Disney Channel Orders 39 New Episodes of `The Jersey'.

Entertainment Editors

BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 1, 2000

Disney Channel has ordered an additional 39 episodes of its hit original sports series, "The Jersey," produced by Lynch Entertainment.

Second season production will begin in Los Angeles in July, and the new episodes will air beginning in September.

The second season will pick up where the first left off following the athletic adventures of Nick, Morgan and the rest of the Monday Night Football Club (MNFC) as they experience the magic of the inherited football jersey that serves as their amazing portal into the world of professional athletics -- placing them directly into the shoes of major sports celebrities.

Much like the premiere season, season two of "The Jersey" will continue to feature a star-studded line-up of many of the world's top athletes in guest appearance roles including football greats Kurt Warner, Peyton Manning, Marshall Faulk, Terrell Owens, Terrell Davis and Doug Flutie.

They join an impressive lineup of athletes who have already been featured with the MNFC on their unparalleled adventures in and around the world of sports.

Athletes featured in the series' first season included basketball icons Stephon Marbury, Lisa Leslie, and Kurt Rambis; National Hockey League heavy hitters Jeremy Roenick and Byron Dafoe; Major League Baseball All-Stars Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Millwood, and Gary Sheffield; and various other athletes from all corners of the professional sports world including Michelle Kwan, Brandi Chastain, Tony Hawk, Michael Johnson and Dominque Dawes.

"`The Jersey' has proven to be a valuable asset for Disney Channel and a strong part of our popular weekend line-up," said Gary Marsh, executive-vice president, original programming, Disney Channel. "Kids today are crazy about sports, and they have taken an extreme liking to seeing their favorite athletes perform off the field and on our network.

"This series successfully melds kids' love of sports with Disney Channel's unique ability to convey exciting and compelling stories to our audience."

"We're ready to move on year two," added Tom Lynch, CEO and the creative force behind Lynch Entertainment. "In year one we proved that the lessons of life and the lessons of sports provide great story parallels for kids of all ages. In year two, we plan to take the show to the next level by digging even deeper into the lives of athletes and kids."

Lynch Entertainment is the leading producer of live-action children's television programming. In addition to the "The Jersey," the company currently has four other shows ("The Secret World of Alex Mack," "Caitlin's Way," "100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd" and "The Journey of Allen Strange") on-air in the United States and in syndication around the world.

Disney Channel, combining original series, movies and specials with timeless classics, is the first full-time general entertainment television network designed for kids and families. Disney Channel is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.