Barbra Streisand Producing

Jack Lemmon, Profiles The Lives Of Those Over 100 Years Old In New PBS Series, "The Living Century"

Website: www.TheLivingCentury.com

Schedule for Showing: Click Here for Schedule in Your City

Nov. 16, 2000 -- The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People will make its worldwide debut on PBS in December, it was announced today. Barbra Streisand and Cis Corman, president of Barwood Films, are executive producing the series with Steven Latham and Christopher Carson, and Emmy® and Academy Award® winning actor Jack Lemmon is hosting the program, "The Living Century."

THE LIVING CENTURY: The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary People is a new biography series that profiles individuals who are 100 years of age and older. Each 30-minute episode of THE LIVING CENTURY profiles one centenarian. Their memories, their unique perceptions of the world and the radical changes they witnessed during their lifetime come alive through interviews, family photographs, home movies, archival footage and an original musical score.

There are 70,000 Americans who are at least 100 years old. By the year 2050, there will be 834,000. The producers research and select active and lucid centenarians to honor their lives, their experiences and the contributions they have made and continue to make to society.

"People love to see how someone else has lived their life," says Steven Latham, the series' creator. "The individuals we profile have seen more change in their lives than any other generation. We can learn so much about our collective past first-hand from those who lived it. It's exciting to think that in January, these centenarians will have set foot in three centuries."

The two episodes of THE LIVING CENTURY that will premiere in December are:

"Three Miracles"

Rose Freedman, born in 1893, has led an extraordinary life: in addition to being the last remaining survivor of the infamous 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, she saved the life of an Austrian spy during World War I, immigrated to America from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, started a family and bravely coped when two of her children contracted polio and her husband suddenly passed away. 107-year-old Rose is currently an active and vital part of her California community. She lives on her own, wears a dress and high heels every day, shops and cooks for herself, paints, is an avid basketball fan (Lakers) and recently began studying Spanish (her sixth language). Three-time U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky recites his poem, "Shirt," for this episode, which recounts the Triangle Factory tragedy.

"A Teacher and Student for Life"

Ray Crist was born in a brick farmhouse in1900 and grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. His grandfather fought in the Civil War. Ray left the farm and received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University in 1926. He was recruited to be the director of the Manhattan Division of the Manhattan Project where he helped develop the first atomic bomb. He was a friend of Albert Einstein. Ray has taught at four universities and has been published in national and international journals. He breaks all stereotypes of being a senior citizen. He lives alone, mows his own lawn, chops wood, works in his garden and collects algae from a local pond to conduct science experiments. He does research at a college every day where his work is focused on protecting the environment. Dr. Crist is currently working on a paper that will be presented in Japan in 2001.

THE LIVING CENTURY AWARDS

In addition to the television series, THE LIVING CENTURY honors a "Centenarian of the Month" and people can enter their 100-year-old relatives for "The Living Century Awards" at www.TheLivingCentury.com. There is also an education component where the 30-minute films will be used in schools across the country.

ADVISORY BOARD

THE LIVING CENTURY is supported by an advisory board that includes Leonard Maltin, Art Linkletter, Harvard Gerontologist Dr. Thomas Perls, USC Gerontologist Dr. Edward Schneider, Jim Bellows and Keven Bellows.

THE LIVING CENTURY is presented by Reverie Productions, made in association with Barwood Films and Digital Ranch; produced and directed by Steven Latham and Christopher Carson; produced by Nicholas Loeb, executive produced by Barbra Streisand, Cis Corman, Steven Latham and Christopher Carson; co-executive produced by Jeff Cohen; associate produced by Robert Kirk, Rob Lihani and Paul J. Coyne; music by Alan Williams; additional music by Devin Powers; edited by Paul J. Coyne; director of photography Shana Hagan and John Kavanaugh; executive in charge of production Tzvi Howard Small; developed by Steven Latham and Christopher Carson; created by Steven Latham.