'Raising Hope' Welcomes a 'High School Musical' Star
Ashley Tisdale shoves off the microphone and replaces it with her acting prowess by getting to start at another show.
The "High School Musical" star will have a cameo in a February episode of "Raising Hope," wherein she poses as the fake girlfriend of Jimmy Chance, played by Lucas Neff.
"Here's the official logline: Jimmy pretends to have a girlfriend to make Sabrina (Shannon Woodward) jealous, which ends up working: She ends up breaking up with her longtime boyfriend Wyatt. Thanks for your help, Sharpay!" reports Entertainment Weekly.
Tisdale is a 27-year old actress and singer who became prominent starring as Maddie Fitzpatrick in "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody," a hit show on the Disney Channel. She is also well known for her role as Sharpay Evans, the antagonist in the "High School Musical" film series, also by Disney.
Tisdale also played the highly religious cheerleader Savannah Monroe in the recently cancelled show, "Hellcats," broadcast by The CW. But she is even better known for lending her voice to the hit Disney Channel cartoon "Phineas & Ferb" which is the most-watched animated series among children.
"Raising Hope" revolves around the Chance family, with Jimmy suddenly becoming a father. This is the result of his one night stand with Lucy, whom Jimmy eventually found out was a serial killer and got sent to death row. The comedy's first season was well-received and has been renewed for a second season that started this September. Maw Maw, Jimmy's grandmother and Hope's great-grandmother will receive starring roles this next season.
Neff, 25, may have a short list of movie references under his belt, but that does not automatically count him out as a small time player. With the acting prowess he is displaying on the hit comedy show, it will not be long before he reaches the big screen.
At its young age, "Raising Hope" has already been nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Martha Plimpton) and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (Cloris Leachman).