"They'll end up being like SOUTH PARK or something like that," said Charles Schulz's son Monte regarding the future of his father's PEANUTS comic strip, in an Associated Press article by Mary Ann Lickteig. Before Schulz's death, he strictly left instructions that nobody else could draw THE PEANUTS strip and the animated shows must end. In regards to honoring their father's wishes, Schulz's children's concern centers around United Media, who holds the copyrights on the PEANUTS characters.

Recently, Gold Zebra Communications launched its new preschool network Hop! The Israeli Nursery Channel. The net airs daily from 6 am to 7 pm catering toward the youngest viewers. The completely non-violent content has been acquired from producers in Europe and the States. Recently, Hop! appeared at the Monte Carlo Television Market to promote and attach new content for the fledgling channel. For more information contact Gold Zebra Communications Ltd. at: 7 Harugei Malchut St. Tel-Aviv 69714 Isreal; Tel.: ++972-3-649-6228; Fax: ++972-3-649-6229; or E-mail: zebracom@internet-zahav.net.

The new NBC animated sitcom, GOD THE DEVIL AND BOB, has been given the ax by five more stations across the U.S. NBC affiliates in Shreveport, Louisiana, Tupelo, Mississippi and Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho have moved the show to a late night time slot, while Pocatello, Idaho has completely pulled the show from its line up. Joining Salt Lake City which last week pulled the show from its schedule, the additional stations are in strict contrast to NBC's grand premiere of the series on Thursday, March 9, 2000. Currently, the show is positioned between the network's top shows FRIENDS and FRASIER.

The promised land of prime time nirvana will escape GOD THE DEVIL & BOB in

Salt Lake City, Utah, whose NBC affiliate has refused to air the network's

upcoming animated comedy. KSL-TV VP and general manager Al Henderson said

the station decided to pre-empt the "not-so-heavenly" toon because it "was

not very funny." "We didn't think it was written well," Henderson said. "We

found some of the humor tasteless." The new series follows the

misadventures of Detroit auto worker Bob Alman (voiced by French Stewart),

ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT INC., a leading worldwide interactive entertainment

company, announced that NIGEL COOK has been promoted to vice president,

studio head of Acclaim Studio Austin. Cook will oversee the management of

the Austin facility, including product releases, personnel development and

process improvement. Previously, Cook was VP of product development and

design at Acclaim. In this position, he oversaw creative development and

design at all Acclaim Studios. Cook was responsible for developing many of

Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. announced that it will produce 26 all-CGI

ACTION MAN half-hour television series episodes for Hasbro Properties

Group, a division of Hasbro, Inc. Before the series begins regularly

scheduled broadcasts on Fox Kids in September, a one-hour ACTION MAN

special will air on Fox Kids Network in May 2000. SABAN International N.V.

will handle international distribution for the series. The new TV show is

based on Hasbro's ACTION MAN brand, the number one boy's action brand in

FAT DOG MENDOZA co-produced by Sunbow Entertainment and Cartoon Network

Europe, is set to premiere in the U.K. Animated by TMO-Loonland's Peter

Volkle at his Hungarian studio, the first of the 26 completed episodes will

air on February 28, 2000. The series is based off of Scott Musgrove's cult

comic book. Fat Dog and his boy Little Costumed Buddy live in Neighbourhood

X, which seems normal until one notices that ancient Rome and the Himalayas

Nickelodeon has announced plans for a new animated series featuring

Hispanic leads. DORA THE EXPLORER will follow the crusades of a 7-year-old

Hispanic girl who lives inside a computer. The show will encourage viewers

to participate in the adventure. The new show is "a rounding out of our

efforts to reflect the world of kids," said Cyma Zarghami, Nickelodeon's

executive vice president. Other new toons include: INVADER ZIM, about an

alien who spies on Earth by masquerading as a kid and attending elementary

Patrick Warburton, best known for playing Elaine's mechanic boyfriend,

Putty, on SEINFELD, will don the blue superhero suit in the new live-action

TV series THE TICK. Barry Sonnenfeld will direct the half-hour pilot, and

share executive producing credits with partner Barry Josephson and TICK

creator Ben Edlund. Shooting is scheduled for the first two weeks in April.

DIGIMON: DIGITAL MONSTERS will take over the airwaves for a seven hour

marathon on Sunday, February 27, 2000. The "Digithon" will feature 11 new

episodes to Fox Family starting at 7 am. Follow the mysterious adventures

of the series' seven young heroes as they discover the secrets of the

"black gear" which threatens the existence of Digiworld.