“A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” airs Sunday
From left, Megan Park, Lucy Hale and Freddie Stroma of "A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song" - Warner Premiere Photo
An updated version of a classic tale, “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” stars Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”) as Katie, whose dream is to become a recording artist, but she is constantly stymied by her cruel stepmother Gail Van Ravensway (Missi Pyle, “The Mentalist”) and stepsister Beverly (Megan Park, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager”).
When Katie falls for the new boy Luke (Freddie Stroma, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 and 2″) at her performing arts school, she attempts to gain his attention with her singing, according to a news release.
Beverly, however, takes credit for Katie’s wonderful voice and Luke falls for her, prompting Katie to learn to stand up for her dreams before her stepmother forces her to sing Luke into the arms of her evil stepsister.
“A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song” airs at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 on ABC Family.
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“The Lying Game” returns Jan. 2
Alexandra Chando stars in "The Lying Game" - ABC Family Photo
ABC Family’s original series “The Lying Game,” which stars Alexandra Chando as twins Emma and Sutton and features Moore native Randy Wayne as Justin, returns with new episodes at 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2.
The January premiere of “The Lying Game” picks up on the twins’ seventeenth birthday. Emma (Alexandra Chando) and Ethan (Blair Redford) return to Emma’s birthday party after a huge quarrel with Sutton (Chando) and anxiously wait for her to show up, according to a news release.
The summary for the “O Twin, Where Art Thou?” episode, provided by ABC Family, is as follows:
It’s been a tough night for Emma and Ethan, and things are about to get tougher when they find Sutton has disappeared after their argument and the Mercer family car is missing from the garage. When the police find the car at the bottom of the lake, Emma and Ethan look to each other for support, but Thayer (Christian Alexander) threatens to tear them apart with his accusations against Ethan. Meanwhile, Char’s aunt, Rebecca (guest star Charisma Carpenter, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), has returned to town and Char (Kirsten Prout) is the only one happy about it.
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Moore native Randy Wayne in a scene from "The Lying Game" - ABC Family Photo
“Pretty Little Liars” picked up for third season
From left, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell, Lucy Hale and Troian Bellisario of "Pretty Little Liars" - ABC Family Photo
ABC Family has renewed “Pretty Little Liars” for a third season that will consist of 24 episodes and will begin in mid-2012, according to a news release.
The drama is set to return for the rest of its second season at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 2.
The synopsis for the January premiere episode, “Through Many Dangers, Toils and Snares,” provided by ABC Family, is as follows: “Pretty Little Liars” picks up a month later in the town of Rosewood after the four Liars were caught by police and a lot has changed in Rosewood and with the girls. No longer the mighty four best friends, the Liars are at each others’ throats and Emily has been iced out completely. But what could have divided them so severely? Has “A” finally won the game of divide and conquer? With Emily now truly on her own, is she ripe for “A’s” picking?
Alloy Entertaiment produces “Pretty Little Liars” in association with Warner Horizon Television and I. Marlene King, Oliver Goldstick and Leslie Morgenstein are executive producers
Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Holly Marie Combs, Lucy Hale, Ian Harding, Laura Leighton, Chad Lowe, Shay Mitchell and Sasha Pieterse star in the series.
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Randy Wayne: Moore actor’s career heats up
Randy Wayne - Provided Photo
(This story was published in the Life section of The Oklahoman Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011.)
Randy Wayne is a man on the move.
When I talked to the actor/producer/writer and Moore native, 30, who has appeared in shows such as “True Blood,” “Sons & Daughters” and “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” during a recent phone interview, he relayed his busy schedule.
“I just flew in from Austin back to L.A., and I’ve got a couple auditions, so I’m doing that, and then I get to go back to Austin, and then I get to come back to L.A. on Tuesday and shoot the TV show ‘Hot in Cleveland’ with Betty White.”
“Hot in Cleveland,” which also stars Valerie Bertinelli and Wendie Malick, has its third season premiere at 9 p.m. Wednesday on TV Land. Wayne’s character in a later episode of the series is a blind man who enters into a romantic relationship with Jane Leeves’ older character, Joy. She lies about her age, but then finds out he’s going to have reconstructive eye surgery and will be able to see her.
“It’s a really fun character,” Wayne said.
Meanwhile, Wayne’s travels to Austin involve the filming of the second half of the first season of the ABC Family drama “The Lying Game,” which will begin airing Jan. 2.
This series revolves around long-lost twin sisters Sutton Mercer and Emma Becker, both played by Alexandra Chando, who secretly reunite, with Emma covertly taking Sutton’s place while Sutton tries to find out the truth about their background.
Wayne plays Justin Miller, the boyfriend of Sutton’s adopted sister Laurel.
“I never knew how big my character was gonna be in the show,” Wayne said. “I didn’t know he was gonna be around more than a couple episodes, but it’s looking like I’m not going anywhere … indefinitely.”
And, Justin has some secrets of his own.
“Yeah, there’s definitely some secrets. They don’t like to tell us too much, so I’ll get the script and be like, ‘I don’t understand. Why am I doing this?’ and they say, ‘Well, we can’t tell you yet,’ and I’m like, ‘But I need to know. It’s not fair,’ so as much as the audience is dying to know, so am I,” Wayne said. “I can tell you that the relationship between Justin and Laurel has been going pretty well. She’s been there to get his back for several occasions, and they obviously really like each other, and this second half, it’s gonna start getting a lot more difficult. There’s going to be some obstacles and things that are gonna make our relationship really put to the test, so I don’t want to say what they are, but there’s definitely going to be some problems in their relationship.”
On the film front, Wayne stars in the dance flick “Honey 2,” which will be released on DVD in February and the faith-based movie “Hardflip,” which will be in select theaters in February, as well.
Another movie he has coming up that’s in preproduction is “The Persecuted,” a political thriller involving the separation of church and state, which also stars Kevin Sorbo and Stephen Baldwin.
Wayne said “The Persecuted” will be filmed soon in Oklahoma City. The movie also features Academy Award winner and fellow Oklahoman Gray Frederickson as an executive producer.
Despite his hectic schedule, Wayne does make time to come home.
“I go back as much as possible. All of my family’s still in Moore, so it makes it easy. I try to get there between L.A. and Austin when I have time, you know, and stop over for a couple days. Normal people get to see their family all the time, but I have to see them on occasion, so that’s the only bummer about it.”
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
Alexandra Chando and Randy Wayne appear in a scene from "The Lying Game." - ABC Family Photo
“The Lying Game” brings more mystery to the ABC Family lineup
Alexandra Chando stars in "The Lying Game." - ABC Family Photo
More intrigue is coming to the ABC Family network with the addition of “The Lying Game,” a new one-hour scripted drama, premiering at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15.
“The Lying Game’s” plot line centers on Emma, a kind-hearted foster teen, and Sutton, the identical twin sister Emma finds out she has.
Unlike Emma, Sutton was adopted by rich parents and is seemingly living an ideal life.
After their first meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a couple of days while she follows a lead on the identity of their birth parents.
While it’s fun to watch Emma enjoy Sutton’s priviliged life, this part of the pilot episode is a bit of a stretch to believe as Emma moves pretty seamlessly into Sutton’s world without anyone noticing.
Almost.
After one of the people in Sutton’s circle figures out there’s something going on, and Sutton doesn’t show up at the allotted time to switch back with Emma, the show really picks up and makes me eager for more episodes.
If you like the wonderfully beguiling “Pretty Little Liars,” you’ll probably like “The Lying Game” as well.
Alexandra Chando, starring as Emma/Sutton, and best known to TV fans as Maddie Coleman on “As the World Turns,” is adept at both characters. She reminds me of “The Vampire Diaries’” Nina Dobrev. who’s also taken on dual roles on that show.
Co-stars of “The Lying Game” include Andy Buckley as Ted; Helen Slater as Kristin; Blair Redford as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis as Nisha; Kirsten Prout as Char; Alice Greczyn as Mads; and Allie Gonino as Laurel.
Charles Pratt Jr. is executive producer and writer of the series, with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo serving as executive producers.
“The Lying Game,” produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television, is based on the novel by Sara Shepard.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
ABC Family orders 22 additional episodes of “Switched at Birth”
From left, Constance Marie, Katie Leclerc, Vanessa Marano and Lea Thompson of "Switched at Birth" - ABC Family Photo
ABC Family has given a back-season order of 22 episodes for its one-hour original drama “Switched at Birth,” which gives the series a full first season order, according to a news release.
“Switched at Birth,” which premiered in June with a 10-episode order, will air its summer finale at 8 p.m. on Aug. 8 and return in early 2012.
“Switched at Birth” recently received the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists 2011 American Scene “Crystal” Award,®” which makes it the top individual television program honoree in this year’s competition, “for its groundbreaking and seamless inclusion of performers with disabilities, storylines that showcase new assistive technologies, and ethnic diversity,” the news release also stated.
In addition, the show and its stars have been nominated by the Teen Choice Awards in these categories:
- “Switched at Birth,” nominee in the “Choice Summer TV Show” category
- Katie Leclerc and Sean Berdy, nominees in the “Choice TV: Breakout Star” category
- Vanessa Marano, nominee in the “Choice Summer TV Star: Female” category
- Lucas Grabeel in the “Choice Summer TV Star: Male” category.
Constance Marie was recently nominated by the ALMA Awards for “Favorite TV Actress – Supporting Role” as well.
“Switched at Birth” centers on two teenage girls who find out they were accidentally switched as newborns in the hospital.
Bay Kennish (Marano) grew up in an affluent family with two parents, Kathryn and John (Lea Thompson and D.W. Moffett) and a brother, Toby (Grabeel), while Daphne Vasquez (Leclerc), who lost her hearing at an early age due to a case of meningitis, grew up with a single mother, Regina (Constance Marie) and her best friend Emmett (Sean Berdy), who is also deaf, in a working class neighborhood.
The story lines of the series focus on the families struggling to learn how to live together for the sake of the girls.
ABC Family movie “Cyberbully” set to premiere July 17 as part of “Delete Digital Drama” campaign
From left, Kay Panabaker and Emily Osment of "Cyberbully" - ABC Family Photo
“Cyberbully,” an ABC Family original movie starring Emily Osment, Kelly Rowan and Kay Panabaker is scheduled to premiere at 7 p.m. July 17 as part of a campaign by ABC Family and Seventeen magazine to bring awareness to the youth issue of digital abuse and bullying.
The “Delete Digital Drama” enterprise will launch this summer on ABC Family and in the August 2011 issue of Seventeen.
“Cyberbully” centers on Taylor Hillridge (Osment), a teen who becomes a victim of online bullying, and the toll it takes on her, as well as her friends and family.
The network will debut a public service announcement during the movie in which Osment will direct viewers to StompoutBullying.org., providing a direct resource for viewers and readers to go to for assistance, if necessary.
For those in need of immediate aid, they can call the Stomp Out Bullying hotline at 855-790-HELP or visit the web site.
“Pretty Little Liars” returns June 14
From left, Shay Mitchell, Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson and Troian Bellisario star in "Pretty Little Liars" - ABC Family Photo by Bob D'Amico
Season two of “Pretty Little Liars” is set to premiere at 7 p.m. June 14 on ABC Family, following an all-day marathon of the show beginning at 10 a.m.
Shay Mitchell,, Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson and Troian Bellisario star in “Pretty Little Liars.”
The description of the premiere episode, provided by ABC Family, is as follows:
With Ian’s body missing and the entire town of Rosewood questioning what exactly happened the night before at the church, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer have a lot of explaining to do. But with the police and their parents not quite sure what to believe, the girls’ parents rally together to try and help the four out with the assistance of a therapist (guest star Annabeth Gish). Now being forced to talk out their problems, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer feel more alone than ever. Even with a reassurance that everything they discuss won’t leave the therapist’s office, is this the person the Liars can finally tell about “A?” Or is there no place safe from “A’s” watchful eye?
Meanwhile, love is on the rocks for the girls when Spencer is forbidden to see Toby, Aria cools things off with Ezra, and Caleb comes back to town for Hanna.
“My Future Boyfriend,” starring Sara Rue and Barry Watson, to air April 10 on ABC Family
Sara Rue and Barry Watson star in"My Future Boyfriend" - ABC Family Photo by Bob D'Amico
Sara Rue, Barry Watson, Valerie Harper and Fred Willard star in the ABC Family original movie “My Future Boyfriend,” which is set to premiere at 7 p.m. April 10.
Michael Lange (“Greek, “Drop Dead Diva”) directs the film from a teleplay by James Orr and Jim Cruickshank.
Rob Lee and James Orr are executive producers with Craig McNeal serving as producer.
The synopsis of the movie, provided by ABC Family, is as follows:
P-A-X-497/341, aka “Pax” (Barry Watson), a curious young man from the well-ordered but loveless future, travels to present day New Orleans in search of romance novelist Elizabeth Barrett (Sara Rue) – whose book he has come upon during an archeological dig in the year 3127. Hoping Elizabeth can explain the concept of love to him, which is now nonexistent in his time, Pax embarks on an adventure filled with new discoveries. Elizabeth introduces Pax to life in the year 2011, filled with love, music and of course, destiny.
When Pax doesn’t return to the future by the given deadline, Bob (Fred Willard), his fellow scientist, travels back in time to find him. Meanwhile, as Elizabeth helps Pax learn about love, she ends up confiding in her colleague, played by Valerie Harper, about her own upcoming “surprise” engagement.
“The Lying Game” added to ABC Family lineup
Alexandra Chando stars as twin sisters Emma and Sutton in "The Lying Game" - ABC Family Photo by Colleen Hayes
ABC Family has added the one-hour scripted drama “The Lying Game” to its schedule, according to a news release.
“The Lying Game” joins three previously announced series pick-ups: the one-hour dramas “The Nine Lives of Chloe King” and “Switched at Birth” and the half-hour multi-cam comedy series, “The Great State of Georgia.”
“The Lying Game’s” plot line centers on Emma, a kind-hearted foster teen who discovers she has an identical twin sister, Sutton.
Unlike Emma, Sutton was adopted by rich parents and is seemingly living an ideal life.
After their first meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she follows a lead on the identity of their birth mother, but then Sutton mysteriously fails to return to the girls’ designated meeting place.
This leads Emma to have to decide whether to tell the truth about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of finding her sister and figuring out why they were separated in the first place.
Alexandra Chando stars as Emma/Sutton; Andy Buckley as Ted; Helen Slater as Kristin; Blair Redford as Garrett; Sharon Pierre-Louis as Nisha; Kirsten Prout as Char; Alice Greczyn as Mads; and Allie Gonino as Laurel.
Charles Pratt Jr. is executive producer and writer of the series, with Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo serving as executive producers.
“The Lying Game,” produced by Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television, is based on the novel by Sara Shepard.
