Mane Story

If you don’t know a pegasister or brony, it might be hard to understand the extreme fandom of Discovery Family’s “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.” But if you get one of these mega fans talking, you’ll soon be schooled. The show, which debuts its 7th season on Saturday at 11:30am, attracts both old and young, male and female. “I think what really makes this brand stand out is the fact they keep it very relevant in regards to the storyline. Throughout its history, and especially now in this new era, there are a lot of references to pop culture, a lot of parodies,” said Angela Sondon, vp, Discovery Family. “Parents can enjoy it with their kids, and also pick up on nuances and references that may be above their kids’ heads. That’s what makes it so ideal for Discovery Family, given that for us, our big goal is co-viewing.” Helping that have been celeb guest stars. Weird Al plays pony fave Cheese Sandwich and Patton Oswalt voices the pony Quibble Pants. Season 7 will bring even more guest star fun in the form of William Shatner and Felicia Day. “Usually the way it comes about [with guest stars] is more often than not, they’re fans of the show,” Sondon explained. “The creators will see they mentioned it an article or tweeted about My Little Pony— that’s how they get them. They’re usually thrilled to be a part of it.” And seriously, who wouldn’t want to be have an alter pony ego? With such a dedicated fan base, Discovery Family has had fun really ponying it up for the new season. For the past week, there’s been a Pony Palooza takeover for the entire daypart across the week. And for the entire month, kids can vote for their favorite eps to air in the 4pm timeslot. Look for the pony tricks to ramp up even more in October when “My Little Pony: The Movie” hits the big screen. – Amy Maclean