Mystery, drama, comedy, reality and a docu-soap series have all been added to Corus Entertainment’s ABC Spark’s most exciting summer line-up yet. The fresh new slate boasts the premiere of four new original series including family drama The Fosters, mystery drama Twisted, docu-soap The Vineyard and reality competition series Dancing Fools. Returning original series include Melissa & Joey, Baby Daddy andSwitched at Birth.

In addition to this slate of summer premieres, ABC Spark fans can look forward to a new one-hour drama series, Chasing Life (former working title Terminales), currently in production and scheduled to premiere on ABC Spark in early 2014. Richmond Hill, Ontario native Italia Ricci (Unnatural History) stars.

NEW SERIES

DANCING FOOLS – WORLD PREMIERE

Premieres (day-and-date) Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning May 29

Dancing Fools is a half-hour comedy clip show features the funniest, most outrageous and memorable dances caught on camera. The dancers from the top two clips of the week compete on stage for a chance to win $10,000. The series is hosted by Melissa Peterman, who also stars in ABC Spark’s Baby Daddy.

THE FOSTERS – WORLD PREMIERE

Premieres (day-and-date): Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT beginning June 3

From executive producer Jennifer Lopez, (American Idol, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, The Back-Up Plan) and created by Bradley Bredeweg and Peter Paige (Queer As Folk), The Fosters is a compelling, one-hour drama about a multi-ethnic family mix of foster and biological kids being raised by two moms. Stef Foster (Teri Polo), a dedicated police officer, and her partner Lena Adams (Sherri Saum), a school vice-principal, have built a close-knit, loving family with Stef’s biological son from a previous marriage, Brandon (David Lambert), and their adopted twins, Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) and Jesus (Jake T. Austin). Their lives are disrupted in unexpected ways when Lena meets Callie (Maia Mitchell), a hardened teen with an abusive past who has spent her life in and out of foster homes. Lena and Stef warily welcome Callie into their home thinking it’s just for a few weeks, until a more permanent placement can be found.

TWISTED – WORLD PREMIERE

Premieres (day-and-date):  Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/ PT beginning June 11

Twisted is a one-hour mystery full of twists and turns that follows Danny Desai, played by Vancouver actor Avan Jogia, a charismatic 16-year-old with a troubled past who returns to his hometown after spending five years in juvenile detention. Immediately branded an outcast, Danny attempts to reconnect with his two childhood best friends, Jo (Maddie Hasson) and Lacey (Kylie Bunbury), and to smooth over tensions with his mother, Karen (Denise Richards), whose socialite status plummeted after her son’s imprisonment and the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Danny’s father. Robin Givens also guest stars. Click here for a sneak peek.

THE VINEYARD – WORLD PREMIERE

Premieres (day-and-date): Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT beginning July 23

The Vineyard is a dramatic coming-of-age docu-soap that follows a handful of 20-somethings on Martha’s Vineyard for the summer. Tight quarters, new friends and new rivals, all living, working and playing together, make this picturesque playground ripe for mischief and romance.

CONTINUING SERIES

MELISSA & JOEY – Season 3 Premiere

Premieres (day-and-date): Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/ PT beginning May 29

Starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, the Season 3 premiere of Melissa and Joey, entitled “Works for Me,” Joe pursues a new job opportunity, sending Mel into a panic when she realizes he may actually leave. But the job isn’t quite what Joe expected, causing him to reevaluate his place in the house and Mel’s scheming to prove how much everyone needs him. Meanwhile Lennox thinks her artist boyfriend, Zander, may have found another muse, and Ryder’s class trip has an unexpected outcome. Guest stars in the premiere episode include Sterling Knight and Hayley Erin, plus an appearance by OMG Insider hosts Thea Andrews and Kevin Frazier.

BABY DADDY – Season 2 Premiere

Premieres (day-and-date):  Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT beginning May 29

Following Melissa & Joey, the laughs continue in the Season 2 premiere of Baby Daddy starring Vancouver actor Jean-Luc Bilodeau as Ben and Chelsea Kane as Riley. In the episode, entitled “I’m Not That Guy,” Ben thinks he might like Riley and tries to convince her he’s changed his playboy ways. Riley invites Ben to be her date at a work party, but Ben’s efforts to prove he’s dependable fall short. Danny hopes to come to Riley’s rescue, but arrives only to find Riley getting friendly with another man (guest star Matt Dallas). Meanwhile, Tucker (Tahj Mowry), schemes to go out with a model, and Bonnie (Melissa Peterman), attempts to get to know a handsome stranger with a little help from Emma.

SWITCHED AT BIRTH – Season 2 – New Episodes

Premieres (day-and-date): Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT beginning June 10

Following the Switched at Birth marathon, the season premiere begins with Regina (Constance Marie)   returning from rehab and trying to transition back to life at the Kennish house. While Regina has been away at rehab, Daphne (Katie Leclerc) has grown closer to the Kennish family, spending her days at their country club and her nights in their guest room. This new family dynamic does not sit well with Regina, who unexpectedly returns home early in hopes of spending more time with Daphne. Bay (Vanessa Marano) begrudgingly starts working at her dad’s office and, when her car breaks down near a local carnival, runs into her ex-boyfriend, Ty (guest star Blair Redford, The Lying Game), who has returned from serving in Afghanistan. The groundbreaking drama was recently honored with a Peabody Award.

ABC Spark is available in Canada through a license agreement between Corus Entertainment and Disney/ABC Television Group. Built on the foundation of the successful U.S. brand ABC Family, ABC Spark is a multiplatform offering featuring original series and movies, as well as general entertainment programming. The 24-hour channel has the same values, look, tone, essence and feel of ABC Family in the U.S.   www.abcspark.ca

Corus Entertainment’s ABC Spark is providing viewers an exclusive one-time-only sneak peek of the full first episode of Twisted, the new scripted one-hour drama series in advance of its official summer premiere. The episode will air on Tuesday, March 19 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. Read More

Corus Entertainment‘s ABC Spark announced today highlights from its 2012 blockbuster summer schedule, featuring a primetime lineup of three new series including Bunheads, from Executive Producer Amy Sherman-Palladino (Gilmore Girls), Baby Daddy starring Jean-Luc Bilodeau (Kyle XY) and docu-series Beverly Hills Nannies. In addition, viewers can look forward to new episodes of The Lying Game and new seasons of Melissa & Joey and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Read More

Corus Entertainment announced today that its new television service, ABC Spark, will launch across Canada on Monday, March 26, 2012. ABC Spark, based on the successful U.S. brand ABC Family, will launch with breakout series including The Secret Life of the America Teenager (starring Golden Globe nominee Shailene Woodley and Molly Ringwald), Switched at Birth (ensemble cast including Katie LeClerc, Vanessa Marano, Lea Thompson, D.W. Moffett and Constance Marie), Melissa & Joey (starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence) and Make It or Break It (starring Candace Cameron Bure) as well as brand new series Jane By Design (starring Andie MacDowell and newcomer Erica Dasher).

“We are very excited to bring some of ABC Family’s most compelling, critically acclaimed and hugely popular original series to Canada with the launch of ABC Spark,” said Susan Schaefer, Vice President, Head of Networks and Marketing, Corus Entertainment. “Canadian viewers have been waiting for these series and they will not be disappointed. ABC Family has found tremendous success with a programming strategy committed to high-calibre productions featuring powerful storylines, memorable characters and a combination of new and established talent. We are confident that these shows will resonate with audiences across the country.”

Starting Monday, January 16, YTV, W Network and CMT (Canada) will air nested blocks of the channel’s exclusive programming to promote the debut of ABC Spark. Switched at Birth will air every Monday night at 9 p.m. on YTV starting January 16; W Network will also air the series every Saturday at 12 p.m. starting January 21. Melissa & Joey will air Monday to Friday at 8:30 p.m. starting January 16 on CMT.

Additional information, including programming schedule and channel details, will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.abcspark.ca for updates.

ABC Spark will be available in Canada based on a license agreement with Disney/ABC Television Group. Built on the foundation of the successful U.S. brand ABC Family, ABC Spark is a multiplatform offering featuring original series and movies, as well as general entertainment programming. The 24-hour channel will have the same values, look, tone, essence and feel of ABC Family in the U.S.

ABC Family is a top performing destination for millennials in the U.S. Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 98 million U.S. homes. ABC Family’s programming is a combination of network defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals.