Third Season of Emmy Award-Winning WordGirl® to Air This Fall on PBS KIDS GO!(SM)

NEW YORK, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic Media today announced that the third season of its Emmy Award-winning animated comedy series, WordGirl® will air on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings) with brand-new episodes beginning September 13th.  Produced by Scholastic's animation studio Soup2Nuts, the season is filled with new words, new talent, and new villains for WordGirl to conquer with her extraordinary* vocabulary. (* Extraordinary: – (adjective) beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established)

Just when she thinks her hometown can't possibly be inundated with more vocabulary villains, mild-mannered 5th-grader Becky Botsford (and her alter-ego WordGirl) faces a set of newly energized foes who challenge her physical and verbal skills.  This season introduces villainous Victoria Best – voiced by comedian/actress Kristen Schaal ("Toy Story 3," "The Flight of the Conchords," "Modern Family") –who may be WordGirl's ultimate nemesis, and Captain Tangent, a teenager with a tendency to ramble, voiced by comedian/TV host John Henson ("Wipe Out," "Talk Soup").  Some returning favorite villains face their own challenges too, as Chuck the Evil Sandwich-Making Guy (Fred Stoller) is vexed by his brother Brent the Handsome Successful Everyone Loves Him Sandwich-Making Guy (Tom Kenny / from "SpongeBob Squarepants").  Actor Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development," "The Hangover 2") returns as Mr. Big, who outdoes himself in finding extraordinary new ways to control the minds of Becky, her friends, her family, and her fellow citizens, as does John C. McGinley ("Scrubs") as the Whammer.

Returning voice talent for the third season includes Dannah Phirman ("MadTV") as WordGirl, Chris Parnell ("30 Rock," "Saturday Night Live") as the Narrator, Maria Bamford ("Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil") as Mrs. Botsford, Ryan Raddatz as Mr. Botsford, Mike O'Connell ("Funny People," "Funny or Die Presents…") as Big-Left-Hand Guy, Pamela Adlon ("King of the Hill," "Louie") as The Birthday Girl, and Grey DeLisle ("Avatar," "Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated") as Lady Redundant Woman.

"WordGirl resonates strongly with both children and parents because of its humor, its engaging characters and its robust curriculum," says Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media and Executive Vice President of Scholastic Inc, the global publishing, education and media company.  "Our crime-fighting definition dynamo has an ever-expanding fan base and we're thrilled about PBS' ongoing commitment to – and their support of – the show."

"It requires a vocabulary the size of WordGirl's to describe the impact her adventures bring to the lives of early-elementary school kids," said Linda Simensky, Vice President for Children's Programming at PBS. "She is the very definition of what we aim to accomplish with PBS KIDS GO! by providing fun, memorable characters for an audience in need of age-appropriate content."

"WordGirl" has won numerous parenting and industry excellence awards since its debut, including a 2008 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Writing in Animation," a Television Critics Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Children's Animation," a Gracie Award for its portrayal of a strong female character, and an iParenting Media Award.  It was nominated for three 2010 Emmy awards, including "Outstanding Children's Animated Program." The popular website, PBSKIDSGO.org/wordgirl, supports the show's goals with free interactive games, activities for parents and children, and lesson plans for teachers to enhance their students' vocabulary development, and their general literacy.  New online game content will support the launch of the third season; kids, parents and educators also can view full episodes and clips from the show at PBSKIDSGO.org/video.

"WORDGIRL" – FALL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Sept. 13, 2010 – Episode 302

"TOO LOUD CREW"

The Butcher and the Whammer unexpectedly team up and things get a little noisy.  What happens when they both want to be the leader, not the sidekick?  Can WordGirl stop their crimes against and make the city streets a quieter place to be?  Vocabulary Words: Considerate, Manual

"GRANNY AND CLYDE"

Granny May cons Mr. Botsford into being her getaway driver as she goes on a city-wide crime spree.  WordGirl must find a way to turn Granny May in without getting putting her dad behind bars.  Vocabulary Words: Injury, Spree

Sept. 14, 2010 – Episode 303

"THE INVISI-BILL HAND"

When Invisi-Bill and Big Left Hand Guy join forces to wreak havoc, Invisi-Bill gets jealous when he doesn't get enough publicity for being the true villain. WordGirl uses his need for fame to trick him into revealing himself.  A breakout episode for these once-sidelined villains.  Vocabulary Words: Conceal, Acknowledge

"BIRTHDAY TOWN"

At Mr. Big's Birthday Time All the Time Party Supply Store the parents are going crazy -- they think every day is their children's birthday.  WordGirl must find a way to stop Mr. Big's mind control device, return the town's parents to normal, and get The Birthday Girl to stop being so greedy. Vocabulary Words: Mimic, Hoopla

Sept. 15, 2010 – Episode 304

"THE PRETTY PRINCESS AND MR. BIG POWER HOUR"

This is the episode that turns everything on its head! Becky Botsford's wildest dreams seem to have come true: she is living in an episode of her favorite show, "Pretty Princess."  But when it's revealed that evil Mr. Big is manipulating her dreams, WordGirl must escape the grip of his mind control device and save the city.  Vocabulary Words: Dupe, Hoist

"CLEAN UP IN AISLE ELEVEN"

Bob (aka Captain Huggy Face) agrees to be "substitute WordGirl" for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the grocery store while Becky (the real WordGirl) participates in her debate club competition. But when Lady Redundant Woman's clones stage a heist beyond Huggy's control, Becky is forced choose between debate club and her quest for justice. Vocabulary Words: Debate, Substitute

Sept. 16, 2010 – Episode 305

"WHEN CHUCK'S MOM IS AWAY"

Dr. Two-Brains catches wind of the fact that Chuck is home alone, so he invites all the town's villains to his house.  In an effort to save his house from destruction, Chuck teams up with WordGirl to stop the other villains in their tracks.  Vocabulary Words: Reckless, Immaculate

"THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT"

What?!  No TV?!  Energy Monster's latest prison break interrupts the Botsford Family's television time. While Tim, Sally, and TJ seek out new forms of entertainment, WordGirl hunts down the Monster and returns him to his prison cell.  Vocabulary Words: Entertainment, Persistent

Oct. 11, 2010 – Episode 306

"THE SOREST LOSER"

New student (and brand-new villain) Victoria Best wins all but one of the trophies at the school assembly.  She just has to be the best at everything! When Becky's trophy goes missing, WordGirl and Captain Huggy Face come up with a contest to thwart Victoria's evil trophy stealing plans.  Vocabulary Words: Trophy, Boast

"SHOWDOWN AT THE SUPER SECRET SPACESHIP HIDEOUT"

During the latest encounter between WordGirl and Dr. Two Brains, Two-Brains accidentally hits himself and his henchmen with a snooze-ray. When they awaken from their slumber, they find themselves in WordGirl's secret spaceship hideout.  WordGirl must battle them for control of the weapon and her secret hideout.  Vocabulary Words: Frolic, Procrastinate

Nov. 8, 2010 – Episode 307

"CAPTAIN TANGENT"

Becky and her family go out to dinner at Blackbeard's Buffet, where they encounter new villain Captain Tangent – a teenage pirate with a magnetic hook, a talking parrot, and a tendency to ramble. It's up to WordGirl to stop him from stealing and all the doubloons, er, coins in the city. Vocabulary Words: Valuable, Tangent

"CHUCK AND BRENT RIDE AGAIN"

Chuck the Evil Sandwich-Making Guy's famous brother Brent the Handsome Successful Everyone Loves Him Sandwich-Making Guy is in a slump; he's lost his confidence.  Chuck happily takes him under his wing and tries to make Brent his new evil sidekick.  On a routine robbery at the sub shop, Brent gets sidetracked by owner Reuben Grinder who wants to talk about innovations in sandwich-making.  Vocabulary Words: Confidence, Zest

For more information on WordGirl, please visit mediaroom.scholastic.com/wordgirl, PBSKIDSGO.org/wordgirl and PBS.org/pressroom.

SOURCE Scholastic Media