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"Be careful not to mess with the balance of things" says the strangely wise Wizards of Waverly Place intro, making for one of Disney Channel's best theme songs. Following wizards-in-training and siblings Alex (Selena Gomez), Justin (David Henrie), and Max (Jake T. Austin), Wizards of Waverly Place is punchy and delightfully weird. Disney Channel sampled sci-fi and fantasy a few more times with future examples of their characteristic live-action sitcoms, but they all decidedly lack the charm and emotional strength of the story of the Russo family.

Released in 2007, Wizards of Waverly Place is a comedy fantasy series created by Todd J. Greenwald for the Disney Channel. The series follows a trio of teenage siblings living in a magical portion of New York City as they train to harness their family's magical legacy while trying to blend in with everyday people.

Cast David DeLuise, Maria Canals-Barrera, David Henrie, Jake T.

Twenty-one DGA members have graduated from the guild’s 2021 TV Mentorship Program, which pairs seasoned episodic television directors with members seeking to develop TV directing careers. Read the names below.

The program, which is part of the DGA’s diversity and inclusion initiative, pairs early-career directors (protégés) with veteran TV directors (mentors) who serve as their professional guides to the working world of episodic television.

“Today we shine a light on our graduating class for their talent, commitment and hard work – and extend our heartfelt gratitude to this exceptional group of accomplished mentors who dedicated so much of their time to teach, to listen, and to set their protégés up for success,” said DGA president Thomas Schlamme. “Seeking to build a career as an aspiring episodic television director in the middle of a pandemic couldn’t be more challenging, but every one of our graduates chose to take that time...

Netflix has ordered 20 episodes of Team Kaylie, a new live action comedy series led by actress-singer Bryana Salaz, from Tracy Bitterolf (Emma Approved), and Pamela Eells O’Connell (Jessie Bunk’d), and her Bon Mot Productions. Production has begun on the series, which is directed by Bob Koherr.

Created by Bitterolf and developed and executive produced by O’Connell who also serves as showrunner, Team Kaylie stars Salaz as Kaylie Konrad, a rich, 19-year-old selfie obsessed celebrity who receives a community service court order to lead the wilderness club at an inner city middle school. When she is forced outside of her comfort zone in every possible way, she proves to her followers, the kids, and herself that she is more than just the pretty face her domineering mom-ager has always prized.

Over the course of the series, Kaylie and her Wilderness...

Exclusive: WeForShe has called “Action!” on the 2018 participants for its DirectHer Program. The women’s advocacy group, which is focused on creating practical ways to establish more gender equality in television, today named nine breakout female helmers and the veteran episodic helmers with whom they will be paired.

Directors with experience outside of episodic are identified through the WeForShe Program. They then are partnered with veteran episodic directors who guarantee their work during key parts of production and shooting. The inaugural program for DirectHer placed nine female directors who collectively have gone on to direct 65 episodes of TV so far.

Here is the list of participants and their teammates are Lynn d’Angona (paired with Jonathan Frakes), Paige Morrow Kimball (Todd Holland), Jen McGowan (Mary Lou Belli), Sj Main Munoz (David Rodriguez), Melissa Oren (Tamra Davis), Bola Ogun (Tawnia McKiernan), Mo Perkins (Gail Mancuso), Amber Sealey (Daisy Von Schlerer Mayer...

Disney Channel has ordered new live-action comedy series A.N.T. Farm. The series stars 12-year-old China McClain as middle-school music prodigy who gets into a gifted program, Accelerated Natural Talent, at the local high school, and, along with her fellow Ants, must navigate the halls of high school where they're not particularly fond of grade-skipping newbies. The pilot was written Dan Signer and directed by Bob Koherr. Production on the series will begin in early 2011.