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Wizards of Waverly Place

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Wizards of Waverly Place
File:Wizard of waverly place logo.JPG
Title card
Created byTodd J. Greenwald
StarringSelena Gomez
David Henrie
Jake T. Austin
Jennifer Stone
Maria Canals Barrera
David DeLuise
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersTodd J. Greenwald
Peter Murrieta
Running time22 min. approx.
Original release
NetworkDisney Channel
ReleaseOctober 12, 2007 –
present

Wizards of Waverly Place is a new live-action comedy Disney Channel Original Series which premiered on October 12, 2007 on Disney Channel,[1] and was released on Family Channel in Canada on October 26 at 7:00pm, and aired on Disney Channel UK on November 3 at 10:00am. The series focuses on the three Russo children who on the surface seem to be normal teens, but are actually wizards in training.

Wizards of Waverly Place is the first Disney sitcom to feature simple computer-generated imagery such as superimposing. The tag line in advertisements is "They've got the power!" and "Being a teenager can be tricky." On its premiere night, it scored a surprising 5.93 million viewers.[2]

Plot

The show centers upon Alex Russo, her older brother Justin, and younger brother Max who live double lives; on the outside, they appear to be normal kids, though in secret, the three are young wizards in training. The three live with their stern and disciplinarian of a father, Jerry, and their eccentric mother, Theresa. Alex often gets into trouble by disobeying her parents, and learns lessons and morals that teach span among friends, family, and school.

Theme song

The theme song is "Everything is Not What it Seems" performed by Selena Gomez and features the cast in a CGI background.

Cast

File:Wizards of Waverly Place.jpg
The Russo family

Selena Gomez - Alex Russo
David Henrie - Justin Russo
Jake T. Austin - Max Russo
Jennifer Stone - Harper Evans
Maria Canals Barrera - Theresa Russo
David DeLuise - Jerry Russo
Amanda Tepe - Amanda (recurring)

Casting

Gomez, Henrie, Austin and Canals are all familiar with other Disney Channel series; Gomez made a special guest appearance on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody in a special Midsummer Night's Dream episode and has a recurring role on Hannah Montana as Mikayla, rival popstar to Hannah Montana; Henrie is famous for his role of Larry on That's So Raven; Austin did Johnny Kapahala Back on Board; Canals voices Sunset Boulevardez, mother of LaCienega on The Proud Family.

Stone and DeLuise have no experience with Disney Channel; Stone starred in Secondhand Lions; DeLuise has had roles in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Stargate SG-1 and ER (TV series). Writer's struggled with naming the characters; there was originally set to be two siblings: Jordan (later Justin) and Julia (later Alex), but all changed after Austin was hired. Alexa Nikolas considered the role of Alex but Gomez won the part.

Recurring characters

  • Amanda the sarcastic worker (Amanda Tepe) is the most recurring character. She appears in almost every episode playing a random character who speaks with bored, monotone drawl. Her name tag reads "Amanda", the same name as her actor (in "New Employee"). Jobs she has held include: department store manager, waitress, ice cream store manager, hotel maitre'd, and security guard.
  • Gertrude "Gigi" Hollingsworth (Skyler Samuels) is Alex's enemy. She has tried to embarrass Alex since they were in kindergarten when she spilled juice on her mat during nap time and said she had an accident, and ever since has spilled something on the floor and saying she had another. In the episode "Crazy Ten Minute Sale Alex bumped in to Gigi who bumped in to an old lady who had juice and spilled on the floor and the front of her skirt. Every year Gigi has a tea party. Gigi is a nickname for Gertrude. Her last name is revealed in "Alex's Choice".
  • Miranda (Lucy Hale) is Justin's girlfriend, a pretty goth girl. She likes Justin very much because according to Alex she "brightens from tragic to gloomy when they're together" and wants to kiss him. She is very fond of the color black. Harper is very jealous of her because of Justin's affections towards her and thinks he's dating her simply because she reminds him of her, though they are complete opposites. Miranda also hates corporate America.
Cast Character Episodes
1
Amanda Tepe Various 7
Lucy Hale Miranda 1
Brian Kubach Riley 1
Skyler Samuels Gigi 2
Heather Trzyna Wannabe #1 2
Paulie Litt Joey/Frankie/The Answer Man 2
Wayne Federman Mr. Kaminsky 1
Bryant Johnson Matt 1
Jack Plotnick Pocket Elf 1
Daryl Sabara TJ Taylor 1
Kelsey Sanders Wannabe #2 1
Jim Wise Mr. Malone 1

Settings

  • The Waverly Sub Station is the Russo Family's sandwich shop. All 3 kids work there and hang out.
  • The Magic Lair is where the Russo kids have magic class with their father. It is conveniently right behind the Waverly Sub Station, the family's sandwich shop.
  • The Russo Household is where the Russo family lives. It's also connected to the magic lair and the sub station.
  • School is the school that Max, Justin, Alex, and their friends attend.
  • Waverly Place is outside of the Waverly Sub Station.
  • Gurt Barn is a frozen yogurt shop where Harper worked when she quit working at the Sub Station.
  • Suburban Outfitters is a place where the crazy 10 minute sale occurred.

Spells

Main article: Wizards of Waverly Place spells

Episodes

Main article: List of Wizards of Waverly Place episodes
Season Ep # First Airdate Last Airdate
Season 1 22 October 12, 2007 2008

Pop culture references

  • In the pilot episode, Max mentions he is practicing for the new reality show, Dancing with my Sister; clearly, its a take-off of Dancing with the Stars.
  • In Alex and Harper's "funky junky hat" song, one portion mentions Keira Knightley.
  • Similar to "That '70s Show", in between scenes, the three main cast members are seen jumping up and down on the screen.
  • "Edgebonoutoosis" is a reference to Bono and The Edge of the band U2.
  • The original working title was The Amazing Hannigans then changed to The Amazing O'Malley's then Wizards of Waverly Place then "Disney Wizards" and lastly it was changed back to "Wizards of Waverly Place".
  • In the theme song, the scene were Justin Russo is on the bathroom there is a picture of his parents that moves making reference to the pictures in Harry Potter.
  • In the episode "Curb Your Dragon", Alex mentions a store called "Abercrombie and Witch" which is a parody of the real life store, Abercrombie and Fitch.
  • In the episode "Crazy 10 Minute Sale" the store is called "Suburban Outfitters", which is a parody of the real store Urban Outfitters

References

  1. ^ "Premier of Kids and Family Sitcom "Wizards of Waverly Place" ... "Friday, [[October 12]] on Disney Channel"" (Press release). Disney Channel Media Net. September 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-20. premiere episode, "Crazy Ten Minute Sale," {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  2. ^ Top Ratings
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