ANNIE'S SEARCH FOR SANDY to Air on NBC on 10/27

"ANNIE's Search for Sandy," a 30-minute television special about the nationwide search to find the canine star of Broadway's new production of the Tony Award-winning classic musical, ANNIE, will air on Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28 on NBC stations around the country, including the 10 NBC-owned stations serving the following markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Washington, D.C., San Diego and Connecticut, as well as the NBC affiliate in Nashville. "Annie's Search for Sandy," hosted by Al Roker, has been produced by Al Roker Entertainment and ANNIE The Musical LLC, in partnership with PEDIGREE® Food for Dogs.

In this reality show, Bill Berloni, a Tony Award® honoree for his work as Broadway's preeminent animal trainer, searches shelters across the country to find just the right dog to become Broadway's newest Sandy. Berloni discovered Broadway's first Sandy at a shelter in 1977 and has since been committed to finding all of his Broadway stars in local shelters. With the help of PEDIGREE®, who share the belief that every dog deserves a loving home, Bill searches the country to find just the right rescue dog to become a star and Annie's beloved best friend.

Berloni eventually discovers Sunny, a two-year-old terrier mix from the BARC Municipal Shelter in Houston, only 24 hours before she was scheduled to be put to sleep as an unwanted shelter dog. In "ANNIE's Search for Sandy," find out how Sunny got the job as Broadway's newest four legged star; watch how Bill Berloni works with Broadway's Annie, Lilla Crawford, on preparing Sunny for the stage debut; and learn some valuable training tips on how to make your dog a star in your own home.

Air schedule and markets follow:

Saturday, October 27

6:00-6:30 PM Chicago: WMAQ

6:30-7:00 PM San Diego: KNSD
Dallas: KXAS
Nashville: WSMV

7:00-7:30 PM New York: WNBC
Los Angeles: KNBC
Philadelphia: WCAU
Miami: WTVJ
Hartford: WVIT

7:30-8:00 PM San Francisco: KNTV

Sunday, October 28

12:00–12:30 PM Washington, D.C.: WRC

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award®-winning musical, is now in previews and opens Thursday, November 8 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). ANNIE features a book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin, with all three authors receiving 1977 Tony Awards® for their work. ANNIE is directed by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award®-winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award®-winner Andy Blankenbuehler.

ANNIE stars two-time Tony Award® winner Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan, Australian star Anthony Warlow making his Broadway debut as Daddy Warbucks and 11-year-old Lilla Crawford as Annie, with Brynn O'Malley as Grace Farrell, Clarke Thorell as Rooster Hannigan, and J. Elaine Marcos as Lily St. Regis. The Orphans are Madi Rae DiPietro as July, Georgi James as Pepper, Junah Jang as Tessie, Tyrah Skye Odoms as Kate, Taylor Richardson as Duffy, Emily Rosenfeld as Molly and Jaidyn Young as standby for the roles of Annie, Pepper, Duffy and July. The production also features Ashley Blanchet, Jane Blass, Jeremy Davis, Fred Inkley, Merwin Foard, Joel Hatch, Amanda Lea LaVergne, Gavin Lodge, Liz McCartney, Desi Oakley, Keven Quillon, David Rossetti, Sarah Solie, Dennis Stowe and Ryan VanDenBoom.

ANNIE is produced on Broadway by Arielle Tepper Madover, Roger Horchow, Sally Horchow, Roger Berlind, Roy Furman, Debbie Bisno, Stacey Mindich, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Jane Bergère/Daryl Roth and Eva Price/Christina Papagjika.

NBC Owned Television Stations is the division of NBCUniversal that includes 10 local television stations and their digital channels and websites, as well as a group of out-of-home properties and a Production Company. The 10 stations produce and deliver compelling and unique local news, information and entertainment programming to viewers in the communities they serve, which include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Miami, San Diego and Connecticut, with a goal of connecting to their audiences anytime and anywhere.

The PEDIGREE® Brand is the number one brand of dog food in the world, offering a wide variety of products for different dog life stages. As an innovative market leader, the PEDIGREE® Brand is at the forefront of pet nutrition and understands pet owner needs by providing a range of innovative products and resources. For more information, please visit www.Pedigree.com.