Bridgit Mendler’s hard work is paying off.

After guest spots on Disney Channel shows like JONAS and Wizards of Waverly Place, the 17-year-old actress has finally landed her own show, Good Luck Charlie. Bridgit plays Teddy Duncan, and she’s definitely bringing a bit of herself to the role.

I am,” she said. “I feel like I get some me out of Teddy when I’m having a nerdy moment especially because I’m kind of a nerd myself.”

You may know her as Juliet from Disney’s hit series Wizards of Waverly Place, but Bridgit Mendler will be front and center in the young Hollywood spotlight, as she stars in her new Disney television series called Good Luck Charlie (Premiering TONIGHT on Disney at 8:30pm). We had the opportunity to talk to Bridgit, who chatted about her new role, as well as what it’s like being in the Disney family!

Bridgit stars as Teddy in Good Luck Charlie, along side Jason Dolley who plays her brother. “It’s about this family of 5 who has another child, and the parents have to go back to work so the kids have to help out with the baby, and all sorts of chaos ensues.” Bridgit said. “It’s been really fun to do.”

If dying is easy and comedy is hard, then writing comedy for Disney Channel must be harder still.

Take the biology joke originally considered for the network’s new sitcom “Good Luck Charlie,” which is slated to premiere in the spring. A teenage girl and her “hot” classmate are snuggled on the couch during a study date. When he reaches to turn off the light, she was to say: “Now I’m in the mood for some biology.”

The line received a hearty laugh at a table reading but also raised the eyebrows of Adam Bonnett, Disney Channel’s senior vice president of original series, who jokingly asked the show’s creative team if they could convey the same information without being “so . . . biological.” The dialogue was eventually replaced by a chaste glance. “There was sensitivity that she was being a little too forward,” Bonnett said.

A wholesome celebrity- academy graduate, Bridgit Mendler, 16, is the star of the next new Disney Channel sitcom.

Bridgit Mendler is a willowy, blond teen with a sweet singing voice and decent comic timing. She’s also the show-biz equivalent of the next iPhone — a young Disney star-in-waiting. Mendler, 16, is getting the full Disney Channel rollout. Introduced with recurring guest spots on two of its hit shows, Jonas and Wizards of Waverly Place, she will star in her own series, Good Luck Charlie, in 2010. “I’ve been told to brace myself,” says Mendler. “If we have the success I hope we have with the show, everything will change.”

Mendler is following a path to fame the channel has mapped over the past three years as it has launched serial stars into orbit: the supernova Miley Cyrus in 2006, Selena Gomez in 2007, the Jonas Brothers in 2008 and Demi Lovato this year.

Source: Time (click to view full story)

Even the Disney Channel isn’t safe from the vampire phenomenon, as Wizards of Waverly Place will be getting a storyline revolving around these bloodsuckers.  The four-episode special features new characters, one of which is played by upcoming star Bridgit Mendler.

The 16-year-old actress is the newest girl that the network is banking on, but she’s already been around for quite some time.  On Wizards of Waverly Place, she’ll be portraying the character Juliet who ends up forming a romance with Justin (David Henrie).

Beginning with “Wizards vs. Vampires on Waverly Place,” we’ll get to know Juliet as she moves in with her batty family and rivals the Russo’s restaurant.  A new sandwich shop called the Late Night Bite opens in Waverly, so Jerry (David DeLuise) sends his son in to spy.

Justin obeys, but when he locks gazes with Juliet, he immediately falls for her.  Unfortunately, their opposing backgrounds turn their parents wary, so both are forbidden to date the other.