Nicola Pender / Thunderbird Films Inc.
VANCOUVER (August 29, 2013) Corus Entertainment’s YTV and Thunderbird Films announced today that production on the new original multi-camera comedy Some Assembly Required has begun. Shooting in front of a live studio audience in Burnaby, British Columbia, the 26-episode, half-hour series will be produced by Thunderbird Films and the creative team behind the international teen hit Mr. Young. Some Assembly Required creators Dan Signer (A.N.T. Farm, Mr. Young) and Howard Nemetz (Mr. Young, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) are back in the studio. Full broadcast details to be announced at a later date.
Kolton Stewart plays 14-year-old Jarvis Raines, an average teenager who becomes a boss overnight after he sues a toy company over a defective chemistry set that blows up his house. Kolton played Young Simba in the North American tour of Lion King, as well as appearances in TV and movies (I Declare War, The Next Step) Jarvis’s first act as CEO of Knickknack Toys is to recruit a diverse group of kids from his high school to help him run the company. His first hire is computer-savvy “hacker chick,” Piper Gray, played by singer/songwriter Charlie Storwick (winner of YTV’s The Next Star, Season 4).
Rounding out the cast is Jarvis’s best friend, Bowie, an engineering wiz played by Harrison Houde (Diary of a Wimpy Kid); Sydney Scotia (The Letter) playing the gorgeous personal assistant Geneva; Knox, an extreme sports daredevil played by Dylan Playfair (Mr. Hockey: the Gordie Howe Story), and Aster, the most fashionable guy in school, played by Travis Turner (Marley & Me: The Puppy Years).
Running a toy company is going to take more than one kid, it’s going to take all six kids. And while this group would not normally be friends, they must work together and get to know each other better as they run the world’s first teen-owned game company.
“After the international success of Mr. Young, we’re excited to be working with Dan Signer, Howard Nemetz and Thunderbird Films again,” said Jocelyn Hamilton Vice President, Programming and Original Production, Corus Kids. “Some Assembly Required celebrates the antics of an unexpected group of kids living every child’s fantasy, running a toy company. We’re thrilled to make this fantasy a reality.”
“We are so excited to be back in the studio with Dan, Howard, and the extraordinary writing team and crew that delivered 80 amazing episodes of Mr. Young. The talent we have assembled is extraordinary and we cannot wait to share the news” said Thunderbird CEO & President Tim Gamble.
The next live audience taping of Some Assembly Required takes place on Friday, August 30 and continues on most Friday evenings (with the exception of September 6th) from 5 to 9 p.m. in Burnaby, B.C. For more information about studio location and to reserve seats, viewers can email someassemblylive@gmail.com
About YTV
Seen in over 11 million homes across Canada, YTV is a leading entertainment brand for kids. YTV offers quality entertainment for kids and families with hit Nickelodeon series, nighttime drama for teens, blockbuster movies and original Canadian programming. YTV reaches its viewers online at YTV.com and in local communities with the traveling road show WOW!. YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children’s book publishing, children’s animation and animation software. The Company’s multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, Nickelodeon (Canada), ABC Spark, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), Cosmopolitan TV, Sundance Channel (Canada), Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press, Toon Boom and radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus online at www.corusent.com.
About Thunderbird Films
Thunderbird Films, based in Vancouver, Canada, is known for its collaboration with talented producers, maximizing the creative and financial benefits of Canadian co-production to assist in the financing, production and distribution of all genres of programming for the world market. Today, Thunderbird has a catalogue comprised of more than 500 hours of Canadian and US television content and its programming airs on major networks around the globe.
www.thunderbirdfilms.net.
Social Media Links
Visit YTV ytv.com
Like Some Assembly Required Facebook.com/someassemblytv
Like YTV Facebook.com/ytv
Follow Some Assembly Required @someassemblytv
Follow YTV @ytv
Follow Corus PR @CorusPR
For more information, images or screeners, please contact:
Nicola Pender, Thunderbird Films, nicola@thunderbirdfilms.net, 604.683.3555
Kate Calder, Corus Entertainment, kate.calder@thunderbirdfilms.net, 416.479.6319