Wizards of Waverly Place
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| Wizards of Waverly Place | |
|---|---|
| |
| Format: | Teen sitcom |
| Created by: | Todd J. Greenwald |
| Opening theme: | Everything Is Not What It Seems by Selena Gomez |
| No. of seasons: | 4 |
| No. of episodes: | 106 |
| Original channel: | Disney Channel |
| First aired: | October 12, 2007 |
| Last aired: | January 6, 2012 |
| Status: | Ended |
| Official website | |
Wizards of Waverly Place was an American Disney Channel Original Series which ran from October 12, 2007 to January 6, 2012 on Disney Channel. The series was created by Todd J. Greenwald, and stars Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin as three wizard siblings with magical abilities competing to win sole custody of the family powers. Further main cast includes Jennifer Stone, María Canals Barrera and David DeLuise.
The series won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009. A film adaptation of the series, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, premiered as a Disney Channel Original Movie on August 28, 2009. The film adaptation won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards earning the series its second consecutive Emmy. The farewell season won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards bringing the franchise's total to three Emmy awards. Wizards of Waverly Place ended as the longest-running Disney Channel Original Series (surpassing That's So Raven) with 106 episodes over four seasons. Its series finale averaged nearly 10 million viewers (live+same day), which made that episode the most-watched series finale in Disney Channel's history. However on September 27, 2012, Disney announced that there would be one more special, airing in early 2013, which began production on October 22, 2012, and ended production on November 10, 2012.
Contents |
Premise
Added by Wizardfreak6251The show centers on the Russo family, which includes Alex (Selena Gomez), her older brother Justin (David Henrie), and their younger brother Max (Jake T. Austin); 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), who himself is a former wizard, and their Mexican American mother, Theresa (Maria Canals Barrera) who is a mortal.
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. Their father Jerry once did this competition and won, but gave his powers to his brother in order to marry his mortal wife Theresa, because a wizard is not allowed to marry a mortal. Alex often gets into trouble for using magic unsupervised. Justin always makes sure Alex does not get into any more trouble than she's already in. Along the way, all of the kids learn moral lessons relating to friends, family, and school.
In the finale, the Russo kids have the Wizard Competition. Justin wins, but gives his powers to Alex.
Opening sequence
For the first three seasons the show used the same title sequence, the opening title sequence, which is set to Selena Gomez's rendition of "Everything Is Not What It Seems", shows Alex, Justin, Max and Harper engaging in magical antics while preparing for school in the morning. The fourth season began using a slightly altered version of the song, and a different sequence involving the cast, who all appear in Times Square at the end of the sequence with Alex waving her wand.
Reception
The show debuted on Disney Channel on October 12, 2007 after the premiere of Twitches Too, gathering 5.9 million viewers. In January 2010, "Wizards vs. Werewolves" one-hour special episode became the series' most-watched (non-crossover) episode with 6.2 million viewers, surpassing the 6 million viewers of "Paint By Committee" episode The series' most watched episode, including crossovers, was "Cast-Away (To Another Show)" episode, which was included in the special trilogy of crossover episodes between three Disney Channel original sitcoms, Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana. The broadcast was watched by 10.6 million viewers. In 2009, the series was the top scripted telecast for teens between the age of 9–14 (1.63 million/6.7 rating) and second in kids 6–11 (1.81 million/7.4 rating), which was only slightly behind The Suite Life on Deck (1.82 million/7.4 rating.)
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.
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 where Alex and Justin attend in "Wizard School" and that Max also attends in "Saving WizTech". The school contains many references to Harry Potter.
Characters
Added by LegalizeAnythingMuppets
Added by LegalizeAnythingMuppets
Added by LegalizeAnythingMuppets
Added by LegalizeAnythingMuppets- 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.
- María 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 - Harsichord "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.
As of the Finale Episode:
- Selena Gomez- Alex Russo: The Russo Family Wizard, middle child and only daughter in the Russo family
- David Henry- Justin Russo: Head of Wiz Tech, Full Wizard, Monsterhunter, oldest child in the Russo family
- Jake T. Austin- Max Russo: Mortal, youngest child in the Russo family, has been promised the Sub Shop
- David DeLuise - Jerry Russo: Justin, Alex, and Max's father and former wizard
- María Canals Barrera - Theresa Russo: Jerry's wife and Justin, Alex, and Max's mother, Mortal, knows about magic
- Jennifer Stone - Harsichord "Harper" Finkle: Alex's best friend, Mortal, knows about magic, lives with the Russo family
Recurring characters:
- Ian Abercrombie - Professor Crumbs: The headmaster of WizTech. Always seen with a fake long beard.
- Dan Benson - Zeke Beackerman: Justin's best friend who found out about magic when Justin tells him in the fourth season because he thinks that HE is the wizard.
- Bill Chott - Mr. Laritate: The kids high school principle who is Alex's frien-emy and very much likes Justin. He loves anything having to do with the Old West and is often seen wearing a bolo tie.
- Gregg Sulkin - Mason Greyback: Alex's werewolf boyfriend. Mason is first mentioned in Season 2 episode Future Harper when Future Harper tells Alex that she seems irritable and asks if she broke up with Mason yet, implying that she will date a boy named Mason.They start dating soon after they meet. Ever since they have been an on-off couple.
- Bridgit Mendler - Juliet van Heusen: A teenage vampire who falls in love with Justin. When Mason bit her she turned into an old women forcing her and Justin to break up. In season four she comes back a teenager again.
- Josh Sussman - Hugh Normous: Alex's friend who acts like he's a giant because his parents are giants. He lived in the secret wizard floor in the apt. complex that Alex and Harper lived in.
- Andy Kindler - Chancellor Rudy Tootietootie: Head of the monster hunting council.
- Frank Pacheco - Felix: Member of Justin's delinquent class who has a crush on Alex. He is a descendant of a very powerful wizard and is the only one who can pull out the most powerful wand in the Wizard World. Felix also lived on the secret wizard floor in the Apt. 13B episodes.
- Skyler Samuels - Gertrude "Gigi" Hollingsworth: Alex's rival in the first season.
Video game
Added by EmaSkyFan"Wizards of Waverly Place" is a video game published by Disney Interactive Studios for the Nintendo DS. It was released on August 25, 2009 in America. The Game has many sets from the TV show along with some new ones. The game is about Alex buying a bracelet that is for adult wizards and starts freezing people.
"Wizards of Waverly Place: SpellBound" is the sequel to "Wizards of Waverly Place". It was released on November 16, 2010. The game is about finding out what happened to a dress designed by Alex Russo that goes missing just before her big fashion show.
Merchandise
Soundtrack
- Main article: Wizards of Waverly Place (soundtrack)
The soundtrack album for the hit Disney Channel Original Series of the same name. The album was released as a physical CD, enhanced CD and digital on August 4, 2009, under Walt Disney Records. The album includes songs from and inspired by the TV series and Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie.
In response to the soundtrack, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic recognized Wizards for its "teen revamps of boomer classics that parents can enjoy too". He also stated that the album is "agreeable" and that Selena Gomez "inevitably stands out from the pack". However, Erlewine said: "the dang-awful version of America's "You Can Do Magic" by Drew Seeley is sunk by its hyper-claustrophobic rhythms, the biggest rearrangement of a tune here and easily the worst cut."
Video game
A video game based on the series was released in August 2009.
DVD releases
Compilations
| Name | Episodes | Region 1 | DVD extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wizards of Waverly Place: Wizard School | Wizard School Part 1, Wizard School Part 2, Curb Your Dragon, Disenchanted Evening | July 29, 2008 | 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 | Fashionista Presto Chango! – Go behind the scenes with the stars for some wardrobe magic! | |
| Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana | Cast-Away (To Another Show) (Wizards), "Double Crossed" (Suite Life), "Super(stitious) Girl" (Hannah Montana) | September 22, 2009 | Justin's Award Winning Essay – It's A Suite Life Having Fun With Hannah & The Wizards |
| The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex - Extended Edition | Full-Length TV Movie | June 25, 2013 | Alternate Ending, Cast Goodbyes |
Season releases
| Name | Episodes | Region 2 | Region 4 | DVD extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1: Volume 1: Work It Like a Wizard | Crazy 10-Minutes Sale, First Kiss, I Almost Drowned in a Chocolate Fountain, New Employee, Disenchanted Evening, You Can't Always Get What You Carpet, Alex's Choice | October 5, 2009 | March 3, 2010 | Work It Like a Wizard – Selena, Jake and David's favorite things to do. |
| Season 1: Volume 2: Magic Training | Curb Your Dragon, Movies, Pop Me and We Both Go Down, Potion Commotion, Justin's Little Sister, Wizard School Part 1, Wizard School Part 2 | October 5, 2009 | June 2, 2010 | Casting A Spell |
| Season 1: Volume 3: Stylin' Powers | The Supernatural, Alex in the Middle, Report Card, Credit Check, Alex's Spring Fling, Quinceanera, Art Museum Piece | October 5, 2009 | August 2010 | 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, on October 1, 2009 in Spain, on March 3, 2010 in France and on March 12, 2010 in Poland.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ALMA Award | "Outstanding Male Performance in a Comedy Television Series" | Jake T. Austin | Nominated |
| "Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series" | Selena Gomez | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Award | "Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | |
| Imagen Award | "Best Actress – Television" | Selena Gomez | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Image Award | "Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program – Series or Special" | Selena Gomez | Nominated |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | "Favorite TV Actress" | Selena Gomez | Won | |
| Young Artist Award | "Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress" | Selena Gomez | Nominated | |
| "Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actor" | Jake T. Austin | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy | "Outstanding Children's Program" | Cast | Won | |
| ALMA Award | "Special Achievement Comedy – Television – Actress" | Selena Gomez | Won | |
| "Special Achievement Comedy – Television – Actress" | María Canals Barrera | Nominated | ||
| Imagen Award | "Best Actress – Television" | Selena Gomez | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Image Award | "Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program – Series or Special" | Selena Gomez | Nominated |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | "Favorite TV Show" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | |
| "Favorite TV Actress" | Selena Gomez | Won | ||
| Young Artist Award | "Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actor" | Jake T. Austin | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards | "Choice TV Actress: Comedy" | Selena Gomez | Won | |
| "Choice TV Show: Comedy" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy | "Outstanding Children's Program" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | |
| "Outstanding Children's Program" (for Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie) | Wizards of Waverly Place | Won | ||
| Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards | "Fave TV Show" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | |
| "Fave TV Star" | Selena Gomez | Won | ||
| British Academy Children's Awards | "BAFTA Kid's Vote: TV" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Won | |
| 2011 | Image Award | "Outstanding Children's Program" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| "Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program – Series or Special" | Selena Gomez | Nominated | ||
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | "Favorite TV Show" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | |
| "Favorite TV Actress" | Selena Gomez | Won | ||
| "Favorite TV Sidekick" | David Henrie | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Award | "Best Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young Actress 11–15" | Bella Thorne | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards | "Choice TV Actress: Comedy" | Selena Gomez | Won | |
| "Choice TV Show: Comedy" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | ||
| Imagen Award | "Best Young Actress/Television" | Selena Gomez | Won | |
| "Best Supporting Actress/Television" | María Canals-Barrera | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy | "Outstanding Children's Program" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated | |
| "Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-camera Series" | Dancing With Angel | Nominated | ||
| ALMA Award | "Best TV Actress" | Selena Gomez | Nominated | |
| "Best Supporting Actress/Television" | María Canals-Barrera | Won | ||
| Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards | "Fave TV Star" | Selena Gomez | Won | |
| "Fave TV Show" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Won | ||
| 2012 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | "Favorite TV Show" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Nominated |
| "Favorite TV Actress" | Selena Gomez | Won | ||
| "Favorite TV Sidekick" | Jennifer Stone | Nominated | ||
| Young Artist Award | ||||
| "Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actress 17–21" | Bridgit Mendler | Nominated | ||
| "Best Performance in a TV Series – Guest Starring Young Actor 14–17" | LJ Benet | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy | "Outstanding Children's Program" | Wizards of Waverly Place | Won |
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
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. The movie received 11.4 million viewers on its premiere, making it the second-most-viewed DCOM premiere in the US after High School Musical 2. It was the 7th most watched basic cable telecast in 2009. It won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2010 for "Outstanding Children's Program".
Series finale
On Friday, January 6, 2012, Wizards of Waverly Place aired its one-hour series finale, "Who Will Be The Family Wizard?", which averaged nearly 10 million viewers (9.8 million; live+same day) to up to 11.3 million. Although it was not the series' most-watched special, being behind, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, and Cast Away (To Another Show), it was the most-watched finale for a Disney Channel Original Series.
Excluding the crossover programming special, it was the franchise's most-watched episode. The closer also set series best among kids 6–11 (4.2 million) and teens 9–14 (3.8 million). It also obtained a solid 1.9 rating with adults 18–49. Notably, the finale is the current TV season's most-watched cable telecast among scripted programs.
The show ended with Alex becoming the family wizard, Justin being declared new Headmaster of WizTech (also keeping his wizard powers), and Max getting to run the sub shop. Max is very happy with his position.
2013 special: The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex
On September 27, 2012, Disney Channel announced that Wizards of Waverly Place would return for an hour-long special, that began production on October 22, 2012, and ended production on November 10, 2012, for a premiere telecast on the cable channel in early 2013. The special, to be executive produced by Selena Gomez, alongside series executive producers Vince Cheung and Ben Montanio (who will also co-write the special with Dan Berendsen), will center on the Russos' and Mason's visit to Tuscany to meet long-lost relatives from Jerry's side of the family. In an attempt to prove to her family that she's not merely a carefree wizard, Alex inadvertently casts a spell that creates two versions of her with differing personalities: an evil version of Alex that ends up involved in another wizard's plan for world domination, and a good version who upon discovering the wizard's plan, tries to find a way to save her family and mankind, leading to a literal battle between good and evil atop the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Soundtrack
See main page at: Wizards of Waverly Place (soundtrack)
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