NICKELODEON'S BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES CONTINUES TO GAIN SPEED WITH SEASON THREE PICKUP OF HIT ANIMATED PRESCHOOL SERIES
Joe Manganiello and Mayim Bialik Lend Voices to New Current Season Episodes this Fall
NEW YORK – June 11, 2015 – Nickelodeon's Blaze and the Monster Machines continues to gain speed with the pickup of 20 episodes for a third season of the animated preschool hit. Blaze and the Monster Machines follows the adventures of the amazing monster truck Blaze and his eight-year-old driver AJ, and it's the first preschool show on TV to comprehensively cover all areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) in every episode. In May, Blaze was the number-two preschool series in Live+7 with posted increases of 69% behind Nick's own PAW Patrol and it currently ranks as the number-one preschool show in its time period on all TV. Blaze and the Monster Machines airs regularly weekdays at 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
Additionally, current season episodes of Blaze and the Monster Machines will feature celebrity guest voices including Joe Manganiello (True Blood) as Fire Chief and Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory) as Sphinx. In the episodes premiering this fall, Blaze cranks up the power on his monster machine transformations by turning himself into a rocket, fire engine, catapult and cannon. With the help of a high-flying helicopter, Blaze and his friends will also be transformed into Formula One-style racers with serious speed. Together, they will embark on a series of adventures in Velocity Ville while meeting new friends.
"Blaze and the Monster Machines got off to a roaring start last fall with the incredible monster trucks quickly becoming fan favorites," said Russell Hicks, President, Content Development and Production, Nickelodeon Group. "The upcoming fall premieres of Blaze will accelerate the momentum and introduce new car transformations and even more of the STEM-packed adventures that kids love."
The first mobile app based on the series, Blaze and the Monster Machines, recently launched a Dragon Island update that propelled the app to number-one on the Kids and Education chart and the Top 10 overall with iPad Paid Apps. The Blaze and the Monster Machines app introduces preschoolers to STEM concepts as they race along preset courses or build their own tracks, encouraging children to apply critical thinking skills and explore scientific principles including acceleration, adhesion, force, friction and more.
In the toy aisle, Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., recently launched an all-new toy line based on Blaze and the Monster Machines that is available at select retailers now with a full nationwide rollout in August. The successful pre-launch is off to a strong start with diecast vehicles leading the way. The complete introductory line also includes talking and transforming vehicles, playsets and plush that are as fun and dynamic as the characters featured in the series. Nickelodeon will expand the Blaze license into new categories this fall to include ride-ons, bikes, construction, amusement, activities, novelty, publishing and party goods.
In Blaze and the Monster Machines, the amazing monster truck Blaze and his eight-year-old driver AJ have adventures that explore the physics of how things move; tackle problems through scientific inquiry and mathematics; and discover the parts needed to make everyday technologies work. Each action-packed episode is filled with monster trucks, physical humor and upbeat original songs with lyrics that highlight a STEM concept such as adhesion, friction, force, trajectory and magnetism. Blaze and the Monster Machines is created by Jeff Borkin (Team Umizoomi head writer) and Ellen Martin (Bubble Guppies supervising producer).
Nickelodeon, now in its 36th 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 almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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, VIAB).
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