Family unveils its Fall 2007 programming highlights Fall Highlights / Family Posted by RAD on Jul 16, 2007 - 03:23 PM Home to exclusive programming from Disney and top-notch original Canadian series, Astral Media’s Family Channel delivers a fall 2007 line-up of premium youth and family programming that reflects the humour and energy of life as a kid. With an emphasis on shows for middle-aged kids that parents can also enjoy, Family’s new season features live-action and animated comedies including the new series The Wizards of Waverly Place; new seasons of returning series Life With Derek, Disney’s The Emperor’s New School and The Replacements; and new Disney Channel original movies including the highly anticipated sequel High School Musical 2 and the Halloween-themed fantasy Twitches Too. “For a television entertainment experience that kids and grown ups can enjoy together, Family Channel is the place to be,” said Kevin Wright, Senior Vice President, Programming, Astral Television Networks. “And it doesn’t get any more entertaining than jumpstarting the new season with High School Musical 2, the sequel to the pop cultural phenomenon of 2006.” High School Musical 2 premieres on Family on Friday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, airing day and date with the world premiere on Disney Channel in the U.S. LIVE ACTION SERIES The Wizards of Waverly Place (New Series) Premieres October 2007 (21 x 30 min; comedy) Alexa Esposito (Selena Gomez) and her two brothers, Justin (David Henrie) and Max (Jake T. Austin), engage in typical family squabbles with one significant difference – they are all wizards in training and only one of them will keep his or her wizardly powers when they turn 18. Life With Derek (Season 3) Premieres September 2007 (26 x 30 min; comedy) Step-siblings Casey (Ashley Leggat) and Derek (Michael Seater) turn 16 this year and, though they continue to clash, they also find more and more opportunities to work together to “help” each other, their parents George (John Ralston) and Nora (Joy Tanner), and their younger siblings Lizzie (Jordan Todosey), Edwin (Daniel Magder) and Marti (Ariel Waller) – more often than not resulting in hilarious unintended consequences. animated series Pucca (New Series) Premieres September 2007 (26 x 30 min; action-comedy) The energetic and mischievous daughter of a Chinese restaurant owner, Pucca, is hopelessly in love with ninja Garu. Her sole mission is to gain Garu's attention, whether it be through her girlish charms or kickass martial arts. Disney’s The Emperor’s New School (Season 3) Premieres September 2007 (18 x 30 min; comedy) Still banished from his royal palace, the spoiled, self-centred would-be emperor Kuzco must graduate school before claiming his throne. Helping him with his studies is his good friend Malina, who is also the only one able to keep his attitude in check. Eager to sabotage Kuzco’s efforts is his evil nemesis Yzma, who has disguised herself as the Principal of Kuzco Academy in order to execute her master plan – making sure that Kuzco doesn’t graduate so that she herself can become emperor. The Replacements (Season 2) Premieres December 2007 (18 x 30 min; action-adventure) Trouble with a teacher? Coach? Librarian? Problem solved with Fleemco’s Replacement People Program. Tween siblings Riley and Todd replace any adult in their life by making a simple call to the Fleemco Company, resulting in hilarious unforeseen consequences. ORIGINAL MOVIES High School Musical 2 Premieres Friday, August 17, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. School breaks for the summer and Sharpay schemes to tear Troy and Gabriella apart by getting him a job at her parents’ country club. But Troy has other ideas and, in an attempt to keep the his Wildcat friends together for the summer, manages to get them all hired. Tensions rise in step with temptation as the gang prepares for the club’s annual talent show. With more catchy tunes and splashy choreography, this sequel is gonna be a hot one. Twitches Too Premieres October 2007 (feature length; live-action mystery/adventure) Long-lost sisters Alex Fielding (Tia Mowry) and Camryn Barnes (Tamera Mowry) begin to learn about each other and what it means to have magical powers in this sequel to the original movie Twitches. PRESCHOOL SERIES The Secret World of Benjamin Bear (Season 3) Premieres September 2007 (13 X 30 min; animated preschool) When humans aren’t looking, teddy bears come alive and have amazing adventures. This season, little teddy Howie takes a wild kite ride, the teddy marching band gets a real work out and Edgar of Old puts Benjamin through a teddy survivor test. Benjamin also learns to tango, survives a rocket ride, saves a priceless Secret World treasure and does battle with the dreaded Froth Moths. It’s all in a day’s work for this gentle teddy as he rises to the challenge of leading the way. Handy Manny (Season 2) Premieres October 2007 (39 x 30 min; animated preschool) Designed to infuse preschool viewers with an enthusiasm to take on life's challenges and to make things work, most notably interpersonal relationships, hardworking handyman Manny Garcia (voiced by That 70s Show's Wilmer Valderrama) helps his neighbours by taking on their repair projects, no matter how big or small. Bunny Town (New Series) Premieres November 2007 (26 x 30 min; puppet preschool) Set in a busy world of song, dance and laughter, the Funny Bunnies think their neighbours in People Town are enormously entertaining and can’t get enough of observing the extremely silly things people do. Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club House (Season 2) Premieres November 2007 (39 x 30 min; animated preschool) Mickey and friends return for another season of this state-of-the-art 3D computer animated education-focused series. Mickey leads fun- and song-filled stories that present stimulating challenges built around a theme of the day. Young viewers learn to develop early math skills, identify shapes, patterns and numbers and decipher picture puzzles as Mickey and his pals help advance and reinforce the learning, providing encouragement along the way and celebrating their accomplishments. 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