NEIL PATRICK HARRIS, ANGUS T. JONES AND REBECCA GAYHEART STAR IN "THE CHRISTMAS BLESSING," A NEW HOLIDAY TELEVISION MOVIE TO BE BROADCAST SUNDAY, DEC. 18 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Movie is the Sequel to the Highly-Rated 2002 CBS Television Movie "The Christmas Shoes"

Rob Lowe ("The Christmas Shoes") Makes A Special Appearance

Musical Group NewSong Performs Their New Single "The Christmas Blessing" And Country Singer Blake Shelton Performs His New Song "Nobody But Me"

THE CHRISTMAS BLESSING, a new television movie starring Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Angus T. Jones ("Two and a Half Men") and Rebecca Gayheart ("Urban Legend"), will be broadcast as the "CBS Sunday Movie," Sunday, Dec. 18 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. In this heartwarming holiday drama, the sequel to the highly-rated 2002 television movie "The Christmas Shoes," the young boy from the original film has grown up and meets a young woman and a boy who both, with the help of a Christmas miracle, change his life.

Rob Lowe makes a special appearance, reprising his role from "The Christmas Shoes." NewSong performs their new holiday single "The Christmas Blessing" and country singer Blake Shelton performs his new song "Nobody But Me."

Nathan Andrews (Neil Patrick Harris) has grown up and is now medical resident. After he loses a patient and old memories are triggered, the young doctor begins to rethink his career, takes a break from practicing medicine and moves back home with his father. There, he meets a beautiful, young teacher, Megan Sullivan (Rebecca Gayheart), and falls in love with her. One of her students, Charlie Bennett (Angus T. Jones), also wins a special place in Nathan's heart as, like Nathan, he also lost his mother at an early age.

Coming home brings a whole new set of complications for Nathan, but with Megan's help, he realizes that he must let go of the past in order to embrace the present and move on with his life. Just as Nathan is settling in, his world begins to crumble when the lives of the woman he loves and an innocent young boy are in crisis. Now, Nathan finds himself questioning God, fate and the fragility of life, all the while hoping for a Christmas miracle.

"The Christmas Shoes" was the second highest-rated television movie of the 2002-2003 season, attracting nearly 17 million viewers. It was based on the New York Times best-selling book by Donna VanLiere which, in turn, was based on the hit song "The Christmas Shoes" by NewSong.

Neil Patrick Harris currently stars as Barney in the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother" and has been a television staple since his Golden Globe-nominated role as "Doogie Howser, M.D.," He recently starred in the London musical production of Jonathan Larson's "Tick, Tick�Boom," and previously starred in Broadway's Tony Award-winning musical "Assassins," "Cabaret" and "Proof." His additional theater credits include the Los Angeles production of "Rent" and "Romeo & Juliet" at San Diego's Old Globe Theater. His feature film credits include "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle," "Undercover Brother," "Starship Troopers," "The Next Big Thing" and "Clara's Heart," for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. His additional television credits include the series "Stark Raving Mad," the CBS mini-series "Joan of Arc," "Will & Grace," "Boomtown," and CBS' "Numb3ers."

Angus T. Jones, who recently turned twelve, began his career at age 4 doing television commercials. He landed his first lead role at age six in the feature film "See Spot Run." His other feature film credits include "Bringing Down the House," "The Rookie" and "George of the Jungle II." Jones's television credits include appearances in the series "ER" and the movies "Audrey's Rain" and "Dinner with Friends."

Rebecca Gayheart's feature film credits include "Nothing to Lose," "Urban Legend," "Jawbreaker," "Scream 2," "Somebody is Waiting," "Shadow Hours," "Harvard Man" and "Pipe Dream." On television, Rebecca starred in "Beverly Hills 90210" and has guest starred on "Nip/Tuck," "Dead Like Me," "The Division," "Inside Schwartz" and "What I Like About You." Gayheart is currently starring as Shelby in the Broadway production of "Steel Magnolias."

THE CHRISTMAS BLESSING was produced by Craig Anderson Productions in association with Beth Grossbard Productions. Craig Anderson and Beth Grossbard ("The Christmas Shoes") are the executive producers. Karen Arthur ("True Women") directed the film from a screenplay by Wesley Bishop based on the New York Times best-selling book, The Christmas Blessing, Donna VanLiere's sequel to her book The Christmas Shoes.

RATING: To Be Announced