PRESSURES, DREAMS AND DRAMA RUN HIGH IN THE NEW ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL SERIES, "MAKE IT OR BREAK IT," PREMIERING MONDAY, JUNE 22

The New Series Marks Peri Gilpin and Candace Cameron Bure's Return to Series Television

Burbank, CA (May 11, 2009) � Set amidst the high stakes world of competitive gymnastics, the new ABC Family original series "Make It or Break It" premieres on Monday, June 22 (9:00 � 10:00 PM ET/PT). The 10 all-new scripted hour-long episodes star Chelsea Hobbs ("Lords of Dogtown"), Ayla Kell ("CSI: Miami"), Josie Loren ("17 Again"), Cassie Scerbo ("Bring It On: In It To Win It"), Zachary Burr Abel ("The Secret Life of the American Teenager"), Peri Gilpin ("Frasier"), Candace Cameron Bure ("Full House") and Susan Ward ("Sunset Beach").

Gymnastics newcomer Emily Kmetko (Hobbs) has dreams of becoming an Olympic gymnast and, when she receives a scholarship to train at one of the nation's top gyms, she gets the chance to make her dreams come true. But when she shows up at The Rock gymnastics training center in Colorado, she inadvertently shakes up the gym's status quo. Emily's natural abilities and lower economic status don't win her friends immediately. The three girls most threatened by her arrival are top gymnast Payson Keeler (Kell), whose whole life is gymnastics and who is used to being number one; the beautiful Kaylie Cruz (Loren), who must deal with a dad who is a perfectionist and a secret relationship with the gym's resident hottie, Carter Anderson (Abel); and ultra competitive Lauren Tanner (Scerbo), who takes Emily's arrival the hardest. With Emily just trying to do her best, will the girls eventually warm up to the newcomer or, if Lauren has her way, will Emily be heading back to the local YMCA gym she came from?

Sitting on the sidelines, but just as dedicated to the gymnastic world, are the parents of these stellar athletes. Kim Keeler (Gilpin), Payson's mom, is supportive of her daughter's dream, even moving her family across the country to help realize her daughter's goal. But besides being concerned about Payson's last beam score, Kim worries that her daughter's utter devotion to the sport is hindering any chance at a semi-normal teenage life. Chloe Kmetko (Ward) is more of a free spirit than your typical mom, which leaves Emily to be the responsible one who must look after her mother and her brother. Besides the Kmetkos, there's another new face at the gym when Lauren's dad brings his new girlfriend, Summer (Bure), into the fray. Just as Lauren is less than thrilled with Emily's arrival, she is furious about Summer's entrance into her life and makes it known, no matter how hard Summer tries to be friendly.

As the girls vie for their shot at winning the gold, they must contend with the immense pressure from coaches, sponsors and even their own parents, all while having to deal with normal teen issues and finding themselves competing against the same people they consider friends for the coveted top spots.

"Make It or Break It" is executive-produced by Holly Sorensen, Paul Stupin and John Ziffren, along with co-executive producer Joanna Johnson. John J. Sakmar and Kerry Lenhart are consulting producers, with supervising producers Michael Gans and Richard Register and producer Nancy Haas. The new original series' recurring cast includes Anthony Starke ("Prison Break"), Nico Tortorella, Marcus Coloma ("Material Girls"), Rosa Blasi ("Strong Medicine"), Jason Manuel Olazabal ("Dexter"), Brett Cullen ("Damages"), Erik Palladino ("ER"), Mia Rose Frampton (daughter of musician Peter Frampton), Wyatt Smith ("Never Back Down") and Neil Jackson ("Quantum of Solace").