Wizards of Waverly Place
Wizards of Waverly Place | |
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File:Wizard of waverly place logo.PNG The show's title card showing characters Justin Russo, Alex Russo, and Max Russo. | |
Genre | Teen sitcom, fantasy |
Created by | Todd J. Greenwald |
Starring | Selena Gomez David Henrie Jake T. Austin Jennifer Stone Maria Canals Barrera David DeLuise |
Theme music composer | John Adair and Steve Hampton |
Opening theme | "Everything is Not As It Seems" by Selena Gomez |
Country of origin | ![]() |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 51 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Todd J. Greenwald Peter Murrieta Vince Cheung Ben Montanio |
Camera setup | Videotape, Multi-camera |
Running time | 22-23 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | Disney Channel |
Release | October 12, 2007 – present |
Wizards of Waverly Place is an Emmy Award-nominated[1] live-action Disney Channel Original Series which premiered on October 12, 2007 on Disney Channel. The series was created by Todd J. Greenwald, and stars Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin, as three siblings with magical abilities. [2] The series has been picked up for a third season, that began filming in July 2009 in High Definition.[3]
Premise
The show centers on the Russo family, which includes Alex (Selena Gomez), her older brother Justin (David Henrie), and their younger brother Max (Jake T. Austin); Alex's best friend Harper (Jennifer Stone) is also part of the storyline. The three Russo siblings are wizards and live with their Italian-American father Jerry (David DeLuise), who himself is a former wizard, and their Mexican-American mother, Theresa (Maria Canals Barrera).
The children are not allowed to use magic without supervision, and only one of the three will keep their magic abilities once they are adults, and this will be determined by a magic competition. Their father Jerry once did this competition and won, but gave his powers to his brother in order to marry their mortal mother Theresa, because a wizard is not allowed to marry a mortal. Alex often gets into trouble for using magic unsupervised, Justin always makes sure Alex doesn't get into any more trouble than she's already in, and learns lessons and morals relating to friends, family, and school.
Production
The series was created and is executive produced by Todd J. Greenwald, who began developing the show, after working as a writer and consulting producer during the first season of the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. The show is produced by It's a Laugh Productions and Disney Channel Original Productions. The theme song, written by John Adair and Steve Hampton, is of techno-pop style and is performed by Selena Gomez.
The series is filmed at Hollywood Center Studios in Hollywood, California. The first episode on October 12, 2007 aired immediately after the premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie Twitches Too.
It is widely known that the producer of Wizards of Waverly place was a fan of Sabrina the Teenage witch, and was inspired by it when making the show.
Main settings
- Waverly Sub Station is the Russo Family's sandwich shop. All three children have to help by working there but in their spare time they can hang out there.
- The Magic Lair is where the Russo kids have magic lessons with their father Jerry. Once Alex and her Uncle Kelbo turned into sea nymphs and they had to figure out how to get them back into people and the lair needed to be in wateriness. Often, the freezer is used as a portal between the Waverly Sub Station, and the Russo home.
- The Loft is where the Russo family lives. It is also connected to the magic lair and the Waverly Sub Station.
- Waverly Place is outside of the Waverly Sub Station. Mainly, the pedestrian-only alleyway is shot and Waverly Place is only shot on certain occasions like in the episode First Kiss, prior to the crystal ball scene.
- Tribeca Prep is the school that Justin, Alex, Max, and their friends attend.
- WizTech is the magic school where Alex and Justin attend in "Wizard School" and that Max also attends in "Saving WizTech".
Characters
- Main cast
- Selena Gomez - Alex Russo: a wizard in training, is the middle child and only daughter in the Russo family
- David Henrie - Justin Russo: a wizard in training, is the oldest child in the Russo family
- Jake T. Austin - Max Russo: a wizard in training, is the youngest child in the Russo family
- David DeLuise - Jerry Russo: Justin, Alex, and Max's father and is a former wizard, who teaches his children about magic
- Maria Canals Barrera - Theresa Russo: Jerry's wife and Justin, Alex, and Max's mother. She isn't a wizard, but knows about the magical world and power of her children
- Jennifer Stone - Harper Finkle: Alex's best friend and becomes aware of the Russo's wizard powers in the second season
Episodes
Seasons | Episodes | First Air Date | Last Air Date | |
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1 | 21 | October 12, 2007 | August 31, 2008 | |
2 | 30[4] | September 12, 2008 | August 21, 2009 |
Film
A Disney Channel Original Movie based on the series, is set to premiere August 28, 2009 on Disney Channel. Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie was filmed in Puerto Rico, Los Angeles and New York City.[5]
Merchandise
Merchandise based on the series will be released in the 2009 fall.[6] A video game and a soundtrack based on the series are set to released in August 2009.[7][8]
- DVD releases
Name | Included Episodes | US Release Date | DVD Extras |
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Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School | Wizard School Part 1, Wizard School Part 2, Curb Your Dragon, Disenchanted Evening | July 29, 2008[9] | Work it like a wizard - Selena, Jake, and David's favorite things to do. |
Wizards of Waverly Place: Supernaturally Stylin | Credit Check, Smarty Pants, Beware Wolf, Graphic Novel | February 10, 2009[10] | Fashionista Presto Chango! Go Behind The Scenes With The Stars For Some Wardrobe Magic! |
The show's complete first season will be released on September 10, 2009 in Germany.[11]
Soundtrack
A soundtrack with the same name, Wizards of Waverly Place, was released on August 4, 2009. The album features 12 songs on the album with one bonus song on some editions.
Nominations and awards
- Primetime Emmys 2009 - Outstanding Children's Program (Nominated)
- Selena Gomez was nominated for "Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - Series or Special" at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards[12]
- Selena Gomez won "Favorite TV Actress" of the 2009 Kids' Choice Awards.[13]
- Selena Gomez was nominated for "Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series" and Jake T. Austin was nominated for "Outstanding Male Performance in a Comedy Television Series" for the 2008 ALMA Awards.[14]
- Selena Gomez was nominated for "Best Actress - Television" at the 2008 Imagen Awards[15]
Release
Viewership
The show debuted on Disney Channel on October 12, 2007 and drew 5.9 million viewers. In February 2009, the episode "Helping Hand" broke the record for the largest audience in the 7PM (Eastern Time) time period on the Disney Channel, with a total of 4.5 million viewers.[16] In June 2009, "Paint By Committee" became the series' most-watched episode with 6.0 million viewers. The episode aired after Princess Protection Program[17], which contributed to the episode's ratings. The show is broadcast on the following channels, in the following countries:
Region | Network(s) | Series premiere | Series Title in Country |
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Disney Channel | October 12, 2007 | Wizards of Waverly Place (Airing in The Netherlands with Dutch subtitles) |
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Digiturk | October 24, 2007 | |
Disney Channel Turkey | October 12, 2007 | ||
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Disney Channel | October 12, 2007 US Premiere | |
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Disney Channel Australia | October 19, 2007 | |
Channel 7 | October 4, 2008 | ||
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Disney Channel New Zealand | October 19, 2007 | |
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Family | October 26, 2007 | |
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Disney Channel UK | November 3, 2007 | |
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Disney Channel India | May 5, 2008 | |
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Jetix Netherlands | TBA 2009 | |
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Jetix Israel | June 2008 | המכשפים מווברלי פלייס |
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BNT 1 | March 28, 2009 | Магьосниците от Уейвърли Плейс |
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Disney Channel France | January 22, 2008 | Les Sorciers de Waverly Place |
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VRAK.TV | August 24, 2009 | |
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Disney Channel Italy | January 26, 2008 | I Maghi Di Waverly |
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Disney Channel Poland | February 29, 2008 | Czarodzieje z Waverly Place |
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Disney Channel Middle East | February 29, 2008 | Wizards of Waverly Place (Airing with Arabic subtitles) |
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Disney Channel Scandinavia | February 29, 2008 | Waverly Placen velhot |
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Magikerne på Waverly Place | ||
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Magi på Waverly Place | ||
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Disney Channel Deutschland | March 8, 2008 | Die Zauberer vom Waverly Place |
Super RTL | September 1, 2008 | ||
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SF Zwei | April 11, 2009 | |
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Disney Channel Asia | March 9, 2008 | Wizards of Waverly Place(all) Những phù thủy xứ Waverly (Vietnam) (Airing the show with Indonesian, Malay and Chinese Subtitles) (Dubbed in Hong Kong, Thailand, and South Korea, Vietnam) |
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Disney Channel, Rede Globo | March 23, 2008 (Advance) April 11, 2008 (Premiere) June 29, 2009 (Rede Globo) |
Os Feiticeiros de Waverly Place |
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Disney Channel Latin America | March 23, 2008 (Advance) April 14, 2008 (Premiere) |
Los hechiceros de Waverly Place |
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Disney Channel Portugal | ||
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Disney Channel Taiwan | March 28, 2008 | 《少年魔法師》 |
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Disney Channel Japan | April 18, 2008 | ウェイバリー通りのウィザードたち |
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Disney Channel Spain, Antena 3 | January 18, 2008 | Los Magos de Waverly Place |
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Jetix | November 2008 | Kouzelnící z Waverly |
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References
- ^ http://www.dailyfill.com/Emmy-Nominations-Announced-Hannah-Montana-Against-Wizards-of-Waverly-Place-29071/
- ^ "Premier of Kids and Family Sitcom "Wizards of Waverly Place" ... "Friday, February 15 on Disney Channel"" (Press release). Disney Channel Media Net. September 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
premiere episode, "Crazy Ten Minute Sale,"
- ^ http://www.tvguide.com/News/Disney-Renews-Wizards-1005680.aspx/
- ^ Wizard For a Day is 230 and episode 222 has is to even listed
- ^ "Wizards of Waverly Place Movie". Disney Channel. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
- ^ http://www.atamaii.com/selena-gomez.html
- ^ http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=11116
- ^ "Wizards of Waverly Place [SOUNDTRACK]". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
- ^ Amazon.com: The Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School: Todd J. Greenwald: Movies & TV
- ^ DisneyDVD.com: The Wizards of Waverly Place: Supernaturally Stylin': Todd J. Greenwald: Movies & TV
- ^ http://www.amazon.de/Die-Zauberer-vom-Waverly-Place/dp/B002CO8VF8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1247937808&sr=8-5
- ^ http://www.naacpimageawards.net/40/win_tv.php
- ^ "2009 Host & Nominees Release". Nickelodeon. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
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ignored (help) - ^ http://www.almaawards.com/2008-nominees.html
- ^ http://www.imagen.org/awards/2008/nominees
- ^ [1]
- ^ Princess Protection Program is TV’s No. 1 Entertainment Telecast of 2009 in Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14