TV Land to Produce Animated Episode of HOT IN CLEVELAND

TVLand has announced today that it will produce an animated episode of its hit original sitcom "HotinCleveland." Animation Studio Titmouse, Inc. will create the art for the episode, which will be part of the fifth season of the series.

"Viewers love that we take their favorite sitcom stars and put them in our original sitcoms, so we're sure they are going to love seeing these characters in an entirely new, animated universe," said Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land.

The animated episode (appropriately titled "The Animated Episode,") will see Melanie (Valerie Bertinelli), Joy (Jane Leeves), Victoria (Wendie Malick) and Elka (Betty White) as cartoon characters embarking on an around-the-world adventure. The magic starts at Elka's apartment, which before now has been a mystery to Melanie, Joy and Victoria...and they soon find out why. From there the women Go On a psychedelic romp through pop culture hits, including scenes with homages to "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory," "The Walking Dead" and "Frankenstein."

"Hot In Cleveland" revolves around three fabulous best friends from LA - Melanie Moretti, Joy Scroggs, and Victoria Chase - who find their lives changed forever when their plane, headed for Paris, makes an emergency landing in Cleveland. When the friends discover that life is better in Cleveland, they decide to stay. Starting over together, they rent a house that happens to come with a very opinioned caretaker, Elka Ostrovsky.

The series has been honored with numerous awards and accolades. The cast has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, and Betty White has received three Screen Actors Guild Award® nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her performance as Elka Ostrovsky - an award she won two years in a row for the same role. Since its initial premiere, "Hot In Cleveland" has received a People's Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Comedy, a Gracie Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Individual Episode. The series was also awarded a Creative Arts Emmy® Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series (Michael Andrew Hynes and Maralee Zediker). Additionally, White was also nominated for an Emmy® Award in 2011 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the same role.

"Hot In Cleveland" is executive produced by Emmy® Award-winner Sean Hayes ("Will And Grace") and Todd Milliner of Hazy Mills Productions and is helmed by Emmy® Award- winning Suzanne Martin ("Frasier," "Ellen") serving as executive producer, show runner and writer. Lynda Obst also serves as executive producer, and Larry W. Jones and Keith Cox are executive producers for TV Land. "Hot In Cleveland" is currently seen around the world in 211 countries, and will begin airing in syndication through CBS Television Distribution in September 2014

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