Lunch Lady, Muppets and more

Amy Poehler will star in Universal's big screen adaptation of author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka's forthcoming graphic novel series Lunch Lady, per THR.  Poehler will also exec produce the movie with Gotham Group's Ellen Goldsmith-Vein producing.  Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, the graphic novel series debuts this summer with two titles, Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians and Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, with another set for release in December 2009 and more for summer 2010.

The Muppets from Sesame Street will be featured on the 29th annual A Capitol Fourth in Washington DC to celebrate America's 233rd birthday.  PBS will broadcast the event live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol on Saturday, July 4, 8-9:30p (check local listings) and it will be simulcast via America Forces Radio and Television Network, and can be heard on NPR Member stations.  A Capitol Fourth will be hosted by actor Jimmy Smits and feature opening and closing performances by Barry Manilow with the National Symphony Orchestra, and performances by Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, the cast of Jersey Boys, Michael Feinstein and pianist Andrew von Oeyen.  The event is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.

Disney Channel UK re-commissions Prism Entertainment to produce a second season of the live-action short-form series Life Bites, per Broadcast Now.  The new episodes (26x5) of the tween/teen-targeted the comedy bows on the network in the UK next month.

LeapFrog: Let's Go To School, LeapFrog's first DVD in four years, is set for release from Lionsgate Home Entertainment on August 18, 2009.  Targeted to K3-6 the back-to-school DVD features five sing-along songs, an interactive alphabet book, and a sneak peek at Math Adventure to the Moon.  Lionsgate will support the LeapFrog: Let's Go To School title with a mom-aimed TV, online and print marketing campaign, including through LeapFrog's email newsletter and on LeapFrog.com.