Former NFL player Martellus Bennett has brought his story to life in a new Disney Jr. series, 'Hey A.J.', an animated show inspired by his relationship with his daughter Austyn Jett. The series is based on two children's books written and illustrated by the retired NFL star, titled 'Hey A.J. It's Saturday' and 'Hey A.J. It's Bedtime'.
In the show, Bennett voices his character Marty, while Amari McCoy stars as A.J., a creative girl who uses her imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary with the help of her trusty sidekick Theo. The series aims to promote diversity and encourage kids to tap into their own creativity.
Bennett hopes that 'Hey A.J!' will inspire both children and parents to engage in imaginative play together, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of community. He emphasizes that "the biggest thing is about the entire family participating in each other's imaginations," wanting viewers to join in on the fun and use their imagination as a team.
The first seven episodes premiered on Disney Jr. on January 13, with subsequent availability on Disney+ on January 14. As Bennett shares his experience, it becomes clear that his personal connection to Austyn Jett is at the heart of this project – "I don't write a story without my daughter's input," he says proudly.
By bringing 'Hey A.J!' to life, Bennett aims to create a show that resonates with young audiences and their families. The series' positive message about collaboration, diversity, and imagination will undoubtedly inspire new generations of dreamers and storytellers.
In the show, Bennett voices his character Marty, while Amari McCoy stars as A.J., a creative girl who uses her imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary with the help of her trusty sidekick Theo. The series aims to promote diversity and encourage kids to tap into their own creativity.
Bennett hopes that 'Hey A.J!' will inspire both children and parents to engage in imaginative play together, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of community. He emphasizes that "the biggest thing is about the entire family participating in each other's imaginations," wanting viewers to join in on the fun and use their imagination as a team.
The first seven episodes premiered on Disney Jr. on January 13, with subsequent availability on Disney+ on January 14. As Bennett shares his experience, it becomes clear that his personal connection to Austyn Jett is at the heart of this project – "I don't write a story without my daughter's input," he says proudly.
By bringing 'Hey A.J!' to life, Bennett aims to create a show that resonates with young audiences and their families. The series' positive message about collaboration, diversity, and imagination will undoubtedly inspire new generations of dreamers and storytellers.
! It's like, so cool that Martellus Bennett is bringing his story to life and sharing it with kids everywhere. I love that he got to collaborate with his daughter Austyn Jett on the books and now she's a part of the show too - that's just amazing 
. I'm def gonna have to check it out with my niece or nephew, they'll love it! And I gotta agree with Bennett, making time for imaginative play is super important, especially for kids 
. It's all about breaking down barriers and having fun together, you know? Can't wait to see more episodes! 
I think this is so cool! Martellus Bennett using his platform to share his daughter's story and promote creativity in kids is amazing 
. I love how it's all about breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of community, that's so important for our young minds 
. And can we talk about how cute Amari McCoy is as A.J.? 
I love how he's encouraging kids (and parents!) to use their imagination together - it's all about breaking down barriers and having fun as a family. Can't wait to watch the episodes with my little ones and get creative together 
I mean, I'm not sure if this is a good idea... like, I think it's cool that Martellus Bennett is making an animated show for kids and all, but at the same time... isn't he, you know, kinda famous already? 
And now he's just gonna use his daughter as inspiration for a kids' show? It feels like he's, like, profiting off her story or something. But on the other hand... I guess it's sweet that he's trying to inspire creativity in kids and promote diversity. 
I mean, who doesn't love a good animated show, right? 
Wait, no... I take that back. Maybe this is actually a great idea and he's doing something really cool for the community? 
Yeah, let me rephrase that: I'm not sure if I like it or hate it... can I just agree with myself on both sides of the argument now? 
, and now they're sharing it with the world through this adorable Disney Jr. series. The fact that he wrote those books himself and got Amari McCoy to voice A.J. in the show is just genius! 
And it's great that he's promoting diversity in the show too. The fact that Austyn Jett was the inspiration behind this whole thing is proof that kids are already making a difference in the world 
. I'm already looking forward to binge-watching the first seven episodes with my little ones! 
. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to put a cartoon show about a kid's imagination on kids' TV? It sounds like something my niece would watch and get all mushy about 
. And what's with the NFL guy doing an animated show? Can't he just stick to playing football or whatever it is he does now? 
I guess if the goal is to make parents look cool in front of their kids, then 'Hey A.J.' might be a decent way to do that 
. But honestly, I think I'd rather watch paint dry on a Saturday afternoon 
... I mean, it's cute or whatever. Martellus Bennett is just using his daughter Austyn Jett's story as a way to get attention and sell more merchandise. The show sounds cheesy and preachy, but hey, if it gets kids excited about imagination and diversity, I guess that's a good thing 
, especially after hearing about how Austyn Jett was involved in the creation process 
!
I love that he voices his character Marty, but it's awesome to see Amari McCoy as the main character A.J. who uses her imagination to make everyday life more exciting 
My little cousin would totally love this show, I'm gonna ask my mom to get it for me 
. It's so important for us to inspire young minds to be creative and think outside the box 
! And having a former NFL player creating something as wholesome as this show is just amazing 
!
'Hey A.J.' is such a great way to encourage creativity and diversity in young minds. It's so cool that he's sharing his personal story with Austyn Jett, making the show even more special. I'm sure it'll inspire both kids and parents to have fun together and use their imaginations 
! He's even got his own character Marty in the show which is awesome, I bet it's gonna be hilarious