Everyone's favorite green, giant, and obnoxious orc is returning, but this time -- not on the big screen.
NBC ordered new holiday specials for the upcoming season from two DreamWorks Animation blockbusters -- Shrek and Kung Fu Panda -- entitled Scared Shrekless and Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special.
The move continues the relationship established last year between DreamWorks and NBC when they aired Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space and Merry Madagascar.
The Halloween-themed Scared Shrekless airs on October 28, with a re-airing of Mutant Pumpkins. Its story follows Shrek as he challenges Fiona, Donkey, Puss in Boots, and other fairy tale characters to spend the night in Lord Farquaad's haunted castle. Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special arrives a month later on November 24, with an encore of Merry Madagascar, and puts Po in an awkward position: he must choose between his family obligations and his duty as a Dragon Warrior.
So, even 40+ years after A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired on CBS, NBC still is trying to find a way to compete. Yikes!