"MADAGASCAR," THE BEASTLY ANIMATED BLOCKBUSTER, AIRS AS THE "ABC SATURDAY MOVIE OF THE WEEK," DECEMBER 18

The Stellar Voice Cast Includes Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen and Cedric the Entertainer

"Madagascar," winner of the 2006 Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie, brings its hilarious animal antics to television as the "ABC Saturday Movie of the Week," DECEMBER 18 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 12/24/07)

In "Madagascar," a lively lion (Ben Stiller), an idealistic zebra (Chris Rock), a hypochondriac giraffe (David Schwimmer) and a sassy hippopotamus (Jada Pinkett Smith) are best friends living high on the hog -- pardon the expression -- at the Central Park Zoo. But by zebra Marty's 10th birthday, his longing to see the outside world can no longer be suppressed, so he devises a plan to escape from the zoo, along with some mischievous penguins who are slippery in more ways than one.

When Marty's three friends realize he's missing, they set out to rescue him from a city he's ill equipped to survive in. Things go further astray, though -- much further astray -- when somehow they all wind up on a hijacked ship heading for the wilds of Madagascar, where none of this beastly band, regardless off spots, stripes or pedigree, has any experience in survival.

The star-studded cast voicing the animals includes Ben Stiller ("Night at the Museum") as Alex, Chris Rock ("Bee Movie") as Marty, David Schwimmer ("Friends") as Melman, Jada Pinkett Smith ("The Nutty Professor") as Gloria, Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat") as Julien and Cedric the Entertainer ("Barbershop") as Maurice.

The film, released in 2005, was directed and written by Eric Darnell ("Antz") and Tom McGrath ("The Ren and Stimpy Show"). It was also written by Mark Burton ("Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit") and Billy Frolick ("It Is What It Is"). "Madagascar" is a production of Dreamworks SKG, Pacific Data Images and Dreamworks Animation.

"MADAGASCAR" IN HDTV:
The ABC Television Network's HDTV broadcast of "Madagascar" will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and Spanish audio via SAP. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.