ABC Family, the Millennial-skewing network, continues its record breaking momentum as it grows its line-up of groundbreaking original programming. Michael Riley, president ABC Family, announced the first portion of the network’s programming slate today. The network has given the greenlight to the new comedy series, “Baby Daddy,” which is the highest testing comedy pilot in the network’s history, and is jumping back into the reality space with “Beverly Hills Nannies.” Additionally, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” starring Golden Globe® nominee Shailene Woodley, was greenlit for a record breaking 5th season, taking it into over 100 episodes.
Tori Spelling and Tia Mowry have been tapped to star in “The Mistle-Tones,” the holiday movie which will anchor the network’s well known annual ‘25 Days of Christmas’ event. The movie begins production in Utah in February.
“We’re very proud of our deep bench of original content successfully built out over eight years of exceptional growth,” said Riley. “This Summer, we’re excited to continue to expand our content across key genres adding another season to our groundbreaking drama, ‘Secret Life,’ wonderful comedy and a return to reality programming as we continue to innovate with our ABC Family brand.”
Kate Juergens, executive vice president, Original Programming and Development, ABC Family added, “Our line-up continues to resonate with our audience and we believe that the new programming will become strong additions to our slate. This new crop of shows blends nicely with our current schedule and will continue to deliver on our promise to create shows that our fans find engaging, optimistic and relatable.”
ABC Family’s current crop of hit original series, “Pretty Little Liars” and “Switched at Birth” rank as the Top 2 scripted cable series of 2012 to date among the network’s core Millennial audience Females 12-34. Moreover, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” which returns in March 2012, ranked as the #3 scripted basic cable series of Summer 2011 in Females 12-34, behind only “Pretty Little Liars” and “Switched at Birth.”
“Baby Daddy,” the network’s highest testing comedy pilot ever, stars Chelsea Kane (“Dancing with the Stars”), Tahj Mowry (“The Game”) and Derek Theler (“90210”). From executive producer Dan Berendsen (“The Nine Lives of Chloe King,” “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” and “Hannah Montana: The Movie”), the half-hour series is about a young man who becomes a surprise dad to a baby girl when she’s left on his doorstep by an ex-girlfriend. He decides to raise the baby with the help of his mother, his brother Danny (Theler), his best buddy Tucker (Mowry) and his close female friend, Riley (Kane), who is harboring a secret crush on him. “Baby Daddy,” a multi-camera comedy, will begin production in Spring and will shoot in front of a live audience in Los Angeles.
“Beverly Hills Nannies” is a docuseries following the lives of a group of nannies working for families in the most exclusive zip code in the country. Evolution Media, the production company known for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and “The Real Housewives of Orange County” will produce the series. The series will go into production in Spring.
Tori Spelling (“Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood”) and Tia Mowry (“The Game”) have been tapped to star in the new original Christmas movie “The Mistle-Tones” which will begin principal photography this month in Salt Lake City, Utah. The movie is set to premiere as part of the network’s annual “25 Days of Christmas” programming event. In “The Mistle-Tones,” Holly (Tia Mowry), blessed with an amazing singing voice, is all set to audition for the newly vacated spot in a legendary local Christmas group which was founded by her late mother years ago. Shocked and upset when the slot goes to the barely talented best friend of the group’s leader, Marci (Tori Spelling), Holly sets out to create her own musical group, The Mistle-Tones. After challenging their rivals to a sing-off on Christmas Eve, Holly finds herself on a journey to the real meaning of Christmas–with some new friends and a new love thrown in for good measure… “The Mistle-Tones” is executive produced by Maggie Malina (“Single Ladies”), from a script by Jed Elinoff & Scott Thomas (“My Super Psycho Sweet 16”), and directed by Paul Hoen (“Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam”).
“The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” a heartfelt one-hour drama from creator Brenda Hampton (“7th Heaven”), focuses on the relationships between families and friends, including how they deal with an unexpected teen pregnancy. The series cast includes Golden Globe® nominee Shailene Woodley, Ken Baumann, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Greg Finley, Daren Kagasoff, Megan Park, Francia Raisa, with Steve Schirripa and Molly Ringwald. The series is picked up for a record breaking 5th season, taking it into over 100 episodes – a first for the network. “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” will continue its fourth season with all-new episodes beginning Monday, March 26, 8:00PM–9:00PM ET/PT. Previously released key art featuring Shailene Woodley hints at a wedding – but ultimately, will Amy and Ricky make it down the aisle?
