Astral’s Family Channel and Disney Junior today announced they have ordered new episodes of four Canadian original productions for the 2011/2012 season. Family Channel has ordered second seasons of the live-action comedies Really Me and What’s Up, Warthogs!, from Fresh TV and Dolphin Entertainment/Aircraft Productions respectively, as well as a third season of Temple Street Productions’ Wingin’It. Disney Junior has commissioned a second season of the new animated series Justin Time from Guru Studio, for both the English and French language Disney Junior networks. All four series will begin production in Toronto later this summer.
“To be able to support these shows and encourage the talented teams behind each one is an incredible privilege. We are eager to see how each series develops, or in the case of Justin Time, debuts across our networks,”said Michael Goldsmith, Director, Original Programming. “Our new Canadian live-action productions have grown to be real hits with our viewers. Really Me has captivated the Family audience with its smart writing and innovative concept while What’s Up, Warthogs! and its off-beat comedic style is proving not only popular on Family and Family.ca but is also rating well on the newly launched Disney XD. Also playing a key part in the Disney XD schedule, Wingin’It continues to engage fans on the new channel as well as on Family. Justin Time, with its focus on imagination and its unique style, is sure to charm younger viewers when it premieres on Disney Junior.”
SERIES SYNOPSIS -FAMILY CHANNEL
REALLY ME (13 episodes x 30 minutes)
Maddy (Sydney Imbeau, Marley and Me: The Puppy Years), is an ordinary-turned-famous 15-year-old who has won the ultimate prize of starring in her own reality TV show with her best friend Julia (Kiana Madeira, Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars). The girls quickly realize that actually getting on the screen can be tough when surrounded by a family of scene-stealers and working with a ratings-hungry producer. Created by Tom McGillis and Jennifer Pertsch, Really Me is produced by Fresh TV (6TEEN, Total Drama Island, My Babysitter’s A Vampire) in association with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME). FME has worldwide distribution, brand licensing and home entertainment rights (excluding Canada). New episodes from the first season of Really Me currently air Saturdays and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT on Family Channel.
WHAT’S UP, WARTHOGS! (80 episodes x 5 minutes)
What’s Up, Warthogs! follows arch-rivals Eric Ortiz (Tiago Abreu) and Victoria Jagger (Karissa Staples, 90210) as they begrudgingly team up to save the on-air announcements at West Hills High from returning to the “boringpalooza”show of the past. When Eric’s off beat, best friend Charlie and 12-year-old genius, Laney join the group along with a team of guest reporters, West Hills soon has a show that truly puts the students in charge. What’s Up, Warthogs! is produced by Aircraft Pictures (Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil) and executive produced by Bill O’Dowd of Dolphin Entertainment (Zoey 101). Episodes from the first season of What’s Up, Warthogs! currently air Sundays at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on Family Channel and weekends at 12:30 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD.
WINGIN’ IT (10 episodes x 30 minutes)
Wingin’ It follows angel-in-training Porter Jackson (Demetrius Joyette, The Latest Buzz, Roxy Hunter) who possesses a devil-may-care attitude and has been sent to Earth to get his angel wings. In order to do so, he has been tasked with helping Carl Montclaire (Dylan Everett), a kid that just can’t seem to catch a break, become the most popular student at Bennett High. The problem is Carl doesn’t want the help and is happy to figure things out on his own. Wingin’ It is produced by Temple Street Productions and is created by Frank van Keeken (Billlable Hours, The Dating Guy, Mad About You). Episodes from the second season of Wingin’ It currently air Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. ET/PT on Family Channel and weekends at 1 p.m. ET/PT on Disney XD.
SERIES SYNOPSIS -DISNEY JUNIOR CANADA
JUSTIN TIME (13 episodes, each comprising two 11-minute segments)
Justin Time follows Justin and his make-believe friend, Squidgy, as their imagination takes them on bitesize historical adventures. From building a giant stone monolith to a balloon journey in Paris to a Wild West wagon train, these pals embark on challenges and solve problems. Their friend Olive pops into each story offering a wealth of knowledge to help them reach their goal. Justin Time is created and developed by Brandon Scott, Frank Falcone and Mary Bredin and produced by Guru Studio (The Backyardigans, Guess with Jess, The New Adventures of Badou). The series will air on both the English and French language Disney Junior networks.
