Vancouver: Fox Family Channel is taking its first foray into one-hour drama by committing to 22 episodes of Cliffhangers, a new series by Lions Gate Television and Paramount International Television. Production began in Vancouver July 19.

Cliffhangers is set in the mountain wilderness at an alternative high school for ‘at-risk’ teens. Actor Joe Lando (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) plays the teacher who has overcome his own nightmare of drug and alcohol abuse to lead the troubled teens. According to the show’s creators, each episode serves as a blueprint for positive ways to meet and overcome many of life’s challenges.

Local producer Harold Tichenor, who oversaw the last season of Nightman, acts as a co-executive producer with Lando, Michael Braverman (Life Goes On, Chicago Hope), Doug Schwartz (Baywatch) and Cliffhangers’ creator Matthew Hastings.

Lions Gate Television’s second dramatic series for the 1999-2000 fall television schedule is Hope Island, which is also produced in Vancouver and will air on pax tv.