Pretty Little Liars: Made Here

By: Yael Tygiel

“Being here today is like coming home,” said “Pretty Little Liars” Executive Producer and Showrunner I. Marlene King at the launch of Pretty Little Liars: Made Here, which will run from June 15 to August 15, 2017. King, along with stars Shay Mitchell (Emily) and Sasha Pieterse (Alison), spoke with press about what this exhibit means to them. “There’s so much history here,” Pieterse added. “It’s so great that [Warner Brothers] is honoring ‘PLL’ and that its part of this iconic history.” Marlene’s gratitude was felt throughout the famous Stage 48. Warner Brothers studio is home to some of the most recognizable sets from some of the most beloved TV shows such as “Friends,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Gilmore Girls.” And now, as Freeform’s hit series “Pretty Little Liars” comes to a close, the unforgettable props and sets are being added to the Studio Tour showcase.

As the stars and their EP reminisced together, they shared behind-the-scenes trivia. For example, The chandelier used in 5×13 “Ice Ball” (the black and white episode) was actually a chandelier from the film My Fair Lady because it was the same stage. Pieterse also shared her mother’s dismay when she visited set and saw A’s shrine to Alison, wondering why photos of her daughter had her eyes X’d out. Pieterse had to remind her, “It’s not real. Don’t worry about it.” King revealed a tidbit about the mysterious doll house noting, “Originally the doll house – which is now a part of this exhibit – was my doll house at home and we thought it would be great for A so the show borrowed it from me. Then, I borrowed it back and now you’re borrowing it back from me.” She went on to tell everyone about her love of props, “I love props. If I wasn’t a show creator, I’d want to be a prop master. Prop meetings are my favorite, probably that’s why they last three hours.”

As for the costumes featured in the exhibit, they range from the innocent liars of the Pilot episode to their “This Is A Dark Ride” looks to Mona’s Black Hoodie.

Mitchell talked about seeing their clothing on display, “It’s kinda crazy. You know when you’re at like, Planet Hollywood and you see Michael Jackson’s glove and you’re like ‘Sick!’ and now it’s like, ‘Emily Fields’ Barbarella Costume!’ It’s kinda cool to even have some of our outfits here. [To Sasha] Your yellow tank top! It’s never gonna go away.”  Pieterse joked, “It’s haunting me.” Regarding her Barbarella costume, Mitchell said, “That for me, as Shay, was like the most exciting thing because I got to wear heels the entire episode – I’m such a girly girl, so I was like ‘ah! This custom outfit!’ and I love obviously Barbarella. So for me, this costume was one of my fondest memories.”

“Our crew worked so hard and they paid so much attention to detail – you could tell that they were really passionate about it. So, I think what’s great about seeing it in person is how hard they worked and how much they loved us and the show. It really shows,” said Pieterse.

“I think my painting is one of my favorite things,” said Pieterse. “I wanted to take it, but I was also like, ‘Where could I put that in my house that would not seem conceited?’ I love it so much. They did such a great job, but I think that’s probably my favorite – only because it was so fun and so different. And I think we were really the only teen geared show that did a black and white episode. It really did feel like history in just having a black and white episode and being in the clothes and the makeup and everything was so real. We used lights from that era – everything was really authentic. So, to see [the painting] just makes me proud. And the photo-shoot just made me proud and everything that they did was really inspiring. So, it just brings me right back to filming that and y’know, ‘Bitchy-Alison’ looking at it all strangely. It really was special…and it really meant a lot to me and I think it meant a lot to the fans. I think it’s pretty cool that they can see it up close.”

The trio also mentioned how important the “PLL” Fandom is, with Pieterse saying, “I love our fans interaction and how amazing they are, so this, I feel, is like kind of giving it back to them and really being able to keep it alive.” King added, “We love our fans so much, and we love our fan family – our PLL family – but as the show is ending I feel like it’s so bittersweet for us. So, we love this idea of keeping the family alive through the summer – come here.”

About Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood was a recipient of Trip Advisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards and has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Attractions in the United States. Fans get to see the real sets and soundstages where the greatest names in entertainment made history as they touch, tour and explore the iconic 110-acre studio.

From June 15 to August 15, 2017 the Pretty Little Liars: Made Here will provide fans with the opportunity to see and experience a collection of authentic props and wardrobe from the show for the first time, including iconic costumes worn by the show’s five lead characters: Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson), Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell), Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario) and Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse).

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood is open Monday through Sunday, 9:00AM to 3:00PM, with tours departing every 30 minutes and extended hours offered during the summer, spring break, and winter holiday seasons. Reservations are recommended and all children eight years or older are welcome. Tickets can be purchased online atwww.wbstudiotour.com or by calling 818-977-TOUR (8687).