Lögberg-Heimskringla - 26.09.2003, Page 3

Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur, 26 september 2003 • page 3
FRETTIR • NEWS
Sjónvarpsþættir um Latabæ í Bandaríkjunum
TV series about LazyTown in US
Brown Johnson and Magnús Sheving signing the agreement
between Nickelodeon and Latibær
On September 13, 2003
LazyTown and Nick-
elodeon signed an agreement
for the production and broad-
casting of forty episodes of the
television series Latibœr/Lazy-
Town in the United States. Alto-
gether 100 people will work at
the production of the series in
Iceland and it will reach about
eighty-six million homes in the
US. A news release from Laz.y-
Town states that Nickelodeon is
the most popular children’s sta-
tion in the US, and it is a part of
one of the largest public media
companies, Viacom. Merchan-
dise linked to the subject matter
of Nickelodeon generate about
two and a half million US dol-
lars yearly and if the series
LazyTown becomes popular,
income from the sale of mer-
chandise connected to the TV
series may be substantial,
according to Magnús Scheving,
the main brain behind Lazy-
Town.
Magnús signed the agree-
ment on behalf of LazyTown
and Brown Johnson, the assis-
tant manger of Nickelodeon,
on behalf of the US firm. In an
interview with the Morgun-
blað\ Brown Johnson said that
the environment and facilities
were especially positive right
now for marketing a children’s
TV series where the emphasis
is on healthy life style in a pos-
itive and entertaining way.
“It is a very fertile time for
these kinds of ideas in the US
right now. In reality it is in full
force, because many articles
have been published in the last
six months about the obesity
and eating habits of children in
the US, and that US citizens
are on the average too fat and
don’t exercise enough. I think
LazyTown brings forth the right
attitude, because I don’t find
that there is any preaching
being done to the children in
the series, but rather it shows
how much fun it is to eat
healthy food and exercise,”
Johnson said.
Magnús Scheving has
worked at the idea of Lazy-
Town for the last eleven years
and has, along with his sup-
porters, put a lot of work into
marketing the idea in the last
few years. He says that the
agreement is a fantastic oppor-
tunity to put the idea across and
that it opens up many future
opportunities. The production
of the series will begin in
November and people are
being hired now for jobs relat-
ed to the production of the
series.
“It is going to be forty half-
hour programs which are sup-
posed to be ready in June of
next year. About 100 people
will work at the production
here in Iceland. Máni Svavars-
son looks after the music and
they are trying to get me to
play the elf, but it is still not
solved because I am trying to
get someone else to do it.
Actor, Stefán Karl Stefánsson,
will play Glanni, the super-vil-
lain, because there isn’t anyone
else who is fit for that role.”
According to Magnús, the
agreement gives Nickelodeon
the rights to the income from
the sale of merchandise con-
nected to the series in the US,
but LazyTown has those rights
anywhere else in the world.
“This is what makes this agree-
ment so exciting. The TV show
itself doesn’t generate much
income. It is the exclusive right
that does and Nickelodeon
does get two and a half million
US dollars from the sale of
such merchandise, that is to say
the sale of toys, T-shirts, dolls
and such. We will get a per-
centage of the revenue in the
US and if things go well it will
be a goodly sum,” according to
Magnús.
He says that the series will
be produced in Iceland in con-
junction with those Icelanders
who already work at them. The
main manuscript producer of
the Rugrats series, which is
Nickelodeon’s best-known
series, will work at the produc-
tion of the LazyTown series and
the puppeteers have worked at
famous puppet shows, which
were produced by the Jim Hen-
son Company. A girl has been
chosen to play Solla and
according to Magnús she could
well become a big star in the
US. More information about
LazyTown can be found on the
website:
www.batman.is/ut/26357.
Information from Morgunblaðið, A. H.
First Lutheran Homecoming
Sue Sorensen
WlNNIPEG, MB
Winnipeg’s oldest Lutheran
congregation is celebrat-
ing its 125th anniversary with
festive activities and an ambi-
tious fundraising campaign.
First Lutheran Church at
580 Victor Street is holding a
Homecoming Weekend October
17 to 19. A cello and keyboard
recital by Eric Wilson and Ker-
rine Willson will be held on Fri-
day, October 17 at 7:30 pm,
admission by freewill offering.
On Saturday, October 18, a
Banquet and Dance will be held
at the Ramada Marlborough
Hotel. Tickets are available
from the church office at 772-
7444.
VlKING INN
Gimli, MB
(204) 642-5168
• 21 Renovated Rooms
• Gord Lee’s Chinese Dining
Ph. 642-5170
• “Two Friends” Nite Club
• Beer Store
The anniversary weekend
wraps up with a special worship
service at 10:30 am on Sunday
October 19. Lunch and Open
House will follow.
Icelandic immigrants
founded fírst Lutheran Church
in 1878. The theme for this
anniversary is “Rooted in
Christ.” As part of the anniver-
sary year, a goal to raise
$125,000 is set to help the
needy at home and abroad, sup-
port the ministries of the wider
Lutheran church, and rejuvenate
the church building, built in
1913. One of First Lutheran’s
newest ministries is a housing
renovation project in Win-
nipeg’s West End.
Pastor Michael Kurtz
Argyle Transfer Ltd.
Speciatizing in livestock
transportation
Wally & Linda Finnbogason
Stonewall, MB
ff
Wally 467-8822 Mobile 981-1666
Daryl 322-5743 Mobile 981-5460
extends an invitation to every-
one. For more information call
the church at 772-7444.
Pat Schule Wins Trip to Minot
At its recent meeting,
the L-H Board drew a name
from all those who have pur-
chased new subscriptions,
donated $10 or more to the
paper, or become a new
advertiser during the last
couple of months.
Pat Schule of Killamey,
MB is the lucky winner of
the trip to Norsk Hpstfest in
Minot, ND. She has to get
herself there, but once she
arrives her lodging is provid-
ed, as is her entrance to the
festival itself, and all the
wonderful entertainment
there. A parking pass, access
to the VIP Room, and a set
of limited edition prints are
part of the prize package.
The Norsk Media Part-
ner Prize Package is offered
through L-H, one of the
Norsk Hpstfest media part-
ners.
Congratulations Pat, and
thank you for being a donor
to the Lögberg-Heim-
skringla.
First Lutheran Church
Celebrating 125 years
(1878-2003)
580 Victor Street Winnipeg R3G IR2
204-772-7444
www.mts.net/~flcwin
Worship with us Sundays 10:30 a.m.
Pastor Michael Kurtz
Come Home!
Anniversary Weekend
OcTOBER 17-19, 2003
984 Portago Avonue
at Aubroy St.
Ph: (204) 949-2200
Fctx: (204) 783-591 6
www.nbarckil.mb.ca
eAXzL> ‘fíZCíLót*^
the/ luZ'uíeA.t'
rxeeJ/ to- éc i-yuede'. , .
: Servtng Wiflnipeg & Rurd Mmitoba
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