The Proud Family Makes Disney Channel Its Home

"The Proud Family'' Makes Disney Channel Its Home
New Animated Series To Premiere Summer 2001

Disney Channel, the leader in television for kids and families, recently began production in Los Angeles on an all-new, original animated comedy, "The Proud Family.''

Disney Channel has greenlit 21 episodes, and the series is scheduled to premiere in Summer 2001 as part of the network's Zoog Disney programming block, targeted toward kids aged 9-14.

"The Proud Family'' is an animated sitcom that follows the adventures of Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt), a 14-year-old African American girl who's doing her best to navigate through the mysteries, mishaps and merriment that come with those difficult early years of teen-dom. The series, produced by Jambalaya Studio and Hyperion Studio in association with Disney Channel, is created by Bruce Smith and executive produced by Bruce Smith, Ralph Farquhar, Willard Carroll and Tom Wilhite. Kurt Albrecht serves as the series' executive in charge of production.

Fueled by a never-ending passion for growing up, Penny's every encounter inevitably spirals into bigger than life situations filled with hi-jinks, hilarity and heart. Along for the ride are Penny's best friends -- the sassy and scheming Dijonay (Karen Malina White); the naively optimistic Zoey (Soleil Moon Frye); and Sticky (Orlando Brown), a techno-wiz with attitude -- her irreverent, groovy grandma Sugar Mama (Jo Marie Payton) and her funky little poodle, Puff; Penny's trouble-making toddler siblings Bebe and Cece; and, of course, Oscar (Tommy Davidson) and Trudy (Paula Jai Parker), her loving parents, who don't seem to understand that a responsible 14-year-old like Penny is ready to grow up. With family and friends like this, Penny certainly has a lot of love in her life.

Creator Bruce Smith heads Jambalaya Studio, a new animation company focusing on racially and ethnically diverse television and new media projects. He has worked as an animator and director for the past decade. His credits include "Space Jam,'' "Bebe's Kids,'' the CableAce Award-Winning series "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales For Every Child,'' Disney's "The Emperor's New Groove'' and Disney's "Tarzan.'' Executive Producer and head writer Ralph Farquhar also executive produced and co-created "Moesha'' and its spin-off "The Parkers.'' Previously, he served as the supervising producer of "Married...With Children'' and was the co-creator and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed series "South Central.''

Jambalaya Studio was co-founded by Bruce Smith and Hyperion Studio, a leading independent producer of live-action and animated family films and television for sixteen years. Hyperion's productions include Miramax's all-star feature "Playing By Heart,'' the multiple Emmy® and Humanitas Award-winner "Life With Louie,'' and the popular "Brave Little Toaster'' movie series.

-- Posted January 19, 2001

Source: Company Press Release