Jessie (TV series)

Not to be confused with Jesse (TV series).

Jessie
Format	Family/Teen sitcom
Created by	Pamela Eells O'Connell
Starring	Debby Ryan Peyton List Cameron Boyce Karan Brar Skai Jackson Kevin Chamberlin
Theme music composer	Toby Gad & Lindy Robbins
Opening theme	"Hey Jessie" Performed by Debby Ryan
Composer(s)	John Adair & Steve Hampton
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	6 (aired) (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Pamela Eells O'Connell
Location(s)	New York City, New York (setting) Hollywood Center Studios, Hollywood, California (filming location)
Camera setup	Videotape (filmized); Multi-camera
Running time	22-24 minutes
Production company(s)	It's a Laugh Productions Bon Mot Productions Disney Channel Original Productions
Broadcast
Original channel	Disney Channel
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 720p (HDTV)
Original run	September 30, 2011 (2011-09-30) – present
External links
Website

Jessie is an American television sitcom which premiered on September 30, 2011 on the Disney Channel.^[1][2] The series was created and executive produced by Pamela Eells O'Connell and stars Debby Ryan as Jessie, a small town Texas girl who moves to New York City and becomes a nanny to a high profile couple's four children played by Peyton List, Cameron Boyce, Karan Brar and Skai Jackson.^[3][4][5]

Premise

The series follows Jessie O'Keefe, an 18-year-old small town girl with big dreams who, rebelling against her strict father, a Marine Sergeant, decides to leave the military base in Texas where she grew up and moves to New York City. She accepts a job as a nanny and moves into a multi-million dollar penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side with the wealthy Ross family which includes jet-setting parents, Morgan and Christina, and their four rambunctious children; Emma, Luke, Ravi and Zuri, along with the family's pet, a seven-foot monitor lizard. With a whole new world of experiences open to her, Jessie embarks on new adventures in the big city as she grows to rely on the love and support of the children in her care. Assisting her are Bertram, the family’s sarcastic butler, and Tony, the building's 20-year-old doorman.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Production

The series was created by Pamela Eells O'Connell who'd had previous experience with the "nanny" sitcom formula, starting her career as a writer on the series, Charles in Charge and serving as co-executive producer on The Nanny, before working with Debby Ryan on The Suite Life on Deck.^[10][11][12] O'Connell is said to have developed Jessie specifically to showcase Ryan's talent.^[13] In an interview with the Star-Telegram, Ryan explained how the concept originated - "(O'Connell) and I were throwing ideas back and forth when The Suite Life was coming to an end, and she came up with this. I was absolutely captivated. Then Disney looked at the script and the show runner (O'Connell) and myself and they were like: 'Awesome. We like it. You're on in the fall'".^[13] In interviews with Variety, Disney CEO, Gary Marsh spoke of working with Ryan again, - "It's been thrilling to watch Debby grow from an unknown actress to one of our top stars. Debby is a talented young actress who connects to a wide fanbase because she's genuine, relatable and aspirational all at once. Our viewers have followed her from The Suite Life on Deck to 16 Wishes, and we're pleased to be working with her again."^[14][15]

With Ryan signed on, Disney Channel began the search to cast the Ross family in May 2011.^[16] Before casting was finalized, there were numerous differences in the original concept for several of the characters.^[16] The role of mother to the Ross children was originally a photographer named "Pandora", the role of eldest daughter, Emma was originally named "Anabel", the role of Luke was originally a boy adopted from Korea named "Hiro" and the role of Ravi was originally a boy adopted from South America named "Javier" who had a pet capybara instead of a monitor lizard.^[3][16][17] Some have speculated that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, as a prominent celebrity couple with a multi-cultural adoptive family, may have been one possible inspiration for the series.^[18] In an interview with the Boston Herald, O'Connell described her inspiration, saying - "I thought the celebrity parents and gorgeous penthouse would be glamorous, and a nice contrast to Jessie’s more modest Texas roots. That fish out of water element makes for good stories, and I was inspired by many families who have adopted children of different ethnicities."^[18]

After casting was finalized and changes were made to several of the characters to suit the actors chosen, the series skipped the pilot phase and was put directly into production.^[17][19] Filming began in June 2011 on Stage 26 at Hollywood Center Studios which, prior to start of production, served as the soundstage where the Disney Channel series, Wizards of Waverly Place was taped.^[4][6] Thirteen episodes were originally ordered for the first season, but in the summer of 2011, while the show's freshman season was in production, Disney Channel ordered an additional seven episodes bringing the total number of episodes for the first season to twenty.^[15] When asked about the atmosphere on set during an interview with MSN TV, Ryan described her relationship with the young cast - "I definitely feel like a nanny! They are smart kids, but they're real kids. They like to have fun. My policy is: We can play hard, as long as we work hard, and because we work hard, we need to play hard."^[20]

Cast and characters

Main characters

Main characters of Jessie (Use cursor to identify)

• Jessie O'Keefe (Debby Ryan) is an idealistic and resourceful 18-year-old from rural Texas who moves to New York City to realize her dreams and becomes nanny to the four Ross children.^{[5][6][7][8][9][21]}
• Emma Ross (Peyton List) is a bubbly, but cynical 13-year-old girl, eager to reorder the world the way she sees fit and the only biological child of the bunch.^{[5][6][7][8][22]}
• Luke Ross (Cameron Boyce) is a mischievous 12-year-old boy adopted at the age of five from Detroit who has a passion for video games and dancing. He considers himself a ladies-man and has taken a liking to Jesse in particular.^{[5][6][7][8][23]}
• Ravi Ross (Karan Brar) is a 10-year-old boy from India and the newest adoptee to join the Ross family. He is imbued with the culture of his beloved homeland, but is thrilled with his new life in America.^{[5][6][7][8][24]}
• Zuri Ross (Skai Jackson) is an imaginative 7-year-old girl, adopted at birth from Africa. She is highly creative and fanciful, and has an array of imaginary friends and pets.^{[5][6][7][8][25]}
• Bertram (Kevin Chamberlin) is the frosty butler to the Ross family who begrudgingly helps Jessie navigate her job as nanny to the four Ross children.^{[5][6][7][8][26]}

Recurring characters

• Tony (Chris Galya) is the 20-year-old doorman in the building where the Ross family lives who helps Jessie navigate her adventures in the big city.^[5][6][7][8]
• Morgan Ross (Charles Esten) is father to the four Ross children and a famous movie director.^[5][6][7][8]
• Christina Ross (Christina Moore) is mother to the four Ross children and a former supermodel turned business magnate.^[5][6][7][8]
• Mr. Kipling (Frank) is the Ross family's house pet, a seven-foot Asian water monitor lizard.^[5][6][7][8]

Episodes

Main article: List of Jessie episodes

Season		Episodes	Originally aired (U.S. dates)
			Season premiere	Season finale
	1	20[15]	September 30, 2011 (2011-09-30)	TBA

Release

The pilot episode of Jessie was released as a free download via the iTunes store one week prior to its Disney Channel premiere. Making its official debut on the Disney Channel on September 30, 2011, the series became the network's most-watched premiere on a Friday since September 2008, when The Suite Life On Deck debuted.^[27][28] The premiere of Jessie ranked as the No. 1 telecast at 9 p.m. with a total of 4.6 million total viewers in the target demographics, scoring 2.3 million viewers among kids 6-11 and 1.8 million viewers among tweens 9-14, with an average of 887,000 viewers among adults age 18-49.^[27][28]

International release

Country / Region	Channel	Series premiere	Title in country
United States	Disney Channel	September 30, 2011	Jessie
Canada	Family
Brazil	Disney Channel (Brazil)	November 2011
Mexico	Disney Channel (Latin America)
Chile
Argentina
Venezuela
Bolivia
Peru
Ecuador
Colombia
Panama
United Kingdom	Disney Channel (UK & Ireland)	December 16, 2011
Greece	Disney Channel (Greece)	December 23, 2011
Poland	Disney Channel (Poland)
Turkey	Disney Channel (Turkey)
Hungary	Disney Channel (Hungary)	December 31, 2011
Czech Republic	Disney Channel (Czech Republic)

References

1. ^ Ross, Robyn (August 10, 2011). "Exclusive: Debby Ryan's Disney Series Jessie Gets a Premiere Date". TV Guide. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Debby-Ryan-Jessie-1036266.aspx. Retrieved August 10, 2011. 
2. ^ Rose, Lacey (March 15, 2011). "'Suite Life's' Debby Ryan Gets Her Own Disney Channel Series". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/suite-lifes-debby-ryan-gets-167912. Retrieved April 7, 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior Upfront 2011". Disney Channel Medianet. March 16, 2011. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/DNR/2011/dc_kids_fam_2011_upfront.doc. Retrieved April 7, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Debby Ryan Gives Details on Her New Show "Jessie"". April 13, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ku5qZeC83Q&feature=player_embedded. Retrieved April 16, 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} ""Jessie," A Comedy About a Small Town Girl Turned New York City Nanny, Premieres Friday, September 30 on Disney Channel" (DOC). Disney Channel Medianet. August 11, 2011. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/DNR/2011/JES_081011.doc. Retrieved August 12, 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} "Disney Channel Announces Start Of Production On "Jessie," A New Comedy Series Starring Debby Ryan". http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/DNR/2011/JES_060911.doc. Retrieved June 9, 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} "Inteview: Disney Channel's "Jessie" cast tells all". DaemonsTV.com. September 30, 2011. http://www.daemonstv.com/2011/09/30/interview-disney-channels-jessie-debby-ryan-and-the-cast-tell-all-video/. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} "Jessie". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900077&type=lead. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Disney's 'Jessie' Premieres Friday". ExtraTV. September 30, 2011. http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/09/disneys_jessie_premieres_friday.php?adid=gsa_momlogic. 
10. ^ "Pamela Eells - IMDb". IMDb.com. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0250518/. Retrieved October 10, 2011. 
11. ^ "Meet Jessie, the next Disney channel superstar". SheKnows.com. September 19, 2011. http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/841915/meet-jesse-the-next-disney-channel-supershow. 
12. ^ "An interview with Kevin Chamberlin from "Jessie"". PopCulturePassionistas.com. September 27, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/user/PCPassionistas?feature=mhee#p/u/8/c8i3nLYzdPg. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "Disney star is happy that she's 'Jessie's' girl". Star-Telegram. October 5, 2011. http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10/05/3419330/disney-star-is-happy-that-shes.html#tvg. 
14. ^ "Disney Channel greenlights 'Jessie'". Variety. March 15, 2011. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118033952. 
15. ^ ^{a b c} "Debby Ryan's profile rises at Disney Channel". Variety. August 25, 2011. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118041812. 
16. ^ ^{a b c} "Disney's New Show 'Jessie' Casting Starring Roles". New Faces. May 23, 2011. http://www.newfaces.com/auditions/Television-Commercial-casting-calls_13418. 
17. ^ ^{a b} "An interview with Cameron Boyce from "Jessie"". PopCulturePassionistas.com. September 28, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/user/PCPassionistas?feature=mhee#p/u/4/GovWKWXKV7E. 
18. ^ ^{a b} "'Jessie' adopts a Brangelina-like story line". Boston Herald. September 30, 2011. http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/general/view/2011_0930jessie_adopts_a_brangelina-like_story_line/. 
19. ^ "Jessie is Debby Ryan's Next Step!". Popstar Magazine. October 3, 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=M_wKRRGR4Lk. 
20. ^ "On Set at 'Jessie': Debby Ryan Has Her Hands Full". MSN.com. http://entertainment.msn.com/beacon/editorial12.aspx?ptid=2f5705eb-87ca-48e7-9b75-8bc49aeda309&wa=wsignin1.0. Retrieved October 10, 2011. 
21. ^ "Debby Ryan - "Jessie"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900077&type=ryan. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
22. ^ "Peyton List - "Emma Ross"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900077&type=list. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
23. ^ "Cameron Boyce - "Luke Ross"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900077&type=boyce. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
24. ^ "Karan Brar - "Ravi Ross"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900077&type=brar. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
25. ^ "Skai Jackson - "Zuri Ross"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900077&type=jackson. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
26. ^ "Kevin Chamberlin - "Bertram"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. http://www.disneychannelmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=900077&type=chamberlin. Retrieved October 5, 2011. 
27. ^ ^{a b} "Disney Channel's 'Jessie' Premiere Posts Record Ratings". Hollywood Reporter. October 1, 2011. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/disney-channels-jessie-premiere-posts-242864. 
28. ^ ^{a b} "'Jessie' joins Jess as new fall hit". Variety. October 2, 2011. http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2011/10/jessie.html. 

External links

• Official website
• Jessie at the Internet Movie Database
• Jessie at TV.com