TIM ALLEN PROVIDES WARM, FUNNY ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT SANTA CLAUS, IN �THE SANTA CLAUSE,� AIRING IN HDTV AS A PRESENTATION OF ABC�S �THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY,� THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15

Tim Allen provides answers -- warm and funny answers -- to some of the world�s most vexing questions: How can Santa come down your chimney if you don�t have a fireplace? How does he get to every house in the world in just one night? And how do you get a job like that, anyway? -- in �The Santa Clause,� airing in HDTV format with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio as a presentation of �The Wonderful World of Disney,� THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast: OAD: 11/23/97)

Scott Calvin (Allen) is a divorced father with a problem -- soon to be several problems -- when his son Charlie (Eric Lloyd) comes to spend Christmas Eve with him. The first problem: Charlie has been convinced by his humorless stepfather, Neal (Judge Reinhold), that Santa Claus is a delusion the world should have outgrown. This makes for a prematurely cynical kid who no longer believes in Christmas.

It�s Scott�s next problem that makes history: When that so-called delusion starts stomping around on the roof, Scott thinks he�s a burglar, and startles the poor soul so badly that Santa -- for the stomper is, indeed, the jolly old elf himself -- tumbles off the roof and -- well -- evaporates.

Only the red suit is left behind, and when Scott tries it on and is whisked away to the North Pole he learns what the �Santa clause� is: If you try on the suit, you�ve got the job. No arguments accepted.

Scott doesn�t like this career move, but when he starts putting on some serious poundage (there�s another question to be answered: What happens if Santa is a Size 50 and your chimney is a Size 36?) and his hair turns white and he grows a white beard that can�t be shaved off, Scott gets the message. He�d better brush up his �ho-ho-ho�s,� because he�s got a long Christmas night ahead. And some very skinny chimneys to get down.

Also in the cast of the 1994 Walt Disney Pictures presentation are Wendy Crewson as Laura, David Krumholtz as Bernard and Peter Boyle as Mr. Whittle.

This film carries a TV-G parental guideline.

�THE SANTA CLAUSE� IN HDTV:
The ABC Television Network�s HDTV broadcast of �The Santa Clause� will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC�s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio.