Debby Ryan

Article by LANA BERKOWITZ, Houston Chronicle. This story is about Debby Ryan, the star of 16 Wishes, which is out on DVD in a Special Edition for a limited time only  this month at retailers everywhere. When Disney Channel star Debby Ryan heard the words “parade” and “Texas,” she did not hesitate to say yes to the Thanksgiving invitation.

Ryan, who plays Bailey Pickett on The Suite Life on Deck, will be the celebrity co-host for KHOU’s broadcast of the H-E-B Holiday Day parade that begins at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day at Minute Maid Park.

The 17-year-old said the network people know that she is obsessed with parades. And when it comes to appearances in Texas, Ryan said: “I’m totally already packed and ready to go.”

Ryan lived in Killeen and Germany before her family settled in the Dallas/Fort Worth area when she 10 years old. When she landed the role in the comedy series starring Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Ryan and her mother moved to Los Angeles.

Texas is well-represented on the Disney lot. Selena Gomez and Jennifer Stone of Wizards of Waverly Place,Mitchel Musso of Hannah Montana plus Demi Lovato and Tiffany Thornton of Sonny With a Chance have Lone Star State connections. Also there are extras and people behind the scenes who share Texas roots.

“I love L.A. people. They are very artistic and very fun, but there’s nothing quite like someone who understands craving a good sweet tea and staying home to watch the college game. It’s definitely a different life,” Ryan said. After the parade, Ryan will spend time with family in San Antonio.

Ryan loooooves parades, she says, and this will be her first time as a commentator. “I have a lot of opinions, and I do love to talk,” she said.

Ryan, who starred in and recorded music for the Disney Channel film 16 Wishes, is not sure which path her future will take.

“I actually started out to get into dramatic film acting,” Ryan said, but she has come to love the art of sitcom.

“I’m really finding this amazing magic in the sitcom world that I’m loving and kind of not wanting to leave behind,” she said. “But I would love to expand into producing. Developing maybe a pilot or even like a movie for television. Something like that would really be fun to do.” For the rest of the article, click here.