Matthew Perry Hits the Books as Inspirational Teacher in TNT Original Movie THE RON CLARK STORY, A JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION� Movie

Remarkable Educator�s Dramatic Story, Produced by Granada America and MAGNA Global Entertainment, Set to Premiere Sunday, August 13, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)

Three-time Emmy� nominee Matthew Perry (Friends, The West Wing) adds one of the country�s most inspiring teachers to his resume of notable performances when he stars in Turner Network Television (TNT)�s Original drama THE RON CLARK STORY, the network�s latest production under the JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION� movie banner. The movie, directed by Emmy� and two-time Directors Guild of America Award nominee Randa Haines (Children of a Lesser God, Something about Amelia) from a script by Max Enscoe & Annie DeYoung (Wuthering Heights), is set to premiere Sunday, August 13, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

THE RON CLARK STORY follows the inspiring tale of an energetic, creative and idealistic young teacher who leaves his small North Carolina hometown to teach in a New York City public school. Through his passionate use of special rules for his classroom, highly innovative teaching techniques and an undying devotion to his students and helping them cope with their problems, Clark is able to make a remarkable difference in the lives of his students. For one young girl trying to attend school while helping to raise her brothers and sisters, he offers a chance for her to overcome her situation and become one of the class� top students. For a young man with a penchant for graffiti, he offers an ideal outlet for artistic expression. Even when he is almost overcome by pneumonia, Clark continues to work with his students, hoping that he can raise their test scores to an acceptable level, or possibly even higher.

As a result of his achievements, Clark won Disney�s prestigious Teacher of the Year Award and was featured in Oprah�s O magazine as her first Phenomenal Man of the Year. He has also written several successful books on education and child rearing.

�I got emotional when I read the script,� Perry says of his role in THE RON CLARK STORY. �It�s a classic against-all-odds story. The drama comes from these kids who have all but given up on themselves. Watching the kids triumph is moving. That is why I�m here. I�m very proud of it.�

Perry is best known for his Emmy�-nominated performance on the long-running comedy series Friends. He also earned an Emmy� nomination for his work in a recurring role on the drama series The West Wing. Perry�s big-screen credits include Fools Rush In, Three to Tango and The Whole Nine Yards. He also co-starred in London�s record-breaking West End revival of David Mamet�s Sexual Perversity in Chicago and recently directed an episode of the comedy series Scrubs. Perry also hosted last year�s ESPY Awards, which received its highest ratings in 13 years.

THE RON CLARK STORY, which was scripted by Max Enscoe & Annie DeYoung (Wuthering Heights), is produced by Granada America and MAGNA Global Entertainment, and directed by Randa Haines (Children of a Lesser God, Something about Amelia). Howard Burkons (John Q), Brenda Friend (Joan of Arc), Sunta Izzicupo(Joan of Arc),

Frances Croke Page (Blow Out) and Adam Gilad (Take My Advice: The Ann and Abby Story) serve as executive producers, along with Paul Jackson (Hell�s Kitchen, Nanny 911) and Jody Brockway (Rudy: The Rudy Giuliani Story) of Granada. Craig McNeil, Tom Cox, Murray Ord, Jordy Randall also serve as producers.