PRODUCTS & PROMOTIONS: CUCUMBER HERO...HAUNTED HOUSE...UGLY, IN A GOOD WAY

Cucumber Hero

Tenn. - With a new Veggie-Tales adventure, Big Idea presents "Gideon: Tuba Warrior," starring Larry the Cucumber as biblical hero Gideon, this November. In addition to print, radio, Internet and TV advertising, Big Idea is supporting the launch with promotional partnerships, including an in-store promotion with Bennigan's dining chain featuring signage, kids' cups and menu booklets with a $2 DVD coupon; Eurofresh Farms, growers of greenhouse tomatoes, will feature the DVD image and $3 mail-in rebate on over 1 million produce packages; an in-classroom promotion with 10,000 Christian schools will include Gideon-based curriculum, posters, an in-classroom screening of the film and a $2 coupon for parents; and approximately 3,000 churches in all 50 states and Canada will host screenings of the DVD. Suggested retail price is $14.98.

Haunted House

CULVER CITY, Calif. - Just in time for the Halloween season, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release "Monster House" on DVD, Blu-ray Disc and PSP. An all-star cast including Steve Buscemi ("Monsters, Inc."), Nick Cannon ("Men In Black 2") and Maggie Gyllenhall ("World Trade Center"), along with producers Steven Spielberg ("ET," "Jurassic Park") and Robert Zemeckis ("Forrest Gump," "Back to the Future"), presents the spooky story of two young boys and a cavernous house in this animated family film. The release will be supported by a promotion with Kraft that will reward consumers who purchase the DVD and two packages of Ritz Bitz sandwiches (9 ounces or larger) with a $3 mail-in rebate. The suggested retail price is $28.95 for the DVD, $38.95 for Blu-ray Disc and $28.95 for PSP.

Ugly, in a Good Way

EDISON, N.J. - Appropriate for both Halloween and the winter holidays, PrettyUgly has launched four new Uglydoll characters: Chuckanucka, Moxy, Peaco and Bop N' Beep. The dolls, which won the 2006 Toy of the Year Award for specialty toys from the Toy Industry Association, New York, each have their own personality. For instance, Chuckanucka is a worrier, asking, "What if the phone rings when I go out? What if the mailman tries to deliver my deluxe ugly earmuffs when I'm in the bathroom?" The launch is being supported in print consumer outlets such as The New York Times and Time Magazine, and the dolls are endorsed by a number of celebrities including Snoop Dogg and Hillary Duff, according to spokeswoman Victoria George. Uglydolls are available from key chain size up to the giant 6-foot doll.

Top 10 SUPERMARKET DVD SELL-THROUGH TITLES

As of October 8, 2006

RANK: Title (# of Weeks Out),; Last Week; Studio, Retail Price

1) N; X-Men: The Last Stand; Fox $29.98

2) N; The Little Mermaid Special Edition; Buena Vista $29.99

3) 1; The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (1); Universal $29.98

4) 2; Curious George (1); Universal $29.98

5) 3; The Lake House (1); Warner $28.98

6) 4; The Wild (3); Buena Vista $29.99

7) 5; Stick It (2); Buena Vista $19.98

8) 6; Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses (2); Universal $19.98

9) 7; Stay Alive (2); Buena Vista $29.99

10) 8; Lucky Number Slevin (3); Weinstein/Genius $29.95

N=New N/A=Not in Top 10 last week

This chart, tailored for the supermarket video market, is based on information taken from more than 1,000 supermarket rental locations serviced by Ingram Entertainment, La Vergne, Tenn.