Cheetah Girls...

Disney Channel @ TCA: ORIGINAL MOVIE "THE CHEETAH GIRLS," MODERN MUSICAL STARRING RAVEN, LYNN WHITFIELD,
PREMIERE FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 (8:00 P.M., ET/PT)


BURBANK, July 8, 2003 . . . "The Cheetah Girls," a vibrant music and dance filled telefilm starring Raven (of Disney Channel's "That's So Raven"), Emmy award-winning Lynn Whitfield ("The Josephine Baker Story"), Sabrina Bryan ("The Bold and the Beautiful") and recording artists Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams (of the R&B/pop group 3LW), and based on the popular chapter books of the same name from Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children premieres as part of the successful Disney Channel Original Movie franchise FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

"The Cheetah Girls" joins some of the most-anticipated and most-watched movies on television. Year-to-date, basic cable and broadcast television's highest rated movies in the Kids age 6-11 demographic are "The Even Stevens Movie" and "You Wish!," both Disney Channel's Original Movies. Delivering kids and their families, the premiere of "The Even Stevens Movie" was the day's top rated basic cable telecast in Households, Total Viewers, Kids 6-14 and Women 18-49.

The movie is based on the best-selling book series by journalist-turned-author Deborah Gregory, recipient of the Blackboard Children's Book of the Year award for the series in 2001. The Cheetah Girls series, with 13 books to date, has over one million copies in print. The series is the most successful ever for the Jump at the Sun imprint, part of Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Publishing Worldwide.

"The Cheetah Girls" tells the story of four multi-talented New York City teens from dissimilar homes and economic backgrounds -- a cultural melting pot of Black, Italian, Dominican, Puerto Rican and Cuban heritages -- with a dream to take the world by storm with their music group. Disappointments may come to pass for Galleria, Chanel, Aqua and Dorinda, but with the help of their families and a pampered Bichon Frise pup named Toto (in a theatrical musical crescendo for kids and dog lovers alike!), The Cheetah Girls come to realize they are already "stars."

Set in Manhattan, the telefilm introduces 16-year-old Galleria, Chanel, Aqua and Dorinda who’ve formed a group called The Cheetah Girls, developed a hip, playful "slanguage" and a credo that suggests all Cheetah Girls are created equal, but not alike. Now, they’re setting out to get a record deal without compromising their principles, identities or friendship. Their mascot is Galleria’s beloved dog Toto.

Soon, Galleria leads the charge as The Cheetah Girls enter their school talent contest spearheaded by faculty adviser Drinka Champagne, an erstwhile ‘70s disco queen turned drama teacher. But tension mounts and The Cheetah Girls start to unravel after blind ambition gets the best of Galleria. Then, she unilaterally cancels their talent show performance, instead accepting the chance for the group to record a demo for popular yet slippery record producer Jackal Johnson of Def Duck Records. In between pursuing their big dream, the dynamic, strong-minded foursome navigates their young world of "cheetah-licious" fashion and boys, including Galleria’s occasional nemesis Derek who mocks her music style. All the while, Galleria resists taking advice from her protective mother Dorothea, a former model who wants to shield the girls from exploitation and disappointment; Chanel wonders if her single mom is more interested in dating than parenting; and Dorinda struggles with the secret shame not even her trusted Cheetah sisters know she carries – she has spent her entire life in foster care.

"The Cheetah Girls" is executive-produced by Debra Martin Chase and Whitney Houston ("The Princess Diaries," "Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella") and stars Raven as Galleria Garibaldi; Lynn Whitfield as her mother Dorothea Garibaldi; Sabrina Bryan as Dorinda Thomas; and recording artists Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams of the as Chanel and Aqua, respectively. Also starring are newcomer Kyle Schmid as Derek, Sandra Caldwell as Drinka Champagne and Vincent Corazza as Jackal Johnson.

Filmed in Toronto, Canada, the telefilm is directed by Oz Scott ("Played: A Hip Hop Story") and written by Alison Taylor ("The Wayans Bros."). Jackie George ("Batman and Robin," "Richie Rich," "Demolition Man") is the producer and Cheryl Hill is co-producer. The choreographer is Troy Liddell. Casting is by Victoria Thomas and Kim Taylor Coleman. "The Cheetah Girls" is a production of Martin Chase Productions/BrownHouse Productions in association with Disney Channel.

Jump at the Sun and Hyperion Books for Children are imprints of Disney Publishing Worldwide. Disney Publishing Worldwide publishes books and magazines in 55 languages in 74 countries, reaching more than 100 million readers each month.

Disney Channel is the first general entertainment network designed for kids and families. Currently available in 81 million homes, Disney Channel is a division of ABC Cable Networks Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
 

NEWSFILE: 10 JULY 2003