'DISNEY PREP & LANDING' AND 'PREP & LANDING: NAUGHTY VS NICE,' FROM WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS, TO AIR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, ON ABC

Half-Hour Holiday Specials Tell Story of the Elite Unit of Elves Who Prepare Homes for a Christmas Eve Visit from Santa

Voices of the Elves Include Dave Foley, Sarah Chalke, Derek Richardson, as well as Rob Riggle and Chris Parnell

Academy Award-Winning John Lasseter Is Executive Producer

Two Emmy-winning specials produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios "Disney Prep & Landing" and "Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice" will air back to back THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15 (8:00-8:30 p.m. & 8:30-9:00 p.m., EST) on the ABC Television Network.

The first half-hour holiday special reveals the never-before-told tale of an elite unit of Elves known as Prep & Landing. Every Christmas Eve this high-tech organization ensures that homes around the world are properly prepared for the yearly visit from The Big Guy, their code name for Santa Claus.

After working tirelessly on Prep & Landing for 227 years, an elf named Wayne is upset when he doesn't receive an expected promotion to be the Director of Naughty List Intelligence. Instead, Magee, the North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center Coordinator (NPCECCC for short), partners Wayne with Lanny, an idealistic rookie who has an undying enthusiasm for Christmas. During their Christmas Eve mission, Wayne and Lanny encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits. Will the elves be able to guide Dasher, Dancer and the rest of the reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh through a raging snowstorm to ensure a Merry Christmas for all?

The second half-hour special continues the yuletide adventures of Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne: With the Big 2-5 fast approaching, Wayne and Lanny must race to recover classified North Pole technology that has fallen into the hands of a computer-hacking naughty kid! Desperate to prevent Christmas from descending into chaos, Wayne seeks out the foremost naughty kid expert to aid in the mission - a bombastic member of the Coal Elf Brigade, who also happens to be his estranged brother, Noel.

The cast of "Disney Prep & Landing" includes Dave Foley ("The Kids in the Hall," "NewsRadio") as Wayne, Sarah Chalke ("Maneater," "Scrubs") as Magee and Derek Richardson ("Men in Trees," "Hostel," "Dumb and Dumberer") as Lanny.

The cast of "Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice" includes Dave Foley as Wayne, Sarah Chalke as Magee, Derek Richardson as Lanny, Rob Riggle ("The Daily Show," "American Dad!") as Noel and Chris Parnell ("Suburgatory," "30 Rock") as Mr. Thistleton.

John Lasseter is executive producer of both specials. Dorothy McKim is the producer, and the writers/directors are Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton.

"Disney Prep & Landing" is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. This program carries a TV-G parental guideline.