Wizards of Waverly Place is an Emmy Award-winning live-action Disney Channel Original Series which premiered on October 12, 2007 on Disney Channel.[1] 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 began filming in July 2009 in High Definition for its third season.[3] [edit] Premise Wizards of Waverly Place centers on the Russo family, which includes Alex (Selena Gomez), her younger brother Max (Jake T. Austin), and their older brother Justin (David Henrie); 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), a former wizard, and their Mexican-American mother, Theresa (Maria Canals Barrera) who is a mortal. The siblings have to keep their secret safe. 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; this will be determined by a magic competition. [edit] 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 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. This is the first show on Disney Channel to have a mixed family or a Latin family as the main characters. [edit] 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. Often, the freezer is used as a portal between the Waverly Sub Station and the lair.
- 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 seen in "Wizard School" and "Saving WizTech", where Justin, Alex, and Max have temporarily been enrolled. The school contains many homages to Harry Potter, particularly the student's black robes and glasses, similar to Harry Potter's.
[edit] Characters - Main cast
- Selena Gomez - Alex Russo: a wizard in training, the middle child and only daughter in the Russo family
- David Henrie - Justin Russo: a wizard in training, the oldest child in the Russo family
- Jake T. Austin - Max Russo: a wizard in training, the youngest child in the Russo family
- David DeLuise - Jerry Russo: Justin, Alex, and Max's father and 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 who becomes aware of the Russo's wizard powers after Alex tells her in the second season. She moves in with the Russo family in the third season.
[edit] Episodes
| Seasons | Episodes | First Air Date | Last Air Date | | 1 | 21 | October 12, 2007 | August 31, 2008 | | 2 | 30 | September 12, 2008 | August 21, 2009 | | 3 | 35[4] | October 9, 2009 | | The Disney Channel Original Movie, based on the series, premiered on August 28, 2009 on Disney Channel. Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie was filmed in Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, and New York City from February 16 to March 27, 2009.[5] The movie received 11.4 million viewers on its premiere, making it Disney Channel's second top rated movie. [edit] Merchandise Merchandise based on the series will be released in fall 2009.[6] A video game and a soundtrack based on the series were released in August 2009.[7][8] [edit] DVD releases | Name | Included Episodes | US Release Date | UK Release Date | DVD Extras | | Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School | Wizard School Part 1, Wizard School Part 2, Curb Your Dragon, Disenchanted Evening | July 29, 2008[9] | TBC | 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] | TBC | Fashionista Presto Chango! - Go behind the scenes with the stars for some wardrobe magic! | The show's complete first season was released on September 10, 2009 in Germany.[11] The first season of the show was released in volumes in the UK on October 5, 2009.[12] [edit] Awards - Primetime Emmys 2009 - Outstanding Children's Program (Winner)
- Selena Gomez was nominated for "Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program - Series or Special" at the 2009 NAACP Image Awards[13]
- Selena Gomez won "Favorite TV Actress" of the 2009 Kids' Choice Awards.[14]
- Selena Gomez was nominated for "Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series" for the 2008 ALMA Awards.
- Jake T. Austin was nominated for "Outstanding Male Performance in a Comedy Television Series" for the 2008 ALMA Awards.[15]
- Selena Gomez was nominated for "Best Actress - Television" at the 2008 Imagen Awards[16]
- Selena Gomez is nominated for 'Best Actress - Television' at the 2009 Imagen Awards.[17]
- Selena Gomez won 'Special Achievement Comedy - Television - Actress' at the 2009 Alma Awards[18]
- Maria Canals Barrera was nominated for 'Special Achievement Comedy - Television - Actress' at the 2009 Alma Awards[18]
[edit] Release - Viewer-ship
The show debuted on Disney Channel on October 12, 2007. In February 2009, the episode "Helping Hand" broke the record for the largest audience in the 7:00 PM (Eastern Time) time period on the Disney Channel, with a total of 4.5 million viewers.[19] In June 2009, "Paint By Committee" became the series' most-watched episode with 6 million viewers. The episode aired after Princess Protection Program[20], 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 |  United States | Disney Channel | October 12, 2007 | Wizards of Waverly Place |  Turkey | Digiturk | October 24, 2007 | | Disney Channel Turkey | October 12, 2007 |  Pakistan | Disney Channel | October 12, 2007
US Premiere |  Australia | Disney Channel Australia | October 19, 2007 | | Seven Network | October 4, 2008 |  New Zealand | Disney Channel New Zealand | October 19, 2007 |  Canada (English) | Family | October 26, 2007 |  United Kingdom | Five | October 4, 2009 | | United Kingdom | Disney Channel (UK & Ireland) | November 3, 2007 |  Ireland |  India | Disney Channel India | May 5, 2008 |  Sri Lanka |  Bangladesh |  Malaysia | Disney Channel Malaysia
(Airs in Malay and English Language) | March 9, 2008 |  Arab World | Disney Channel Middle East
(Airing with Arabic subtitles) | February 29, 2008 |  The Netherlands | Disney Channel Netherlands
(Airs dubbed or with Dutch subtitles) | October 3, 2009 |  Belgium Flanders | Disney Channel Flanders | November 1, 2009 |  Hong Kong | Disney Channel Asia
(Airing the show with Indonesian, Malay and Chinese Subtitles)
(Dubbed in Hong Kong, Thailand, and South Korea, Vietnam) | March 9, 2008 |  Indonesia |  Philippines |  Singapore |  South Korea |  Thailand |  Vietnam | Những phù thủy xứ Waverly | | Belgium Wallonia | Disney Channel France | January 22, 2008 | Les Sorciers de Waverly Place |  France | | NRJ12 | August 31, 2009 | | Canada (French) | VRAK.TV | August 24, 2009 |  Israel | Disney Channel Israel | June 2008 | המכשפים מווברלי פלייס |  Bulgaria | BNT 1 | March 28, 2009 | Магьосниците от Уейвърли Плейс | | Disney Channel Bulgaria | September 19, 2009 |  Italy | Disney Channel Italy | January 26, 2008 | I Maghi Di Waverly |  Poland | Disney Channel Poland | February 29, 2008 | Czarodzieje z Waverly Place |  Finland | Disney Channel Scandinavia | February 29, 2008 | Waverly Placen velhot |  Denmark | Magi på Waverly Place |  Sweden |  Norway | Magikerne på Waverly Place |  Germany | Disney Channel Germany | March 8, 2008 | Die Zauberer vom Waverly Place | | Super RTL | September 1, 2008 |  Switzerland | SF Zwei | April 11, 2009 |  Austria | ORF 1 | June 20, 2009 |  Brazil | Disney Channel Latin America | March 23, 2008 (Advance)
April 11, 2008 (Premiere) | Os Feiticeiros de Waverly Place | | Rede Globo | June 29, 2009 |  Portugal | Disney Channel Portugal | January 18, 2008 |  Dominican Republic | Disney Channel Latin America | March 23, 2008 (Advance)
April 14, 2008
(Premiere) | Los Hechiceros de Waverly Place |  Argentina |  Bolivia |  Chile |  Colombia |  Ecuador |  Haiti |  Mexico |  Peru |  Paraguay |  Uruguay |  Venezuela |  Panama |  Taiwan | Disney Channel Taiwan | March 28, 2008 | 《少年魔法師》 |  Japan | Disney Channel Japan | April 18, 2008 | ウェイバリー通りのウィザードたち |  Spain | Disney Channel Spain | January 18, 2008 | Los Magos de Waverly Place | | Antena 3 |  Albania | Junior | July, 2009 | Magjistaret e sheshit Uejverli |  Romania | Disney Channel Romania | September 19, 2009 | Magicienii Din Waverly Place |  Czech Republic | Jetix, Disney Channel (Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia) | November 2008 | Kouzelníci z Waverly |  Slovakia |  Hungary | Varázslók a Waverly helyről |  Greece | Disney Channel Greece | November 7, 2009 | ΟΙ ΜΑΓΟΙ ΤΟΥ ΓΟΥΕΒΕΡΛΥ |  Russia | СТС | November 2, 2009 | Волшебники из Вэйверли Плэйс | [edit] References [edit] External links | Wizards of Waverly Place | | | Characters | | | | Cast | | | | Episodes | | | | Related | | | |
