`Annie' Is Back, This Time In London

HOLLYWOOD - When John Feltheimer, president of Sony Entertainment Television, baby-sat for his goddaughter Whitney, he could count on one thing: He'd take her to the video store and she'd rent "Annie."

After multiple viewings, Feltheimer realized what an impact Ray Stark's 1982 movie had on children. And so he called Stark and asked if he could make a nonmusical follow-up. Stark said, "Sure."

Stark owned sequel rights to the movie, based on the Broadway musical, which in turn was based on Harold Gray's "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip.

Today, ABC airs "Annie: A Royal Adventure," in which Annie ("Maybe This Time's" Ashley Johnson) and Daddy Warbucks (Tony winner George Hearn) head to London, where Warbucks is knighted.

Post-war London

"I know that `Annie' was originally set pre-war, but we skipped over the war and they're now in post-war London," explains executive producer Wendy Dytman. Annie and Daddy Warbucks become embroiled not only with nefarious English gangsters, but also with the decidedly ignoble Lady Edwina Hogbottom (Joan Collins).

"We have a very '90s Annie," says Dytman. "She's very self-reliant, very compassionate."

Ashley, who says she "loved London and all the castles and the double-decker buses," thinks her friends "will love that they go on this really fun trip together."

"Fun energy"

"It's got a lot of fun energy," Dytman adds. "It's really a movie that both boys and girls can watch, but it's a girl, Annie, who gets to save the day."

Even though this TV movie isn't a musical, it wouldn't be "Annie" without that signature song.

"I get to sing a song at the end," says Ashley. You can guess what song it is. And here's a hint: It's not The Beatles' "Yesterday."

"Annie: A Royal Adventure" airs at 8 o'clock tonight on ABC (Channel 4). For ages 4 and up.