FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Matisse Bows on Takeover Radio

LEICESTER, ENGLAND, January 1, 2003 – MMG’s clever and highly entertaining new animated series "Matisse: The Secret Life and Adventures of a Dog" premiered Monday, Jan. 1 at 6:30 (GMT) on 103.2 FM, children's programming station Takeover Radio.

Matisse answers the question "What if a band of neighborhood animals secretly helped humankind?"

Characters include Matisse the canine equivalent to Frasier Crane, a party-hardy Labrador Retriever named Red, Matisse’s adopted pup Madison, Benny an obese tabby cat and the cynical pigeon Buford, to name just a few.

The animals live a seemingly normal life while secretly helping their owners and all humankind.

Matisse is voiced by Mark Lyndon, well known voice-over star in Germany. Jay Lerner provides the voice of Vinnie and Takuya while fellow cast member Billy Acquaviva Jr. does Red as well as Melman, the hapless mailman. The role of Madison is voiced by Karen McCarthy of Tofu Boy fame.

Described as "a comedy disguised as a kids show," "Matisse" promises to tell stories that deal with issues while poking fun at human and animal kind.

The series is created and executive produced by Jan Simons of Madison Media Group LLC, an independent entertainment production company.

8/30/2002

COSI Adds Flavor to Lunchtime

Lunchtime comes alive at COSI Columbus this fall. Common foods such as milk and corn take on a whole new spin at a new COSI show called “The Big Yummy.” The interactive lunch theater, which stars different foods, helps kids understand the importance of eating a balanced diet, choosing good, healthy foods to eat, and what happens when foods are not properly prepared and handled.

The show uses anthropomorphic characters to make food sing and dance. The host of the show is entertainer Mr. Leche S. Bueno. This carton of milk opens the show with a catchy tune. Leche then introduces the applause meter that allows the audience to vote for their favorite food. Corn Cob Bob, Johnny Rotten, and The Musical Beans Soy and Pinto are just a few of the foods that entertain the crowd with their songs and knowledge about food. After all of the foods have shown their stuff, the audience gets to vote for which they think is “The Big Yummy.”

“This show helps us explain to children where food comes from. It doesn’t just appear at the grocery store. There is a long chain of things that happen to get the food to the table. “The Big Yummy” explains the steps to our guests in a way they can understand, using fun characters as the teachers,” says Allen Boerger, principal designer for the COSI Studio, the creators of “The Big Yummy.”

Cast of Foods (Characters) in order of appearance:

Corn Cob Bob, and his little stick of butter PAT:
Corn Cob Bob performs his amazing ventriloquist routine with the help of his sidekick Pat. Singing a parody of “Home on the Range”, performed by talented Phil Snyder, the two explain where they came from and why they make such a good team.

Pork Chop:
This child star offers up a tap-dancing extravaganza while telling us about “The Other White Meat to the tune of “You Are My Sunshine”, expertly performed by Rebecca Forstadt.

Johnny Rotten:
Johnny has got the “been so mistreated, ain’t safe to be reheated blues.” The singer who has seen better days, talks about the dangers of mishandling food, and is brought to life by the bluesy pipes of Jay Lerner.

Tiny The Flying Tomato:
Preparing for a launch out of a cannon, this daredevil tomato voiced by the versatile vocal chords of Jay Lerner, helps the audience understand how food makes it to the grocery store.

The Musical Beans, Pinto and Soy:
A true highlight of the show, Pinto and Soybean sing about their nutritional value in a duet, hysterically portrayed by Jay Lerner.  WARNING: Don’t get too close! You know what happens when you eat too many beans…