Disney Channel Wants More "Jonas"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The Jonas Brothers are keepers at Disney Channel.

The cable channel has ordered a second season of the pop stars' comedy series "Jonas," but only after parting ways with the executive producers who launched the series.

"Jonas" premiered in the spring to solid numbers, but couldn't match the heights of Disney Channel hits like "Hannah Montana." It has been winning its Sunday time slot in key kids demographics, averaging 3.4 million viewers.

Production on Season 2 is slated to begin in February for a premiere in the middle of next year. It will follow Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas as they set out on a summer vacation in Los Angeles that leads to them landing gigs in show business. In real life, the brothers are in Italy as part of the European leg of a world concert tour.

Additionally, Disney Channel has renewed the trio's short-form reality series "Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream" for a second season. Filming already is under way for a premiere early next year.

"These guys are the superstars of their generation," said Gary Marsh, Disney Channels Worldwide entertainment president. "We had the opportunity to extend our relationship with them, which we did."

The network hired two new executive producers for "Jonas": showrunner Lester Lewis ("The Office") and director Paul Hoen, who has shot nine Disney Channel movies. They replace Michael Curtis and Roger S.H. Schulman.

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