Michael Riley, president, ABC Family, announced today the network’s 2011 summer schedule. For the first time in its seven-year history of original programming, the network’s slate will be expanded to offer viewers three nights of original programming this summer, including four new original series, three returning hit series and original movies, in addition to showcasing blockbuster theatrical acquisitions. In 2010 ABC Family earned its highest annual Prime rank ever in Women 18-49 (No. 4), and placed No. 4 in Women 18-34 for the 3rd consecutive year. Moreover the network finished among cable’s Top 10 networks in Prime for the 2nd straight year in Total Viewers (No. 10), Adults 18-34 (No. 8) and Adults 18-49 (No. 9). 2010 marked ABC Family’s 7th consecutive year of growth in Prime in Total Viewers, Adults 18-34, Women 18-49 and Viewers 12-34, and 5th straight year in Women 18-34 and Females 12-34.
“We’re thrilled to bring viewers three nights of original programming for the first time ever on the network,” said Riley. “As we continue to build out a longer term strategy for ABC Family, the addition of four new original series to our summer slate in combination with our returning original hit shows will create a powerful programming block that offers our Millennial viewers the quality storytelling they have come to expect from the network.”
ORIGINAL SERIES:
Monday, June 6, 2011:
“Switched at Birth,” a new one-hour scripted drama, tells the story of two teenage girls who discover they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a working class neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls. Lizzy Weiss (“Blue Crush”), Paul Stupin (“Make It or Break It”) and John Ziffren (“Melissa & Joey,” “Make It or Break It”) serve as executive producers. “Switched at Birth” stars newcomer Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez; Vanessa Marano (“Gilmore Girls”) as Bay Kennish; Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) as Regina Vasquez; D.W. Moffett (“Friday Night Lights”) as John Kennish; Lea Thompson (“Back to the Future,” “Caroline in the City”) as Kathryn Kennish; Lucas Grabeel (“High School Musical”) as Toby Kennish; and newcomer Sean Berdy as Emmett. Marlee Matlin guest-stars as Melody.
“Switched at Birth” premieres Monday, June 6 at 9:00 PM ET/PT.
“The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” which returns on March 28 with 24 all-new episodes, will premiere throughout the summer on Mondays at 8:00PM ET/PT. ABC Family’s No. 1 original series of all time among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” stood as 2010’s No. 1 scripted cable series in Women 18-34 and Females 12-34.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011:
“The Nine Lives of Chloe King,” a new one-hour scripted drama, follows Chloe King, who is looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her friends and single mother, just like every other year…that is until she starts developing heightened abilities and discovers she’s being pursued by a mysterious figure. Chloe soon learns she’s part of an ancient race which has been hunted by human assassins for millennia — and that she may be their only hope for ultimate survival. “The Nine Lives of Chloe King” will be executive-produced by Dan Berendsen (“Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Hannah Montana: The Movie”) and John Ziffren (“Melissa & Joey,” “Make It or Break It”) with Alloy Entertainment’s Leslie Morgenstein (“Pretty Little Liars,” “The Lying Game,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Vampire Diaries”) and Gina Girolamo. The drama is based on the book series The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Celia Thomson. The series will star Skyler Samuels (“The Gates”) as Chloe King; Amy Pietz (“The Office,” “Caroline in the City”) as Meredith King; Grey Damon (“True Blood,” “Friday Night Lights”) as Brian; newcomer Grace Phipps as Amy; Benjamin Stone (“10 Things I Hate About You”) as Alek; Alyssa Diaz (“Southland”) as Jasmine; and Ki Hong Lee (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”) as Paul.
“The Nine Lives of Chloe King” premieres on Tuesday, June 14 at 9:00PM ET/PT.
“Pretty Little Liars,” the network’s hit drama series, will return for its second season on Tuesday, June 14 at 8:00PM ET/PT. ABC Family’s No. 1 series of all time among core 18-34 and 12-34 demos, 2010/11 season to date, “Pretty Little Liars” is cable’s No. 1 scripted series in Female Teens, and ranks No. 2 among all scripted cable series in Women 18-34 and Females 12-34, behind BET’s “The Game.” The recent winter premiere of “Pretty Little Liars” posted series highs across the board, including in Total Viewers (4.2 million), and became ABC Family’s No. 2 telecast of all time in Women 18-34 and Females 12-34. The series won a 2010 Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Show, a 2010 People’s Choice Award nomination for Favorite TV Obsession and a GLAAD nomination in 2011 for Outstanding Drama Series.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011:
“The Great State of Georgia,” an ABC Studios Production, is a new a half-hour multi-cam comedy series starring Raven-Symoné as Georgia, an aspiring actress with a larger than life personality, and her science geek best friend, who try to make headway in New York City. “The Great State of Georgia” will be executive-produced by Kirk J. Rudell and Jennifer Weiner, author of the best-selling novels Good in Bed and In Her Shoes (Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette starred in the feature film version by the same name). The series also stars Majandra Delfino (“Roswell”) as Jo and Loretta Devine (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Madea’s Big Happy Family”) as Aunt Honey.
“The Great State of Georgia” premieres on Wednesday, June 29 at 8:30PM ET/PT.
“Melissa & Joey,” the hit comedy starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, will return to complete its first season on Wednesday, June 29, at 8:00PM ET/PT. “Melissa and Joey” launched as ABC Family’s No. 1 series premiere on record in Adults 18-49, and was the channel’s No. 1 comedy debut ever in Total Viewers and across the network’s core 18-34 and 12-34 demos. “Melissa and Joey” wrapped its first season as ABC Family’s No. 1 comedy of all time in Total Viewers and across all 18-34, 18-49 and 12-34 demos.
Monday, August 15, 2011:
“The Lying Game,” a new one-hour scripted drama, follows Emma, a kind-hearted foster kid who learns she has an identical twin sister, Sutton. Sutton, unlike Emma, was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on the mysterious identity of their birth mother. After Sutton inexplicably fails to return to the girls’ designated meeting place, Emma must decide whether to come clean about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister’s whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place. “The Lying Game” stars Alexandra Chando (“As The World Turns”) as Emma/Sutton; Andy Buckley (“The Office”) as Ted; Helen Slater (“Supergirl”) as Kristin; Blair Redford (“90210”) as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis (“Lincoln Heights”) as Nisha; Kirsten Prout (“Kyle XY”) as Char; Alice Greczyn (“Lincoln Heights”) as Mads; and Allie Gonino (“10 Things I Hate About You”) as Laurel. Charles Pratt, Jr. (“Ugly Betty,” “Desperate Housewives,” “All My Children,” “Melrose Place”) serves as executive producer and writer; Leslie Morgenstein (“Pretty Little Liars,” “The Nine Lives of Chloe King,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Vampire Diaries”) and Gina Girolamo will serve as executive producers. Produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television, the series is based on the novel by author Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars).
“The Lying Game” premieres on Monday, August 15 at 9:00PM ET/PT.
ORIGINAL MOVIES/BLOCKBUSTER THEATRICALS:
“Teen Spirit,” the network’s new original two-hour movie, premieres on Sunday, August 7, at 8:00 PM ET/PT, during the network’s annual summer programming event, “Campus Crush” (Sunday, July 31 through – Tuesday, August 9). “Teen Spirit” stars Lindsey Shaw (“Pretty Little Liars,” “10 Things I Hate About You”) and Cassie Scerbo (“Make It or Break It,” “Bring It On: In It to Win It”). Amber Pollock (Cassie Scerbo) is the queen bee of Patrick Boone High School, and the only thing missing to her reign is the Prom Queen title. Having worked for years towards obtaining the crown and most popular girl status, Amber lets nothing and no one stand in her way. That bad behavior comes back to literally haunt her and others when a freak accident at Prom ends Amber’s short, nearly-perfect life and, facing an unpleasant after-life, she is given a task that could save her soul – to get the school’s least popular girl to be voted Prom Queen. Amber is sure her future is sunk when she learns her charge is none other than Lisa Sommers (Lindsey Shaw), a shy girl who makes clay-mation films with her three best friends and whose fashion sense is not up to Amber’s standards. As for Lisa herself, the last thing she wants is to be Prom Queen, but when Amber offers to help her get the attention of her crush, Nick, Lisa gives Amber the benefit of the doubt. Will a head-to-toe makeover and some confidence building advice really be able to turn a shy and awkward teen into high school social power player? Only Heaven knows!
The network will also present a special summer “Harry Potter” marathon from Thursday, July 7 through Sunday, July 10, showcasing the first five installments of Warner Bros. Pictures’ hit film franchise, leading into its highly anticipated theatrical release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2” (in theaters on July 15, 2011). Additionally, the Walt Disney Pictures film
“G-Force” will make its network television premiere on ABC Family in September 2011.
Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 98 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today’s families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relevant stories about today’s relationships, all told with diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family’s programming is a mix of network defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with “13 Nights of Halloween” and “25 Days of Christmas.” ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.
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