ROCK ROYALTY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER GRACE THE UP ORIGINAL SERIES
"SHANNON & SOPHIE"
Brand-New Docu-Series Starring Hollywood Mother-Daughter Duo
Shannon & Sophie Tweed-Simmons
Premieres Exclusively on Thursday, April 16 at 9 p.m. EDT
with Two Back-to-Back Episodes
ATLANTA - March 25, 2015 - The new UP Original Series "Shannon & Sophie" (#ShannonandSophie, #smotherhood) explores and celebrates the close, funny mother-daughter relationship of Shannon Tweed-Simmons, actress, model and wife of KISS legendary bassist/co-lead vocalist Gene Simmons, and their daughter Sophie Tweed-Simmons, an actress, singer and fashion designer. Gene Simmons and son Nick Simmons also appear in the show. Produced by Force Four Entertainment, "Shannon & Sophie" premieres with back-to-back episodes on Thursday, April 16 at 9 p.m. EDT. Entertainment One (eOne) handles worldwide distribution for the series.
In the eight-episode reality series, the "diamond duo" of Gene Simmons Family Jewels fame navigate the everyday challenges of celebrity life and start a new chapter in their lives as Sophie decides it's time to leave the family home and spread her wings as an adult - with Shannon flying protectively close behind.
Born into Rock and Roll royalty, raised in Hollywood and introduced to American TV viewers when she was 11, straight-laced Sophie is Shannon's loving daughter, best friend, and polar opposite. Sophie doesn't drink, has her own children's advocacy charity (Sophie's Place, centered in Surrey, British Columbia), and is diligently pursuing her acting and music ambitions after college. And as she turns 21, Sophie resolves to blaze her own trail, starting with finding her own home. Shannon can't help but follow Sophie, hoping to ensure that her daughter's path not only leads in the right direction but is wide enough for two.
Eventually out from under her parent's roof, but not their shadows, Sophie works on establishing her own voice. A path that takes her this season from LA to Nashville to sing with The Tenors, to New York to shoot a blog with Cosmo, and to Vancouver to sing the anthem in front of a packed stadium of football fans. Along for the ride, Shannon walks the fine line between meddling mother and supportive best friend. Shannon is grappling with being an empty nester and not really dealing with it. Still, she's is not done living her own life. While in an ongoing, constantly changing, hilarious battle of wills with her husband, Shannon takes on everything from dog adoption fairs to charity events. Together Shannon & Sophie share in each new experience with equal parts enthusiasm, and sarcastic commentary. They may be embarking on entirely different phases of their lives but both mother and daughter are always teaching and learning - by each other's sides, and in each other's faces.
"We fell in love with the loving and funny mother-daughter relationship between Shannon and Sophie," said Amy Winter, EVP and general manager, UP. "In 'Shannon & Sophie,' we get a chance to see these two fun, offbeat personalities as they prepare for something all families face - a child leaving home and going out on their own. In the end, the series shows that it doesn't matter where you come from... whether Hollywood or the Heartland, your Mom will always be your biggest supporter, and still drive you a little crazy."
In the first episode (entitled "Sophie Gets A New Place"), premiering Thursday, April 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, Sophie decides it is time to move out of the family home for good. Immediately, she and best friend Rachel start their search for the perfect place. With Shannon unable to suppress her need to help her daughter, she gets very involved in the search until Sophie makes it clear that this is something she wants to do on her own. With Shannon feeling sidelined and the house hunt going disastrously wrong for Sophie, will mom come to the rescue?
In the second episode (entitled "Sophie's Not A Size 4"), premiering Thursday, April 16 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, spurred by LA's obsession with thinness, Sophie jokes online that she is extreme-dieting. She returns from a trip to Nashville to find the comment has sparked unwanted rumors about her. But after advice from Shannon, Sophie finds a novel, headline-making way to set the record straight.
In additional weeks, the following episodes will air:
Thursday, April 23 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
"Shannon and Sophie Go to Whistler" - The family challenge for the weekend: No first dates for Sophie, no shopping for Shannon, and no tweeting for social-media-obsessed Gene. Shannon's sure she can stand strong, but is tempted almost immediately by the stores of Whistler. Sophie, meanwhile, runs into attractive men at every turn. And Gene records a cute dog video he's just dying to share. When Shannon finds Property Brother and old friend Jonathan Scott is in town, she's convinced to bid on items in a charity auction with which he is involved. He insists it's a foolproof plan to drive up the bidding...but mayhem ensues when Shannon finds herself the winning bid on a ridiculously expensive item that she has to unload before the weekend is up.
Thursday, April 30 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
"Shannon Goes to the Dogs" - When Shannon's long-time friend Reuben show them a canine Gene lookalike at a local dog shelter, Shannon and Sophie agree to hold a dog adoption fair at Shannon's house. Gene's against the idea, knowing Shannon's habit of adopting every dog she meets. Sophie turns to roommate Rachel for help in figuring out what's wrong with the new guy she's been dating, who seems too good to be true.
UP presents "Shannon & Sophie," a Force Four Entertainment production. Executive Producers are John Ritchie, Rob Bromley and Gillian Lowrey. Producer is Dana Johl. Supervising Producer is Deborah Wainwright. Creative Producers are Deborah Wilton and Ed Hatton. Directors are Mark Lawrence and Richard Yearwood. Directors of Photography are Chris Elias and Shawn Viens. Senior Story Producer is Kate Green. Story Producers are Beth Stewart and Laura Toplass. Story Editor is Greg Laikin. Head of Post Production is Jackie Sidoni. Editors are Justin Cousineau, Mike Addison, Gordie MacEachern, Garry Wallace, Judd Bakken, Erin Parks and Peter Steel.
Follow the cast at:
· www.UPtv.com
· Shannon Tweed-Simmons on Twitter @shannonleetweed and online at shannontweed.com
· Sophie Tweed-Simmons on Twitter @sophietsimmons and online at sophietsimmons.com
About UP
UP is the television network dedicated to uplifting viewers every day with original and acquired movies, reality and dramatic series, comedies and music specials. One of the most trusted family-friendly networks on cable, UP can be seen in 69 million homes on cable systems and satellite providers across the United States in both standard and high definition. Along with its mission to entertain, uplift and inspire viewers, UP's pro-social initiative "Uplift Someone" reminds and inspires people to do simple acts of kindness. Based in Atlanta, UP is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC and provides sales and operations services to the ASPiRE network.
Follow UP on the Web at www.UPtv.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UPtv, Twitter on @UPtv and Instagram at UP_TV.
About Force Four Entertainment, an Entertainment One Company
Vancouver-based Force Four began operations in 1983, and has grown to be one of Canada's most successful and respected television production companies, producing more than 500 hours of television and earning accolades on the national and international stage. The company's highly successful television programs include lifestyle, reality and scripted programming that have sold and aired around the world. Force Four's most popular series include "Border Security: Canada's Front Line," "The Cupcake Girls," "Shannon & Sophie," "Village on a Diet," "Murder She Solved," and the scripted sitcom "Seed." Force Four was acquired by international entertainment leader Entertainment One (eOne) in 2014.
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