Off Nickelodeon Bellwether Poll Where Kids
Nationwide Pick Their Choice for President
2012
“Kids’
Vote”
Results to be Announced Monday, Oct. 22 on Nickelodeon
NEW YORK – Oct. 8, 2012 – Every
four years, Nickelodeon provides kids with the rare opportunity to have
the U.S. presidential candidates answer their questions in the Nick
News with Linda Ellerbee special, “Kids Pick the President: The
Candidates,” premiering Monday, Oct. 15, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT).
Following the special, kids have the opportunity to vote for the man
they think should be the next president. The “Kids’ Vote” is a
bellwether poll because in five of the last six presidential elections,
kids have correctly picked the winner several weeks before the adults
have voted.
Nick News traveled around the country videotaping kids asking the
candidates questions. This year’s special features President Barack
Obama who sat down with Nick News at the White House to answer kids’
questions. After numerous attempts by Nick News to get former Governor
Mitt Romney to participate in the special, his camp declined saying he
was unable to fit it into his schedule. The special features previously
taped video clips of Romney addressing some of the issues raised in the
questions as well as bios of both candidates.
In the special, Obama answers questions about gun control, jobs,
illegal immigration, same-sex marriage, outsourcing, bullying and
obesity. He also responds to more light-hearted questions like if he’d
ever had his heart broken or what was his most embarrassing moment.
On heartbreak: “That happened to me,” says Obama. “I think the main
thing you learn is that life goes on…”
On his most embarrassing moment: “Running into the wall is par for the
course for me,” says the president. “I’m running into doors and desks
all the time.”
“By answering kids’ questions directly, candidates show respect for
kids,” says Linda Ellerbee. “We are disappointed that Mitt Romney
wouldn’t take the time to answer the questions, but are thrilled that
President Obama participated in the special.”
Following the special, hosted by Ellerbee, kids will be able to vote
for the person they think is most qualified to lead America. Kids can
log on to www.nick.com/kpp from Oct. 15 to Oct. 22 to cast their votes
online, as well as to get more information about each candidate and his
position on the issues. Nickelodeon will announce the results on-air on
Monday, Oct. 22. Both the special and the “Kids’ Vote” are the
culmination of Nickelodeon’s Kids Pick the President initiative to
build young citizens’ awareness of the election process, the candidates
and the issues.
Nick News, produced by Lucky
Duck Productions, is now in its 21st year and is the longest-running
kids’ news show in television history. It has built its reputation on
the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important
issues of the day. Over the years, Nick
News has received more than 21 Emmy nominations and recently won
its ninth Emmy Award for Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics in the
category of Outstanding Children’s Nonfiction Program. Additional Emmy
wins for outstanding children’s programming include: The Face of Courage: Kids Living with
Cancer (2010); Coming Home:
When Parents Return from War (2009); The Untouchable Kids of India
(2008); Private Worlds: Kids and
Autism (2007); Never Again:
From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005); Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan
(2002) and What Are You Staring At? (1998).
In
addition,
in 1995, the entire series won the Emmy. In 2009, Nick News was honored with the
Edward R. Murrow Award for best Network News Documentary for Coming Home: When Parents Return from War
— the first-ever kids’ television program to receive this prestigious
award. Nick News has also
received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to
Ellerbee for explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids,
as well as a Columbia duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents’
Choice Awards.
Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd 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 and feature films.
Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million
households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 17
consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit
http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles,
characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).
Contact: Heather Brown
Nickelodeon
(212) 846-6240