Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight

By: Dec. 12, 2015
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Disney Legend Dick Van Dyke, who portrays Bert, the carefree Cockney chimney sweep in MARY POPPINS will host interstitials throughout ABC's broadcast of "'The Wonderful World of Disney' Presented by Target Brings You MARY POPPINS TONIGHT, DECEMBER 12 (8:00-11:00 p.m., EST). Check out photos from the broadcast below!

Van Dyke will be joined by Target's mascot, "Bullseye," the lovable bull terrier. This holiday event marks the first network television broadcast of "Mary Poppins" in 13 years. It also will be the first time that Target's Holiday Odyssey story - told through a series of broadcast commercials - will be shown in its entirety on TV.

In all-new footage, Mr. Van Dyke, with a little help from Bullseye, takes viewers on a magical journey into Disney's Archives where they can spot treasures, including iconic props from "Mary Poppins" and other Disney favorites, and he shares insights about a movie that continues to delight generations of families.

Set in Edwardian London, the film features no-nonsense nanny Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), who flies out of the windy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children of the wealthy and strict Banks family, Jane (Karen Dotrice) and Michael (Matthew Garber). With the help of Bert (Mr. Van Dyke), the spirited nanny sets off on a series of fantastic adventures with the children and teaches their parents some lessons about love along the way.

Disney's beloved classic received a total of 13 Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, and won five: Best Actress (Julie Andrews), Best Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee"), Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Music Score.

The movie features many classic songs, including "A Spoonful of Sugar," "Jolly Holiday," Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "Feed the Birds," "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Let's Go Fly a Kite."

Released in 1964, "Mary Poppins" combines live action and animation and in 2013 it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Photo courtesy of ABC/Rick Rowell

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE, BULLSEYE

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
BULLSEYE, DICK VAN DYKE

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
Dick Van Dyke (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE (ABC/Rick Rowell)

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
DICK VAN DYKE

Photo Flash: Dick Van Dyke Hosts ABC's Broadcast of Disney Classic MARY POPPINS Tonight
BULLSEYE, DICK VAN DYKE


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