Woof, Woof ... What's That Girl? ... TV Land Honors One of Television's Most Beloved Stars -- Lassie -- With Programming Marathon on Sunday, April 24

Woof, Woof ... What's That Girl? ... TV Land Honors One of Television's Most Beloved Stars -- Lassie -- With Programming Marathon on Sunday, April 24

NEW YORK, April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- America's most beloved pet, Lassie, returns to the small screen when TV Land hosts an all-day Lassie marathon to celebrate her 50th television anniversary. On Sunday, April 24 from 6am to 8pm (all times ET/PT), TV Land will be dedicated to all of the doggie drama that has entertained generations including the premiere episode when "Jeff" first inherits Lassie and the introduction of "Timmy."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050418/NYM235 )

Viewers can go to tvland.com to enter a sweepstakes to win a trip for two, along with his or her dog (or other pet), to Los Angeles to spend a day with Lassie and her trainer. In addition, the winner and their dog will receive a visit with Lassie's celebrity pet vet, Dr. Jeff Werber. This renowned veterinarian also treats the pooches of proud owners Britney Spears, Fred Durst, Rod Stewart, Mark Wahlberg and many more. One hundred viewers will also win the Lassie: 50th TV Anniversary Collector's Edition DVD box set. Tvland.com will also feature an original interview with Lassie's "Timmy," Jon Provost.

Over the course of an incredible 691 television episodes, Lassie grew from a movie star into a cultural icon. Enjoying one of the longest runs in television history, Lassie's show became a phenomenon: Millions of fans in more than one hundred countries tuned in to watch Lassie save Timmy from tigers, cougars, "wells" and almost every other imaginable peril. The show consistently ranked at the top of the Nielsen ratings, inventing the family drama in the process and forever changing the way people relate to their pets.

The following is the schedule for the Lassie marathon (all times ET/PT):

6:00am #5401 -- The Inheritance Jeff inherits Lassie in the first episode of the series. During his attempts to win Lassie over, he uncovers a mystery and Lassie assists in the capture of a thief.

6:30am #5405 -- Lassie's Pups During a bad storm, Lassie is having trouble giving birth. In the middle of the night, Jeff hurries to get the vet who is five miles away.

7:00am #5410 -- The Lion Jeff and Lassie see a lion in the woods near the Miller farm. Nobody believes Jeff's story, except Porky. The lion shows up at the farm and gives Jeff and Porky a harrowing few hours.

7:30am #5555 -- The Journey Lassie is slowly going blind. Jeff and Lassie journey alone to Capitol City to find an eye specialist who has saved the sight of many humans. The doctor agrees to operate on Lassie when Jeff offers to give her his own eyes, if necessary, to save Lassie.

8:00am #5742 -- The Runaway Lassie finds a runaway in the barn and the Millers decide to let him stay at their home. This episode introduces Timmy (Jon Provost) to the cast.

8:30am #5753 -- Transition Gramps dies and Ellen Miller sells the farm to Ruth and Paul martin, a childless young couple. The Martins save Timmy from drowning and decide to adopt him. Jeff gives Lassie to Timmy.

9:00am #5830 -- The Camera The Sheriff forces Lassie to be kept on a leash after a farmhand claims she is vicious. Timmy was taking pictures of pheasants on the Martin farm when the farmhand tried to kill them and kicked Lassie for intervening.

9:30am #5837 -- Peace Patrol Timmy and Lassie join the Lone Ranger's Peace Patrol to sell U.S. Savings Bonds. Money collected by their school disappears and a poor student is accused of stealing. Lassie and Timmy solve the mystery and meet the Lone Ranger.

10:00am #5902 -- New Refrigerator Lassie is the only member of the Martin household who doesn't enjoy the new refrigerator. She growls at the "white monster" at every opportunity until she sees it help Timmy when he needs ice packs after being injured.

10:30am #5919 -- The Space Traveler A guinea pig in a space capsule falls near the Martin farm, setting off a series of dangerous and exciting events. Touching the capsule can injure a person as the space shot is contaminated by radiation, it is learned. Timmy touches the capsule and is rushed to the army decontamination chambers.

11:00am #6113 -- Lassie and the Eagle Lassie, about to have pups, meets up with an old friend, The Gold Eagle, and rescues him from a coyote trap. Having rescued the eagle, she then beds down near the eagle's nest and has her pups. The eagle stands guard over Lassie and her brood, sending off coyotes and other preying animals. Meanwhile, Timmy and the Martins have launched a search party, and at dawn they come upon Lassie and her new family, safely guarded by her feathered friend.

11:30am #6116 -- Lassie's Protege Lassie apprehends a reckless driving teenager who carelessly kills a pet raccoon. How Lassie breaks up a hot rod drag race and brings the young hot-rodder to justice is the highlight of this adventure.

12:00pm #6121 -- The Odyssey Pt. 1 Lassie mysteriously disappears. While the entire nation is alerted to the search, Lassie, lost and alone hundreds of miles from the Martin farm, battles predatory animals and the elements. Lassie is confronted with a number of hair-raising and difficult problems, including an exciting finish.

12:30pm #6122 -- The Odyssey Pt. 2 Lassie mysteriously disappears. While the entire nation is alerted to the search, Lassie, lost and alone hundreds of miles from the Martin farm, battles predatory animals and the elements. Lassie is confronted with a number of hair-raising and difficult problems, including an exciting finish.

1:00pm #6123 -- The Odyssey Pt. 3 Lassie mysteriously disappears. While the entire nation is alerted to the search, Lassie, lost and alone hundreds of miles from the Martin farm, battles predatory animals and the elements. Lassie is confronted with a number of hair-raising and difficult problems, including an exciting finish.

1:30pm #6134 -- Lassie and the Tiger Timmy and Lassie capture an escaped tiger but not before Timmy gets himself in grave peril and has to be rescued by Lassie.

2:00pm #6307 -- The Treasure Pt. 1 Timmy and Cully go on an overnight camping trip and find a strange inscription in an old shack that was once owned by a philosopher, which leads them to go after an eagle and find a treasure. On the advice of a forest ranger, the two decide to stop chasing the eagle for the treasure, but a strange turn of events involves them with the eagle again and they eventually get an unexpected surprise in the adventure.

2:30pm #6308 -- The Treasure Pt. 2 Timmy and Cully go on an overnight camping trip and find a strange inscription in an old shack that was once owned by a philosopher, which leads them to go after an eagle and find a treasure. On the advice of a forest ranger, the two decide to stop chasing the eagle for the treasure, but a strange turn of events involves them with the eagle again and they eventually get an unexpected surprise in the adventure.

3:00pm #6812 -- The Holocaust Pt. 1 Lassie risks death to help rescue Forest Ranger Corey Stuart and Smoke Jumper Lane Becker who become trapped in a ring of fire in a raging holocaust of a Western mountain range.

3:30pm #6813 -- The Holocaust Pt. 2 Lassie risks death to help rescue Forest Ranger Corey Stuart and Smoke Jumper Lane Becker who become trapped in a ring of fire in a raging holocaust of a Western mountain range.

4:00pm #7017 -- For the Love of Lassie Pt. 1 Lassie returns to visit the farm where she left one of her puppies -- and once upon her way again, falls down a hidden well.

4:30pm #7018 -- For the Love of Lassie Pt. 2 People who have been helped by Lassie (including the couple from "Gentle Dawn," who are now married) help rescue her from the well.

5:00pm #7204 -- Run to Nowhere Pt. 1 Lucy Baker and Lassie meet Joey Greer, a young boy on a run to nowhere and convince him to come to the Holden ranch. Overwhelmed by the acceptance and love he has never had, Joey finds it difficult to adjust to the life on the ranch and a misunderstood conversation sends him fleeing into the wilderness.

5:30pm #7205 -- Run to Nowhere Pt. 2 Lucy Baker and Lassie meet Joey Greer, a young boy on a run to nowhere and convince him to come to the Holden ranch. Overwhelmed by the acceptance and love he has never had, Joey finds it difficult to adjust to the life on the ranch and a misunderstood conversation sends him fleeing into the wilderness.

6:00pm #5545 -- Birthday Jeff and Porky's efforts to keep the surprise party Ellen has planned for Gramps' birthday party a secret, and to be especially nice to Gramps results in a series of mishaps with the kids constantly under-foot and doing the wrong thing to help.

6:30pm #5619 -- Party Line With the gossipy Calverton party line always busy, people ask Jenny to deliver messages. But one day she is out of sorts and people become annoyed, until Jeff discovers she's unhappy because no one remembers it's her birthday.

7:00pm #5812 -- The Rocking Chair Lassie falls in love with a rocking chair destined for donation to a benefit sale, and when it's sold, she determines to do something to get it back.

7:30pm #6035 -- Lassie at the Grand Canyon Lassie aids the "See America First" program at the spectacular Grand Canyon. How Lassie rescues a blind composer from the Canyon's brink is one of the many highlights of this spectacular adventure.

Classic Media manages some of the world's most recognizable family properties across all media including feature film, television, home video, and consumer products. The company's extensive library features a diverse collection of popular animated and live-action characters such as: Casper the Friendly Ghost, Mr. Magoo, Richie Rich, Peter Cottontail, The Lone Ranger, Underdog, Lassie, Little Lulu, pat the bunny, and Lamb Chop. For more information on Classic Media, visit us online at http://www.classicmedia.tv/

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050418/NYM235 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN7 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: TV Land

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