Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I ♥ Minnie

A new home video from Walt Disney Studios releases this Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Featuring five fun-filled episodes and one special bonus feature that underline the themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving, MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE was a sure hit with my little girl and is bound to become a favorite in your home too.

• Mickey Mouse and his Clubhouse friends are planning a surprise party for Minnie’s Birthday. My daughter was truly worried they wouldn’t be able to keep Minnie occupied while they got ready. She worried along with Minnie too, who thought her friends had forgotten her special day, but a happy ending brought a smile back to her face.
• When Daisy discovers her shoe is broken, the Clubhouse friends get creative. My daughter felt like she was really helping with her suggestions on how to fix it, and she had a great time learning the steps to Daisy’s Dance.
• The Pet Parade is almost here, and everyone has a pet to pamper except Daisy. My daughter, who recently got her very own puppy, absolutely loved this episode, because Daisy ends up keeping not just one but three adorable critters for Daisy’s Pet Project.
• Minnie and her friends follow the colorful rainbow that has appeared over the clubhouse and encounter a mischievous leprechaun along the way. At first, my daughter was irritated by the leprechaun, because he kept thwarting their plans, but in the end she and the Clubhouse gang were pleasantly surprised by the special treasure waiting at the end of Minnie’s Rainbow.
• The flower festival is fast approaching, but Minnie’s and Daisy’s flowers won’t bloom. My daughter wanted to run to the store and buy them a bouquet! But in this all new, never-before-seen episode, the two friends are able to coax the clouds to rain on Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower. 

The bonus episode makes it personal. You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party  lets your children join the celebration. My daughter really enjoyed using Toodles’ Mouseketools to RSVP to the invitation, choose the perfect gift for Minnie and decorate a party hat. She made a pink hat with lots of colorful polka dots and oodles of sparkly glitter. She thought Minnie would approve and wished Minnie could see her through the television. The episode ties in to Minnie’s Birthday, wishing the Guest of Honor special birthday wishes.

We were excited to see the bonus sneak peeks at the upcoming Disney Studios All Access offers, Lady and the Tramp and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure DVD/Blu-ray releases, Lion King 1-1/2 and Lion King 2 combo pack DVD release, and Cinderella DVD/Blu-ray diamond edition, as well as a look at some brand new features that are in the works: Brave (coming to theaters Summer 2012 from Disney-Pixar), Planes (coming to theaters Spring 2013 from Disney-Pixar), and Tinker Bell Secret of the Wings (coming soon to DVD). A Digital Copy is also included for computer download, so we can watch our favorite episodes on the go, but my daughter was most excited about the two complimentary Best Friend necklaces that are packaged with MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, providing a keepsake memento to share with her BFF. 

Don’t let the party start without you!

For more information on MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, see press release.

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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Cast and crew of Disney Junior’s #1 series “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” celebrated the series’ first-ever primetime special “Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns,” at a premiere screening event on Saturday, January 28 at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA. The primetime special debuts on Disney Channel Monday, February 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Photo Credit DISNEY JUNIOR/RICK ROWELL

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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 

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A canine chorus barks a familiar tune. Keep an eye out for a 2012 Game Day commercial—it will all make sense. Love Star Wars and Volkswagen? Create an Intergalactic Invite to your Big Game party here: http://vw.com/star-wars-invite

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What’s the DVD about?
Timmy Time follows a day in the life of barnyard preschoolers. With diverse animal characters along with a rich and colorful nursery school backdrop, Timmy and his friends learn life lessons that every preschooler needs to know. Whether fleeing bath time, becoming a walking collage, being bitten by the cleaning bug or engaging in a paint war, Timmy and his pals always bring joy, heart and a little silliness to any situation.

Timmy Time™ is part of Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming for kids ages 2-7 and their families, which airs in more than 99 million U.S. homes. The show is created by Aardman Studios, the Academy Award®-winning creators of Wallace & Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™.

The lowdown…
Timmy, a cute little lamb, gets into all kinds of trouble but with the help of his teachers and furry friends he learns something along the way. If your’re not familiar with the stop-motion style of Wallace and Gromit you’re in for a treat. The animation/clay-mation is brilliant. The colors are vibrant and the work is amazing. It will leave you and your little ones amazed and entertained. The one drawback for me is also one of the charming points of the series. There is no dialog. The characters all make animal noises and although it caters to the very little (ages 2-5) it can get very repetitive. What makes this collection fun for the family is the story. Using limited dialog with vivid visuals and gestures your children should be able to pick up on some of the elementary lessons told in this collection: cleanliness, organization, responsibility and interaction with their peers. Something that most adults could stand a lesson or two on.

Extras…
As you might expect for a kiddie title it’s “short” on extra content. “Timmy’s Tune #2″ is a short music  video featuring the cast of his animal buddies and the “Shaun the Sheep” bonus episode “Supersize Timmy” is a nice bit of extra animation. The autoplay feature is also nice for parents and children who want to dive right in.

Bottom line…
The quality of storytelling and animation are it’s strong point. What’s not to like about these cute little creatures? If you can handle the kiddie “sheep talk” that this video would be a great addition to your family’s library and would be perfect for travel trips to keep your child visually entertained.

Grab your rubber ducky and get ready to soak in some lamb-tastic good fun as preschool favorite Timmy Time™ returns for an all new family-friendly, good-hearted release, Timmy Time: Timmy Needs A Bath, available on DVD January 24, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

Purchase “Timmy Time: Timmy Needs a Bath” on DVD today!

Synopsis:

Enjoy some good clean fun with Timmy and his friends! Adventures with mud, glue and paint leave Timmy in some sticky situations. This clever little lamb uses his creativity to make tub-time fun and turn a paint fight into a masterfleece! Timmy cleans up and discovers the most fun of all is being with friends! Soak up the good times with Timmy…just don’t forget to wash behind your ears!

Episodes:

• “Timmy Needs A Bath”
• “Sticky Timmy”
• “Tidy Timmy”
• “Timmy Goes Camping”
• “Timmy The Artist”

DVD Bonus Features:

• Timmy’s Tune #2 – Music Video
• Shaun the Sheep Bonus Episode: Supersize Timmy

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/timmytime

Program Website: www.timmytimedvd.com

A canine chorus barks a familiar tune. Keep an eye out for our 2012 Game Day commercial—it will all make sense. Love Star Wars and Volkswagen? Create an Intergalactic Invite to your Big Game party here: http://vw.com/star-wars-invite

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Peter Pan is back––but his shadow is missing! When Peter loses his shadow while playing a game of Catch-Me-If-You-Can, he returns to Never Land to seek help from his kid pirate friend Jake. Embarking on one of his most daring and exciting adventures ever, Jake and his kid pirate pals, Izzy and Cubby, along with lookout parrot Skully, must use teamwork to find Peter’s shadow and return it to its rightful owner. However, their mission is nearly thwarted by the fiendish Captain Hook, and his bumbling first mate Mr. Smee. But bravery and justice win the day and Jake and his Never Land pirate crew once again reveal what it takes to become heroes, in Disney’s “Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns.”

Kids can set sail with Jake on Disney DVD April 3. Packed with more value than ever before, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns” comes with over two hours of content on DVD, Jake’s first digital copy and a FREE in-pack Never Land Sword.

Talent:

• Colin Ford as Jake (“We Bought A Zoo,” TV’s “Supernatural”)
• Madison Pettis (“Santa Paws,” “The Game Plan”) as Izzy
• Jonathan Morgan Heit (“Bedtime Stories”) as Cubby
• David Arquette (“Scream 4”) as Skully
• Corey Burton (TV’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Captain Hook
• Jeff Bennet (“Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue”) as Mr. Smee
• Adam Wylie (TV’s “Picket Fences”) as Peter Pan

Director:

• Howy Parkins

Producer:

• Mark Seidenberg

Executive Producer:

• Rob LaDuca

Episodes: 1 – Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns

2 – The Elephant Surprise!/Jake’s Jungle Groove

3 – The Pirate Pup!/Pirate Rock!

4 – The Sword and the Stone/Jake’s Home Run

5 – The Pirate Princess/The Rainbow Wand

6 – Mama Hook Knows Best/Pixie Dust Away (Never-Before-Seen Episode)

Bonus Materials: “Yo Ho, You Ready to Find Jake’s Shadow?” – Taking a cue from Peter’s shadow, now Jake’s shadow has run off and disappeared. Help Izzy and Cubby find Jake’s shadow by discovering clues to where the shadow is hiding. Use Jake’s sword (on pack) to help in your adventure. Learn about pirate lore along the way (just where did the name “doubloon” come from anyway?).

Street Date: April 3, 2012

Release Format: 2-Discs (DVD + Digital Copy) + FREE in-pack Never Land Sword

Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 (U.S.)/$24.99 (Canada)

Run Time: Approx. 130 minutes

Rated: TV-Y

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen (Enhanced for 16×9 televisions)

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Languages & Subtitles: English, Spanish & French

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The Hub Television network, a destination for kids and their families, has acquired the hit animated series “The Super Hero Squad Show” from Marvel Animation. The popular half-hour series, which features the world’s best-known Super Heroes including Iron Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America will join The Hub’s Monday through Friday lineup beginning Monday, January 30, at 4 p.m. ET (with encore presentations on the weekend).

“We’re delighted to be adding ‘The Super Hero Squad Show’ to our lineup,”

Said Margaret Loesch, President and CEO, The Hub.

“This terrific, high quality series is a bullseye for our key demographic and is perfectly aligned with our strategy of building our schedule with strong, beloved brands that audiences know and embrace. Additionally, we’re thrilled to be associated with Marvel Animation. As one of the world’s preeminent character-based entertainment companies, Marvel has a superb reputation for providing quality entertainment.”

“The Super Hero Squad Show” entertains young fans and their families with a unique mix of action, adventure, humor and satirical storytelling as Marvel’s greatest super heroes unite to protect Super Hero City from some of the world’s most infamous super villains. “The Super Hero Squad Show” was produced in 2009 by Film Roman and Marvel Animation.

“Marvel Super Heroes have always entertained fans of all ages in our comics, and we’re proud to offer an animated series that families can enjoy together,” said Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television. “With the most exciting super-powered adventures, The Hub can now offer the greatest fun of all– experiencing Marvel for the very first time. So whether you want to fly with Thor, suit up with Iron Man or smash with Hulk, this series has everything your family wants to see from our heroes.”

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The internet is buzzing yet again regarding George Lucas’ Star Wars television project. Prequels producer Rick McCallum, called the live-action series “Star Wars: Underworld” in a recent interview with IGN. This project has been in the pre-production phase now for several years and is said to take place during the time spanning “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope” (while Luke and Leia are growing up).

McCallum and Lucas have gone on record as saying that Lucasfilm would like to finance the project themselves instead of networks holding interest of the project. They are also developing new technologies in terms of productions to keep to a television budget.

Lucas and company are currently working on the highly successful “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” animated series for Cartoon Network and will be releasing his long awaited “Red Tails” World War II drama January 20th. Also in development is “Star Wars: Detours” a project being developed with Seth Green (Robot Chicken). “Star Wars – Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D” will hit theaters on February 10, 2012.

Grab your rubber ducky and get ready to soak in some lamb-tastic good fun as preschool favorite Timmy Time™ returns for an all new family-friendly, good-hearted release, Timmy Time: Timmy Needs A Bath, available on DVD January 24, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.

With slapstick humor and not a single line of dialogue, Timmy Time follows a day in the life of barnyard preschoolers. With diverse animal characters along with a rich and colorful nursery school backdrop, Timmy and his friends learn life lessons that every preschooler needs to know. Whether fleeing bath time, becoming a walking collage, being bitten by the cleaning bug or engaging in a paint war, Timmy and his pals always bring joy, heart and a little silliness to any situation.

Timmy Time™ is part of Disney Channel’s Disney Junior programming for kids ages 2-7 and their families, which airs in more than 99 million U.S. homes. The show is created by Aardman Studios, the Academy Award®-winning creators of Wallace & Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™.

DVD SYNOPSIS:
Enjoy some good clean fun with Timmy and his friends! Adventures with mud, glue and paint leave Timmy in some sticky situations. This clever little lamb uses his creativity to make tub-time fun and turn a paint fight into a masterfleece! Timmy cleans up and discovers the most fun of all is being with friends! Soak up the good times with Timmy…just don’t forget to wash behind your ears!

Episodes:

• “Timmy Needs A Bath”
• “Sticky Timmy”
• “Tidy Timmy”
• “Timmy Goes Camping”
• “Timmy The Artist”

DVD BONUS FEATURES

• Timmy’s Tune #2 – Music Video
• Shaun the Sheep Bonus Episode: Supersize Timmy

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Stars Billy Unger, Spencer Boldman, Kelli Berglund and Tyrel Jackson Williams Host the Night

Powered by its biggest yearly ratings ever, Disney XD will premiere more original content with “Lab Rats,” a comedy series about a teenager and his newfound “siblings,” a trio of super-human teens, who together must navigate typical high school and — not so typical — bionic glitches. The series will join Disney XD’s popular “Monday Mayhem” comedy block — led by the channel’s #1 series “Kickin’ It” — with a special one-hour episode on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 (8:30–9:30 p.m., ET/PT) hosted by the cast.

Created by Chris Peterson and Bryan Moore (“That ’70s Show”) who, with Mark Brazill (“That ’70s Show,” “3rd Rock from the Sun”) serve as executive producers, “Lab Rats” introduces Leo just as he settles into the high-tech home he shares with his inventor stepdad, Donald Davenport, his mom, Tasha, and Eddy, the “smart house” computer. There he discovers a secret underground lab with three experiments, super-human teens: Adam the strong one, Bree the fast one and Chase the smart one. The trio, eager to leave their confines, convinces Leo and his parents to let them join him at school where they try to fit in while trying to manage their unpredictable bionic strengths. Along the way, they help Leo build self confidence while he figures out a way to keep their bionic abilities a secret from the world.

Starring are Billy Unger (“You Again”) as Chase, Spencer Boldman (“I’m in the Band”) as Adam, Kelli Berglund (“Hip Hop Harry”) as Bree, with Tyrel Jackson Williams (“Failure to Launch,” “Pair of Kings”) as Leo and Hal Sparks (E!’s “Talk Soup”) as Davenport. Recurring are Angel Parker (“Hannah Montana”) as Tasha and Will Forte (“Saturday Night Live”) as the voice of Eddy.

The multiplatform roll-out is:

Friday, January 20

DisneyXD.com launches a “Lab Rats” page featuring a new game “Bionic Heroics.”

Friday, February 17

Preview episode of “Lab Rats” available on Disney XD on Demand available via AT&T, Charter, Cox, Time Warner and Verizon; Disney XD Mobile VOD available via AT&T U-Verse, MobiTV, Sprint and Verizon; along with free download on iTunes and Sony Playstation.

Friday, February 24–Sunday, February 26

Tyrel Jackson Williams, Billy Unger, Spencer Boldman and Kelli Berglund host the nightly programming lineup on Disney Channel and give viewers a “Lab Rats VIP Preview” featuring sneak peeks and highlights of the new series.

Monday, February 27

Another game will launch on DisneyXD.com.

(8:30 p.m., ET/PT) – “Lab Rats” Series Premiere

In “Crush, Chop, and Burn,” Leo discovers three teen super-humans — Adam, Bree and Chase — living in a secret underground lab in his new home. Leo takes them to school, but when their bionic abilities suddenly discharge on campus, Leo’s stepdad, Davenport, sends them away to a remote secret lab, and now Leo must find a way to save his new friends.

Directly following the premiere on air, the series premiere episode will be available on DisneyXD.com.

Tuesday, February 28

“Lab Rats” series premiere available on Disney XD Mobile VOD available via AT&T U-Verse, MobiTV, Sprint and Verizon; along with iTunes, Xbox Live and Sony Playstation.

“Lab Rats” is a production of It’s A Laugh Productions, Inc. It carries a TV-G parental guideline.

In 2011, Disney XD surged to its biggest year in the platform’s history (including its 10 years as Toon Disney) with strong performances by a roster of original series — most notably its top two series, “Kickin’ It” and “Pair of Kings” — along with the channel debut of the movie “Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension.” The yearly ratings records were set in Total Day and Prime in Total Viewers and all target kid and boy demographics, 2-11, 6-14, 6-11 and 9-14. Disney XD’s 2011 ratings surpassed year-ago results by double-digit percentages across core kid demographics, making it the growth leader among all channels serving kids.

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Great news! Disney XD and Marvel have announced today that beginning April 1, 2012, Disney XD will begin hosting a new Marvel Universe block. The center piece of the channels newest block of programming will be the newest Marvel animated series, ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’. I saw some footage from this at D23 last year, and it looks great. It’s definitely going to be a lot of fun, and I can’t wait for it to start. The new block will also see the return of ‘Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’, as well as have new animated and live action shorts. This will be a great way for new and old fans a like to get a dose of some of their favorite Marvel characters. I can’t wait to see what new shows come from this.  Hit the jump for the full press release and previews for both ‘Ultimate Spider-Man’ and season two of ‘Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’.

DISNEY XD TO LAUNCH MARVEL UNIVERSE,

A DEDICATED MARVEL PROGRAMMING BLOCK

– New Animated Series “Ultimate Spider-Man” to Premiere –

Disney XD will launch Marvel Universe, a dedicated Marvel programming block, with the new series “Ultimate Spider-Man” as its centerpiece, on SUNDAY, APRIL 1, it was announced today by Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, California. Marvel Universe on Disney XD will be the ultimate place for fans to find exclusive Marvel content, including new animated short-form series, live-action interstitials and the series return of “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.”  The block will be home to Marvel’s biggest superstars, such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America and many more to introduce dynamic stories of action, adventure and heroism to a whole new generation.

Marsh said, “Iconic Marvel heroes and villains and stories with core values of accomplishment, discovery and growth make Marvel Universe a perfect complement to Disney XD and a destination for parents and kids to experience together.”

“Marvel Universe block is an incredible animated ride filled with fantastic action and adventure,” said Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television. “The spectacular team of writers and animators capture stories with all the dynamic fun you can imagine. Disney XD is the perfect place for families and Marvel fans of all ages to come together every Sunday.”

Acting as the keystone of the Marvel Universe block, “Ultimate Spider-Man” features a teenage Peter Parker juggling the typical growing pains of high-school with the not-so-typical growing pains of being a Super Hero.  As the newest member of Nick Fury’s S.H.I.E.L.D. organization, Peter finds himself on a team with four other teenage Super Heroes.

Produced by Marvel Animation, the series’ award-winning creative team includes Joe Quesada (Marvel’s CCO), Paul Dini (“Batman: The Animated Series,” “Lost”), the creative powerhouse Man of Action Studios (creators of “Ben 10″ and “Generator Rex”), comprised of lauded creators Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle; and Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man comic series).                                                                            

The voice cast includes Drake Bell (“Superhero,” “Drake & Josh”) as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chi McBride (“Boston Public,” “Pushing Daisies”) as Nick Fury, JK Simmons (“Spider-Man”) as J. Jonah Jameson, Stan Lee (“Spider-Man”) as Stan the Janitor, Clark Gregg (“Iron Man”, “Thor,” “The Avengers”) as Agent Coulson and Steven Weber (“Wings”) as Norman Osborn.

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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.

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If you have little ones at home who love Thomas the Tank Engine, they’ll enjoy this new set of stories from HIT Entertainment where Thomas and his friends go to a wild animal park.

Bunnies and birds and giraffes, oh my!  Thomas and his railway pals are carrying some great and unusual freight in the all new release Thomas & Friends™: Curious Cargo, available on DVD, Digital Download and On Demand January 17, 2012 from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Thomas and his engine friends embark on four fantastic adventures as they deliver the Wildlife Center’s newest, long-necked resident, make friends with local animals, chuff off in search of the perfect home for friend Bash and more!

All aboard for a wild ride on the Island of Sodor as Thomas and his engine friends deliver some Curious Cargo – from giraffes and cows to birds and bunnies and more! Thomas meets a tall challenge while taking a giraffe to the Sodor Wildlife Center, Percy learns to be gentle with the animals of Sodor and Belle and Toby discover the importance of listening to others. Join Thomas on his wildest adventures yet!

Episodes:

• “Thomas’ Tall Friend”
• “Percy’s New Friends”
• “Toby and Bash”
• “Big Belle”

DVD BONUS FEATURES/strong>

• “Find What Doesn’t Belong” Game
• Exclusive Activities & Fun with Driver Perkins

VOD BONUS FEATURES

• “Buzzy Bees” Bonus Episode

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Title Copyright: © 2012 HIT Entertainment Limited. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends™ Based on The Railway Series by The Reverend W Awdry. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and Thomas & Friends are trademarks of Gullane (Thomas) Limited. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and Design is Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.

Type: TV on DVD

Rating: NR

Genre: Children/Family/Ages 2-5

Closed Captioned: English

Format: Full Screen

DVD Feature Running Time: 50 minutes

Video on Demand Run Time: 60 minutes

DVD Audio Status: English, Spanish and French 2.0 Dolby Digital

Website: www.lionsgate.com/thomasandfriends

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends

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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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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.

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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.

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While StarWars.com readers can currently enjoy a recap of Season 4 episodes of The Clone Wars (this week features the 4th, 5th, and 6th episodes of Season 4), fans who’d like to relive the first three seasons of Clone Wars adventures can head over to iTunes for discounted full seasons!

Even if you’ve already got these on Blu-ray or DVD at home, the downloadable versions will make a wonderful holiday gift for your favorite Star Wars fan!

The Clone Wars promotion runs today through January 17, 2012 in the U.S. and Canada. This offer excludes Season 4 and the Nightsisters Trilogy Theatrical Cut:

Season 1: USD $24.99 SD / 34.99 HD
Season 2: USD $24.99 SD / 34.99 HD
Season 3: USD $27.99 SD / 37.99 HD

Head on over to iTunes and be sure and check out The Clone Wars!
*Source StarWars.com