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 5^thseason, 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 5^th 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?

Related articles

• ABC Family’s Hit Series “The Secret Life Of The American Teenager” and “Make It Or Break It” Return With New Episodes Monday, March 26 (chipandco.com)
• Megan Park of ABC Family’s “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song” On Sorcerer Radio (chipandco.com)

On Sunday, February 5^th, beginning at 9:00am ET/PT, ABC Family will air a “Bring it On-a-Thon,” airing the five movies in the popular franchise back-to-back, featuring such ABC Family stars as Ashley Benson (“Pretty Little Liars”), Francia Raisa (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”) and Cassie Scerbo (“Make It or Break It”). Following the marathon, the network will air “Mamma Mia,” at 7:00pm ET/PT, and “Dirty Dancing” at 9:30pm ET/PT.

Sunday, February 5 (all times Eastern/Pacific)

9:00AM     Bring It On Again starring Anne Judson-Yager and Bree Turner

When the leaders of the varsity cheerleading squad alienate the wrong people, they find themselves in a battle against an alternative cheer squad to represent the university.

11:00AM   Bring It On: In It to Win It starring Ashley Benson, Cassie Scerbo and Michael Copon

A high-school senior (Ashley Benson) falls for a fellow cheerleader (Michael Copon), not realizing that he is on a rival squad.

1:00 PM    Bring It On starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku and Gabrielle Union

An urban cheerleading squad accuses a champion team’s captain (Kirsten Dunst) of stealing its choreography on the eve of a national competition.

3:00PM     Bring It On: Fight to the Finish starring Christina Milian and Rachele Brooke Smith

After her widowed mother remarries a wealthy man, Lina (Christina Milian) must transfer from her high school in East LA to a posh, West Los Angeles high school where she clashes with Avery (Rachele Brooke Smith), the snobby, ultra-competitive cheerleading captain when she tries to qualify for the team.

5:00PM     Bring It On: All or Nothing starring Hayden Panettiere, Solange Knowles, and Francia Raisa

When her family moves across town, a teenager (Hayden Panettiere) must win over the head cheerleader (Solange Knowles) to make the squad.

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• Megan Park of ABC Family’s “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song” On Sorcerer Radio (chipandco.com)

Volume 1 of the Hot New ABC Family Show Available on DVD March 20
Relive all the Drama and Excitement Just Two Weeks After the Season Finale

Synopsis:

When mistaken for an adult, sixteen year-old Jane (Erica Dasher) finds herself working for a high-powered executive (Andie McDowell) at a hip fashion house.  From classes to couture, relive all the drama, romance and non-stop excitement as Jane juggles her life as a regular teenager and her job in the cutthroatworld of fashion…all while trying to keep her true identity a secret. Bring home ABC Family’s Jane By Design: Volume 1, available on DVD March 20^th, just two weeks after the season finale!

Cast:

Erica Dasher (The Lake) asJane Quimby
Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day, Shortcuts) as Gray Chandler Murray
Nicholas Roux (Lemonade Mouth) asBilly Nutter
Rowly Dennis (TV’s “Desperate Housewives”) as Jeremy Jones
India de Beaufort (TV’s “One Tree Hill”) as India Jourdain
Meagan Tandy (10 Things I Hate About You) as Lulu Pope
Matthew Atkinson (TV’s “CSI”) as Nick Fadden
David Rogers (TV’s “Cougar Town”) as Ben Quimby

Executive Producers:

Gavin Polone (TV’s “Gilmore Girls”), John Ziffren (Melissa & Joey) and April Blair (Lemonade Mouth)

 Street Date:  March 20, 2012 (Direct Prebook: 1/24/2012; Distributor Prebook: 2/7/2012)

Rating:  TV-14 DLSV in U.S.
Feature Run Time:  Approximately 430 minutes
Suggested Retail Price:  2-Disc DVD = $29.99 (U.S. only release)
Aspect Ratio:  1.78:1/Widescreen
Sound:  Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Languages:  English

Check out the First Look from Season 1: http://youtu.be/FscbGfJApqM 

Related articles

• Official ABC Family’s Jane by Design Opening (chipandco.com)
• Sorcerer Radio Interview with Andie MacDowell of ABC Family’s “Jane By Design” (chipandco.com)

According to the Wall Street Journal, ABC is planning to screen the premiere episode of The River in theaters and on college campuses. The strategy, known as pre-sampling, is being used by several other TV networks to catch viewers attention. With more and more viewers turning to cable and Internet outlets, ABC hopes the move will get people to notice.

The River is a paranormal mystery that centers the disappearance of wildlife expert and TV personality Dr. Emmit Cole in the Amazon and the journey of his family, friends, and TV crew to find him. It was created and is produced by Orin Peli (Paranormal Activity) and Micheal R. Perry (The Practice, NYPD Blue) and looks both creepy and intriguing.

ABC hopes The River along with other new shows and current hit Once Upon a Time will increase ratings and appeal to the sought after 18-49 year old demographic.

The series will premier on ABC February 27, 2012.

Related articles

• Disney to launch new channel ABC Spark in Canada (chipandco.com)
• The River Producers Shed a Bit More Light on the Series; Info on an Austin, Texas Screening (dreadcentral.com)

ABC Family will continue its Monday nights of original programming with the Spring returns of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and “Make It or Break It,” both premiering on Monday, March 26, 2012, at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, respectively, one week after the season finales of “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Lying Game.”

Starring Golden Globe ® nominee Shailene Woodley, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” picks up right where it left off after a dramatic summer finale, with Amy accepting a marriage proposal from boyfriend, and father of her son, Ricky and Adrian and Ben moving on from their tragic past. This season the series continues to explore new and ever changing relationships with the introduction of several new characters. Despite the crazy relationships, there’s an undercurrent of discovery, honesty and growing up – even for the adults. The series cast includes Shailene Woodley, Ken Baumann, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Greg Finley, Daren Kagasoff, Megan Park, Francia Raisa, with Steve Schirripa and Molly Ringwald. “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. Just released today is the beautiful new key art featuring Shailene Woodley which hints at a wedding – but ultimately, will Amy and Ricky make it down the aisle?

Having just clinched victory at the World Championships, the 2012 Olympic Games are the goal in the climactic third season of “Make It or Break It,” as the Rock girls head to the U.S. Training Center and vie to be on the team that heads to London. With a new coach and fierce competition – including the return of former rivals Kelly Parker and Jordan Randall – Payson, Kaylie and Lauren are pushed to their limits physically and emotionally. The girls are closer than ever and committed to making the Olympic team together, but secret betrayals, questionable alliances and the reality of competing to make the final cut will test their loyalties like never before. “Make It or Break It,” starring Ayla Kell, Josie Lauren, and Cassie Scerbo, will return with the third season premiere on Monday, March 26^th (9:00PM– 10:00PM ET/PT).

“Secret Life” wrapped its most recent season as basic cable’s #1 scripted series of Summer ’11 across W18-34 and W18-49. The Spring ’11 run of “Make It or Break It” dominated its basic cable time period with F12-34, female teens and teens.

Related articles

• Lucy Hale And Megan Park Star In “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song” January 22 on Abc Family (chipandco.com)
• Sorcerer Radio Interview with Andie MacDowell of ABC Family’s “Jane By Design” (chipandco.com)

Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”) and Megan Park (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager”) star in the television world premiere of “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song.” The two-hour movie premieres on ABC Family January 22, 2012 at 8pm ET/PT. “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song” marks the third installment of the successful franchise. The second movie, “Another Cinderella Story” is ABC Family’s No. 2 original movie of all time.

It’s a modern and enchanting twist on an enduring classic. Katie (Lucy Hale of “Pretty Little Liars”) dreams of being a recording artist, but is continually thwarted by her cruel stepmother (Missi Pyle) and stepsister (Megan Park of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”). When Katie falls hard for Luke (Freddie Stroma), the new boy at her Performing Arts school, she tries to get his attention with her singing. But when her stepsister takes credit for Katie’s amazing voice and Luke falls for the wrong girl, Katie must learn to stand up for her dreams before her stepmother forces Katie to sing Luke into the arms of her wicked stepsister.

The movie is directed by Damon Santostefano and is written by Erik Patterson and Jessica Scott. It was executive produced by Dylan Sellers, Ilyssa Goodman, Michelle Johnston and Clifford Werber.

“A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” is available on DVD. The film can also be purchased for permanent download or rented on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles.

I hope you all had a chance to watch the premier of ABC Family’s all new TV series “Jane By Design.”  I had a great time watching it and can’t wait to tune in each Tuesday!  The premier was a special night, I had to pay close attention to the television during the episode to take note on what everyone was wearing! Here is the challenge:

“Show me that you can become a trusted fashion source for masses of people who have less style than I do.  Choose one person you have observed and write a “get the look” entry on your blog.  Tell your readers to share their “get the look” tips here and mention the name of your blog.”

Since the show is called “Jane By Design” I chose none other than Jane Quimby herself to study!  She is such a fun character with a very feminine sense of style!  If you liked the outfits Jane wore tonight on Jane By Design, they are really easy and affordable to recreate.  I searched Forever 21 and found several pieces that were very similar to the ones Jane wore!

The running theme I noticed in Jane’s wardrobe is a very feminine feel.  She seemed to always be wearing a skirt, sometimes fitted and sometimes flowey.  She often wore her outfits belted which gives the body a very feminine shape.  The color palate seemed to sport bold colors and I also noticed bold patterns!  I think the looks above replicate outfits that would be in Jane’s closet very well!

Do you have any “Get the Look” tips based on the first episode of Jane By Design?  Did you notice any fashion trends in the show? I would love for you to head to the Jane By Design Facebook Page and let me know! Don’t forget to tell them Chip and Co. sent you!

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• ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge #6. (chipandco.com)

I recently had an opportunity to chat with Andie MacDowell, star of the new ABC Family original series Jane By Design airing Tuesdays, at 9/8c. I had been a big fan of her work in films like Groundhog Day and Green Card and by the looks of things viewers will be in for a treat seeing her at work in Jane By Design.

Andie MacDowell has established herself as an accomplished actress with worldwide recognition. She was recently seen on the big screen in the heartbreaking true story of the Abbate family, The 5th Quarter, Monte Carlo with Selena Gomez and Leighton Meester, and the highly anticipated reboot of Footloose. She has also completed production on the indie feature Mighty Fine with Chazz Palminteri and her own daughter Rainey Qualley. On TV, MacDowell previously starred in back-to-back telefilms, At Risk and The Front, both based on Patricia Cornwell crime novels. She earned praise for her performance in the Emmy-nominated, HBO original film, Dinner with Friends. Additionally she co-starred with Rosie O’Donnell in the CBS telefilm Riding the Bus with My Sister, directed by Anjelica Huston.

Other dramatic feature performances include The End of Violence, directed by Wim Wenders, which was selected to screen at the opening of the 50th Anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival; Robert Altman’s The Player and Short Cuts, for which the cast earned a special Golden Globe Award for Best Ensemble; Unstrung Heroes, directed by Diane Keaton and the ever-popular St. Elmo’s Fire.

MacDowell earned the worldwide title of #1 female box-office draw with her performances in the smash hit romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, and the western Bad Girls with Drew Barrymore. She also starred in the holiday classic Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. In other comedies MacDowell continued to partner with top leading men including Gerard Depardieu in Green Card, for which she again earned a Golden Globe nomination, Michael Keaton in Multiplicity, and John Travolta in Michael.

She first received critical acclaim and accolades for her performance as a repressed young wife in Steven Soderbergh’s sex, lies and videotape. The film won the Palme d’or at Cannes and garnered MacDowell the Independent Spirit Award and the Los Angeles Film Critics Award for Best Actress as well as her first Golden Globe nomination. Additionally, she has been presented with the coveted Cesar D’Honneur for her body of work, the Golden Kamera Award from Germany’s Horzu Publications and the Taormina Arte Award for Cinematic Excellence.

For her philanthropic work, MacDowell was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Lander University and received an Honor of the Arts from Winthrop College. This year also marks the 25th Anniversary of MacDowell’s relationship with L’Oreal Paris, for which she serves as international spokesperson.

Aljon Go: In your own career, what have you learned after working with people like your character Gray Chandler?

Andie MacDowell: The thing of it is that I think if Gray were a man people probably wouldn’t judge her so harshly. They were used to having men being this powerful and this strong. You might think he was a jerk too though. That’s true.

But I have learned from working with a lot of women that have to fight for their position. I think a lot of times she’s justified in her behavior, and then a lot of times she crosses over a little bit.

I’ve met some pretty wild people in my life. I started in the fashion business, and I’ve been working in an industry where you meet all kinds of people. So I have a lot of resources I would say from my historical time in life.

Aljon Go: Based on what you’ve seen as an actress, at a high level, what do you think it takes to be a good executive assistant?

Andie MacDowell: Well I think what you expect, a lot of times, is for them to be able to think for themselves, to read your mind almost, to know you well enough to make the decisions that you would make. You expect a lot. I mean really obviously you can’t expect anybody to read your mind, but that’s sort of almost what people start to want. After a certain amount of time, you want someone that knows how you think and knows what you want; you don’t have to tell them.

Aljon Go: What was it about this particular role that made you decide to come to television?

Andie MacDowell: Well honestly I think television is just a great place to be. I think there used to be this sort of idea that film was the most prestigious thing to do. I believe that that has shifted a lot, and there’s great work to be found on TV.

I just feel really fortunate that I’ve found a place that I feel like I have something to offer. That’s important to me, to feel like I may have something unique to offer to a character that hopefully would have some kind of longevity and you could bring something to the table.

The writing is really good. That’s fun. You can’t do good work without great writing. You can’t make a bad script a good script. It’s impossible. So the writing is just fantastic, and I think the idea is a really good idea. It’s a very appealing idea.

Aljon Go: When you began working with the cast, did you find there was chemistry right away or did you guys have to spend some time gelling with each other?

Andie MacDowell: For me, it felt like I was walking into a place where each one of these kids, they know how lucky they are. You know the environment’s harder now. The world’s a difficult place right now, and finding work—when you find a job and you find a job that’s good, you’re ready to work. And that’s really the feeling I got from all of these kids. There’s nothing—they’re just very ambitious, hard working, focused, and really gifted and talented. So that’s the kind of energy I felt when I walked in.

And they were already just sort of just in the groove I would say. Here I am the seasoned actor. I’m supposed to know everything, and it was a little bit intimidating, I have to say, because they were all so good. But on the other hand, when you work with people that are really good, it makes you good. So I feel like I’m in great company.

Aljon Go: Did you look into anything or anyone in particular for inspiration for the character of Gray?

Aljon Go: I started off in the fashion business, and I worked with a lot of really great fashion editors. She’s not a fashion editor, but she is within that sort of same realm of industry. I worked with some really incredible, very powerful, very strong fashion editors. There was one in particular that sort of discovered me in way, whose name was Polly Mellen. So Polly was part of my inspiration, and then I worked a lot with Grace who is very quiet. She wouldn’t be acting like Gray, but I’m hoping there are elements, because there is something very female and lovely about her.

So I would hope that I could have some of those elements at some time, because I think anytime a character is just one—you can’t be just hard. You have to be soft and tender too somewhere because that’s only real and I don’t think anybody is all hard. And then a bunch of other people that I know that are just really strong women.

Aljon Go: How do you feel about comparisons made between a show like “Jane by Design,” and The Devil Wears Prada, for example?

Andie MacDowell: I just think that’s an easy comparison. So if you want to tell somebody what it’s like—because I’ve even used it, to tell you the truth. If you want to explain it to somebody in a nutshell kind of what the show is, you can say, “It’s not really this, but it’s kind of like that.” And that’s the truth. It’s not really that. It’s only kind of like it.

So it’s not exactly that story by any means. There’s much more to it because she has the whole high school life going on, and that is really an important part of the story. That’s one of the most powerful things of the story is being able to see the difference between these two worlds, and that wasn’t at all in The Devil Wears Prada.

So you can compare it to it because it is about an assistant and a boss and it is the fashion world. So those are really the main similarities.

Aljon Go: Would you say that you became a part of this project in part because of the message it has for young women?

Andie MacDowell: I would like to think that that’s why I did it. I have to be honest, when I saw what the message was I was already attached, but I was like, “Yes, this is good. I’m really glad that that’s what they’re saying,” because I have daughters.

Actually, I have a daughter that is modeling and going to high school, which is so funny because it’s a lot like Jane. She’s a kid and I want her to be a kid and I want her to treasure her years in high school. So I’m having to reiterate that to her all the time. And then here paralleled, at the same time, I’m working on a show that is exactly that same story, which I find fascinating that that happened. That life is like that.

Aljon Go: What is a typical day like on the set of “Jane by Design?”

Andie MacDowell: Fast. It’s very fast. We work really hard. The writers and the producers don’t have a life. They were there all the time. The kids are just great. They’re gifted and talented and smart and funny and they gave me such amazing energy. Watching Erica work was really—I can’t tell you how good she is. The kid’s great. And they all know how lucky they are. You can just see it. Rowly was really wonderful and even helpful to me. They were just sweet.

We’d hang out in tiny little trailers. Eat—they have nice food but we don’t have very long to eat. We’re changing hair really fast. We’re getting dressed really fast and we’re running back into the set. Working late at night sometimes, which is really hard when you’re my age. Having to remember your lines at midnight. But it was all fun. It was a lot of fun.

Aljon Go: What does Gray see in Jane? What is the special thing that not only makes her hire Jane but to connect and keep her around?

Andie MacDowell: I think she sees that she’s got great style, and maybe she sees a little bit of herself when she was younger, the capacity to think quick, and then something in her that is trustworthy.

Aljon Go: Are you planning on doing any more films with your daughter?

Andie MacDowell: I hope so, but we’ll just have to wait and see. At this moment, we don’t have any plans. I hope her career takes off on her own. That’s what I really hope.

Aljon Go: Did you film a lot or do you have any projects coming up when it’s done filming?

Andie MacDowell: I’m getting ready to work on something. I’m not going to talk about it yet, but I’m getting ready to work on something. We’re looking for other good things, but it’s hard. I don’t want to do just anything so I’m being patient.

Aljon Go: It’s always been a pleasure to see anything that you’ve been in.

Andie MacDowell: Thank you. It’s not always easy when you get older. You have to be patient, I think. There’s loads of work. There’s a lot more work because it’s a very youth oriented business and so I can’t take it too personal.

Be sure to see Andie MacDowell and the rest of the cast of ABC Family’s Jane By Design on Tuesdays, 9/8c on ABC Family!

Official site: http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/jane-by-design

ABOUT “JANE BY DESIGN”
Jane By Design is a light-hearted drama about Jane, a teenager who lands a job at Donovan Decker, a hip fashion house, when they mistake her for an adult. Jane soon finds herself juggling life both as a regular high school student and as an assistant to a high powered executive in the cutthroat world of fashion… all while trying to keep her true identity a secret.

Jane By Design stars Erica Dasher (The Lake) as Jane Quimby; Nick Roux (Lemonade Mouth) as Billy Nutter, Rowly Dennis (Desperate Housewives) as Jeremy Jones, India De Beaufort (One Tree Hill) as India Jourdain, Meagan Tandy (10 Things I Hate About You) as Lulu Pope, Matthew Atkinson (CSI) as Nick Fadden. And featuring Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) who stars as Gray Chandler Murray – Jane’s steely boss whose constant demands keep her on her toes.

*This interview was made in partnership with Sorcerer Radio and Chip and Company.

Related articles

• Official ABC Family’s Jane by Design Opening (chipandco.com)
• WDW Tiki Room Interviews Charisma Carpenter of “The Lying Game” (chipandco.com)

Photo by Pixie Brenda

Our invitation said, “Come join Tony Dovolani from Dancing with the Stars and learn how to dance like a pro! He will be teaching a class on the merengue and salsa. Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.” Did my husband and I attend? You betcha! We are huge fans of Dancing with the Stars and Tony is one of my favorite male dancers. Are we still merengueing around the house – no doubt!

We arrived at the class early enough to welcome Tony to the floor. He spoke for a while and even held a Q&A session in which he answered some inside questions about Dancing with the Stars. Find out about some of the info he shared at my website, Ideally Disney.

Once he was ready to begin, he divided the class in two, with all the guys behind him and all the girls in front. He then instructed each part of the merengue with the guys’ moves, followed by the girls’ moves. Then, he put it all together and put it to music.

We had a blast! I wish my personal photos had been better, but thank goodness we did get the autographed photo from Tony (above) to have as another great memento of the trip. This is just one more fun and memorable experience we had aboard the Disney Dream on our way to The Bahamas.

If you are interested in cruising on DCL, contact me anytime at Brenda@Pixievacations.com. I would absolutely love to help you plan your trip.

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I recently had a chance to talk to Charisma Carpenter, star of ABC Family’s hit show “The Lying Game” which had its winter debut on January 2nd, 2012. Here’s an excerpt of our interview that will be airing on Sorcerer Radio’s “WDW Tiki Room” show 8 a.m./eastern, Friday January 6th, 2012.

Born in and raised in Las Vegas, Charisma Carpenter lived there until the age of fifteen, when her family moved to Mexico and later to San Diego. In San Diego, she attended the School of Creative and Performing Arts and was a cheerleader for the San Diego Chargers. In 1992, Carpenter moved to Los Angeles. After being discovered by a commercial agent, and appearing in more than 20 commercials, her career in front of the camera began. After just two years in LA, Carpenter made her television debut in an episode of “Baywatch”, which caught the attention of “Malibu Shores” creator Aaron Spelling. Carpenter was cast as series regular, Ashley Green, in “Malibu Shores”. Though, the series ran for only one season, Carpenter caught the attention of both viewers and series creators. Subsequently, she was cast in a number of series through the late 90s and into the mid 2000s including: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel” and “Veronica Mars”. It is through Carpenter’s portrayal of the character, Cordelia Chase, for seven years on the WB’s hit show “Angel,” which she is most famously recognized. Carpenter originated the role of Cordelia Chase in Joss Whedon’s popular show “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer,” and when the spin off “Angel” occurred in 1999, Carpenter’s character moved to the new show. In addition to Carpenter’s vast television series work, she has also starred in a number of television movies for ABC Family, Lifetime and Syfy. Most recently Carpenter can be seen starring in feature film, The Expendables, directed by Sylvester Stallone and starring in television films: Deadly Sibling Rivalry, House of Bones on Syfy, and Obsession on Lifetime.

Aljon Go: What is it about the role that really drew you to wanting to be a part of it? Were you looking at working on  a series again?

Charisma Carpenter: I am definitely interested in finding a home, for sure. And it was not introduced to me that way. It was a recurring opportunity to be on a show and if more comes of it, it would be a welcome surprise but not my intention.

I was drawn to the complexity of a character that is not all that she seems which I’m a little bit familiar with; but not too much because Cordelia, really, from Buffy and Angel, if I were to compare the two characters, was way more up front. She was like a soothsayer. She just said what was on her mind. You always knew where you stood with things. She’ll give you advice when you don’t even want to hear it.

I think this character, Annie Rebecca Sewell, is not so forthcoming with what she’s really thinking, but you know that there are wheels spinning behind her eyes. I’m thinking this but I’m really not going to say it. And I think that also happens with age. You filter a little better.

Rebecca definitely has her filters and her radar highly tuned. She’s smarter, wiser, sophisticated. Apparently, she’s a little moneyed up. She’s lived and survived a lot, especially socially. The way she was treated when she was younger affected her in a way that either you sink or swim, and apparently she swam.

And now she’s back to these choppy waters to sort of navigate them and see what she can make out of it. I mean, I feel like her intentions are to set things right for herself mainly, but not in a vindictive, revenge way because then that gets into a whole other show altogether. I think what her intention is really is like one of her lines recently to Kristin was, “Between you and me, it is really fun to be back and turning heads.” She never turned heads in the past and she was really mistreated by her peers. So, it’s nice to come back on top. It feels good and I don’t think she’s really going to be willing to let that go anytime soon.

Aljon Go: I see you like to Tweet. What’s it like being part of the Twitter-verse getting all that immediate fan feedback?

Charisma Carpenter: You know, it’s a double-edged sword, the social media, because I’ve gotten in trouble for either announcing too soon something that the network or the studio wanted to do and it takes away from. So it is something like it’s okay to tease but I’m sort of like well, oh goodness, I said too much and I’m so sorry and I’ve had to apologize and like say, “Oops, I didn’t mean to do that.” Or what is that expression where you just, you steal some of the thunder, so to speak. You don’t mean to do that.

But, it’s hard because it’s like these are my fans and I want to give my fans what they want to hear and that is I’m on television and I’m going to be back on the show and I really want you to watch and you’re going to have fun doing it and you’re going to see more a grownup, sophisticated version of Cordelia, who you are familiar with. I think you’ll see a lot of similarities between the two, but they’re not, by any means, the same character.

Aljon Go: Did you know how popular The Lying Game was when you signed on?

Charisma Carpenter: Not at all; not at all. In fact, I had no idea what The Lying Game meant and I’m still missing the last five episodes of the first ten. So, obviously, I’ve got the first five and then I’ve got episodes ten through sixteen down, but I’m missing five there. I was given the link but I can’t get the link to work on my Mac, so I’m a little bit challenged in that regard.

I’m not that familiar with it; what it means. I’ve been exposed to it a little bit, but I don’t know in what sense it’s a game. Like why is it a game? I don’t know. I understand Sutton introduced it.

Aljon Go: How is the chemistry on the set of The Lying Game?

Charisma Carpenter: It’s one of the best sets I’ve been on. It’s probably on par with my experience on Veronica Mars. A lot of young kids with a great deal of pressure and responsibility just killing it every day. They get it. They’re appreciative. There is no diva. There is no attitude. There are no hang ups. Everybody, everybody, I mean everybody, has a fantastic outlook.

I think too, it helps like in this economy, everybody is really appreciative to be working. It’s not lost on them. It’s really a wonderful thing to see such young people taking on such huge responsibilities and jobs and hours and just do it with such grace. I really have been impressed a great deal. And Alexandra Chando without exception. She’s mid-20s and she’s not one character, two characters.

It’s a fantastic environment. The chemistry is great. The crew is great. I love working with Adrian. He’s crackly. He’s incensed; like he’s on fire. He’s like going to ignite at any moment. One little bit of accelerant and he’s just going to blow up. He’s so alive and his energy is just—it’s impossible to ignore.

Every time he’ll give you a line and you might have in your mind a way that the scene would be going or the way he would say something, but no. And then you’ll do the same thing again and it won’t be the same way either. And that, for me, just brings my level of acting up. I think for sure when you see the season, you will see it. You will see what I’m talking about. It’s an amazing work experience for me.

Aljon Go: You’ve mentioned that that Cordelia shares some similarities with your character in The Lying Game.  Could you expand on that a little bit?

Charisma Carpenter: I think they’re very spoiled in a way.  I don’t think she was always spoiled, Rebecca, I think she has sort of come into money and money changes you.  It’s sort of like a—you can feel when people, I don’t know, there’s like an arrogance that comes with it, almost.  And I think that that sort of is similar to Cordelia.  There’s this sense of entitlement.  I’ve found myself.  I’ve made myself successful and get out of my way.  And I think everything that she approaches is with intention.

I think Cordelia was very specific and very intentioned in her behavior and protective of those people in her vicinity that she grew to love and trust, but she’s a hard nut to crack, Rebecca.  We don’t really know who she has an affinity for, if anyone.  I think she will tell you the truth.  She’ll say enough to make a person uncomfortable which is very Cordelia, but she’s not as blatant as Cordelia.  I think she just says enough.

She’s like a garnish on a plate.  Cordelia with just a little bit of Cordelia in it, but she’s not Cordelia.  She’s grown and she’s sophisticated and she uses respects and she uses her resources in a way that maybe Cordelia didn’t always know to use yet.

Aljon Go: Have you had interesting stories about run-ins with your fans? 

Charisma Carpenter: Yes, I have.  I have had some fan encounters that were interesting, but most encounters are actually quite pleasant and endearing.  But it was a little unsettling when a very sweet young girl actually did pee her pants.  That was a little odd.  You hear about that happening with people like the Beatles or Michael Jackson or something like that, so it’s a little unsettling to know that that level of excitement or emotional intensity is being caused by you.

It’s a little unsettling; I mean, it’s flattering but unsettling at the same time.  I don’t know how to put it.  It’s like, “It’s just me.  It’s just me.  I’m just a person.”  It’s a little odd.  I don’t know how Justin Bieber deals.

Aljon Go: Can you tell us what it was like to work with James Marsters again on Supernatural?

Charisma Carpenter: Oh, it was a lot of fun.  What was so great about it is we didn’t spend time together at all unless he really—I never really had scenes with him, not that much and we’ve sort of been orbiting the same areas and various conventions, but when we’re acting, we don’t get to socialize.  So when we’re on set, I really feel like I got back story and I know what’s going on in his life.

I know he has a kid.  I know they love music.  I know they play together.  I know he’s involved.  I really feel like I got to connect with him and kind of talk about the old days and what was your experience and oh, this was my schedule, what was your experience and kind of share and reconnect in a trusted way.  It was really special to me.

Aljon Go: If you could go back and have this Twitter technology for just one year, or one T.V. season, from Buffy or Angel, what year or show season would you have picked?

Charisma Carpenter: Probably the third season of Buffy; my last season on Buffy.  Graduation day, I think that probably would have been a good year to be on Twitter, because we were getting ready to exit.  There would have been a lot of news to share, if I was allowed to share it is another story.  But there would have been a lot going on.  The rebar scene, some of the kooky stuff we wore, it was exciting for me.  A lot of stuff happened to me.  I knew I was jumping ship, so a lot of my character was getting some resolution with relationships in that season.

I finally got to vanquish a vampire after being a damsel in distress for three years.  So that would have been fun to tweet.  Pictures on the set with all the demons running around would have been fun.  We were on a very specific lot which we called Weeden World.  So it wasn’t on Fox or Paramount or any of that.  We had our own sort of world going on.  So that would have been interesting.

We were around on set, like we had outdoor sets, the graveyards and stuff.  I think there just would have been a lot of fun stuff to tweet from that.  On Angel we had a lot of indoor sets and things.  Angel would have been fun too, especially when Andy Hallett was around it was always fun.  It was a lot of fun too, but I just think if I had to pick one year, that would have been it.

Aljon Go: What are your favorite Christmas and holiday traditions? 

Charisma Carpenter: Well, one of my favorite traditions, which is just to my family alone, we have what’s called “ Faux Christmas” the week before Christmas with my dad and my stepmom.  Because when you have a large family like I do and we’re all married and all around the country, it’s impossible because you’re married and it’s my spouse’s family’s house this weekend or it’s this holiday or Thanksgiving. What we try to do is we, no matter what, do faux Christmas which is the week before so we can all get together either at my house or my brother’s house or my dad’s house and his wife’s house.

And then on the actual holiday, then we can go to the appropriate house for that winter.  Because we all love each other so much and we want to be together but we know that we have to split our time, so to keep together every single year we celebrate Christmas one week before.  And then we go to Australia to visit a family there.  And then my brother’s wife’s family is in Tucson, so she’ll get to stay with her mom and nobody’s left out.

Aljon Go: Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? 

Charisma Carpenter:      I do.  Some more personal than others, but I really want to practice not cussing; cursing at all.  Definitely with this job, if we get picked up and I have to stay working in Austin, to try to make a bigger effort to be more consistent with my training, working out. I have a lot of New Year’s resolutions.  More saving, make better choices in that regard.  Travel, but making  more time for the family.  More timeouts, just re-appropriate my spending.  Whatever I do, maybe whatever was important to me in my 20s, like I want to have three Fendi bags, or I want a Chloe bag, or whatever the in thing was.  Okay, let’s not buy three Fendi bags at $2200 a pop.  Let’s instead like sock that away, save it, and then oh, we have a little extra money.  Why don’t we go up to Whistler and have a family ski trip?

I want to go to Montana.  I want to spend time in Montana.  I got plans.  I want to brand out; brand out like sell out.  Who says that?  So bad.  But I want to sell out.  I want my own perfume line.  I have some ideas about beauty regimen and care and that sort of thing.  Those are the things that I think a book should be written about.  I have some stuff to say.  I got some stuff on my mind.  I would like to get started on those things.

Aljon Go: In addition to Lying Game, are there any other upcoming projects in the works for you that you can give us any clues about?

Charisma Carpenter: Yes, there is something, but I’m not allowed to say and I won’t get in trouble. I can’t get in trouble. It will be announced very soon. Let’s just say that.

Be sure to tune-in to ABC Family’s The Lying Game on Mondays, at 9/8c!

The Lying Game Official Site: http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/lying-game

Hear highlights of this interview and more on Sorcerer Radio’s weekly wrap up podcast Weekend Expedition on iTunes!

*This interview is made in partnership with Sorcerer Radio, Chip and Company and ABC Family.

Related articles

• Sorcerer Radio Preview – DJ Sorcey’s NYE, Charisma Carpenter on Tiki, SR is #1 (chipandco.com)
• Sorcerer Radio Update – Happy New Year, Charisma Carpenter on WDWTR and more! (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)

The Jane By Design Style Challenge is almost over, but that doesn’t mean the challenges are getting easier.  In fact, it is just the opposite, style challenge number 6 had to do with pretzels… that’s right pretzels!  What do pretzels and fashion have to do with each other… inspiration.  In the end it all comes down to inspiration.  Here was the challenge:

“2012 is almost upon us.  What does the future hold for the world of fashion?  That will depend on people like you.  It’s time to take a long hard look at yourself and the world around you.  What do you see & how does it make you feel?  The ability to be inspired by everyday life is an essential skill.  The ability to translate your inspiration into something fresh and unexpected that takes the fashion world by storm is a rare gift.  Rumor has it that one of the most coveted designer bags of all time was inspired by a roll of tape.

Find the bag of pretzels in your trunk.  Get inspired and create something that will amaze me.  Post a photo to your blog and write an entry explaining your design.  Ask your readers to share ways in which they were inspired to make fashion out of unexpected items here and mention the name of your blog.”

I spent a long time just looking at the pretzels, and my little one kept nibbling at them trying to decide what to create.  But just like anything inspiration can take some time.  The pretzels sent to us in the Jane By Design Challenge were different we had sticks, and mini pretzels and the square ones.  The were covered in salt and that reminded me of glitter and I went from there!

• Mini Pretzels look like bows
• Square Pretzels have a nice pattern almost like polka dots
  
• Stick Pretzels give us a nice line and base shape

We are headed to Walt Disney World on Wednesday this week and I always create something for my 4 year old daughter to wear.  In my experience the more a child can stand out from the crowd the more attention they get from the characters.  So I decided to combine the two challenges and here is what I created out of an idea inspired from pretzels!

I created some Minnie Mouse inspired tennis shoes for little girls!  These are so adorable and will look so cute on my little girl!  They have a pattern, lines, bows and glitter just like the pretzels from the style challenge!! 2012 could be a great year to have your kids rock some funky shoes in their everyday life and at Walt Disney World!

Have you ever been inspired to make something for yourself of your kids for a Walt Disney World vacation?  Do you wear matching t-shirts or maybe make your daughter an outfit based on a Disney Princess or a Halloween costume to look like a dole whip?!  I would love to hear where you find inspiration for fashion at Walt Disney World on the Jane By Design Facebook Page HERE and make sure to mention Chip. and Co. sent you!

Related articles

• ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge 3 (chipandco.com)
• ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge (chipandco.com)

Happy new year to you, our loyal Sorcerer Radio listeners!
2011 was a huge year for the station with new programs, air talent, partnerships, celebrity guests and events. This year Sorcerer Radio celebrated 10 years of serving the Disney fan community and we look forward to providing you with the best programming found anywhere on the web. We will also continue our innovations in terms of how you can access SR on the web so you will have many more ways to enjoy listening to us. So please continue to listen, provide feedback and request your favorite songs.

On a personal note I would like to extend a heart-felt thanks to the entire SR staff for their hard work in continually raising the bar enriches the lives of the entire Disney fan community. I look forward to this new year and as the station continues to grow I look forward toward facing the challenge as we have in the past, a family.

To our valuable sponsors and partners, thank you. With your ongoing help we are able to keep the station on the air. We look forward to working with you in the new year along with our partners at the Disney company to provide our listeners with the best possible coverage of news and events.

On behalf of Sorcerer and the entire SR staff we wish you a safe and happy new year! Thank you for your continued support. Here’s to 2012! May all your wishes come true!

Cheers!

Aljon Go
Station Manager/air-staff, Sorcerer Radio

Sorcerer Radio Maintains #1 Status

Thanks to you Sorcerer Radio is at the top of the charts again for the month of December as the most listened to fan-run Disney station on the world wide web! Be sure to check out SRSounds.com‘s App page HERE for the many ways you can listen! Spread the magic and tell your friends about Sorcerer Radio!

DJ Sorcey Rocks New Year’s Eve Disney Style

Tune in on New Year’s Eve night @ 9 PM (et) we turn up the energy on Sorcerer Radio. We’re pumping out HyperDis and the Sorcey DJ sets to get you into the New Year!
Schedule (all times eastern):
9:00 pm – HyperDis
10:00 pm – DJ Sorcey Disney Set
11:00 pm – DJ Sorcey New Year’s Party Set
12:00 am – DJ Sorcey Disney Set
1:00 am – DJ Sorcey New Year’s Party Set

Charisma Carpenter Joins the Tiki Room Nation Friday!

This Friday on WDW Tiki Room, hosts Kristen and Aljon welcome Charisma Carpenter (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Angel” and “Veronica Mars”) to chat about her role in the hit ABC Family show The Lying Game. Of course we will talk about her love of Disney and science fiction so tune in this Friday 1/6/12 at 8 a.m. eastern to hear all about it!

Be sure to tune-in to the Winter Premiere of ABC Family’s The Lying Game on Monday, Jan. 2 at 9/8c on ABC Family!

You can also read the interview coming soon to Chip and Company as well as hear highlights on Sorcerer Radio’s weekly wrap up podcast Weekend Expedition on iTunes!

The Lying Game Official Site: http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/lying-game

For the latest news and updates from the Sorcerer Radio staff be sure to visit our NEW website SRSounds.com. There you can interact with the DJs, fellow Disney fans, request songs, shop for SR swag and stream Sorcerer Radio for FREE!

Pitbull and Hot Chelle Rae will be performing live for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012″! They will join previously announced Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber as performers, live from New York.

Also, Jenny McCarthy will once again join the celebration by reporting live from Times Square with hosts Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest celebrating 40 years of “Rockin’ Eve” history on Saturday, December 31 on the ABC Television Network!

The bi-coastal celebration will include over 5 ½ hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe, as well as the American tradition of Dick Clark counting down to midnight from Times Square in New York City. Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas will return to host the Los Angeles-based portions of the specials.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the cherished New Year’s Eve celebration, the festivities will begin at 8:00 p.m., ET with a special two-hour event hosted by Jenny McCarthy and Fergie entitled “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve: The 40th Anniversary Party.”

I recently had an opportunity to chat with Vanessa Marano and Katie Leclerc of ABC Family’s hit show “Switched at Birth” at Birth” for Sorcerer Radio’s WDW Tiki Room show. We spoke about the winter premiere that airs January 3 on ABC Family as well as the holidays. They were a blast to talk to and really have a genuine fondness for each other, their fans and their fellow cast and crew.

Aljon Go: What’s in store for your characters in the second half of season one?

Vanessa Marano: All right, I will. What’s in store for Bay Kennish in the second half of season one is she kind of is making a decision whether or not to give up street art. There is a situation that she runs into where it almost costs her something pretty major in her life and that makes her start thinking about well, is it really worth the risk of illegal activity? And decides something that—it’s an interesting thing for her because it’s a big part of her that she has only shared with the two men of her lifetime and it’s a big part of her identity that she must be losing.

Katie Leclerc: For Daphne there’s a lot of rebuilding for her and Angelo to do, or building to start. It’s not even rebuilding. She needs to get over a lot of things in regards to him and she really starts to figure out what it is she really cares about and what it is she really is going to go after.

She’s a very competitive person and I’ve also gotten to play a lot of basketball so far this season. So, that’s been a lot of fun. That comes with new friends and new lessons to learn.

Aljon Go: How your life has changed since Switched at Birth became this big phenomenon the last couple of months.

Vanessa Marano: I honestly wouldn’t say my life has changed that much, other than the fact that I have a job, which is awesome. It’s a job with fantastic, talented, wonderful people and I’m so pleased that I’m part of something that really has hit home with both the hearing community and the deaf community. So, if anything, I think my life has changed in that aspect is that I feel like I’m a part of something that people genuinely love and are genuinely caring about.

Katie Leclerc: For me, it seems quite a bit. I was working as a receptionist before this job and I was able to, literally, have my dreams come true. I was able to quit. I became successful in something that I had worked for ten years to achieve. I’ve made incredible new friends. I’ve gotten to go places and experience things that I never would have otherwise. Every day is a new lesson in gratitude.

Vanessa Marano and Katie Leclerc at the 2011 American Music Awards

Aljon Go: What was it like for the two of you to present at the AMAs?

Katie Leclerc: It was awesome. It was the best night ever. It was really, really fun and to get to do it with my good friend, Vanessa, was that much more special. It was super cool.

Vanessa Marano: We had the best time. We had so much fun. It was great; weirdly, because neither one of us is involved in the music industry so it was kind of almost—I feel like we were giddy to be there because it was something that we weren’t involved in, yet we were involved in because we were presenting.

Katie Leclerc: Totally giddy to be there. Totally giddy.

Aljon Go: Was it nerve wracking?

Katie Leclerc: No, it wasn’t nerve wracking. It was just exciting, I think, more than—there’s just a good energy and LMFAO was the best performance of the night, hands down. It was so much fun, so much fun.

Vanessa Marano: It was so great. We had the best time. We were not nervous, but I think at one point after we presented, totally got stuck on stage and didn’t know where to go. Like totally, like oh, okay, done with our little lines now and they’re performing and we’re still standing here.

Katie Leclerc: Yes, the poor stage manager had to like come out from behind the curtain and like wave us over to her like, come here you guys. So much fun.

Aljon Go: I see you are active on Twitter. How do you like connecting with your fans in this direct fashion?

Katie Leclerc: Sure, yes. I have to tell you, I Tweet and I love Twitter. It’s just the immediate response that is so readily accessible. I love going on and we’ll get comments from fans that are small mementos like, ‘I learned how to be patient with my deaf cousin because of Switched at Birth’, or big mementos like, ‘I understand the importance of and the need for interpreters so I changed my major to ASL because of Switched at Birth’. I mean, it’s a very broad spectrum, but I think the response has just been overwhelmingly positive and I understand why. When we working on it, I think all of us felt like we were doing something that was special and important. Now that those fans have kind of responded similarly, I’m just proud to be a part of it and thankful to have been along for the ride.

Vanessa Marano: Katie and I both did a signing at Planet Hollywood in New York and it was amazing to see the hearing fans and the deaf fans; how many of them there were and to see them together and to see each community that there is not necessarily a divide between, but both joining a program for different reasons and similar reasons. I think that that’s been the most amazing thing is that we have such a colorful group of fans because they’re hearing, they’re deaf, they’re teenage, they’re mothers, they’re male – a lot of them which is surprising. And I think that that’s great.

Aljon Go: Why do you think the show connects with so many different people?

Vanessa Marano: I think it’s because it’s so relatable. There’s a character for everybody to relate to. You’re a Daphne, you’re a Bay, you’re a Kathryn, you’re a Regina, you’re a John, you’re a Toby, and you’re an Emmett. I think that what really resonates with people is that there are so many story lines and to top it off, you’re learning about culture and community that a lot of people weren’t introduced to beforehand.

Aljon Go: What was it like to be with the entire ABC Family show casts for the Winter Wonderland  photo shoot?

Katie Leclerc: I was telling Jen, the publicist, earlier since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted to go to Rockefeller Plaza at Christmas and ice skate underneath the tree and that, in itself, was a great experience. We got to see Blair Redford, who is on The Lying Game. I love Blair and it was nice to see him. It was nice to see them again and New York in the wintertime is just a sight to see all by itself. It was a great weekend. It was a quick trip, but a great weekend.

Vanessa Marano: It was beautiful. I was so excited that none of us fell, with the exception of Constance Marie, when ice skating. I was proud of the whole ABC Family for that.

Aljon Go: Do you both have any other projects you’re working on you can mention?

Vanessa Marano: I’m kind of working in a Switched at Birth bubble right now. We’ve got 22 episodes that are coming up that we’re airing in January and 10 are airing in the summer. So, we have been working nonstop on Switched at Birth. I can plug more Switched at Birth, which I’m totally cool with doing.

Katie Leclerc: In fact, I might mention while we’re talking about plugging more Switched at Birth, our DVDs come out on the 13th of December so fans can catch up before the January 3rd premier. But, I too, am just fully dedicated to Daphne at this moment.

Vanessa Marano: And what a great Christmas gift, the Switched at Birth DVD just in time for the premiering season, right?

Aljon Go: Do you have particular routines, rituals, or things you go through, especially during the holidays, that you’d like to share?

Vanessa Marano: Okay, for the holiday season, every Christmas Eve my sister and my mom and I—they cook Christmas cookies and just bake. My mom bakes fudge and my dad actually makes like a seafood feast; like shrimp and calamari. That’s kind of our holiday tradition is Christmas Eve is cookie and seafood night. Yummy.

Katie Leclerc: My family, I think the biggest one is we’ll open Christmas presents on Christmas morning listening to the Nat King Cole album, the Christmas album. I don’t know; it’s just like a staple in our family every year.

We will do that and feast. My family loves food. We’re big eaters. So we’ll just prepare a feast and every year there’s something different. Like we’re going to try something new, but we always have cream corn as a staple, which is kind of weird because most families don’t like it, but we make a delicious one.

And then for this year, I’m super, super excited. I get to go home to San Antonio where they are now and then when we’re done doing that, Vanessa and I get to go to New York City to do New Year’s Eve on MTV Live. This year, our tradition might be a little bit untraditional. I’m really excited. Katie and Vanessa take New York, New Year’s Eve.

Vanessa Marano: Check it out. MTV.

Aljon Go: Do you both cook? Are you a budding chef in your part-time in your spare time?

Katie Leclerc: You could say that. Sure, yes. I love to cook. We, actually Vanessa and I have this great thing where she’ll come over to my apartment and I’ll cook dinner and her and my boyfriend will watch awesome reality television together. We all get to hang out and spend time together and I get to cook and that’s what I want to do so I’m perfectly happy with it.

Aljon Go: You cook and then after that you fist pump, is that what you’re telling me?

Katie Leclerc: Exactly. How’d you know?

Vanessa Marano: I cook a little bit; not by any means the amount that Katie does. I grew up in a house where my dad cooked and my mom burned things. So, I’m kind of split in the middle there.

Aljon Go: You all sound like you guys have way too much fun together and it would be great to have some viral footage out there of a Vanessa/Katie dance party/mix and mingle.

Katie Leclerc: Oh, my goodness. This sounds like it has to happen.

Aljon Go: How is your own sign vocabulary coming?

Vanessa Marano: Okay, so let’s talk really quickly about how in this upcoming season the person who does the most sign language on the show is not Constance Marie or Katie Leclerc, who’s fluent in sign language, or Sean Berdy, who is also fluent in sign language. It’s me because Bay has started to sign more with Daphne now and she signs with Emmett and, in a teaser sort of way, she’s signing a lot with Melody, Emmett’s mother as well.

So, I am doing the most sign language on the show. I don’t know how that happened, but somehow it did. That being said, Bay’s sign language is excellent. Vanessa’s sign language is getting there. I hope to be as fluent as Bay in a little bit, but as of right now, Bay is way better at sign language than I am.

Katie Leclerc: That being said, Katie and Vanessa had a private conversation in sign language unbeknownst to everyone around them the other day. That was pretty fun. We’re telling secrets, everybody.

Vanessa Marano: That might be like my driving force to really learning sign language. Not communication, secret communication.

Katie Leclerc: Right, right. That was a triumph for me; a personal goal.

Aljon Go: You guys both clearly love your characters and love working on the show. What was it about each of your characters that made you want to play them?

Katie Leclerc: I had never seen anything like what we were doing on the pages of Switched at Birth. It really resonated with me to be true and honest. Even in the pilot we talked about issues related to deaf cultures; the cochlear implants and the uphill battle and the humor that can go along with it too. Because deaf people are some of the funniest people I’ve ever met in my life. It just shined a light on a culture that I loved and was familiar with and wanted to share with everyone else.

Vanessa Marano: For me, the moment I truly fell in love with the script for Switched at Birth because when I read it, it was different and I’ve been doing this for a long time but whenever you’re doing a pilot you’re very skeptical. But the minute that we did the table read for the show and the words on the page that Lizzy wrote were brought to life, because she truly wrote for them to be said.

The table read flowed and was beautiful and seeing the actors sign and seeing the actors act and bring these beautiful words that were so different and were about something so unique to life was the moment that I was like, wow, this could work. This is actually going to work. And it did and people I think really responded to that, to these words that were meant to be said and were meant to be signed and to see it together is such a unique, fascinating different combination that you can’t see anywhere else.

Aljon Go: Who has made the biggest impact on you since you started working with them, either personally or professionally?

Vanessa Marano: That’s hard. That’s really hard. I don’t think I could pick one. I think our entire cast influences each other in different ways. Lea Thompson is so funny and so giving and D.W. knows so much and is so much fun to be around. Constance, too, is just so knowledgeable and giving. All three of them; so knowledgeable and so giving and so funny and just delights and professional people and absolute gems to work with.

And then on the younger spectrum, Sean is fantastic. I adore Lucas. I think he is a blast to work with, also very giving. I can’t even go into words about Katie because then I’m just going to sound like I’m obsessed with her, which I maybe kind of am. But that’s the thing I think that’s so great about our show and that people really feel about our show is that we all enjoy working together and it is a group of such talented people who have been doing this for a very long time.

I don’t think we have a newbie in the bunch. Everybody’s been doing it for over five years. Like way over five years, too, by the way. To see that, to see a group of people who know what they’re doing and love what they’re doing and really enjoy working with each other, I couldn’t be happier and I’m so fortunate to be on this set and I would not trade it for anything in the world.

Katie Leclerc: I just want to add to that by saying I think it shows on the screen. I think it shows. I think you can tell when cast members dislike each other and I think you can tell when cast members have a ball. And we, I’ve got to tell you, have so much fun every single day. I just thank my lucky stars that I get to work with the cast members that we do. And the crew members that we do as well. I mean, our show looks beautiful and it’s thanks to our lighting group guys and our GP. We’ve gotten to work with incredibly talented directors along the way.

I mean, I think we all balance each other out in a way that we all challenge each other. If you are in a scene with any one of our actors and you are phoning them in or not bringing your ‘A’ game, you look like crap because every one is so much better. I think that everybody shows up with all the skill in a bag in every department and it’s really a joy to work with everyone.

Vanessa Marano: That’s true. And I think that that’s something that the audience doesn’t really realize is how important the crew is and we were fortunate that we got a lot of our crew members back from the first ten to come back on this next twenty-two. There’s such a good rapport with everyone and such a great vibe with everyone’s talent in every single department. I think an audience doesn’t really realize that when you’re watching, there’s a whole picture there.

There is a set design. There are props. There is sound happening. The camera, making things look great. The lighting, making things look really great. It’s just so many different pieces of a puzzle, PAs queuing extras, that make a show beautiful and make a show what it is. I think every piece to our puzzle sits perfectly.

Katie Leclerc: It’s really true. I mean, we have—it’s one thing to see the names at the end of the show. It’s another thing to see the bodies that it takes and the amount of just mass that it takes. The cool thing about our crew, like Vanessa said, we got a lot of them back from the last ten episodes and a lot of them are learning sign language at the same time as working on the show. It just really creates this commonality and like a bond with everybody. Everybody is learning something new every single day. It’s so much fun.

Vanessa Marano: I’m so—and I can speak for Katie too. We are so appreciative of everyone on this show in every single department. I don’t think it would be the same show without them.

Don’t forget to tune Vanessa Marano and Katie Leclerc of ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth” for its winter premiere debuting January 3 on ABC Family.

Join hosts Kristen Hoetzel and Aljon Go on WDW Tiki Room as they discuss the series and ALL THINGS DISNEY, Fridays 8:00 a.m./eastern on Sorcerer Radio - www.SRSounds.com.

Hear Aljon’s interview with Katie and Vanessa on the Weekend Expedition Podcast, the Sorcerer Radio weekly highlight show HERE. Subscribe today on iTunes and hear more celebrity interviews, travel deals, Disney news and more HERE.

*This interview is made in partnership with Sorcerer Radio, Chip and Company and ABC Family.

Official Site: http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/switched-at-birth

About Vanessa Marano (Bay Kennish):
Vanessa Marano started acting in the theater when she was seven years old, performing in numerous plays at A.C.T. in Agoura Hills, California. She began her professional career with several national commercials.

Vanessa is most recognized for her roles as April, the daughter of Luke in the highly popular show, Gilmore Girls and for the role of Francesca, the daughter of the Emmy® Award-winning Lisa Kudrow, in the HBO Original series The Comeback. Recently, she starred in Scoundrels playing the scheming, school-skipping daughter of Virginia Madsen. She has had recurring roles in shows including Dexter, Without a Trace, Trust Me and The Young and The Restless. Her guest-starring credits include Parenthood, Medium, Love Bites, Ghost Whisperer, Past Lives, Six Feet Under, Malcolm in the Middle and Grounded for Life.

Vanessa starred as a young girl who becomes a quadriplegic in the critically acclaimed television movie The Brooke Ellison Story directed by Christopher Reeve. Vanessa is working with Lucy Liu on a miniseries playing the troubled foster teenager, Immy, in Marry Me.

Her first film was the animated hit, Finding Nemo, followed by the independent films, Easy, The Clique, Stopping Power, Dear Lemon Lima and most recently The Secret Lives of Dorks.

Vanessa speaks Italian and is enrolled in her sophomore year in college

About Katie Leclerc (Daphne Vasquez):
Katie Leclerc grew up in Lakewood, Colorado, the youngest of three siblings in a close-knit family. In grade school, Katie’s spunky personality and megawatt smile won her the lead role in a production of Annie. It was in this play that Katie discovered her passion for acting, while juggling other after-school activities such as basketball, choir and dance. When her family moved to San Diego, Katie continued to pursue theatre at Valley Center High. She started booking commercials: Pepsi, Cingular, Comcast, GE. Then she got her first big break — a role on the cult favorite TV show, Veronica Mars, starring Kristen Bell.

Katie has continued to work in television. Her TV credits include The Riches, The Ex-List, and The Hard Times of RJ Berger. She starred in the feature film The Inner Circle and was also in the feature Flying By with Billy Ray Cyrus. At home, Katie loves to cook, and she’s quite excellent at it. You can often find her hiking away the calories from her sinfully delicious concoctions on one of L.A.’s hidden trails.

Katie Leclerc has Ménière’s disease, a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance to a varying degree. It is characterized by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus and degenerative hearing loss. Leclerc is fluent in American Sign Language.

About Switched At Birth:
Switched at Birth tells the story of two teen girls who discover that they were accidentally switched at birth. Bay Kennish grew up in a wealthy family with two parents and a brother, while Daphne Vasquez, who lost her hearing as a child due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother in a poor neighborhood. Things come to a dramatic head when both families meet and struggle to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls.

About WDW Tiki Room:
WDW Tiki Room, the show about all things Disney, is hosted by the husband and wife team of Aljon Go and Kristen Hoetzel. Every week they discuss Disney in pop-culture, theme parks, Disney news, celebrity interviews, Disney fan events and play the best mix of Disney artists and Disney attraction audio. The show airs every Friday morning at 8:00/eastern on Sorcerer Radio – www.SRSounds.com. For more information on Kristen and Aljon as well as on-demand playback of archived shows please visit this LINK.

About Sorcerer Radio:
If you are looking to virtually relive your recent Disney trip or dream of your next one, then Sorcerer Radio is the place for you. Sorcerer Radio is a fan-run, award-winning internet radio station that has been entertaining Disney fans for a decade! With many weeks worth of Walt Disney World park music and attraction audio, as well as Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line you can easily be transported to your favorite vacation destination anytime, while at home or at work. Sorcerer Radio stands out from the pack in our innovative programming and personalities, providing fans with DJ hosted shows every weekday morning providing a balance of Disney discussion and music. Sorcerer Radio plays a wide variety audio from the Disney universe. We also have FREE APPS for your iPhone, iPad and Droid so you can listen just about anywhere! Check out the award winning Editor’s Pick on Live365, Sorcerer Radio at SRsounds.com, All Disney music, all day long!

Round 5 of ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge is on right now and the task was pretty fun!  The email came from Jane herself, who by the way sounds super sweet! Can’t wait to get to know her in her all new show, Jane By Design premiering on ABC Family Jan. 3rd.   Here was is this rounds challenge instructions:

“Take the white shirt out of your trunk and put it on your dress form.  Using accessories from your own collection (or anything else you can think of), show how you would style the shirt for a day at the office.   Then, change the look entirely and show me how you would style the same shirt for a dressy cocktail party.  Post photos of both styles to your blog, and write an entry explaining what you did to create each look.  Ask your readers to share their day-to-night styling tips here and mention the name of your blog.  I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!”

For a day at the office you want to look nice, but still be comfortable.  What you wear must be functional but in  a fashion industry position still trendy.  Since scarfs, in all seasons, seem to be all the rage I wanted to incorporate one into our daytime look.  They are function too, it will keep you nice and warm on a chilly day at the office but it is easily removed if it gets a bit warm.  I added a brown braided belt to the waist making a white button down shirt a lot more feminine by adding shape to the body.  I also added some dangling earrings in gold tones to pick up on colors in the scarf.  Pair this shirt with a dark navy skinny pant and a pair of brown boots and you are set for a day at the office!

After a long day at the office you may not have enough time to go home and change looks entirely before heading to a work cocktail party.  If you just throw a few accessories and a different pair of shoes into a day bag you can quickly change in the bathroom or car before you arrive at the party! For my nighttime look I opened up the white button down shirt a few buttons.  I made sure to have a grey lace cami underneath.  Then over the white shirt I added a grey crop vest that has some really pretty frilly details on it.  You can leave on the dark navy skinny pants and change the shoes into a grey heel with some flower embellishments on them.  For jewelry swap out the daytime earrings with something a little longer – I opted for gold earings with pink on them to pull some feminine colors into the outfit. I also added longer necklaces in the same tones as the earrings.  After a long day your hair might need an update.  So I completed our look with a pink lacey bow that you can add just below your bun on on the side of your head pulling a little hair back.

Do you have any day to night style tips to share?  Do you carry extra jewelry with you to spruce up your look or maybe take your makeup bag everywhere you go?  I would love for you to share on the Jane By Design Facebook Wall HERE, make sure you mention Chip and Co. sent you!  It really helps us out when you comment so please feel free to share!

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Did you miss the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade this past weekend?

We love watching the parade every year. Usually by the time the Christmas Day Parade comes on our presents have been opened and we are ready for an early morning nap.

ABC has posted the complete parade online for your viewing pleasure. Now you can watch Justin Biebers performance over and over again! I know tempting isn’t it?

Click here to check it out.

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The holidays are upon us but that doesn’t mean that fashion or inspiration stops, the show must go on even during Christmas and so does the competition! The good news is I made it to round 4 in the ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge!  This task posed a bit more of a challenge – it included a very ugly Christmas sweater!  Here was the task straight from Gray herself:

“Look inside your trunk and take out the holiday sweater.  You see something for your grandmother.  Now look again.  What do you see now?  You must use every ounce of creativity you have to turn the holiday sweater into something special.  Something spectacular.  I don’t care if you use scissors or glue, your fat jeans or a slice of stale fruitcake.  Turn that sweater into something fresh & exciting that could be the next big trend for Holiday 2012.”

Something you may not know about me is that I love to go antiquing and redo old furniture and turn it into a very shabby chic updated piece!  So I approached this challenge the exact same way. First, I sprayed glitter on the front of the sweater for inspiration. Sounds silly, but I love glitter.  Second, I laid the sweater vest on the ground and began playing with the fabric.  Manipulating the fabric turning it inside out looking for inspiration.  Thirdly, I actually put the sweater on and then I put it on backward.  And that it when it hit me! I was going to turn this holiday sweater vest into a trendy dressy wrap shirt!

“Holiday Sweaters” are very iconic so I wanted to play up this piece while still keeping the traditional feel.  I have been seeing all kinds of holiday patterns pop up here and there in the stores at the mall so I definitely wanted to keep some of the holiday design.  I went ahead and removed the beading that was all over the sweater.  I removed one sleeve and made it into a very fitted one shoulder shirt.  The back is an open concept with the buttons wrapping down the back of the body at an angle.  We can also see the holiday pattern (I choose the prettier design on the shirt to highlight) but I updated the stitching with glitter and added festive rhinestones to give it a really fun and fresh look!  In the front I weaved in a holiday ribbon to play on the wrap shirt/present feel!  I love this sweater shirt! It would look really cute with a pair of tuxedo pants and some heels!

Have you ever taken something old or something you don’t like and turned it into something amazing? I would love to hear about it over on the Jane By Design Facebook Wall HERE.  Don’t forget to mention that Chip and Co. sent you!

Don’t forget to watch another sneak peak of the all new show Jane By Design starting soon!

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Deck the castles with boughs of holly, and tune in as Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida present the 28th annual “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” TV special, airing Sunday, December 25 (check local listings) on the ABC Television Network. Hosts of the telecast are Nick Cannon and Mario Lopez, with co-host Maria Menounos. Stars will shine and sparkle, as the Christmas Day parade telecast features four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer Christina Aguilera and headliner/teen sensation Justin Bieber. The star-studded spectacular spreads good tidings with bicoastal performances from Academy® Award-winning actress and multi-platinum singer Jennifer Hudson, singer/songwriter and producer Cee Lo Green, platinum-record rockers OneRepublic, “American Idol” Season 10 winner and country crooner Scotty McCreery, and the McClain Sisters, featuring “A.N.T. Farm” star China Ann McClain, among others.

Guests can visit disney.com/christmasparade to learn about the special telecast, including local broadcast times and talent updates.

The 28th Annual “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” airs Christmas Day on ABC at the following scheduled times:

* New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Houston and Raleigh: 10:00 a.m. – Noon (please note: In these cities the special airs out of pattern for the time zone)
* Eastern Time Zone: Noon – 2:00 p.m.
* Central Time Zone: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
* Mountain Time Zone: 10:00 a.m. – Noon
* Pacific Time Zone: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
* Hawaii Time: 7:00 – 9:00 a.m.
*Other airtimes may vary per city/time zone – please check local listings

Celebrate the Holidays with Today’s Brightest Stars (talent subject to change)

The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade features exciting appearances from soundsational stars and many favorite characters, bringing tidings of holly jolly joy to viewers.

* “The Voice” judge and award-winning singer Christina Aguilera performs “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at Disneyland Resort.
* International singing sensation Justin Bieber leaves fans grinning ear to ear with a medley of performances from his new Christmas album. The medley includes “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and the album’s title-track, “Mistletoe,” and is performed on the Cinderella Castle stage at Magic Kingdom Park.
* Soulful singer/songwriter Cee Lo Green takes the stage to perform a holiday favorite, “This Christmas.”
* Pop-rock hitmaking group OneRepublic performs on the Sleeping Beauty Castle stage at Disneyland Park, reminding guests to make the most of each memorable moment with the hit single “Good Life.”
* “American Idol” Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery brings some country flavor to the show with his rendition of the classic tune, “A Holly Jolly Christmas.”
* Disney Pearl Series recording artists Nathan Pacheco and Katherine Jenkins serenade the crowd with an awe-inspiring version of “O Holy Night,” joined by Academy® Award winner Marlee Matlin and ABC Family’s Katie Leclerc and Sean Berdy.
* Everyone’s favorite balcony-sitting curmudgeons, Statler and Waldorf, from The Muppets will make a special appearance at the Magic Kingdom and offer their unique brand of commentary while perched high above Main Street, U.S.A. Kermit the Frog and Gonzo also will bring more Muppetational fun with a special appearance from Walt Disney World Resort.
* The McClain Sisters, featuring “A.N.T. Farm” star China Anne McClain, make it a family affair at Disneyland Resort, collaborating on “Jingle Bell Rock.”
* The Never Land Pirate Band will be joined by characters from the Disney Junior hit show, Jake and the Never Land Pirates. The buccaneer band makes its parade debut with an original, pirate-themed holiday tune.
* Zendaya and Bella Thorne of the Disney Channel hit show, “Shake it Up,” show fans how to jingle bell rock with a special high-energy dance performance down Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom.
* Direct from Broadway, Mary Poppins and Bert will make a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious holiday appearance during the telecast. The smash musical “Mary Poppins” just celebrated five years on Broadway and has enchanted more than 3 million guests at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City. The hit musical also is making its way across North America.
* Backed by a choir, Academy® Award and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Jennifer Hudson brings the show to a celebratory close with a very merry holiday medley of “Joy to the World,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” It is a homecoming of sorts for Hudson, as her own dreams of stardom began when she was a Disney performer aboard Disney Cruise Line in 2003. In January 2011 she was named the Honorary Fairy Godmother of the most recent Disney Cruise Line ship to set sail, the Disney Dream.

Dazzling Hosts from Coast-to-Coast

Television, radio and film personality Nick Cannon will host from Disneyland Resort in California, while actor, best-selling author and entertainment journalist Mario Lopez will host from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. TV personality, journalist and bestselling author Maria Menounos will co-host from Walt Disney World. Travel expert and television personality Samantha Brown checks in as the show’s travel correspondent, offering viewers a sleigh-full of Disney fun around the globe. Brown will provide a look at the new Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i, Adventures by Disney vacations, what’s new (and what’s next!) at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, and a preview of the newest Disney Cruise Line ship (currently under construction), the Disney Fantasy.

Disney Favorites Join the Festivities (characters/floats subject to change)

What better time of year to reunite with old pals than Christmas? Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck and Goofy are decked out in their holiday best, savoring the season with their Disney Parks family. Thanks to a dash of pixie dust, Santa and his reindeer also appear on Main Street U.S.A. – and in living rooms across the county – during a special visit from the North Pole. The parade will showcase the Disney cast of characters from both Disneyland Park in California and the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida.

* Disney XD stars and theme park favorites Phineas and Ferb get in the groove with a whimsical version of their hit show’s theme song, “Gitchee Gitchee Goo.” Also making an appearance, the show’s famed crime-fighter, Agent P.
* Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse bring joy to guests as they pass by on an iconic Christmas tree float.
* Disney Princesses Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine spread good cheer as they parade down Main Street, U.S.A. accompanied by their handsome beaus.
* Buzz Lightyear soars to infinity and beyond with his “Toy Story” cohorts, Woody and Jessie. Also revving up the holiday fun: Disney-Pixar pals Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater from the blockbuster films “Cars” and “Cars 2.”
* Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs add a little sparkle to the celebration with a glimmering gemstone float topped with a diamond-encrusted Christmas tree.
* Three of the “pup-ular” canine stars of the upcoming Disney Blu-ray? & DVD film “Treasure Buddies” make a special appearance, riding with adventurers and explorers aboard their very own treasure chest parade float.
* The famous Disney Parks Toy Soldiers take their traditional jubilant march down the parade route with the jolly Gingerbread Men following close behind.
* It’s a very merry moment when the one and only Santa Claus glides down Main Street, U.S.A. with his trusted reindeer leading the way.

Updates and More on Twitter and Facebook

Viewers are advised to reference local listings for viewing times and also visit disney.com/christmasparade for updates. Fans can follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #disneyholidays, on the official Walt Disney World (facebook.com/WaltDisneyWorld) and Disneyland (facebook.com/Disneyland) Facebook pages, and by reading the official Disney Parks Blog (DisneyParks.com/Blog)

Mobile Interactive Fun with the Popular Smartphone App, “Shazam”

For the first time, viewers can unlock the magic of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade broadcast with Shazam®, the world’s leading mobile discovery provider. Throughout the telecast, viewers can look for the Shazam logo to appear on-screen as a signal to activate the Shazam mobile app and access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, interactive Disney fun and magical holiday surprises. Viewers also can enter for a chance to win a Disney Parks dream vacation from Shazam. Guests can go to disney.com/christmasparade for more details. The Shazam smartphone app is available for free download from the iTunes App Store and Android Market.

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Happy holidays, everyone!

Who’s excited to tune in to the “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade” this weekend? It’s set to air here on the East coast Dec. 25, at noon, and I know my family and I will be watching.

Earlier in December, our photographers attended the tapings here at the Walt Disney World Resort, and at Disneyland Resort. Check out the photo gallery below for an inside look at the fun that is in store.

And again, happy holidays!

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