TV Guide Press Release - July 26, 2002

D'OH! BUGS BUNNY EDGES OUT HOMER SIMPSON AS TV GUIDE CONTINUES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BY NAMING THE 50 GREATEST CARTOON CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME

In its August 3 issue (on newsstands Monday, July 29), TV Guide® magazine continues the 50th anniversary celebration of the TV Guide brand by naming the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time. Bugs Bunny tops the list compiled by TV Guide editors, followed by Homer Simpson and the duo of Rocky and Bullwinkle. MTV's Beavis and Butt-Head share honors at number four, with The Grinch rounding out the top five.

The special issue features four special animated collector's covers, each featuring an exclusive combination of characters not usually associated with each other. One cover has Angelica Pickles of Rugrats pulling a football away as Charlie Brown tries to kick it; one has Bullwinkle pulling the head of Homer Simpson out of a hat as Rocky looks on; one has Popeye pulling up an anchor from the side of the boat to find SpongeBob SquarePants on the end of it; a fourth cover features Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in a spaceship as the Powerpuff Girls fly by.

Rounding out the top ten are #6 Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble, #7 Angelica Pickles from Rugrats, #8 Charlie Brown and Snoopy, #9 SpongeBob SquarePants and #10 Cartman from South Park.

The list is part of a year-long celebration of the golden anniversary of the TV Guide brand. Anniversary-related initiatives include special monthly editorial features appearing across all TV Guide branded platforms, television specials, and additional special events.

SET OF FOUR COLLECTOR'S COVERS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT TV GUIDE STORE:
A complete set of the four 50 greatest cartoon characters collector's covers will be available for purchase online at the TV Guide Store (shop.tvguide.com) beginning Monday, July 29.

WHAT WAS ON SATURDAY MORNING TV 50 YEARS AGO? FIND OUT AT TV GUIDE ONLINE:
TV Guide Online (www.tvguide.com) will support the 50 greatest cartoon characters announcement by giving fans the chance to see what has been on Saturday morning television since TV Guide first began 50 years ago. Users can log on to tvguide.com to find Saturday morning TV grids from the 1950's to the present. Also available are descriptions of classic cartoon shows.

CELEBS WEIGH IN ON THEIR FAVORITE 'TOON CHARACTERS ON THE TV GUIDE CHANNEL:
The TV Guide Channel will also celebrate the announcement of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time with "Hollywood Insider" segments featuring celebrities talking about their favorite cartoon characters. Additional segments feature some of the famous voices behind the characters, including the voices of SpongeBob SquarePants, Rocky (from Rocky and Bullwinkle) and Buttercup (of the Powerpuff Girls).

TV GUIDE'S 50 GREATEST CARTOON CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME

1. Bugs Bunny
2. Homer Simpson
3. Rocky and Bullwinkle
4. Beavis and Butt-Head
5. The Grinch
6. Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble
7. Angelica Pickles
8. Charlie Brown and Snoopy
9. SpongeBob SquarePants
10. Cartman from South Park
11. Bart and Lisa Simpson
12. Fat Albert
13. The Powerpuff Girls
14. Daffy Duck
15. Pikachu
16. Gumby
17. Betty Boop
18. Top Cat
19. Mickey Mouse
20. Popeye
21. Gerald McBoing-Boing
22. Scooby-Doo
23. Underdog
24. Josie and the Pussycats
25. Heckle and Jeckle
26. Arthur
27. Winnie the Pooh
28. Felix The Cat
29. Mr. Magoo
30. George of the Jungle
31. Ren and Stimpy
32. Tom Terrific
33. Tweety and Sylvester
34. Bill from Schoolhouse Rock
35. Space Ghost
36. Yogi Bear and Boo Boo
37. Mighty Mouse
38. Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner
39. Superman
40. Batman
41. Daria
42. Wonder Woman
43. Donald Duck
44. Alvin (The Chipmunk)
45. Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale
46. Woody Woodpecker
47. Porky Pig
48. Bobby Hill from King of the Hill
49. Speed Racer
50. Tom and Jerry