Start It Up (Shake It Up)
Encyclopedia
"Start It Up" is the pilot episode of the American television series Shake It Up
, a female buddy-show with a dance concept, starring Bella Thorne
and Zendaya. As the series' opening episode, it introduces the main characters in the series, and follows Rocky (Zendaya) and CeCe (Thorne) as they tryout for "Shake It Up Chicago", after being encouraged by Deuce (Adam Irigoyen
) and Ty (Roshon Fegan
). Also in this episode, Flynn (Davis Cleveland
) tries to avenge CeCe and Rocky for his breakfast.
The episode premiered on the Disney Channel
on November 7, 2010. It was directed by Shelley Jensen
and written by series creator Chris Thompson
. The episode features four original songs recorded for the series. It was watched by approximately 6.2 million viewers, becoming Disney's second-highest rated series premiere since Hannah Montana
in 2006. The episode was also the seventh most-watched cable event on television on the Sunday it aired.
). They appear in a group of people waiting at a subway stop, as Rocky plays her boombox and they attempt to dance for money. They give a rousing performance, which gets everyone in the crowd dancing as well. When they are done, the performance is received with applause, however, after receiving the hat they passed around, Rocky sees that they have only earned a dime. After telling the crowd that they want money for cell phones, and an operation, they pass around the hat again, only to see that their dime is gone.
Next, the girls get ready for school, and CeCe does her daily ritual of yelling out her apartment window for Rocky, who lives on the floor above, to get ready for school. While preparing for school, "Shake it Up Chicago" appears on television, and CeCe dances along to it. CeCe's mother, Georgia (Anita Barone
), who is a police officer, and her brother Flynn (Davis Cleveland
). When Georgia orders CeCe to fix breakfast for Flynn, Rocky arrives through the window, to rush CeCe to catch the subway for school. In a rush, the duo prepare a "one-minute breakfast" for Flynn, mixing his cereal in a blender and putting it in a bag. As they arrive at school, their friend Deuce (Adam Irigoyen
) is introduced, offering them bootleg
Lady Gaga
concert tickets. He then tells them about an opportunity to audition on their favorite show, "Shake it Up Chicago." After deciding to go to the auditions, their rivals, Gunther and Tinka Hessenheffer (Kenton Duty
and Caroline Sunshine
), are introduced, and they tell CeCe and Rocky their plans of trying out for the show as well.
Before going to the auditions, Rocky has an impromptu dance-off with her brother, Ty (Roshon Fegan
). CeCe encourages him to try out also, but he says that he "doesn't dance for the man." Both do well in their preliminary auditions, and Rocky shines during the solo round. However, CeCe gets stage fright and ends up running off stage. Rocky finds her crying at the subway stop, embarrassed and referring to herself as a loser. When CeCe brings up how Rocky is better and names all of her good qualities, Rocky replies with things good about CeCe. CeCe then accompanies Rocky on "Shake it Up Chicago" to support her. Rocky then tries to get CeCe onstage with her, and when she refuses, Rocky uses Georgia's handcuffs to make her come and they dance onstage together. After the segment is over, the show's host, Gary Wilde (R. Brandon Johnson
) decides to let CeCe join the show as well. Trying to unlock the handcuffs, Rocky realizes they are gone. Flynn took the keys in retaliation for their "one-minute breakfast" prepared for him.
-type show. Veteran television producers Chris Thompson
and Rob Lotterstein
were assigned to work on the story. Casting for the show began in October 2009. Bella Thorne
and Zendaya were cast as the two female leads, as well as Camp Rock
cast member Roshon Fegan
in a co-lead role. President of Disney Entertainment, Gary Marsh said the Thorne/Zendaya duo were the most engaging best friends they had seen on the network. On what makes the show different, Marsh said "while buddy comedies have been around since the start of television," that "this is the first time anyone has incorporated dancing into the underlying premise of a sitcom." The concept of the show has been noted to be very similar to that of fellow Disney Channel series Hannah Montana
, and according to The Sun-Sentinel
, Shake It Up is the same approach with dance. Additionally, the show is Disney's second series to have a show-within-a-show following "So Random" in Sonny with a Chance
. Chuck Barney of the Contra Costa Times
said that the show's plots "play out in typical Disney Channel style with uncomplicated story lines, broad humor and moral uplift." In an interview, Bella Thorne said of the show, "It is about them going through the stuff that teens go through every day. The writing is very realistic. I have gone through most of these problems." Rosero McCoy, a choreographer for Camp Rock
and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
was tapped to be a choreographer for the show, along with Claude Racine. The series follows Hannah Montana, Jonas L.A., I'm in the Band
and Phineas and Ferb
as Disney's latest foray into music-oriented series.
and directed by Shelley Jensen
. Sharon Swab and Rosario J. Roveto, Jr. are credited as assistant directors. All main cast members appear in the episode. Recurring cast members Caroline Sunshine
, Anita Barone
, and R. Brandon Johnson
debut in their roles of Tinka Hessenheffer, Georgia Jones, and Gary Wilde, respectively. Matthew Scott Montgomery guest stars as A.D., as well as Charlie DePewa as Alex Scott. Duncan Tran and Luke Broadlick appear in bit roles as "Shake it Up Chicago" dancers. As the premiere episode of the series, "Start It Up" first aired on November 7, 2010, following an hour-long special of Hannah Montana Forever
.
Four original songs recorded for the series are present in this episode. All of them are present in portions of the "Shake it Up Chicago" segments of the show. "Roll the Dice" was written by Niclas Molinder, Joacim Persson, Johan Alkenas, and Geraldo Sandell. Molinder, Persson and Alkenas also receive writing credits on "Our Generation," also written by Drew Ryan Scott. "Watch Me" was written and produced by Ben Charles, Aaron Harmon, and Jim Wes,also "All the Way Up".
of Hannah Montana
. The premiere scored an 11.0 rating (2.7 million viewers) among the 9–14 year old demographic and a 10.6 rating/share (2.6 million viewers) among the 6-11 year-old demographic. It also became the highest-rated Sunday debut for a Disney Channel original series. Overall, it was the seventh most-watched program that aired on US cable television on November 7, 2010.
Shake It Up (TV series)
Shake It Up is an American television sitcom airing on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on November 7, 2010. Created by Chris Thompson and starring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, the show follows the adventures of Cece Jones and Rocky Blue as they star as background dancers on...
, a female buddy-show with a dance concept, starring Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne
Annabella Avery "Bella" Thorne is an American teen actress, dancer, singer, and model. She is a child model and actor with appearances in more than 20 films and television series and more than 60 commercials, she is best known for her role as the aspiring young dancer, CeCe Jones on the Disney...
and Zendaya. As the series' opening episode, it introduces the main characters in the series, and follows Rocky (Zendaya) and CeCe (Thorne) as they tryout for "Shake It Up Chicago", after being encouraged by Deuce (Adam Irigoyen
Adam Irigoyen
Adam Irigoyen is an American actor, singer, rapper and dancer. He is best known for his role as Deuce Martinez on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up.-Career:...
) and Ty (Roshon Fegan
Roshon Fegan
Roshon Bernard Fegan is an American actor, dancer, rapper and musician. He is best known for his role as Sander Loyer in the Disney Channel movie franchise Camp Rock and for his role as Ty Blue on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up!.-Early life:Roshon Fegan was born on October 6,...
). Also in this episode, Flynn (Davis Cleveland
Davis Cleveland
Davis Cleveland is an American television actor, rapper and singer. He is best known for his role as the mischievous little brother Flynn Jones on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up.-Career:...
) tries to avenge CeCe and Rocky for his breakfast.
The episode premiered on the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
on November 7, 2010. It was directed by Shelley Jensen
Shelley Jensen
Shelley Jensen is an American television director and producer.He has directed episodes for a number notable television series including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Friends, Amen, What I Like About You, The Drew Carey Show, Webster, The Suite Life on Deck, Sonny with a Chance, I'm in the Band,...
and written by series creator Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson (TV producer)
Chris Thompson is an American television writer, producer and director. Since 1977, he has written and produced for the television series Laverne & Shirley and The Larry Sanders Show...
. The episode features four original songs recorded for the series. It was watched by approximately 6.2 million viewers, becoming Disney's second-highest rated series premiere since Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
in 2006. The episode was also the seventh most-watched cable event on television on the Sunday it aired.
Plot
The episode introduces the characters of Rocky Blue (Zendaya) and CeCe Jones (Bella ThorneBella Thorne
Annabella Avery "Bella" Thorne is an American teen actress, dancer, singer, and model. She is a child model and actor with appearances in more than 20 films and television series and more than 60 commercials, she is best known for her role as the aspiring young dancer, CeCe Jones on the Disney...
). They appear in a group of people waiting at a subway stop, as Rocky plays her boombox and they attempt to dance for money. They give a rousing performance, which gets everyone in the crowd dancing as well. When they are done, the performance is received with applause, however, after receiving the hat they passed around, Rocky sees that they have only earned a dime. After telling the crowd that they want money for cell phones, and an operation, they pass around the hat again, only to see that their dime is gone.
Next, the girls get ready for school, and CeCe does her daily ritual of yelling out her apartment window for Rocky, who lives on the floor above, to get ready for school. While preparing for school, "Shake it Up Chicago" appears on television, and CeCe dances along to it. CeCe's mother, Georgia (Anita Barone
Anita Barone
Anita Louise Barone is an American actress. She is best known for co-starring roles in sitcoms The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Daddio and The War at Home.-Life and career:Barone was born in St. Louis, Missouri...
), who is a police officer, and her brother Flynn (Davis Cleveland
Davis Cleveland
Davis Cleveland is an American television actor, rapper and singer. He is best known for his role as the mischievous little brother Flynn Jones on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up.-Career:...
). When Georgia orders CeCe to fix breakfast for Flynn, Rocky arrives through the window, to rush CeCe to catch the subway for school. In a rush, the duo prepare a "one-minute breakfast" for Flynn, mixing his cereal in a blender and putting it in a bag. As they arrive at school, their friend Deuce (Adam Irigoyen
Adam Irigoyen
Adam Irigoyen is an American actor, singer, rapper and dancer. He is best known for his role as Deuce Martinez on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up.-Career:...
) is introduced, offering them bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
concert tickets. He then tells them about an opportunity to audition on their favorite show, "Shake it Up Chicago." After deciding to go to the auditions, their rivals, Gunther and Tinka Hessenheffer (Kenton Duty
Kenton Duty
Kenton Duty is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his recurring role as "Young Jacob" on the final season of the ABC primetime drama, Lost, and for his co-starring role as the flamboyant European exchange student, Gunther Hessenheffer on the Disney Channel comedy series, Shake It...
and Caroline Sunshine
Caroline Sunshine
Caroline Sunshine is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Barbara Winslow in the Fox family film, Marmaduke, and for her co-starring role as flashy European exchange student Tinka Hessenheffer on the Disney Channel comedy series Shake It Up.-Early life:Caroline Sunshine was born...
), are introduced, and they tell CeCe and Rocky their plans of trying out for the show as well.
Before going to the auditions, Rocky has an impromptu dance-off with her brother, Ty (Roshon Fegan
Roshon Fegan
Roshon Bernard Fegan is an American actor, dancer, rapper and musician. He is best known for his role as Sander Loyer in the Disney Channel movie franchise Camp Rock and for his role as Ty Blue on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up!.-Early life:Roshon Fegan was born on October 6,...
). CeCe encourages him to try out also, but he says that he "doesn't dance for the man." Both do well in their preliminary auditions, and Rocky shines during the solo round. However, CeCe gets stage fright and ends up running off stage. Rocky finds her crying at the subway stop, embarrassed and referring to herself as a loser. When CeCe brings up how Rocky is better and names all of her good qualities, Rocky replies with things good about CeCe. CeCe then accompanies Rocky on "Shake it Up Chicago" to support her. Rocky then tries to get CeCe onstage with her, and when she refuses, Rocky uses Georgia's handcuffs to make her come and they dance onstage together. After the segment is over, the show's host, Gary Wilde (R. Brandon Johnson
R. Brandon Johnson
R. Brandon Johnson is an American actor and TV host. He currently co-stars as dance show host Gary Wilde on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up.-Career:...
) decides to let CeCe join the show as well. Trying to unlock the handcuffs, Rocky realizes they are gone. Flynn took the keys in retaliation for their "one-minute breakfast" prepared for him.
Development
The show was ordered up as Disney's attempt in its first female buddy show, but with a dance-driven aspect. Initially carrying the working title Dance, Dance Chicago, the original description was described as the journey of two kids on an contemporary American BandstandAmerican Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
-type show. Veteran television producers Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson (TV producer)
Chris Thompson is an American television writer, producer and director. Since 1977, he has written and produced for the television series Laverne & Shirley and The Larry Sanders Show...
and Rob Lotterstein
Rob Lotterstein
Rob Lotterstein is an American television writer, producer and creator. He has produced and written for numerous television sitcoms including Boy Meets World, Suddenly Susan, Ellen, and Will & Grace, as well as serving as creator and executive producer of the critically acclaimed FOX sitcom The War...
were assigned to work on the story. Casting for the show began in October 2009. Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne
Annabella Avery "Bella" Thorne is an American teen actress, dancer, singer, and model. She is a child model and actor with appearances in more than 20 films and television series and more than 60 commercials, she is best known for her role as the aspiring young dancer, CeCe Jones on the Disney...
and Zendaya were cast as the two female leads, as well as Camp Rock
Camp Rock
Camp Rock is a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie starring the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. The music is written by Julie Brown, Paul Brown, Regina Hicks and Karen Gist. The film is directed by Matthew Diamond and produced by Alan Sacks....
cast member Roshon Fegan
Roshon Fegan
Roshon Bernard Fegan is an American actor, dancer, rapper and musician. He is best known for his role as Sander Loyer in the Disney Channel movie franchise Camp Rock and for his role as Ty Blue on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up!.-Early life:Roshon Fegan was born on October 6,...
in a co-lead role. President of Disney Entertainment, Gary Marsh said the Thorne/Zendaya duo were the most engaging best friends they had seen on the network. On what makes the show different, Marsh said "while buddy comedies have been around since the start of television," that "this is the first time anyone has incorporated dancing into the underlying premise of a sitcom." The concept of the show has been noted to be very similar to that of fellow Disney Channel series Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
, and according to The Sun-Sentinel
Sun-Sentinel
The Sun Sentinel, owned by the Tribune Company, is the main daily newspaper of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S., and all of Broward County, but circulates throughout all of South Florida.-Overview:...
, Shake It Up is the same approach with dance. Additionally, the show is Disney's second series to have a show-within-a-show following "So Random" in Sonny with a Chance
Sonny With a Chance
Sonny with a Chance is an American children's sitcom which aired on Disney Channel, created by Steve Marmel, that follows the experiences of teenager Sonny Munroe, portrayed by Demi Lovato, who becomes the newest accepted cast member of her favorite live comedy show, So Random!.The series debuted...
. Chuck Barney of the Contra Costa Times
Contra Costa Times
The Contra Costa Times is a daily newspaper based in Walnut Creek, California, U.S.. The paper serves Contra Costa and eastern Alameda counties, in the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area...
said that the show's plots "play out in typical Disney Channel style with uncomplicated story lines, broad humor and moral uplift." In an interview, Bella Thorne said of the show, "It is about them going through the stuff that teens go through every day. The writing is very realistic. I have gone through most of these problems." Rosero McCoy, a choreographer for Camp Rock
Camp Rock
Camp Rock is a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie starring the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. The music is written by Julie Brown, Paul Brown, Regina Hicks and Karen Gist. The film is directed by Matthew Diamond and produced by Alan Sacks....
and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam is a 2010 Disney Channel Original Movie and sequel to the 2008 film Camp Rock. Production commenced in August 2009 in Toronto, Ontario and at area summer camps. The movie premiered on on Disney Channel in the USA, along with a live simulcast on Radio Disney...
was tapped to be a choreographer for the show, along with Claude Racine. The series follows Hannah Montana, Jonas L.A., I'm in the Band
I'm in the Band
I'm in the Band, is a live-action sitcom airing on Disney XD in the United States and on Family Channel in Canada. The pilot episode was taped on July 14, 2009, with a "sneak preview" airing on November 27, 2009; the show subsequently joined Disney XD's regular schedule on February 20, 2010, with...
and Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb is an American animated television comedy series. Originally broadcast as a preview on August 17, 2007, on Disney Channel, the series follows Phineas Flynn and his English stepbrother Ferb Fletcher on summer vacation. Every day the boys embark on some grand new project, which...
as Disney's latest foray into music-oriented series.
Episode production
"Start It Up" was written by series creator and producer Chris ThompsonChris Thompson (TV producer)
Chris Thompson is an American television writer, producer and director. Since 1977, he has written and produced for the television series Laverne & Shirley and The Larry Sanders Show...
and directed by Shelley Jensen
Shelley Jensen
Shelley Jensen is an American television director and producer.He has directed episodes for a number notable television series including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Friends, Amen, What I Like About You, The Drew Carey Show, Webster, The Suite Life on Deck, Sonny with a Chance, I'm in the Band,...
. Sharon Swab and Rosario J. Roveto, Jr. are credited as assistant directors. All main cast members appear in the episode. Recurring cast members Caroline Sunshine
Caroline Sunshine
Caroline Sunshine is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Barbara Winslow in the Fox family film, Marmaduke, and for her co-starring role as flashy European exchange student Tinka Hessenheffer on the Disney Channel comedy series Shake It Up.-Early life:Caroline Sunshine was born...
, Anita Barone
Anita Barone
Anita Louise Barone is an American actress. She is best known for co-starring roles in sitcoms The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Daddio and The War at Home.-Life and career:Barone was born in St. Louis, Missouri...
, and R. Brandon Johnson
R. Brandon Johnson
R. Brandon Johnson is an American actor and TV host. He currently co-stars as dance show host Gary Wilde on the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up.-Career:...
debut in their roles of Tinka Hessenheffer, Georgia Jones, and Gary Wilde, respectively. Matthew Scott Montgomery guest stars as A.D., as well as Charlie DePewa as Alex Scott. Duncan Tran and Luke Broadlick appear in bit roles as "Shake it Up Chicago" dancers. As the premiere episode of the series, "Start It Up" first aired on November 7, 2010, following an hour-long special of Hannah Montana Forever
Hannah Montana (season 4)
The fourth and final season of the television series Hannah Montana began airing on Disney Channel on July 11, 2010. Production of the season began on January 18, 2010, and ended on May 14, 2010. It is the only season of the series that was filmed in high definition...
.
Four original songs recorded for the series are present in this episode. All of them are present in portions of the "Shake it Up Chicago" segments of the show. "Roll the Dice" was written by Niclas Molinder, Joacim Persson, Johan Alkenas, and Geraldo Sandell. Molinder, Persson and Alkenas also receive writing credits on "Our Generation," also written by Drew Ryan Scott. "Watch Me" was written and produced by Ben Charles, Aaron Harmon, and Jim Wes,also "All the Way Up".
Reception
The series premiere of Shake It Up was watched by approximately 6.2 million viewers, becoming Disney Channel's highest-rated premiere in Disney Channel’s 27-year history, only behind the March 24, 2006 series premiereLilly, Do You Want to Know a Secret?
Lilly, Do You Want to Know a Secret? is the pilot episode of the award-winning Disney Channel sitcom series Hannah Montana. It was written by Gary Dontzig, Steven Peterman, and Michael Poryes. It originally aired on March 24, 2006...
of Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
. The premiere scored an 11.0 rating (2.7 million viewers) among the 9–14 year old demographic and a 10.6 rating/share (2.6 million viewers) among the 6-11 year-old demographic. It also became the highest-rated Sunday debut for a Disney Channel original series. Overall, it was the seventh most-watched program that aired on US cable television on November 7, 2010.
Credits and personnel
Taken from the credits of "Start It Up."- Bryan Hays – photography director
- Greg Richman – production designer
- Kris Trexler – edtior
- Frank Pace – Unit production designer
- Rosario J. Roveto, Jr. – assistant director
- Sharon Swab – assistant director
- Howard Meltzer – casting
- Cheryl Foliart – music supervisor
- Rosero McCoy – choreography
- Claude Racine – assistant chorographer
- Peter Flisinger – associate choreography
- Jessica Replansky – costume director
- Paula Sutor – make-up department head
- Katherine Kremp – hair styling department head
- Daryn Reid-Gooddall – set decorator
- Jerry M. Armstrong – property director
- Frances Alet – script supervisor
- Christopher James Burke – production coordinator
- Dani Eslin – production controller
- Michael A. Joseph – technical director
- Thomas G. Tcimpdis – video control
- Ron Ybarra – video tape operator
- Jesse W. Peck – production sound mixer
- Charlie McDaniel – re-recording mixer
- John Bickelhaupt – re-recording mixer
- Gary Allen – camera operator
- Jack Chisolm – camera operator
- Larry Gaudette – camera operator
- Mark la Camera – camera operator
- Brian J. McKinnon – gaffer
- Bill Paden – key grip
- Taped at Los Angeles Center StudiosLos Angeles Center StudiosLos Angeles Center Studios is a multipurpose facility in the former Unocal Building next to the 110 freeway in downtown Los Angeles, California. Architect William Pereira designed the Union Oil headquarters in 1960....
- Post-Production Sound by Warner Bros. Post Production SoundWarner Bros.Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
- Digital Post-Production by Ascent MediaAscent MediaAscent Media Corporation is a holding public company whose primary subsidiary is Ascent Media Group, LLC. Ascent Media Group is a Delaware limited liability company , which provides creative and technical services to the media and entertainment industries. Ascent Media was a wholly owned...
- Featured music written and produced by Niclas Molinder, Joacim Persson, Johan Alkenas, Geraldo Sandell, Ben Charles, Aaron Harmon, Jim Wes, and Drew Ryan Scott