ABC Family Announces Its Summer Programming

ABC FAMILY ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2010 PROGRAMMING SLATE

New Original Series Include:

"Pretty Little Liars," a One-Hour Scripted Drama Starring Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Ian Harding, Bianca Lawson, Laura Leighton, Shay Mitchell and Sasha Pieterse

"Huge," a One-Hour Scripted Drama Developed by Winnie Holzman ("Wicked," "My So-Called Life," "Once & Again") and Daughter Savannah Dooley, Starring Nikki Blonsky, Andrew Caldwell, Zander Eckhouse, Harvey Guillen, Ari Stidham, Ashley Holliday and Hayley Hasselhoff

"Melissa & Joey," a Half-Hour Comedy Starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence

Returning Hit Original Series Include "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Make It or Break It"

Raven-Symon? and Joanna Garcia Star in Network's New Original Movie, "Revenge of the Bridesmaids"

Television Movie Premiere of "Wild Child," Starring Emma Roberts, Debuts During Network's "Campus Crush" 10-Day Summer Programming Event

Burbank, CA (Monday, March 29, 2010) - Paul Lee, president, ABC Family, today announced the network's summer 2010 schedule. The network's programming slate includes three new original series, returning hits, original movies and blockbuster theatrical acquisitions. The network finished 2009 as its best year on record.

"ABC Family has truly become a factory for great Millennial storytelling," said Lee. "We're so proud of our three summer launches, 'Pretty Little Liars,' 'Huge' and 'Melissa & Joey,' and we think they'll make the perfect complement to our returning hits 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' and 'Make It or Break'."

"Pretty Little Liars" follows four estranged best friends who are reunited one year after their best friend and queen bee of the group, Alison, goes missing - only to discover they're receiving messages from an anonymous "A" who knows all their secrets. The drama stars Lucy Hale ("Privileged") as Aria, Troian Bellisario ("Navy NCIS") as Spencer, Ashley Benson ("Eastwick") as Hanna, Shay Mitchell as Emily and Sasha Pieterse ("Heroes") as Alison. Also starring are Laura Leighton ("Melrose Place"), Bianca Lawson ("The Vampire Diaries") and Ian Harding ("NCIS: Los Angeles"). Produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. I. Marlene King ("If These Walls Could Talk"), Oliver Goldstick ("Lipstick Jungle," "Desperate Housewives"), and Leslie Morgenstein and Bob Levy ("Gossip Girl," "The Vampire Diaries") are executive-producing. The series is based on Alloy Entertainment's popular young adult book series written by Sara Shepard. "Pretty Little Liars" premieres on Tuesday, June 8 at 8:00PM ET/PT.

"Huge" is being developed by Winnie Holzman ("Wicked," "My So-Called Life," "Once & Again") and daughter Savannah Dooley. Funny, heartbreaking and provocative, "Huge" follows the lives of seven teens and the staff at a weight-loss camp, as they look beneath the surface to discover their true selves and the truth about each other. The series stars Nikki Blonsky ("Hairspray"), Andrew Caldwell, Zander Eckhouse, Harvey Guillen, Ari Stidham, Ashley Holliday and Hayley Hasselhoff. Holzman will be executive producer on the premiere episode, and will serve as consultant for the remainder of the episodes. Dooley will serve as producer on the series. Kim Rozenfeld ("American High"), and Alloy Entertainment's Leslie Morgenstein and Bob Levy ("Gossip Girl," "The Vampire Diaries"), will serve as executive producers; Robin Schiff ("Romy & Michele's High School Reunion" and ABC Family's "10 Things I Hate About You") will serve as a consulting producer. The series is based on the Alloy Entertainment book written by Sasha Paley. "Huge" premieres Monday, June 28 at 9:00PM ET/PT.

"Melissa & Joey," a half-hour multi-cam comedy with Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence executive producing and starring, finds Hart portraying Mel, the grown-up former wild child of a political family who is now a local politician herself. When her sister ends up in prison and her brother-in-law flees after a scandal hits, Mel must take responsibility for her teenaged niece, Lennox, and pre-adolescent nephew, Ryder. With Mel spread too thin to manage by herself, help comes in the unlikely form of Joe (Lawrence) who, desperate for a job, moves in and becomes the family's "manny." David Kendall & Bob Young are executive producers and writers. Paula Hart also serves as executive producer. "Melissa & Joey" will premiere in August 2010 (Date TBA).

Two of the network's one-hour original hit series will mark their returns: "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" will launch its third season on Monday, June 7, at 8:00PM ET/PT, and "Make It or Break It" will premiere its second season on Monday, June 28 at 10:00PM ET/PT.

The network will also present the new two-hour original movie premiere, "Revenge of the Bridesmaids," in July (DATE TBA). When best friends Abigail (Raven-Symon?) and Parker (Joanna Garcia) return to their small, Southern home town for a visit, they learn that their close friend, Rachel, has lost the love of her life, Tony, to their ex-friend Caitlin - a conniving gold-digger. Intent upon preventing the loveless marriage, Parker and Abigail go "undercover" as Caitlin's bridesmaids to sabotage the wedding. But their best-laid plans start going outrageously awry! Directed by Jim Heyman ("Ugly Betty," "Drop Dead Diva"), written by David Kendall & Bob Young, produced by Frank Von Zerneck & Bob Sertner ("Beauty & the Briefcase," "Sorority Wars")

Additionally in July, the network will air its annual "Harry Potter" summer marathon weekend event, featuring the first five films from the popular movie franchise.

The network's annual 10-day summer programming event, "Campus Crush," takes place from Sunday, August 1 through - Tuesday, August 10 and will feature the television movie premiere of "Wild Child," starring Emma Roberts and Natasha Richardson, debuting on Sunday, August 8 at 8:00PM ET/PT. Sixteen-year-old Poppy (Roberts) is an LA teen diva who does what she wants, whenever she wants. But after an over-the-top prank pushes her father one step too far, she finds herself shipped off to the one place where everything will change -- British boarding school. No cell phones, no designer clothes? no way. Desperate to break free, she sets in motion the ultimate escape plan involving the head mistress' son, only to discover that this could be the reason she wants to stay. Co-starring Natasha Richardson, Aidan Quinn and Nick Frost, directed by Nick Moore, written by Lucy Dahl, produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Alexandra Ferguson and Diana Phillips.

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 relatable programming about today's relationships - told with a mix of diversity, dysfunction, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a combination 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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