ROBERT De NIRO AND BEN STILLER FACE OFF IN "MEET THE PARENTS," MONDAY, JULY 11 ON ABC

The Hilarious Comedy, Airing as the "ABC Monday Movie of the Week," Also Stars Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, Owen Wilson and Phyllis George and Is Telecast in HDTV with 5.1-Channel Surround Sound and Video Description

Robert De Niro is every suitor's nightmare, and Ben Stiller is the suitor, in the hilarious theatrical hit comedy, "Meet the Parents," airing as the "ABC Monday Movie of the Week," JULY 11 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network (Rebroadcast. OAD: 1/19/04). Also starring in the feature are Teri Polo (ABC's "I'm with Her"), Blythe Danner ("Sylvia"), Owen Wilson ("Shanghai Knights," "I Spy") and Phyllis George (Miss America 1971). Composer Randy Newman received an Oscar nomination for Best Music, Song for "A Fool in Love." The presentation will air in HDTV format with 5.1-channel surround sound and video description.

In "Meet the Parents," Ben Stiller ("There's Something About Mary," "Zoolander") and Robert De Niro (six-time Oscar nominee; "The Godfather: Part II"; "Analyze That," "Men of Honor") are combatants in an age-old confrontation. "Greg" (Stiller) wants to pop the question to his intended fiancC)e (Teri Polo), but learns that asking her father for her hand would be the respectful thing to do. He takes the opportunity of her sister's wedding weekend to meet her parents, and it's downhill from there.

Greg's desperate attempts to prove he is good enough for Daddy's little girl lead him from one disaster to another. Measuring up is a task made even harder because of the presence of a pair of doctors who might become his in-laws and his intended's ex-boyfriend, who has obviously done very well for himself and is now best buddies with her dad.

"Meet the Parents" stars Robert De Niro as Jack Byrnes, Ben Stiller as Gaylord "Greg" Focker, Teri Polo as Pam Byrnes, Blythe Danner as Dina Byrnes, Nicole DeHuff as Deborah Byrnes, Owen Wilson as Kevin Rawley, Jon Abrahams ("Scary Movie") as Denny Byrnes, James Rebhorn ("Far from Heaven") as Dr. Larry Banks, Thomas McCarthy as Dr. Bob Banks, Phyllis George as Linda Banks and Kali Rocha as Atlantic American flight attendant.

The 2000 release was directed by Jay Roach ("Austin Powers" series, "Mystery Alaska"). The screenplay was written by James Herzfeld ("Tapeheads") and John Hamburg ("Zoolander") based on the story and earlier screenplay by Greg Glienna and Mary Ruth Clarke. The film is a production of DreamWorks SKG, Nancy Tenenbaum Productions, Tribeca Productions and Universal Pictures. (CLOSED-CAPTIONED)

"MEET THE PARENTS" IN HDTV:
The ABC Television Network's HDTV broadcast of "Meet the Parents" will air in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound and video description. This film carries a TV-14,D,L,S parental guideline.