Will TeenNick FINALLY go back to having another new show to go along with Degrassi in primetime?

Epitome Pictures has announced it’s producing a new show called “Open Heart,” which will air on YTV in Canada and TeenNick in the U.S. Degrassi writer Ramona Barckert is writer and showrunner for this new series, which means I now have high expectations for this show.

Via press release:

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OPEN HEART is a gripping mystery series, folded into a sprawling family saga, set against the high-stakes workplace and relationship drama of a hospital. Dylan Blake, the rebellious daughter of a fractured family of doctors, uses her stint as a youth hospital volunteer to secretly investigate the mysterious disappearance of her father.

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Karis Cameron (above) is the series’ lead character. She will play Dylan Blake, the “gutsy and headstrong heroine who is determined to unravel the mystery that plagues the halls of Open Heart Memorial.”

Degrassi alums Justin Kelly, Cristine Prosperi and Dylan Everett will also star (for the full list of characters, click here). Other notable names joining this series: Stephen Stohn and Linda Schuyler will co-produce with Ramona Barckert, and longtime Degrassi writer Brendon Yorke is also on board. Stefan Brogren and Samir Rahem will direct.

This is the first major move Epitome’s made since being acquired by DHX Media. On the American side it’s awesome to see TeenNick finally getting into the action and adding a new series besides Degrassi and TeenNick Top 10. Reruns of old Nick shows drive their ratings, but I’d love to see even just a small block of new content geared toward teens.

Stephen Stohn has been tweeting out the twitter handles of many of the people involved with the show:

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