"PATCH ADAMS," THE HIT DRAMATIC COMEDY STARRING ROBIN WILLIAMS, AIRS IN HDTV MONDAY, JUNE 20, ON ABC

"Patch Adams," starring Robin Williams ("One Hour Photo," Oscar winner for "Good Will Hunting") as a compassionate medical student who believes laughter is the best medicine, airs in HDTV with 5.1-channel surround sound and video description as the "ABC Monday Movie of the Week," MONDAY, JUNE 20 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 2/4/02)

The movie is loosely based on the life of Hunter "Patch" Adams and follows his experiences in the 1970s - beginning with his institutionalization because he is suicidal. When doctors are unable to help him, but the patients do, he is inspired to go to medical school. His training proves to him that medicine is impersonal and he begins to illegally treat the sick and dying with his own brand of irrepressible humor.

Successful with both his academic studies and the patients he's been treating, a humorless dean (Bob Gunton, "I Heart Huckabees") seeks to have Adams expelled from the school. Adams also encounters resistance from his roommate (Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Cold Mountain," "The Talented Mr. Ripley") and a female student (Monica Potter, "Along Came a Spider," TV's "Boston Legal").

"Patch Adams" stars Robin Williams as Hunter "Patch" Adams, Daniel London as Truman Schiff, Monica Potter as Carin Fisher, Philip Seymour Hoffman as Mitch Roman, Bob Gunton as Dean Walcott, Josef Sommer ("The Family Man") as Dr. Eaton, Irma P. Hall as Joletta, Lee McCain as Judy, Harve Presnell as Dean J.P. Anderson, Daniella Kuhn as Adelane and Peter Coyote as Bill Davis.

The 1998 film was directed by Tom Shadyac ("Bruce Almighty," "Liar Liar") from the screenplay by Steve Oedekerk ("Bruce Almighty," "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius"), based on the book "Gesundheit: Good Health Is a Laughing Matter" by Hunter Doherty Adams and Maureen Mylander. The feature is a production of Blue Wolf, Bungalow 78 Productions and Farrell/Minoff. (CLOSED-CAPTIONED)

"PATCH ADAMS" IN HDTV:
The ABC Television Network's HDTV broadcast of "Patch Adams" will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and video description.

This program carries a TV-14,D,L parental guideline.