LPWire: Celebrity Appearance for ABC Primetime Preview Weekend' at DCA Announced

Dylan McDermott, John Ritter, Drew Carey, Dennis Franz, Al Michaels, Jim Belushi and Bonnie Hunt Among All-Star Lineup at 'ABC Primetime Preview Weekend' at Disney's California Adventure(TM)

The stars of hit ABC programs and talent from ABC's critically-acclaimed new shows will be on hand at DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE park on August 24 and 25 for the first-ever "ABC Primetime Preview Weekend," a celebration inaugurating the new ABC fall Primetime line-up. Golden Globe-winner Dylan McDermott ("The Practice"), John Ritter and Katey Sagal ("8 Simple Rules. . . "), Drew Carey ("The Drew Carey Show"), Emmy Award-winner Dennis Franz ("NYPD Blue"), Al Michaels (Monday Night Football), Jim Belushi ("According to Jim"), and Bonnie Hunt ("Life with Bonnie") are just a few of the celebrities scheduled to be at the DISNEYLAND(R) Resort in Anaheim to attend this unprecedented event.

Many exciting activities are planned for the "ABC Primetime Preview Weekend" including two live performances of "Whose Line is it Anyway? LIVE!," question and answer sessions with the stars at the "ABC Star Q&A Showcase," the weekend-long "ABC 'Happy Hour Trivia' Challenge," a daily "ABC Primetime Parade of Stars," sneak previews of new show pilots in the "ABC Preview Screening Room," stand-up comedy from George Lopez ("George Lopez"), live music from Jim Belushi and his band Sacred Hearts, and much more. There will also be opportunities for the media to interview ABC talent.

Explaining the motivation behind the "ABC Primetime Preview Weekend," DISNEYLAND Resort president Cynthia Harriss noted, "As a company we embrace every opportunity to get behind our partners and showcase their quality products."

This event is part of an extraordinary initiative uniting every division of The Walt Disney Company in support of the ABC Television Network. To that end, national affiliates from WABC in New York to WLS Chicago are lending on-air and online promotional support to both the "ABC Primetime Preview Weekend" and ABC's fall line-up. In addition, ABC has created the Official Primetime Preview Weekend Event site on ABC.com to keep the media, ABC viewers, and DISNEYLAND Resort guests up to date with the latest news and information about the two-day event.

Commenting upon the "ABC Primetime Preview Weekend," ABC Entertainment president Susan Lyne said, "What better way to excite viewers and the public -- and inform the media -- about our new season than to allow them unparalleled access to the stars and talent from our new and returning series. These two days are going to be a lot of fun, and should generate tremendous buzz for ABC."

**Special Announcement for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders**
ABC.com announces Saturday, August 24th will not be a blockout date at Disney's California Adventure allowing all annual passholders to enjoy the entire weekend of activities.

Scheduled Stars and Talent (list updated 8/20, latest additions indicated with asterisk)

Saturday, August 24th will feature :

Sara Rue, Zachary Levi, Sherri Shepherd, Andrea Parker, Andy Dick and Eric Roberts, “Less Than Perfect”
John Ritter, Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, and Amy Davidson, “8 Simple Rules..”
Al Michaels and Melissa Stark, “Monday Night Football;”
Michelle Kwan, Dan Fouts and John Davidson, ABC Sports
Bonnie Hunt, Mark Derwin, Marianne Muellerleile, Holly Wortel, Chris Barnes and Anthony Russell, “Life with Bonnie”
Drew Carey, Diedrich Bader, Kathy Kinney, Ryan Stiles and Cynthia Watros, “The Drew Carey Show”
George Lopez, Constance Marie, Belita Moreno and Valente Rodriguez, “George Lopez Show”

Sunday, August 25th will feature :

Dylan McDermott and Jessica Capshaw, “The Practice;”
Dennis Franz, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gordon Clapp, Jacqueline Obradors*, Esai Morales*, Henry Simmons, Bill Brochtrup, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and Charlotte Ross, “NYPD Blue;”
Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin, “My Wife and Kids;”
Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Bradley Cooper, Merrin Dungey, Carl Lumbly, Kevin Weisman and David Anders, “Alias;”
Al Michaels and Melissa Stark, “Monday Night Football;”
Jim Belushi, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Kimberly Williams and Larry Joe Campbell, “According to Jim;”
Drew Carey, Colin Mochrie, Brad Sherwood, Chip Esten, Jeff Davis, and Linda Taylor, “Whose Line is it Anyway?;”
James Bulliard, Tyler Labine, Kiele Sanchez, Brad Raider, Tricia O’Kelley and Bess Armstrong, “That Was Then;”
William Fichtner, Leslie Stefanson and Jane Lynch, “MD’s.”

Schedule of Events
(subject to change without notice)

Saturday, August 24

ABC Preview Screening Room (Golden Dreams Theatre):

10:30 a.m.: Less Than Perfect
11:30 a.m.: 8 Simple Rules...
12:30 p.m.: Life with Bonnie
1:30 p.m.: MDs
2:45 p.m.: That Was Then
5:00 p.m.: Push, Nevada

ABC Star Q&A Showcase (Golden State Amphitheatre):

11:00 a.m.: Less Than Perfect
12:00 p.m.: 8 Simple RulesÖ
1:00 p.m.: Sports Panel
2:00 p.m.: Life with Bonnie
3:00 p.m.: The Drew Carey Show
4:30 p.m.: George Lopez

ABC "Happy Hour" Trivia Challenge (Pacific Wharf):

12:15 p.m.: Monday Shows
1:00 p.m.: Tuesday Shows
1:45 p.m.: Wednesday Shows
2:30 p.m.: Thursday Shows
3:15 p.m.: Friday Shows

Whose Line Is It Anyway? LIVE! (Hyperion Theatre): 1:15 p.m.

ABC Primetime Parade of Stars (Parade Route): 4:00 p.m.

George Lopez, Jim Belushi's ABC "Happy Hour" Jam
(Golden State Amphitheatre): 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 25th