MORE NATIONAL REVIEWS FOR "RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA"


WINNER: BEST SPECIAL OF THE YEAR - CINDERELLA.
"Disney turns an the magic better than anybody else, and its highly rated
'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella did it all. The show delightfully breathed
new life into the TV musical -- as well as into ABC."
--TV GUIDE, THE BEST OF '97 SPECIAL ISSUE


"'Cinderella is fabulous.''
--CENTRAL FLORIDA ADVOCATE, ORLANDO

"On Sunday, it's the young-- and the young at heart-- who get the most magical
treat of all."
--Jeanne Jakie, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, TEXAS

"Colorblind casting that works as well as any other kind of casting. Which
is the point. Bravo!"
--Kinney Littlefield, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

"Programs like 'Cinderella' continue knocking down the old barriers that
kept minorities outside the media mainstream (and) encourage children to
dream.
--Kevin Kilbane, THE NEWS-SENTINEL, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

"Strong performances by a rainbow cast will endear 'Cinderella' for a new
generation. 'Cinderella' will never be the same again. Never has this
dream-come-true seemed so romantic as in the hands of teen star Brandy and
Paolo Montalban. Never has the score seemed so lush as in the re-orchestration.
And never has the fact that the characters come from different races and
ethnic origins seemed so inconsequential as in the teleplay rewritten by
Robert Freedman."
--Marion Garmel, THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS

"One movie is actually something to brag about: the much-publicized, colorblind
'Cinderella'. Tomorrow's version merits the buzz it has created. It's livelier,
funnier, more romantic, more musical and much better mounted than the off-aired
1965 staging. Most impressive are Brandy and Filipino newcomer Paolo Montalban
who, as Cinderella and the prince, bring the show's heart and soul to life."
--Eugene Marino, DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

'The phrase 'television event' is so overused - applied to so many inferior
productions - it doesn't have much meaning anymore. It was meant to be used
for shows like tonight's presentation of 'Cinderella` which is an Event
with a capital E. This remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein's television musical
is nothing short of fabulous - great music, great singing, great choreography,
fantastic sets and costumes accompanying a classic tale."
--Scott Pierce, DESERET NEWS, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

"'Cinderella's' back in town. Sit the whole family dawn for this treat.
The musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein is bound to be an Emmy winner. It's
been done by television, but never quite the same. And never with a fresher,
more appealing Cinderella or a more capable cast. For Brandy, it's a breakout
performance. For Whitney Houston, a fine fairy godmother, it's a double
smash. Her song is a show-stopper. Bernadette Peter's 'Falling in Love
With Love' is one, too. Peters is purely wonderful. She and Jason Alexander
add a practiced touch as the comedic relief. This 'Cinderella' is first-class
entertainment for the whole family.
--Ana Hodges, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, TEXAS

"Tonight's long-awaited new version of 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella'
is awash in a rainbow of brilliant colors- in the Gustav Klimt-inspired
sets and costumes and in the unusual casting. The ethnic diversity of this
all-star cast is staggering. Brandy waltzes away with the honors for best
performance. Her angelic, wistful Cinderella is a real star turn. What a
voice!"
--Elaine Liner, CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES, TEXAS

"Disney's newest 'Cinderella' is colorblind. Talk about your emancipated
productions. Baby boomers who remember the frequently rerun Lesley Ann Warren
version will be beguiled by the irrepressible Brandy from the moment she
opens her mouth. Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg and Bernadette Peters
are a hoot as Comic relief. The musical is creatively staged on sets as
colorful and bright as a cartoon. And then there's diva Houston, singing
sweet on the memorable Rodgers & Hammerstein score. She looks, in her costume,
like she's been spun from silver and gold and moonbeams.
--Steve Hall, THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR

"Prepare to be swept off your feet by a fairy tale production of 'Cinderella.'
The florid and fanciful Rodgers & Hammerstein musical is wrapped in sugarplum
production values and brought to life by a marquee cast. But never before
has 'Cinderella' received such a transformation. As if touched by a magic
wand, this musical play has become a Disney extravaganza with all the trimmings.
Comic and romantic elements are in balance throughout the film, and director
Robert Iscove, to his everlasting credit, keeps all the stars from snacking
on the scenery. The result is a pull-out-all-the-stops production that never
slips over the line into camp."
--THE WESTERLY SUN, RHODE ISLAMD

'The multicultural cast allowed viewers to look at the age-old 'Cinderella'
story with fresh eyes. The new version sent a powerful message to its audience,
both young and old: that a good story knows no racial boundaries...truly
a beautiful mosaic. A good story is colorblind, even if society often isn't.
Sunday's television broadcast was a reminder of what could be."
--Editorial, DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK

"Whitney Houston and Bernadette Peters win grins with their flamboyant
characterizations and bombastic vocals. Jason Alexander sings and dances
like the musical veteran he is. And Whoopi Goldberg puts heart over humor
in her regal role. Cinderella dares to wish and this heroine discards
'once upon a time' and speaks to a new generation.
--Lou Grahnke, THE CHICAGO-SUN TIMES

"Superstar Whitney Houston weaves her melodious magic in a new spectacular
all-star production of 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella'. Singing sensation
Brandy brings a whole new dimension of wonder and innocence to the title
role, while Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander and Bernadette Peters lend
their considerable Broadway talents to this fairy tale world where wishes
really do come true.
--DAYTONA TIMES, FLORIDA

"Whitney Houston makes a grand Fairy Godmother. Paolo Montalban and Brandy
crackle with youthful romance in this superb musical. This wonderfully whimsical
remake has a feature film feel. The multicultural cast adds a sassy flavor
and all give brassier portrayals than their predecessors."
--Susan Young, THE SUNDAY RECORD, HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA

"Did you see 'Cinderella' on ABC Sunday night? If you didn't, too bad, because
you missed not only a delightful story for children, but a heartening lesson
for adults as well. If it seems as though we're making a big deal about racial
categories, that's because the TV movie didn't. Everyone seemed truly
colorblind as good contended with evil and love triumphed in the end. Too
good to be true? Maybe, but art imitates life, and life in America is becoming
ever more multiethnic. To be sure, we have a long way to go in race relations
(but) it's nice to see a positive sign of progress, even if it is just a
fairy tale."
--Editorial, NEWSDAY, NASSAU EDITION, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK


NOMINATED; BRANDY, NAACP IMAGE AWARD, BEST ACTRESS: TV MOVIE,
           MINI-SERIES, DRAMATIC SPECIAL

NOMINATED; WHOOPI GOLDBERG, NAACP IMAGE AWARD, BEST ACTRESS: TV MOVIE,
           MINI-SERIES, DRAMATIC SPECIAL

NOMINATED; JASON ALEXANDER, INTERNATIONAL PRESS ACADEMY SATELLITE AWARD,
           BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: MINI-SERIES/MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

NOMINATED; BERNADETTE PETERS, INTERNATIONAL PRESS ACADEMY SATELLITE AWARD,
           BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: MINI-SERIES/MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION