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Health & Fitness

Blog Post: ABC Family TV Series Premiere of 'Bunheads,' From the Creator of 'Gilmore Girls

A disenchanted dancer takes the biggest leap of her life in this new ABC Family series.

The bad news is that most of our favorite television series are on hiatus for the summer. The good news is that ABC Family has a new series that is a winner! It's called Bunheads, but don't let that turn you off. It's a term used to describe ballet dancers. 

And ballet dancers is what you'll get, and much more, in this delightful dramedy from the creator of Gilmore Girls (Amy Sherman-Palladino). Since I was a big fan of "GG" I was excited to check this one out. It's similar in tone, also has a small town setting, snappy dialogue, and even co-stars Kelly Bishop who played Emily Gilmore. So if you miss "GG," tune in Monday night. Just because it's ABC Family - this one is for all ages.  

Michelle Simms (Tony Award®-winning actor Sutton Foster) had a promising career as a classically-trained professional dancer but was drawn to the lights of Las Vegas. Now, with a dead-end job as a 30-something showgirl, she’s found the excitement of Sin City has lost its appeal, and her persistent suitor, Hubbell Flowers (Alan Ruck, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), is gaining it. With promises of a cushy life in his coastal town of Paradise, CA., Hubbell convinces Michelle to marry him and move away. Once in there, Michelle discovers that Hubbell forgot to mention that he lives with his mother, the strong-headed, imperious Fanny Flowers (Kelly Bishop, Gilmore Girls), who is not pleased that Hubbell has run off and married a stranger.

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A former dancer herself, Fanny runs the local dance studio, which Michelle comes upon and ends up bonding with some of Fanny’s dance students: sweet “Boo” (Kaitlyn Jenkins), who would give anything to be a “bunhead” but struggles against her body type; rebellious Sasha (Julia Goldani Telles), who possesses the classic ballet dancer’s body and talent but -- distracted by family issues at home -- doesn’t seem to have her heart in dancing; shapely Ginny (Bailey Buntain), who is not yet comfortable in her own skin; and fun-loving Melanie (Emma Dumont), who is ready for whatever life throws at her. Michelle’s budding relationship with these girls helps her adapt to small town living and her uneasy role as a new daughter-in-law.

Sandi Berg is also a freelance journalist and writes about television for several magazines including "Written By" (Writer's Guild of America), "Life After 50" and "Whole Life Times Magazine."

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