"ROOMMATES" AND "SOPHIE" PREMIERE ON ABC FAMILY ON MONDAY, MARCH 23 BEGINNING AT 9:00 PM ET/PT

"Roommates" Stars Tamera Mowry ("Sister, Sister"), Tyler Francavilla, Dorian Brown, Tommy Dewey and David Weidoff; "Sophie" Stars Natalie Brown as Title Character

Burbank, CA (January 26, 2009) � ABC Family will premiere the network's two new comedy series back to back in March. The original series "Roommates" will kick off the hour premiering on Monday, March 23 (9:00 � 9:30 PM ET/PT), with 13 all-new half-hour episodes. Following "Roommates" is "Sophie," premiering on Monday, March 23 (9:30 � 10:00 PM ET/PT), also with 13 half-hour episodes.

"Roommates" follows a group of friends in Manhattan trying to figure out love and life in their post-collegiate years. Loveable but awkward Mark (Tyler Francavilla) stumbles upon his dream come true when he runs into his old high-school crush, Katie (Dorian Brown), and becomes her new roommate in an attempt to finally win her heart. Unfortunately for Mark, Katie is still in love with her on-again/off-again boyfriend. Further complicating matters, Mark doesn't hit it off with Katie's best friend and roommate, Hope (Tamera Mowry, "Sister, Sister"), a strong willed television executive who Mark learns, unbeknownst to her fellow roommates, has lost her job and now secretly works at a coffee shop. The fourth and final apartment mate is James (Tommy Dewey), who works in the investment world and takes great pleasure in watching Mark's feeble attempts to win Katie's favor. Rounding out the group is Mark's former roommate and best friend, Thom (David Weidoff), a quirky guy who takes an instant liking to Hope.

The new original series was created by supervising producers Robin French and Kieron Quirke, along with Matt Green, and was executive-produced by Chris Case ("Reba"), Mindy Schutheis ("Rita Rocks," "Reba"), Michael Hanel ("Rita Rocks," "Reba") and John Ziffren. Mitch Hunter and Jana Hunter are co-executive producers.

"Sophie" (Natalie Brown) is a heartwarming and comedic tale of a young woman facing the most challenging year of her life. Sophie Parker had everything she ever wanted: a successful talent agency, a loving boyfriend and a baby on the way. But all at once everything falls apart. Her boyfriend, Rick, leaves her to move in with Sophie's best friend--and top client--Melissa, and adding insult to injury, opens a competing talent agency. Now having to deal with being a single mom and rebuild her business Sophie leans on her friend Matt, her neurotic client Estelle, and her manipulative mother.

"Sophie" stars Natalie Brown, Sebastian Spence, Jeff Geddis, Amy Lalonde, Mimi Kuzyk, Sara Botsford, Chantelle Chung and Catherine B�rub�. Jocelyn Deschenes is executive producer.

Part of the Disney-ABC Television Group, ABC Family, distributed in over 95 million homes, features original movies, series and specials reflecting today's families and entertaining and connecting with adults through relevant stories about today's relationships, all told with diversity, dysfunction, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a mix of quality acquired series and theatricals as well as original movies and scripted dramas. ABC Family is also the destination for Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas" branded programming events. ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.