Jessie | |
---|---|
Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Pamela Eells O'Connell |
Starring | |
Theme music composer |
Toby Gad Lindy Robbins |
Opening theme | "Hey Jessie" performed by Debby Ryan |
Composer(s) | John Adair Steve Hampton |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 98 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
|
Camera setup |
Videotape (filmized); Multi-camera |
Running time | 22–25 minutes |
Production company(s) | |
Release | |
Original network | Disney Channel |
Picture format | |
Original release | September 30, 2011 | – October 16, 2015
Chronology | |
Followed by | Bunk'd |
External links | |
Website | disneychannel |
Jessie is an American sitcom that originally aired on Disney Channel from September 30, 2011 to October 16, 2015. 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: Emma Ross (Peyton List), Luke Ross (Cameron Boyce), Ravi Ross (Karan Brar), and Zuri Ross (Skai Jackson).
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 multimillion-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, Luke Ross, Ravi Ross, and Zuri Ross, along with the family pet, Mr. Kipling, a seven-foot Asian water monitor lizard, 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.
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. O'Connell is said to have developed Jessie specifically to showcase Ryan's talent. 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'". In interviews with Variety and 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." Jessie was the first main character to be engaged on the Disney Channel. There was a four-part episode about the engagement.