Just like Scott Fellows knows middle school, Pamela Eells O’Connell knows the fish out of water/high school environment.  She’s exec produced or co-exec produced The Suite Life on Deck, The Suite Life of Z&C, Jessie and now Bunk’d.

With Jessie getting close to its final episode, DC had a couple of options: End Jessie or move some of its characters to a new situation.  It worked well with Suite Life so Ravi, Zuri and Emma have been sent off to Camp Kikiwaka up in Maine for the summer.  I’m not sure how long a summer in camp series can last, but we will put that aside for a moment or two.

In Bunk’d, Ravi and Emma are Counselors in Training at the camp.  There’s Camp Counselor Lou (she seems like a counselor on steroids), Camp Counselor/Hottie Xander (former American Idol contestant Kevin G Quinn) and Camp Annoyance Hazel (Tessa Nettig). Hazel needs to dial it down a notch or two … or three.  The show quickly sets up the competitive dynamic between Emma and Hazel and the possible triangle between them and Xander.

In Ravi’s cabin is Head Counselor Xander and camper Jorge, who’s a junior version of the Suite Life on Deck’s Woody.  Jorge apparently can fart for a long time and was taken to brunch by aliens.  This just seems like a weird set up.  Why not make Jorge a city kid enjoying his first summer at camp.

In Emma’s cabin is Lou, Zuri and smartpants Tiffany (her best line, when Lou says something about college being seven years away: “I’m doing really early admission.”)  Tiffany, who is Asian-American, plays the violin and is studying for the National Spelling Bee.  Zuri makes it her mission to make sure Tiffany has some fun during the summer.  If summer means breaking out of this stereotype, I’m all for it.

Interestingly, Emma’s mom, Christina Ross, was a legendary counselor at the Camp.  So Emma has big shoe to fill.  Peyton List continues to grow and mature as Emma, and by the end of the episode realizes, “I’m tougher than I thought.”

Luke does get a mention in the beginning – he’s off at summer school.  I’d expect Debbie Ryan (Jessie) to make a visit during parent’s day.  Perhaps we’ll get to see Mr. Moseby here as well!

There’s enough of a variety of dynamics here to make this watchable for teens and tweens.  Plus DC usually doesnt run with a show unless they know they can get three or four seasons out of it.

Now the real treat – Mary Scheer is back on TV as camp owner Gladys.  She was a stitch as Freddy’s mom on iCarly – and I only expect good things from her here as well.  I’d go for the inside joke and have Nathan Kress visit the camp as her son.

So DC hasn’t punk’d us with bunk’d …