or


[03/17/14 - 12:30 PM]
ABC Family Greenlights Three New Drama Pilots and Orders Additional Seasons of Its Hit Comedy Series, "Melissa & Joey" and "Baby Daddy"
The newcomers include "Alice in Arabia," "Recovery Road" and "Unstrung."

[via press release from ABC Family]

ABC FAMILY GREENLIGHTS THREE NEW DRAMA PILOTS AND ORDERS ADDITIONAL SEASONS OF ITS HIT COMEDY BLOCK SERIES "MELISSA & JOEY" AND "BABY DADDY"

"Melissa & Joey" Will Mark a Milestone 100 Episodes in Season 4

Burbank, CA (March 17, 2014) - Tom Ascheim, President, ABC Family, and Kate Juergens, Chief Creative Officer and Executive Vice President, Original Content, ABC Family, today announced that the network will continue to grow its slate of original programming with three new drama pilots, "Alice in Arabia," "Recovery Road" and "Unstrung." Ascheim also announced that ABC Family has given the greenlight to all-new seasons of its hit comedy series, "Melissa & Joey" and "Baby Daddy."

"These three powerful new dramas are a great fit with ABC Family's brand of original programming known for diverse stories that challenge as well as entertain our viewers," commented Ascheim. "We're also delighted to produce more episodes of 'Melissa & Joey' and 'Baby Daddy,' two series that together have helped ABC Family establish a strong comedy block that continues to make our audience laugh out loud."

Kate Juergens, Chief Creative Officer and Executive Vice President, Original Content, ABC Family, said "Innovative and authentic is the promise we make to our audience. These new projects deliver on that promise with emotional and entertaining storylines, intriguing, multi-faceted characters and complex relationships. We're excited for what the future holds for these stories, and the fascinating worlds to which they'll take us."

"Alice in Arabia" is a high-stakes drama series about a rebellious American teenage girl who, after tragedy befalls her parents, is unknowingly kidnapped by her extended family, who are Saudi Arabian. Alice finds herself a stranger in a new world but is intrigued by its offerings and people, whom she finds surprisingly diverse in their views on the world and her situation. Now a virtual prisoner in her grandfather's royal compound, Alice must count on her independent spirit and wit to find a way to return home while surviving life behind the veil. The pilot was written by Brooke Eikmeier, who previously served in the US Army as a Cryptologic Linguist in the Arabic language, trained to support NSA missions in the Middle East. She left service in September 2013 as a rank E-4 Specialist.

Based on the popular young adult novel by Blake Nelson, "Recovery Road" focuses on a teenage girl dealing with addiction. Maddie has a reputation as a party girl who doesn't think she has a problem, until she's confronted one day by her school guidance counselor and forced to choose between expulsion and rehab. Trying to save face, Maddie chooses to spend her nights living with other recovering addicts at a rehab facility, and her days pretending everything is perfectly normal among her high school classmates and her closest friends. The pilot was written by Bert V. Royal ("Easy A") and Karen DiConcetto ("Ruby & The Rockits"). Beth Miller ("12 Dates of Christmas," "Revenge of the Bridesmaids") and Craig Piligian ("Survivor," "American Chopper") from Pilgrim Studios and Danielle VonZerneck ("Left to Die") will serve as executive producers.

"Unstrung" explores the sexy, cutthroat, and emotional stakes of the professional world tour of tennis as brother and sister Luke and Ellie Holt compete to move up the ranks. The Holts may seem to have it all in a world where success is not only determined by prowess on the court, but by looks, charm and the ability to hide your faults under pressure from fans, critics, opponents, and even your closest allies. But a major family secret threatens to turn their lives, and their hard-earned family "brand," upside down. Emily Whitesell ("Life Unexpected") will executive produce.

"Melissa & Joey," the hit comedy starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence, has been picked up for a fourth season, which will take the series to over a milestone 100 episodes. Hart plays Mel, a local politician raising her niece Lennox (Taylor Spreitler) and nephew Ryder (Nick Robinson) with the help of Joe (Lawrence), a financial whiz who took the job of running Mel's household after Mel's sister caused him to unfairly lose his job in a business scandal. In the series' third season, the kids are grown and independent and Mel and Joe have decided to give in to their feelings and pursue a relationship with each other. "Melissa & Joey" is a half-hour multi-cam comedy executive-produced by David Kendall & Seth Kurland, Paula Hart, Melissa Joan Hart, Joey Lawrence and John Ziffren. Melissa Joan Hart ("Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"), Joey Lawrence ("Blossom"), Taylor Spreitler ("Days of Our Lives") and Nick Robinson ("Jurassic World") star. The series was created by David Kendall & Bob Young.

Also picked up for a fourth season, "Baby Daddy" follows five adults at various stages of growing up. Ben, who was living the bachelor life in New York City with his buddy, Tucker and his brother, Danny, a professional hockey player until his life was turned upside down when a baby girl was left on the doorstep by one of Ben's one-night stands. Now in its third season, Ben is raising Baby Emma with support from Tucker, Danny, his mother, Bonnie and his childhood female friend, Riley, who is blissfully unaware that Danny has been in love with her for most of his life. The love triangle between Ben, Riley and Danny is still very prevalent, despite other relationships. Everyone is trying to figure out the next chapter in their lives and who they want to spend it with, but no one struggles with becoming an adult more than the over-the-top matriarch, Bonnie. "Baby Daddy" stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau ("Kyle XY"), Derek Theler ("90210"), Tahj Mowry ("The Game") with Melissa Peterman ("Reba") and Chelsea Kane ("Dancing with the Stars," "Jonas LA"). The series is created and executive produced by Dan Berendsen ("The Nine Lives of Chloe King," "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" and "Hannah Montana: The Movie").

Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 97 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today's families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today's relationships - told with a mix of diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a combination of network-defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. For 2014, ABC Family has launched the "WATCH ABC Family" authenticated service which allows viewers with participating TV subscription services access to 24/7 live viewing of the network, as well as continued on demand access to such popular series at home and on the go via a wide array of devices. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.





  [march 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· ALICE IN ARABIA (ABC FAMILY)
· BABY DADDY (FREEFORM)
· MELISSA & JOEY (ABC FAMILY)
· RECOVERY ROAD (FREEFORM)
· UNSTRUNG (ABC FAMILY)





[08/29/25 - 10:46 AM]
National Geographic Documentary Films Announces Global Acquisition of Streaming Rights to Werner Herzog Documentary "Ghost Elephants" Following Venice World Premiere
The documentary will make its U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend.

[08/29/25 - 10:08 AM]
"Prison Break" Turns 20: Executive Producer Dawn Olmstead Curates Episode Collections on Hulu
It's been 20 years since Michael Scofield entered Fox River State Penitentiary on a mission: break brother Lincoln out.

[08/29/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "French Lover" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When a jaded actor meets a down-on-her-luck waitress in Paris, their unexpected love story begins - but will it survive the glare of the spotlight?

[08/29/25 - 08:02 AM]
Video: Prime Video Unveils Paris Trailer and New Cast for the Final Episodes of "The Summer I Turned Pretty"
Joining the series in recurring roles are Corinna Brown, Fernando Cattori, Isaline Prevost Radeff, and Jahz Armando.

[08/29/25 - 05:43 AM]
"Sounds of Summer" - Feel-Good, Music-Packed Movie About Swedish Pop Icons Gyllene Tider Makes Exclusive US Debut Thursday, September 18, 2025 on Viaplay
Directed by Per Simonsson and named after the band's most enduring hit, "Sounds of Summer" is a breezy, very inspiring 97-minute ride that follows Gessle from small-town outsider to pop trailblazer.

[08/29/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "RIV4LRIES" - Official Trailer - Netflix
At a middle school in Pisa, no one has ever challenged the cool kids - until new girl Terry arrives with bold ideas and the rivalries begin.

[08/29/25 - 02:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind: UK" Season 2 - The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Who's saying "I still do?" Emma and Matt host this season's couples and special guests as tea is spilled and secrets are revealed in a fiery reunion.

[08/28/25 - 02:03 PM]
Wonder Project Announces October 5 Streaming Subscription Launch Date on Prime Video and Premiere Date for "House of David" Season Two; Unveils First Look Images of the Hit Drama Series
Season Two of the biblical drama series House of David from Wonder Project and Amazon MGM Studios follows the aftermath of the battle between David and Goliath and David's rise to the throne.

[08/28/25 - 12:12 PM]
Video: "The Hospital" - A Comedy Improv Sketch Show - Premieres Wednesday, September 10
The Hospital offers a "behind-the-scenes" look at what happens when you mix improv comedy with total medical negligence.

[08/28/25 - 11:02 AM]
Shudder Launches Biggest Ever Programming Event "Season of Screams" - Featuring a Monster Lineup of New Films, Series and Live Watch Parties on Shudder TV - From September 1 Through December 31
Shudder's "Season of Screams" features highly anticipated films such as the acclaimed Dangerous Animals, a new installment in the popular "V/H/S" franchise - "V/H/S/Halloween" - and the found footage breakout hits "House on Eden" and "Hell House LLC: Lineage."

[08/28/25 - 11:01 AM]
MGM+ Greenlights "Words + Music," Inspired by the Critically Hailed Audible Original Series, Featuring Grammy Winners Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, John Legend and Alanis Morissette
"Words + Music" is set to premiere this fall on MGM+ in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

[08/28/25 - 10:06 AM]
ESPN Unveils Deep Roster of NBA Game Commentators for 2025-26 Season
Veteran analyst Tim Legler will join ESPN's lead NBA broadcast team, which includes Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Breen, analyst and NBA Champion Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters.

[08/28/25 - 10:05 AM]
HBO Original Two-Part Documentary "Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television" Debuts September 9
The project takes audiences on a two-part journey through the history of Black representation on television, showcasing how Black artists and creators both shaped and revolutionized the medium while confronting the systemic challenges that have often undermined their contributions.

[08/28/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: National Geographic Documentary Films Unveils Trailer for "Lost in the Jungle," the Unbelievable Story of Four Indigenous Children Who Survived a Plane Crash in the Amazon, Ahead of World Premiere at Telluride Film Festival
For the first time ever, the four Indigenous children who survived the Colombian plane crash on May 1, 2023 - and then endured 40 days alone in the jungle - share their extraordinary story of survival, told in their own words.

[08/28/25 - 09:38 AM]
Video: Tubi Debuts Trailer for Stand-Up Comedy Special "Rel Talk" from Lil Rel Howery
"It feels amazing to bring this special to my city, my people, and now to the millions of folks watching on Tubi," said Howery.