ABC Spark Announces its 2016 Summer Programming Slate

ABC Spark Announces its 2016 Summer Programming Slate

Premiere of First-Ever Original Docu-series Cheer Squad debuts Wednesday, July 6 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

TORONTO, April 7, 2016 /CNW/ - Corus Entertainment's ABC Spark announces its programming slate of new and returning series coming this summer. ABC Spark's first-ever original docu-series Cheer Squad, will debut during ABC Spark's tentpole "Summer Crush" event on Wednesday, July 6 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT. The series follows Cambridge, Ontario's cheerleading team the Great White Sharks as they defend their two-time World Cheerleading Champions title and try to balance life off the mat. Fan favourite comedies Young & Hungry and Baby Daddy return Wednesday, June 1, followed by The Fosters on Monday, June 20 and the highly anticipated new series Dead of Summer on Tuesday, June 28. Procedural drama Stitchers currently in its second season, continues to air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, and Monica the Medium will debut its sophomore season later this month on Monday, April 25 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

New series set to premiere in 2017 are sci-fi series Beyond and unscripted series The Letter. Peabody Award -Winning Switched at Birth will end its five-season run after more than 100 episodes, in early 2017 with a special 90-minute series finale.

Summer Premieres

Young & Hungry
Young & Hungry returns with more episodes, and more ups and downs in Gabi and Josh's relationship! This season, Gabi, reeling from her discovery of Josh with his therapist, meets a brokenhearted stranger (guest star Tyler Ritter) and they decide to commiserate together. Elliot and his husband Alan make a major life change, and Yolanda celebrates a big milestone. Young & Hungry stars Emily Osment, Jonathan Sadowski, Rex Lee, Aimee Carrero and Kym Whitley. Premieres Wednesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

Baby Daddy
Baby Daddy picks up right where it left off in the spring finale, with Ben finally deciding to be with Zoey (guest star Jonna Walsh), just as her son's father reappears in her life. Riley is heartbroken after learning Danny hooked up with Sam (guest star Daniella Monet) in high school, and decides to put him on "trial" for his misdeeds with Bonnie acting as his lawyer. Tucker tries to further his career as an entertainment reporter, and Bonnie reunites with a relative she'd rather forget. Baby Daddy stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Derek Theler, Tahj Mowry, Melissa Peterman and Chelsea Kane. Guest stars this season include Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Loni Anderson, Eddie Cibrian and Jackée Harry. Premieres Wednesday, June 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT.

The Fosters
The new season picks up immediately from the dramatic cliffhanger finale with Mariana's emotionally devastated boyfriend Nick bringing a gun to school. Now that Callie's moms know she slept with Brandon, Callie worries they may not want her to remain part of the family. The Fosters stars Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Hayden Byerly, Noah Centineo, David Lambert, Maia Mitchell, Danny Nucci and Cierra Ramirez. Premieres Monday, June 20 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.

Dead of Summer
Set in the late 1980s, school is out for the summer and a sun-drenched season of firsts beckons the counselors at Camp Stillwater, a seemingly idyllic Midwestern summer camp, including first loves, first kisses -- and first kills. Stillwater's dark, ancient mythology awakens, and what was supposed to be a summer of fun soon turns into one of unforgettable scares and evil at every turn. From ABC Signature Studios and executive producers Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis, Ian Goldberg and Steve Pearlman, the series stars Elizabeth Mitchell, Elizabeth Lail, Zelda Williams, Mark Indelicato, Alberto Frezza, Eli Goree, Ronen Rubinstein, Amber Coney and Paulina Singer. Premieres Tuesday, June 28 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Cheer Squad
The Great White Sharks are a sisterhood, there for each other through first loves, new jobs, bad breakups, and everything in between. But they are also elite athletes, idolized by thousands and members of the best all-star cheerleading team in the world. Cheer Squad will follow the two-time World Cheerleading Champions on the long road to defending their title as they try to balance life off the mat with the all-consuming battle to stay on top. Premieres Wednesday, July 6 at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT.

Programming Coming in Early 2017

Beyond
Beyond is a one-hour drama about Holden, a young man who wakes up from a coma after 12 years and discovers new abilities that propel him into the middle of a dangerous conspiracy. Now Holden must try and figure out what happened to him during those 12 years; how to survive a world that changed while he was gone; and answer the question, why did this happen to him? The series stars Burkely Duffield, Romy Rosemont, Michael McGrady, Jonathan Whitesell, Dilan Gwyn, and Jeff Pierre. From Imperative Entertainment and Automatik, Beyond is created, written a executive produced by Adam Nussdorf. Tim Kring, David Eick, Steven Adelson, Zak Kadison, Justin Levy and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones will serve as executive producers.

The Letter
The Letter is a bold, new relationship show that asks the simple question: If you could, without identifying yourself, would you tell your best friend what he or she really needed to hear? In each stand-alone episode, four people close to one another draw names and anonymously write to the selected person a thoughtful, yet totally honest letter outlining their opinion of what needs to be changed in order to improve and transform the life of the recipient for the better. For one week, each "reader" must follow ALL the rules and instructions outlined in the letter - culminating in a dramatic and emotionally charged meeting where the authors of each letter reveal themselves to their best friends.

Switched at Birth
The Peabody Award-winning drama series begins its fifth and final season - including the milestone 100(th) episode - in 2017. The upcoming season picks up from the cliffhanger finale with Daphne and Bay living in China. A mysterious call has them packing for home, where they try to settle back in, but ten months has brought some changes. Daphne finds herself in the midst of racial tensions at the university and witnesses the racism faced by her black friends Iris, Sharee, and new baseball star Chris, in an episode told solely from their perspectives. The 100(th) episode sees the return of Angelo Sorrento (guest star Gilles Marini) as a vision brought about by a young woman with an unexpected link to the Kennish/Vasquez families. The series is executive-produced by Lizzy Weiss, Paul Stupin and Linda Gase. The series stars Katie Leclerc, Vanessa Marano, Constance Marie, D.W. Moffett, Lea Thompson, Lucas Grabeel, with guest stars Sean Berdy and Marlee Matlin.

About ABC Spark
ABC Spark is a multi-platform network for millennial-focused content that offers a unique blend of authentic and compelling entertainment. The network is home to hit original series including The Fosters, Switched at Birth and Baby Daddy along with popular acquired programs and blockbuster theatricals. Built on the foundation of the highly successful U.S. brand ABC Family, ABC Spark is available in Canada through an expansive license agreement between the Canadian-based integrated media and content company Corus Entertainment Inc and Disney/ABC Television Group. For more information, please visit ABCSpark.ca and corusent.com.

Connect with ABC Spark:
www.abcspark.ca
@abcsparkcanada
www.facebook.com/abcsparkcanada

SOURCE ABC Spark

ABC Spark

CONTACT: For more information on ABC Spark, please contact: Catrina Jaricot, Publicist, Corus Entertainment, 416.479.6397, Catrina.jaricot@corusent.com; Netta Rondinelli, Communications Manager, Corus Entertainment, 416.479.6443, Netta.rondinelli@corusent.com


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