FATE SMILES ON NICKELODEON MOVIES WITH 'A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS'
Studio Acquires the Feature Film Rights to Hit Children's Book Series By Lemony Snicket

LOS ANGELES -- May 15, 2000 - On the heels of its success with "Snow Day," Nickelodeon Movies has acquired the feature film rights to the popular children's book series, "A Series of Unfortunate Events," by Lemony Snicket (AKA Daniel Hadler). The announcement was made today by Albie Hecht, President of Film and Television Entertainment for Nickelodeon, and Julia Pistor, Senior Vice President of Nickelodeon Movies.

Described as a cross between Edward Gorey and Roald Dahl, "A Series of Unfortunate Events" chronicles the misadventures of the Baudelaires, three savvy and resilient orphans in search of a home. From Chapter 1 of The Bad Beginning -- the first of 13 books in the Harper Collins series -- the kids find themselves abruptly orphaned, and taken in by the villainous Count Olaf who has designs on their inheritance. While disaster lurks at every corner, the children are clever and enterprising enough to stay one step ahead of their comic nemesis.

" 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' is a perfect fit for Nickelodeon because the books take a contemporary world and stretch and heighten it to hilarious proportions. They don't feel like traditional, soft, family fare. They're smarter. We believe the books' ability to weave suspense and satire strikes a unique chord in kids and adults alike, and we're thrilled to have the chance to bring these 'miserable' tales to life on the big screen," said Hecht.

Author Lemony Snicket, otherwise known as Daniel Handler, is best known for his book The Basic Eight. Although Snicket is an altar ego, Handler cleverly presents himself in public as an associate of the author. The series of books from HarperCollins Publishers -- which have become a cult hit, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide -- were inspired by the many years Snicket spent following the lives of the Baudelaire orphans.

Nickelodeon Movies is fresh off the success of its latest release "Snow Day," which has grossed an impressive $60 million at the box-office. Nick Movies' next film, "Rugrats in Paris - The Movie," is the much anticipated follow-up to the animated feature "The Rugrats Movie," which to date has grossed over $150 million worldwide. "Rugrats in Paris - The Movie" features the voices of Susan Sarandon, John Lithgow and Debbie Reynolds, and is scheduled for nationwide release this Thanksgiving.

Nickelodeon Movies is the feature film development and production division of Nickelodeon which produces movies for kids and their families in association with its sister Viacom company, Paramount Pictures. Nickelodeon Movies was created in 1993 to extend the kids-oriented story sensibility and marketing approach that has made Nickelodeon the number one kid brand in all of TV programming to theatrical feature films aimed at kids and their families.

The goal of Nickelodeon Movies is to develop and produce several types of films, which include star-driven family event movies, kids first movies and animated features, all of which bring extraordinary events, characters and situations into everyday contemporary life. In addition to "The Rugrats Movie" and "Snow Day," other Nickelodeon Movies include "Good Burger," a comedy featuring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, stars of the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That; and 1996's "Harriet the Spy," starring Rosie O' Donnell. Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon Movies and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc., which is one of the world's largest entertainment and publishing companies and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace.