Every four years, Nickelodeon provides kids with the rare opportunity to have the U.S. presidential candidates answer their questions in the Nick News with Linda Ellerbee special, "Kids Pick the President: The Candidates," premiering Monday, Oct. 15, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Following the special, kids have the opportunity to vote for the man they think should be the next president. The "Kids' Vote" is a bellwether poll because in five of the last six presidential elections, kids have correctly picked the winner several weeks before the adults have voted.
Nick News traveled around the country videotaping kids asking the candidates questions. This year's special features President Barack Obama who sat down with Nick News at the White House to answer kids' questions. After numerous attempts by Nick News to get former Governor Mitt Romney to participate in the special, his camp declined saying he was unable to fit it into his schedule. The special features previously taped video clips of Romney addressing some of the issues raised in the questions as well as bios of both candidates.
In the special, Obama answers questions about gun control, jobs, illegal immigration, same-sex marriage, outsourcing, bullying and obesity. He also responds to more light-hearted questions like if he'd ever had his heart broken or what was his most embarrassing moment.
On heartbreak: "That happened to me," says Obama. "I think the main thing you learn is that life goes on..."
On his most embarrassing moment: "Running into the wall is par for the course for me," says the president. "I'm running into doors and desks all the time."
"By answering kids' questions directly, candidates show respect for kids," says
Linda Ellerbee. "We are disappointed that Mitt Romney wouldn't take the time to answer the questions, but are thrilled that
President Obama participated in the special."
Following the special, hosted by Ellerbee, kids will be able to vote for the person they think is most qualified to lead America. Kids can log on to www.nick.com/kpp from Oct. 15 to Oct. 22 to cast their votes online, as well as to get more information about each candidate and his position on the issues. Nickelodeon will announce the results on-air on Monday, Oct. 22. Both the special and the "Kids' Vote" are the culmination of Nickelodeon's Kids Pick the President initiative to build young citizens' awareness of the election process, the candidates and the issues.
Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 21st year and is the longest-running kids' news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 21 Emmy nominations and recently won its ninth Emmy Award for Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics in the category of Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program. Additional Emmy wins for outstanding children's programming include: The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer (2010); Coming Home: When Parents Return from War (2009); The Untouchable Kids of India (2008); Private Worlds: Kids and Autism (2007); Never Again: From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005); Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan (2002) and What Are You Staring At? (1998). In addition, in 1995, the entire series won the Emmy. In 2009, Nick News was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for best Network News Documentary for Coming Home: When Parents Return from War - the first-ever kids' television program to receive this prestigious award. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids, as well as a Columbia duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.
Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 17 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc.
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