Nick Goes to School With Wayside

Wednesday, June 06, 2007
By: Ryan Ball

Nickelodeon announced that it will premiere its new animated series Welcome to Wayside on Monday, June 25 at 12:30 p.m. Based on the best-selling book series by Louis Sachar (Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Holes) the 26-episode, half-hour show series will air regularly on weekdays at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Produced by Nelvana, Welcome to Wayside takes place at a wacky, 30-story grade school where off-the-wall events are an everyday occurrence. The series chronicles the adventures of Mrs. Jewls’ class on the 30th floor and is seen through the eyes of Todd, an average kid who is new to the school. H befriends Maurecia, the tough girl who finds it easier to express herself with physical actions rather than words, Dana, an over-emotional over-achiever and Myron, an ineptly ambitious politician. Their peers include a boy who wears his Halloween elf costume every day, a kid who spends his days upside down and a girl who’s always asleep.

In the first part of the premiere episode, “Oh, Great Leader,” Principal Kidswatter mistakes a surprise birthday party as a plot to overthrow him and recruits Todd to be his spy for him. Te second half, “Meet the Pets,” everyone brings their pet to class and leaves Todd, the only kid who doesn’t have one, to watch the animals while they go out for recess. Chaos ensues when the pets escape, but Todd is able to learn a lesson in responsibility when a visit from the past encourages him to take control.

Sideways Stories From Wayside School, the first book in the series, was written in 1976. Sachar has since written more than twenty books for young people, including four more in the Wayside series. His books have sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 30 languages. He also wrote the screenplay for Disney’s successful live-action feature film based on his Newbery award-winning young adult book, Holes.

Reader Comments

• John Derevlany : Writer/Story Editor :

  Tuesday, June 12, 2007

  I\'m glad to see \"Wayside\" get some press but I\'m wondering why this kind of site, which celebrates animation so well, doesn\'t bother to mention the actual writers, directors and artists that make a show like Wayside happen. I know we rarely get mentioned in the formal press release. I was just hoping for more from Animation Magazine.
  (FYI - I was the story editor on the show, and wrote most of the episodes. Riccardo Durante was the director).

• nick : www : cars

  Friday, September 07, 2007

  cars rock

• Trish Smithers : NA : NA

  Thursday, October 18, 2007

  Who is the voice of the new kid at Wayside, ya know, the red haired one. I heard from someone that it was Zac Efron, and i wanted to know if it was true. If anyone knows who it is please let me know. my email is triciads10@yahoo.com