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PBS SoCal and the Jim Henson Company Host Splash and Bubbles Day at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach

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LOS ANGELES, Calif., January 13, 2017 - PBS SoCal KOCE and The Jim Henson Company will celebrate PBS KIDS’ newest series Splash and Bubbles at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach on Sunday, January 22nd from 11am - 3pm. This public event will feature Splash and Bubbles-themed experiences and activities, and live appearances by show creator and "Splash" performer John Tartaglia (ImaginOceanJohnny and the Sprites), and Laura Sams and Robert Sams of Sisbro Studios, the creative duo behind the popular "Get Your Feet Wet" segments that are featured in the series. Guests will enjoy a photo opportunity with title character Splash, screen an episode, and watch a demonstration of the Emmy Award-winning Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, the ground-breaking technology that brings the show to life.

The new ocean-themed animated kids' series encourages children to explore the natural undersea world and features endearing and humorous characters on fun-filled adventures. During the event, guests are encouraged to see the aquarium’s exhibits of the real-life species that inspire the characters and stories from the show.

Also at the event, guests can participate in hands-on investigations to learn about the ocean and why it is an important part of our world. Upon completing these activities, kids can take the Reeftown Rangers pledge to do their part to protect and preserve this vital resource. Ocean Friends Forever!

Event activities include:


  • Live appearance by "Splash" performer/show creator John Tartaglia
  • "Get Your Feet Wet" presentation by Laura Sams and Robert Sams
  • Splash – photo opportunity
  • Demonstration of the Henson Digital Puppetry Studio
  • Multiple Explore the Ocean hands-on activities
  • A chance to join the Reeftown Rangers!

SPLASH AND BUBBLES is a production of The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Studios. The series is executive produced by Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford of The Jim Henson Company, Julie Phillips and Merrill Puckett-Miller of Herschend Enterprises, as well as John Tartaglia, Michael Shawn Lewis and Jill Shinderman. The series is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

About PBS SoCal KOCE
PBS SoCal is the home to PBS for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California. We deliver the full schedule of PBS programs, plus content that is for, about and by the people of Southern California. Our content is available free through three broadcast channels, at pbssocal.org, on our mobile apps, and via connected TV services. And we provide the community with early education resources and cultural and educational experiences through partnerships, events and grassroots outreach. PBS SoCal has offices in Century City, Costa Mesa, and Los Angeles. Connect with us at pbssocal.org and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 60 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy®-nominated Sid the Science KidDinosaur Train, and Pajanimals, the CG-animated preschool series Doozers, the digital citizenship series for preschoolers Dot., the Netflix series for young preschoolers Word Party, and the marine biology themed animated series on PBS KIDS Splash and Bubbles. Features include Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, as well as The Dark CrystalLabyrinth, and MirrorMask. Television productions include Fraggle Rock, the sci-fi cult series Farscape, Henson Alternative's No, You Shut Up! and the TV film Jim Henson's Turkey Hollow.

With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. The Company is home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television, theme park and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment. The Company's Henson Alternative brand is currently touring Puppet-Up! – Uncensored, a live puppet improvisational show.
http://www.henson.com
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About Herschend Enterprises and Herschend Studios
Committed for more than half-a-century to Creating Memories Worth Repeating®, Herschend Enterprises is the largest family-owned attractions corporation in the U.S. Our team of more than 10,000 employees works daily to create wholesome, immersive entertainment experiences with soul and depth for every generation. With a focus on bringing families closer together, we create, develop and operate entertainment, tourism and hospitality properties spanning 24 locations in seven states, attracting over 14 million people annually. Herschend Studios is the media arm of Herschend Enterprises, committed to developing and producing family entertainment for television, film, and publishing.

Today, Herschend Enterprises' properties include the world famous HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS, award-winning theme parks like SILVER DOLLAR CITY in Branson, MO, and DOLLYWOOD, our partnership with Dolly Parton in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, including DOLLYWOOD'S DREAMMORE RESORT, top tier aquariums – NEWPORT AQUARIUM and ADVENTURE AQUARIUM, water parks, hotels, and other highly entertaining standalone attractions. For more information, visit www.hfecorp.com.

About Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967, is the steward of the federal government’s investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of nearly 1,500 locally owned and operated public television and radio stations nationwide. CPB is also the largest single source of funding for research, technology, and program development for public radio, television, and related online services. For more information, visit www.cpb.org and follow CPB on Twitter @CPBmediaFacebook, and LinkedIn.

About The National Science Foundation (NSF)
NSF is an independent federal agency created by Congress to promote the progress of science. Its goals are to advance the frontiers of knowledge, cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce, and expand the scientific literacy of all citizens. The Advancing Informal STEM Learning Program seeks to advance new approaches to and evidence-based understanding of the design and development of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning in informal environments; provide multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences; and advance innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments. 

About Aquarium of the Pacific
The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature's services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 11,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, the interactive Shark Lagoon and Lorikeet Forest exhibits, and the Vanishing Animals and Horses and Dragons exhibitions. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists. The Aquarium won a 2015 Travelers' Choice Award for Aquariums, as awarded by TripAdvisor® travelers. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. For more information, visit www.aquariumofpacific.org or call (562) 590-3100.

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