Jessie (TV series)

Not to be confused with Jesse (TV series).
Jessie
Genre Comedy
Created by Pamela Eells O'Connell
Starring
Theme music composer Toby Gad and Lindy Robbins
Opening theme "Hey Jessie", performed by Debby Ryan
Composer(s) John Adair and Steve Hampton
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 87 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Camera setup Videotape (filmized);
Multi-camera
Running time 22–25 minutes
Production company(s)
Broadcast
Original channel Disney Channel
Picture format
Original run September 30, 2011 – present
External links
Website

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

On March 28, 2013, the series was renewed for a third season, with production resuming in July 2013.[3] Season 3 premiered on October 5, 2013. On April 16, 2014, according to ABC News, Jessie will get engaged in a four-episode arc that will conclude the season this fall, marking the first time a Disney Channel lead character has gotten engaged.[4]

The series was renewed for a fourth season on May 20, 2014.[5] Production began in August 2014 for a January 9, 2015 premiere. On October 1, 2014, Peyton List stated that the fourth season would be the last season of Jessie.[6] On January 9, 2015, Debby Ryan said that the 4th season will see the show go past its 100th episode and also see its 5th crossover with another Disney Channel show. She also stated that Jessie will end in early 2016.[7]

On February 25, 2015, Disney Channel officially announced the series would end after its fourth season, bringing the series to a total of 101 episodes. On the same day, Disney ordered a first season of a spin off titled BUNK'D, set to star Peyton List, Karan Brar, and Skai Jackson in their respective roles.[8][9]

Plot

The series follows Jessie Prescott (Debby Ryan), a young woman from a small town with big dreams who, rebelling against her strict father, 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 on the Upper West Side with the wealthy Ross family which includes: jet-setting parents, Morgan and Christina; and their four rambunctious children: Emma Ross (Peyton List), Luke Ross (Cameron Boyce), Ravi Ross (Karan Brar) and Zuri Ross (Skai Jackson); along with the family pet (and Ravi's companion) Mr. (later Mrs.) Kipling, a 7 ft (2 m) Asian water monitor, that was later revealed to be a female. 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 (Kevin Chamberlin), the family's lazy and sarcastic butler, and Tony (Chris Galya), the building's 20-year-old doorman.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Production

The show went straight to series skipping the pilot stage. The show is taped at Hollywood Centre Studios in L.A. Season 4 began production in the summer of 2014 and ended in March 2015.

Development

The series was created by Pamela Eells O'Connell who had 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.[17][18][19] O'Connell is said to have developed Jessie specifically to showcase Ryan's talent.[20] 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'".[20] 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."[21][22] Jessie is set to be the first main character to be engaged and married in Disney Channel. There will be a four-part episode of the engagement.[23]

Casting

Skai Jackson Karan Brar Cameron Boyce Chris Galya Debby Ryan Mingle Media TV reporter Kristyn Burtt
The cast in December 2011
(Use cursor to identify)

With Ryan signed on, Disney Channel began the search to cast the Ross family in May 2011.[24] Before casting was finalized, there were numerous differences in the original concept for several of the characters.[24] 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.[10][24][25] 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.[26] 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."[26] The Ross parents are only shown in a few episodes throughout the series.

Filming

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.[25][27] Filming began in June 2011 on Stage 3/8 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.[11][13] Thirteen episodes were originally ordered for the first season, but while the show's first season was in production, Disney Channel ordered an additional seven episodes bringing the total number of episodes for the first season to twenty.[22] 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."[28] Filming on the series wrapped on February 22, 2015. [29]

Cast and characters

Main characters

Jessie Mrs. Kipling Zuri Luke Ravi Emma Bertram
Main characters of Jessie (Use cursor to identify)

Recurring characters

Guest stars

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally aired (U.S. dates)
First aired Last aired
1 26 September 30, 2011 September 7, 2012
2 26 October 5, 2012 September 13, 2013[38]
3 26 October 5, 2013[39] November 28, 2014[40]
4 TBA January 9, 2015[41] TBA

Crossovers

Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year

In November 2012, Disney Channel announced that the show would crossover with Austin & Ally as a one-hour special episode titled "Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year".[42] The special episode aired December 7, 2012, and was followed by a New-Year's-themed episode of Phineas and Ferb.

Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas

In October 2013, Disney Channel announced a crossover episode of Jessie and Good Luck Charlie. It is called "Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas", and it aired on November 29, 2013. In the episode, PJ (Jason Dolley) and Teddy (Bridgit Mendler) go to New York for Christmas Eve and stay with Jessie for Christmas due to a snowstorm.[43]

Ultimate Spider-Man: Web-Warriors

The series crossed over with the Marvel/Disney XD series Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors for a Halloween episode titled "Halloween Night at the Museum".[44]

Jessie's Aloha-holidays with Parker and Joey

On November 28, 2014, Jessie shared its fourth crossover with the series Liv and Maddie in a special episode entitled "Jessie's Aloha-holidays with Parker and Joey" featuring Tenzing Norgay Trainor as Parker Rooney and Joey Bragg as Joey Rooney,[45] putting Jessie into a tie with Hannah Montana and Lilo & Stitch: The Series as the Disney Channel shows to have had the most crossovers. Also, Maia Mitchell reprised her role from "Jessie's Big Break" as Shaylee Michaels. This was only counted as a Jessie episode, not a Liv and Maddie episode.

Ratings

Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes First aired Last aired Average viewers
(million)
Date Premiere viewers
(million)
Date Finale viewers
(million)
1 Friday 9:00 p.m. 26 September 30, 2011 4.6[46] September 7, 2012 3.6[47] 3.7

Spin-off

On February 25, 2015, Disney Channel stated that a Jessie spin-off, titled BUNK'D, will begin production in the spring. The spin-off will star Peyton List, Karan Brar, and Skai Jackson.[8][9]

Controversy

Disney Channel did not broadcast "Quitting Cold Koala" on its originally scheduled date of May 17, 2013 and showed a rerun of "Kids Don't Wanna Be Shunned" instead. The episode did, however, appear on the Disney Channel website, "WATCH Disney Channel", and on "Disney Channel On Demand", the channel's video-on-demand service. Disney Channel announced on their Facebook page "We are removing this particular episode from our regular programming schedule and will re-evaluate its references to gluten restrictions in the character's diet".[48][49] The edited version of "Quitting Cold Koala" aired on July 5, 2013 as part of a 2 episode spectacular. All gluten jokes were removed in the revised version.

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.[50][51] 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.[50][51] The most watched episode of Jessie is "Star Wars" with 7.32 million viewers and the least watched episode is "The Telltale Duck" with 1.58 million viewers.

The series started airing on Disney XD on June 28, 2013 with no episode order. However, it no longer airs on Disney XD.

Soundtrack

List of songs in Jessie
Title Performer Premiere episode
"Hey Jessie" Debby Ryan New York, New Nanny
"Hey Jessie and Can't Do It Without You (remix)" Debby Ryan and Ross Lynch Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year
"Hey Jessie and Hang In There Baby (remix)" Debby Ryan and Bridgit Mendler Good Luck Jessie: NYC Christmas
"Face to Face" Debby Ryan and Ross Lynch Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year
"Those Texas Guys" Debby Ryan One Day Wonders
"Best Year" Debby Ryan Why Do Foils Fall in Love?
"We're Burning Up" Jessie J Punch Dumped Love

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Source(s)
2012 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Series – Supporting Young Actor Karan Brar Won [52]
2013 Nominated [53]
BAFTA Awards Kid's Vote – Television Jessie Won [54]
2014 NAACP Image Award Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Program (Series or Special) Karan Brar Nominated [55]
2014 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite TV Show Jessie [56]
Favorite TV Actress Debby Ryan [56]
2014 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Comedy [57]
British Academy Children's Awards Kid's Vote – Television Jessie Won [58]
2015 Young Artist Award Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series JJ. Totah Won
2015 Kids' Choice Awards Kid's Vote – Television Jessie Nominated [59]

Indian adaptation

An Indian adaptation of the show, titled Oye Jassie, premiered on Disney Channel India on October 11, 2013. Like most Indian adaptions, the episodes and characters are similar to the original.[60]

Broadcast

The series airs worldwide on Disney Channel. The series premiered on September 30, 2011 in Canada,[61] on November 25, 2011 in Australia and New Zealand,[62] and on December 17, 2011 in Singapore.[63] It later previewed on January 29, 2012 and premiered on February 17, 2012 in the United Kingdom and Ireland,[64] and in South Africa on April 1, 2012.[65]

Notes

  1. Press releases stated "Ms. Kipling" while the actual episode used "Mrs. Kipling".[35]

References

  1. Ross, Robyn (August 10, 2011). "Exclusive: Debby Ryan's Disney Series Jessie Gets a Premiere Date". TV Guide. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  2. Rose, Lacey (March 15, 2011). "'Suite Life's' Debby Ryan Gets Her Own Disney Channel Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  3. Kondolojy, Amanda (March 28, 2013). "'Jessie' Renewed by Disney for Third Season". tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  4. Kissell, Rick (May 20, 2014). "Disney Channel's 'Jessie' Renewed for Fourth Season". variety.com. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  5. "Disney Star Peyton List Talks Last Season Of Jessie". fanlalatv. October 1, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  6. "Jessie Cast Reveals Season 4 Details – INTERVIEW". Clevver News. January 9, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  7. 8.0 8.1 "Disney Channel's 'Jessie' Ending Run, But Spinoff Series Set With Stars Peyton List, Karan Brar & Skai Jackson". Deadline Hollywood. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  8. 9.0 9.1 Webb, Matt. "Disney Channel’s Jessie Spinoff Gets Title, Premise, Cast Additions". TVLine. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  9. 10.0 10.1 "Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior Upfront 2011". Disney Channel Medianet. March 16, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  10. 11.0 11.1 "Debby Ryan Gives Details on Her New Show "Jessie"". April 13, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  11. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 ""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. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  12. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 "Disney Channel Announces Start Of Production On "Jessie," A New Comedy Series Starring Debby Ryan". Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  13. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 "Interview: Disney Channel's "Jessie" cast tells all". DaemonsTV.com. September 30, 2011.
  14. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 "Jessie". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  15. 16.0 16.1 "Disney's 'Jessie' Premieres Friday". ExtraTV. September 30, 2011.
  16. "Pamela Eells – IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  17. "Meet Jessie, the next Disney channel superstar". SheKnows.com. September 19, 2011.
  18. "An interview with Kevin Chamberlin from "Jessie"". PopCulturePassionistas.com. September 27, 2011.
  19. 20.0 20.1 "Disney star is happy that she's 'Jessie's' girl". Star-Telegram. October 5, 2011.
  20. "Disney Channel greenlights 'Jessie'". Variety. March 15, 2011.
  21. 22.0 22.1 "Debby Ryan's profile rises at Disney Channel". Variety. August 25, 2011.
  22. Elber, Lynn (April 16, 2014). "'Jessie' says yes, as first Disney Channel character becomes engaged". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014 via StarTribune.
  23. 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Disney's New Show 'Jessie' Casting Starring Roles". New Faces. May 23, 2011.
  24. 25.0 25.1 "An interview with Cameron Boyce from "Jessie"". PopCulturePassionistas.com. September 28, 2011.
  25. 26.0 26.1 "'Jessie' adopts a Brangelina-like story line". Boston Herald. September 30, 2011.
  26. "Jessie is Debby Ryan's Next Step!". Popstar Magazine. October 3, 2011.
  27. "On Set at 'Jessie': Debby Ryan Has Her Hands Full". MSN.com. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  28. "Instagram". Instagram.
  29. Disney Press Release (March 12, 2012). ""Jessie," The #1 Comedy Among Kids and Tweens Has Order for Second Season, Inspires a Disney Channel Original Movie". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012.
  30. "Debby Ryan – "Jessie"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  31. "Peyton List – "Emma Ross"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  32. "Gotcha Day". Jessie. Season 1. Episode 25. August 24, 2012. Event occurs at 0:05. Disney Channel. I can't believe it's been seven years since we brought Zuri home from Uganda!
  33. "Kevin Chamberlin – "Bertram"". DisneyChannelMedianet.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  34. "(#125) "The Secret Life of Mr. Kipling"". Listings – Jessie on Disney. the Futon Critic. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  35. "The Secret Life of Mr. Kipling". Jessie. Season 1. Episode 25. September 7, 2012. Event occurs at 6:03. Disney Channel. Retrieved September 15, 2012. So, Mr Kipling is a... Mrs. Kipling?
  36. "StarKid's Joey Richter on his Disney Debut and What StarKid Fans Can Expect on The APOCALYPTOUR!". Give Me My Remote. April 27, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  37. "September 2013 Programming Highlights" (PDF). Disney Channel. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  38. Kondolojy, Amanda (September 11, 2013). "Raini Rodriguez and Calum Worthy Host 'Monstober', Disney Channel's Annual Month-Long Halloween Celebration". TVBytheNumbers. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  39. "Disney Channel". Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  40. "January 2015 Programming Highlights" (PDF). Disney Channel Medianet. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  41. "Disney Channel's Fa-la-la-lidays". Disney Channel MediaNet. disneychannelmedianet.com. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  42. "Exclusive: Disney Channel Plots Good Luck Charlie and Jessie Holiday Crossover – Today's News: Our Take". TVGuide.com. October 28, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  43. Schneider, Michael (September 24, 2014). "First Look: Disney Channel's Jessie Gets Animated on Marvel's Ultimate Spider Man: Web-Warriors". TV Guide. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  44. "Disney Channel US – Jessie's Aloha-Holidays with Parker and Joey; Promo". YouTube. October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  45. Seidman, Robert (October 3, 2011). "Friday Cable: Rain-Shortened Yankees/Tigers Tops Night + 'Haven,' 'Clone Wars,' 'Smackdown!' & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  46. Kondolojy, Amanda (September 10, 2012). "Friday Cable Ratings: WWE on Top + 'Bering Sea Gold: Under The Ice', 'Daily Show', 'American Pickers', 'Hardcore History', 'Yukon Men' & More". tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  47. "To our viewers". Disney Channel official Facebook. May 17, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  48. Castillo, Michelle (May 20, 2013). "Disney pulls "Jessie" episode that makes fun of gluten-free child". CBS news. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013.
  49. 50.0 50.1 "Disney Channel's 'Jessie' Premiere Posts Record Ratings". Hollywood Reporter. October 1, 2011.
  50. 51.0 51.1 "'Jessie' joins Jess as new fall hit". Variety. October 2, 2011.
  51. "33rd Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  52. "34th Annual Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  53. "Children's in 2013 | BAFTA Awards". Awards.bafta.org. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  54. "NAACP Image Awards 2014: Television".
  55. 56.0 56.1 "Kids' Choice Awards 2014".
  56. "2014 Teen Choice Awards Winners and Nominees – complete list". Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  57. "Children's in 2014". Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  58. "E! News / ¡Los Kids’ Choice Awards 2015 ya tienen su gran lista de nominados!" (in Spanish). la.eonline.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  59. "Jessie to premiere on October 11". Disneyduniya.in. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  60. "Jessie". family.ca. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  61. "Jessie – Disney Channel Australia". Disney.com.au. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  62. "Jessie Disney Channel Asia". Disneychannel-asia.com.
  63. "Jessie | Disney Channel | Disney UK". Disney.co.uk. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  64. "Jessie | Disney Channel South Africa| Home". Disney.co.za. Retrieved May 21, 2013.

External links

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