Disney Channel orders a new series "Shake It Up!" to air in the Fall of 2010.

[Poweranimals]

May 21, 2010


DISNEY CHANNEL ORDERS NEW DANCE-FILLED
BUDDY COMEDY SERIES, "SHAKE IT UP!"

Disney Channel has ordered "Shake It Up!," a buddy comedy centered around a teen dance show, created by Chris Thompson ("Laverne and Shirley," "Bosom Buddies," "The Naked Truth," "Action") and executive-produced by Thompson and Rob Lotterstein ("The War at Home," "Ellen"). It stars 12-year-old Bella Thorne ("Big Love") and 13-year-old Zendaya. The multi-camera series will begin production in Hollywood, California, in July for a scheduled Fall 2010 premiere on Disney Channel. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, president, Entertainment, and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.


Marsh said, "Newcomers Bella Thorne and Zendaya make for one of the most likable and engaging BFF duos we’ve ever seen. And while buddy comedies have been around since the start of television, what makes 'Shake It Up' unique is that this is the first time anyone has incorporated dancing into the underlying premise of a sitcom."

The comedy series introduces two high-spirited characters, best friends CeCe Jones and Raquel "Rocky" Blue, whose dreams of becoming professional dancers are realized when they become background dancers on the most popular teen dance show, "Shake it Up, Chicago," a gig they land thanks to their longtime and well-connected friend, Deuce. Between learning a wide range of new dance styles, navigating the backstage antics at the show (especially with their rivals, Tinka and Gunther) and their newfound social status at school, the girls are on their way to new and fun adventures, some that will test their friendship.

Starring are Bella Thorne as CeCe Jones; Zendaya as Raquel "Rocky" Blue; Kenton Duty ("Lost") as Gunther; Adam Irigoyen ("Wizards of Waverly Place") as Deuce; and Davis Cleveland ("Good Luck Charlie," "Desperate Housewives") as Flynn Jones, CeCe's precocious younger brother. The series was created by Chris Thompson and will be executive-produced by Rob Lotterstein and Thompson. Rosero McCoy ("Camp Rock 2 The Final Jam") choreographed the pilot episode. "Shake It Up!" is a production of It's a Laugh Productions, Inc.

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

Press Contact: Mimi Fong, Mimi.Fong@disney.com, (818) 569-7884



-- Disney Channel –-

[NewcomerDC]

Well, well, well, after the success of shows such as Glee and Victorious, Disney's trying to score some big ratings with another series that, when reading the description, would had fit in the Hairspray universe because of the fact that in 2010, we don't have TV shows featuring teens showing off their dance moves. We did back when Dance Revolution was on CBS but look how fast it fizzled. Since I'm also noticing some people that were in other Disney Chanel sitcoms, I'm not sure who they are, what characters they played in the past and why can't we have, for the first time, a cast with NO connection or background to any of the Diz's overrated and sometimes unfunny series.

I also think that this show was just made because of the fact that kids are pretty much suckered in anything involving dancing which isn't a bad thing but this show isn't scoring points with me. Some portions of the series plot such as having the two main characters having a new profound status in school can easily be cut out because it could lead into cliche after cliche of everything we've seen in shows involving kids attending middle/high school. With that said, this probably won't be on my Must See TV list come Fall. I've been doing fine without having to watch a single episode of Good Luck Charlie in its entirety, even though the young baby girl playing Charlie is adorable, and I'll be fine without this middle school Step Up in my mind.

[Poweranimals]

You're not missing much. GLC is so boring. There's really no hook to it and the characters are so run of the mill.

[MegaJ]

It stars 12-year-old Bella Thorne ("Big Love") and 13-year-old Zendaya.
Wow, a show without older teens. When was the last time that happened, around when Hannah Montana first came out?

[Tay the Cat]

You're not missing much. GLC is so boring. There's really no hook to it and the characters are so run of the mill.
Really? It's the best live-action program on Disney Channel.

[rogueguy]

The only good thing about Good Luck Charlie is the mom. Leigh Allyn Baker is amazing(and hot).

[RonDrakenfan17]

Meh Good Luck Charlie has its moments every now and than.
This one does not sound intresting. Little kiddies will probaly eat it up though.

[NewcomerDC]

Little kiddies will probably eat it up though.
Kids will eat up anything that skewers towards them especially if it means more ka-ching in Disney's pockets once this show produces about three soundtracks with CD's from the stars of the show when they begin their solo singing careers.

[TMC1982]

Kids will eat up anything that skewers towards them especially if it means more ka-ching in Disney's pockets once this show produces about three soundtracks with CD's from the stars of the show when they begin their solo singing careers.

Just about all of Disney Channel's live-action shows are a glorified excuse to springboard the stars' musical career (i.e. feed the Radio Disney playlist). Just about every show has to have the theme song performed by the lead actor.

[NewcomerDC]

Just about all of Disney Channel's live-action shows are a glorified excuse to springboard the stars' musical career (i.e. feed the Radio Disney playlist). Just about every show has to have the theme song performed by the lead actor.
I know but some of these kids either end up having only one CD or end up like Miley, Selena, and Demi where their careers will be the talk of the town until they reach up to their adult years.