"REBA" HITS A HIGH NOTE WHEN COUNTRY LEGEND DOLLY PARTON MAKES A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE

Burbank, CA - Country music superstars and friends Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire come together for the first time in series television for an upcoming episode of The WB's hit comedy REBA. The announcement was made today by "Reba" star and co-executive producer Reba McEntire at the Winter 2005 Television Critics' Association Press Tour.

In a role that is being created especially for her, Parton's character will be pitted against Reba Hart (McEntire), who will find herself without a job and starting a new career in real estate. The episode will tape before a live audience in February to air later in the season.

"I have respected Dolly, both professionally and personally, for my entire career, so having her on our show and playing opposite her will be the thrill of a lifetime," said Ms. McEntire.

Throughout a career that has spanned four decades, the multi-award-winning Parton has contributed countless treasures to the world of music entertainment, including such songs as "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors" and "I Will Always Love You;" acting performances such as her Oscar-nominated film debut in "9 to 5," as well as roles in the motion pictures "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "Steel Magnolias;" her 1994 autobiography "Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business" and her Smoky Mountain heritage-preserving entertainment park, located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, just miles from where she grew up.

"Reba" was created by Allison M. Gibson ("Home Improvement," "Boy Meets World"). Kevin Abbott ("Roseanne") serves as executive producer with Mindy Schultheis and Michael Hanel ("Titus") and Matt Berry for Twentieth Century Fox Television.

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Incy Wincy Spider

Julia Roberts and Oprah get caught in Charlotte's Web

19 January 2005

You know, usually the stars flock to films about glamorous thieves, tough law enforcement officials or downtrodden hookers with a heart of gold, possibly in the future. But this time Tinseltown's finest are turning out for the story of a small pig and his arachnid friend, as casting takes off for the new film of Charlotte's Web.

Julia Roberts will be playing the titular Charlotte, a spider who weaves words into her web in order to save her friend Wilbur, a small pig who she has all but adopted. Oprah Winifrey will play Gussy the Goose, a maternal figure in the barn where they all live, while John Cleese plays Samuel the Sheep and Steve Buscemi plays Templeton, a sardonic rat (a role he could do in his sleep).

Cedric the Entertainer plays another goose, called Golly, while Sideways' Thomas Haden Church will voice one of two dim-witted crows, opposite Andre 3000. Kathy Bates, and country music and Tremors star Reba McEntire, will play the barn's two cows.

Add in the inevitable Dakota Fanning role as the small moppet who befriends Wilbur, and you have a pretty stellar cast. Let's hope that they suit the roles and are not just gimmicky casting, but on the face of it we're hopeful that they'll get the tone right. The book is the best-selling children's paperback of all time (and we're betting it's going to get another push or two on Oprah's book club soon), and there are a lot of small fans out there hoping that they get it right.

The film's going to be live action but with some photo-real CGI work on the animals. So will this be another Babe? Or just a smelly hog? Only time will tell...

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Dolly Parton to guest star!!

REBA

See two Country Music superstars! Reba McEntire welcomes special guest Dolly Parton. The two singers will tape a new episode on Feb. 15th!