Waverly Place Homecoming

[KyL416]

WAVERLY PLACE HOMECOMING!

SELENA GOMEZ TO EXECUTIVE-PRODUCE AND STAR IN NEW "WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE" TELEVISION EVENT ON DISNEY CHANNEL

One of Disney Channel's most beloved stars -- Selena Gomez -- and one of its most successful series ever, the multiple Emmy Award and BAFTA-winning "Wizards of Waverly Place," are set to return in an exciting new television event that begins production next month in Los Angeles. Ms. Gomez, an actress and platinum-selling recording artist, will executive-produce and also star along with Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera, David DeLuise and Gregg Sulkin, who reprise the roles they made popular. The one hour television event is scheduled for premiere in early 2013.

The storyline takes the Russo family and friends to Tuscany, Italy, to meet their long lost relatives... but when Alex (Gomez) tries to prove she's more than a seemingly carefree young Wizard, she inadvertently conjures a spell that creates a Good Alex and an Evil Alex. When Evil Alex gets roped into a charming young wizard's foreboding plan to take over the world, Good Alex must find a way to save her family and humankind, which leads to a monumental battle between the two versions of herself - all atop the Tower of Pisa.

Gary Marsh, President and Chief Creative Officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said: "With the phenomenal ratings of the 'Wizards' finale earlier this year, it became clear that fans of the series were not ready to say goodbye to Selena or the rest of the 'Wizards' cast. As such, we're thrilled that the cast has agreed to reunite to bring their fans one last grand adventure!"

Gomez's breakthrough series "Wizards of Waverly Place" is one of Disney Channel's most successful series ever. It premiered in 2007, became a ratings driver worldwide and, in first quarter 2012, reached over 175 million unduplicated viewers in 163 countries and 32 languages. It inspired "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie," which delivered 13.5 million Total Viewers, ranked as the #1 cable television movie of 2009 and is the #2 cable TV movie of all time (after "High School Musical 2"). The "Wizards of Waverly Place" series finale in January 2012 was the #1 cable TV telecast -- among all kids' programming -- in Total Viewers (11.3 million), and is TV's #1 scripted telecast among Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, 2012 to-date.

The TV movie won a 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program, and the series won an Emmy Award in the same category in 2012 and 2010, and was nominated in 2011. It has also been lauded for its portrayal of Latinos and was honored with Alma, Imagen and NAACP Image Award nominations.

On Hollywood Records, Selena Gomez has three Gold certified albums, one double-Platinum single, numerous Gold and Platinum singles and Top 40 radio hits. She's been honored with Teen Choice, Imagen, Alma and Kids Choice Awards, and is a strong force on social media with over 33 million Facebook likes and over 12 million Twitter followers.

The television special was written by Vince Cheung and Ben Montanio ("Wizards of Waverly Place") and Dan Berendsen (ABC Family's "Baby Daddy"). Selena Gomez, Cheung and Montanio and Dan Cross and David Hoge are the executive producers. It will be directed by Victor Gonzalez ("Wizards of Waverly Place"). "Wizards of Waverly Place" was created by Todd J. Greenwald ("Hannah Montana") and is a production of It's a Laugh Productions for Disney Channel.

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

[KyL416]

THE RUSSO FAMILY REUNITES IN THE TELEVISION EVENT "THE WIZARDS RETURN: ALEX VS ALEX," PREMIERING MARCH 15 ON DISNEY CHANNEL

Selena Gomez returns to executive-produce and star in one of Disney Channel's most successful series ever in the television event "The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex," premiering FRIDAY, MARCH 15 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. Starring Gomez, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera, David DeLuise, Gregg Sulkin and Beau Mirchoff, the special is based on the multiple Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel original series "Wizards of Waverly Place," which, during its series run was TV's #1 series across Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14.

In "The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex," the Russo family and friends travel to Tuscany, Italy, to meet their long lost relatives... but when Alex (Gomez) tries to prove she's more than a seemingly carefree young Wizard, she inadvertently conjures a spell that creates a Good Alex and an Evil Alex. When Evil Alex gets roped into a charming young wizard's foreboding plan to take over the world, Good Alex must find a way to save her family and humankind, which leads to a monumental battle between the two versions of herself - all atop the Tower of Pisa.

To hone their magical skills, viewers can visit disneychannel.com/wizards which will feature a host of activities, including an enchanted Italian card game with a Russo twist, and a sweepstakes competition where viewers can enter to win fun prizes used during the making of "The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex."

The multi-platform schedule is as follows:

FRIDAY, MARCH 8
* Preview of "The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex," available via Disney Channel On Demand, a video-on-demand service available to a variety of major affiliates including AT&T, Cablevision and Time Warner customers

FRIDAY, MARCH 15
* Disney Channel premiere of "The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex"

TUESDAY, MARCH 19
* Download of "The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex" available on iTunes

"The Wizards Return: Alex vs Alex" was written by Vince Cheung and Ben Montanio ("Wizards of Waverly Place") and Dan Berendsen (ABC Family's "Baby Daddy"). Selena Gomez, Cheung and Montanio and Dan Cross and David Hoge are the executive producers. It was directed by Victor Gonzalez ("Wizards of Waverly Place"). "Wizards of Waverly Place" was created by Todd J. Greenwald ("Hannah Montana") and is a production of It's a Laugh Productions for Disney Channel.

"Wizards of Waverly Place" inspired "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie," which delivered 13.5 million Total Viewers, ranked as the #1 cable television movie of 2009 and is the #2 cable TV movie of all time (after "High School Musical 2"). The "Wizards of Waverly Place" series finale in January 2012 was the #1 cable TV telecast -- among all kids' programming -- in Total Viewers (11.3 million), and is TV's #1 scripted telecast among Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, 2012 to-date.

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.

[KyL416]

I saw the screener, it was nice but it's like they didn't know if they wanted to do it as a movie or a two part episode so they just mashed it up as both. (Complete with the exact same annoying out of place laugh track every few seconds that doesn't vary based on how funny the joke is)

There's some hilarious scenes with Max chasing a girl he sees at his family's villa who only speaks Italian. She recognizes him, but of course since it's Max, he can't put 2 and 2 together and realize that the girl he sees at his family's villa is his cousin, lol.

They also leave it semi-open ended leaving a potential for future specials.