Wizards of Waverly Place | |
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Genre | Family sitcom fantasy |
Created by | Todd J. Greenwald |
Starring | |
Theme music composer |
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Opening theme | "Everything Is Not What It Seems" performed by Selena Gomez |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 106 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
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Camera setup | Videotape; Multi-camera |
Running time | 23 minutes |
Production company(s) | It's a Laugh Productions |
Distributor | Disney–ABC Domestic Television |
Release | |
Original network | Disney Channel |
Picture format | |
Audio format | Dolby Digital 5.1 |
Original release | October 12, 2007 | – January 6, 2012
Chronology | |
Related shows |
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie (film) The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex (special) |
External links | |
Official website |
Wizards of Waverly Place is an American fantasy teen sitcom which ran from October 12, 2007 to January 6, 2012 on Disney Channel. The series was created by Todd J. Greenwald, and stars Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin as three wizard siblings with magical abilities competing to win sole custody of the family powers. Further main cast includes Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals Barrera, and David DeLuise.
The series won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009. A film adaptation of the series, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, premiered as a Disney Channel Original Movie on August 28, 2009. The film adaptation won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards earning the series its second consecutive Emmy. The farewell season won "Outstanding Children's Program" at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards bringing the franchise's total to three Emmy awards. Wizards of Waverly Place ended with 106 episodes over four seasons, surpassing That's So Raven. Its series finale averaged nearly 10 million viewers (live+same day), which made that episode the most-watched series finale in Disney Channel's history.
On March 15, 2013, The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex premiered as a one-hour television special.
Wizards of Waverly Place chronicles the adventures of the Russo Family. The Russos live on Waverly Place in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, above a sandwich shop which they own and run. The family consists of siblings Alex (Selena Gomez), Justin (David Henrie), and Max (Jake T. Austin). The three teenagers are wizards and live with their Italian father, Jerry (David DeLuise), a former family wizard, and their mortal Mexican mother, Theresa (Maria Canals Barrera). When the Russo siblings complete their wizard training, they have to participate in a competition to decide who will become the Family Wizard (the one to keep his/her magical powers forever) of their generation, while the others lose their powers and become mortals. Because of this, Jerry tries to teach his children to not become dependent on magic. Since one of them gets to keep their powers, though, Jerry also gives his children wizard lessons (the lessons end mid Season four). The storage room of the Russo family's sub station is a wizard's lair. In the lair is a Portal which allows them to visit the wizard world, and other creatures to visit them. The headmaster of the wizard council, Professor Crumbs (Ian Abercrombie), regularly pays visits to the Russo home.