Make Your Kids Watch Disney Live Action Movies!

We usually do not put news about movies on TV, however, when I saw this, I had to spread the word. Why? Because I was in Disneyland last month and the Swiss Family Robinson tree-house is now the TARZAN tree-house. I asked why - it's because kids don't know Swiss Family Robinson. Are you kidding me!? What about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Now the Finding Nemo ride), the Herbie movies, The Apple Dumpling Gang or Bedknobs and Broomsticks? Make your kids watch!!!

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is set to conjure up some pure movie magic this December, when the network debuts TCM PRESENTS: THE FAMILY CLASSICS. The festivities will include Sunday movie showcases featuring more than 25 Disney live-action classics, plus an all-new original documentary entitled THE AGE OF BELIEVING: THE DISNEY LIVE-ACTION CLASSICS, to be narrated by Tony® winner and three-time Oscar® nominee Angela Lansbury. The showcases will begin ­each Sunday at noon and feature such films as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Freaky Friday (1976), The Parent Trap (1961), The Love Bug (1968), Treasure Island (1950), The Shaggy Dog (1959) and Swiss Family Robinson (1960), as well as Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), which stars Lansbury.

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Disney's Night of Premieres

New episodes of Disney Channel's popular series for kids and families, "Wizards of Waverly Place," "Phineas and Ferb," "Cory in the House" and the sitcom short series "As the Bell Rings," will air during Disney Channel's "Night of Premieres," FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 (7:55-10:00 p.m., ET/PT). Included in the programming event is the world premiere of "Hannah Montana" star Emily Osment's music video, "Once Upon a Dream," from the "Sleeping Beauty: 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition" Blu-ray™ and DVD release.

The programming lineup is:

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Hey Kids - Can YOU Sing "High School Musical"?

An exclusive user-generated programming event that draws inspiration from the sensational hit "High School Musical" will give kids and Tweens a chance to sing out and express themselves with their own rendition of a song from the two Disney Channel Original Movies.

Kids are invited to submit their music videos for a chance to air during telecasts of "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2" on FRIDAY, JUNE 13 (6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. Kids can rate their favorite video and link them to friends on DisneyChannel.com.

To participate in the "My School Musical" programming event, viewers can log onto www.DisneyChannel.com, choose from the hit songs "Bop to the Top," "Getcha Head in the Game," Fabulous" and "I Don't Dance," and upload their videos through Friday, May 30. The website includes instructions on how to create the videos with friends and family and submit them for consideration. Kids must have their parents' permission to submit content.

Nick Lachey Goes to Summer "School"

Actor, singer/songwriter Nick Lachey will host this summer’s reality show, Disney’s “High School Musical: Summer Session” [working title].

Recently Lachey recorded the title song to the ABC telefilm “Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom’s For One More Day.” He also took home top honors in the NBC special, “Clash of the Choirs,” in which he led a choir of 17 Cincinnatians to the victorious title of America’s Best Choir. He is currently serving as creator and executive producer of a new show based on the lives of students at his alma mater, The Cincinnati High School of Performing Arts. He also recently guest starred alongside Alicia Keys in the MTV micro-series, “Fresh Takes.” His third solo album will be released later this year.

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Auditions for "High School Musical: Summer Session"

The date and location for the west coast open casting call for the new reality series, Disney’s “High School Musical: Summer Session,” will be Sunday, April 27 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, California. The east coast open casting call will be held, as previously announced, on Wednesday, May 7, at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The exact location is the Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex. Both of these open auditions will form part of the early episodes of the series. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 22 is welcome to give it a shot at the open calls (if you are under 18, you must bring your parent or legal guardian) and can download an application and view eligibility requirements at www.abc.com/hsmsummersession.

The series debuts on the ABC Television Network on Sunday, July 20 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) and runs Sundays and Mondays (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) for three weeks, then continues Mondays at 8:00 p.m., ET through mid-September. The producers welcome anyone and everyone aged 16-22 who has dreamed of being center stage -- the high school quarterback who’s never tried out for a play but has a song in his heart, the drama club extrovert looking to break into the big time, someone looking to trade the chess club routine for a dance routine -- all are invited to try to “Get’cha head in the game,” as the hit song says. The finalists will ultimately participate in a summer music program to hone their skills, and one talented newcomer will receive the opportunity of a lifetime, becoming a part of the “High School Musical” family. The winner will receive a grand prize—details will be announced separately. Lots of fantastic surprises await someone with the talent to go to the head of the class!

In addition to the open calls in Long Beach and Orlando, the casting scouts from “High School Musical: Summer Session” are scouring the country looking for otherwise unknown talent who they think deserve a chance to try out for this new reality series. The casting scouts will select some of these individuals to be brought to the final auditions, before a panel of judges, which will be held as the final phases of the open calls. If you are selected to audition, bring your A-game for a chance to appear before our judges and show them why you deserve to join the “High School Musical” family.

"High School Musical 2" Contest

Kid-driven, mom approved Radio Disney will launch the eagerly anticipated listener sweepstakes that provides two lucky "High School Musical 2" fans the chance to vacation with their family at The Inn at Entrada, the premiere St. George, Utah resort where the hit Disney Channel Original Movie was filmed.

The lucky winners receive a three-day, two-night trip for four, including luxury villa-style hotel accommodations, to see firsthand the golf course where Troy Bolton belted out "Bet on It," the poolside where Sharpay, Ryan and the Sharpettes performed "Fabulous" and the bridge where Gabriella and Troy sang the ballad "Gotta Go My Own Way," as well as several nearby locations which served as the movie's country club location and home base for the stars this year.

The Lava Springs Get-Away Sweepstakes, named after the fictitious country club depicted in the wildly popular movie, launches SATURDAY, DEC. 1 on Radio Disney. Listeners can enter to win by calling Radio Disney request lines (1–888-3277 018) and/or entering the code word of the day online at www.RadioDisney.com; phone and online entries will be accepted through TUESDAY, DEC. 11. Radio Disney local stations throughout the country will also host Lava Springs Dance Parties from Dec. 1-31, where listeners can enter the sweepstakes.

Just How Popular is High School Musical 2?

The Wildcats roared back onto TV Friday night and boy did they make their mark!

• “High School Musical 2” now stands as the most-watched basic cable telecast of all time in Total Viewers (17.2 million), topping previous record holder, ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” game on 9/23/06 (16.0 million), by 8%.

• “High School Musical 2” now ranks as the most-watched TV telecast ever in Kids 6-11 (6.1 million), and the most-watched entertainment telecast ever (behind only Super Bowl in 2004) in Tweens 9-14 (5.9 million).

• “High School Musical 2” ranked as the No. 1 basic cable movie of all time in Total Viewers (17.2 million), towering above previous record holder, TNT’s “Crossfire Trail” (15.5 million, 1/21/01), by almost two million viewers, or by 38%.

• “High School Musical 2” was TV’s No. 1 Friday telecast in more than five years (since 5/10/02) in Total Viewers.

Come on, you watched - you know you did! What did you think?

High School Musical 2 Is HERE!

Tonight's the big night! The premiere that will have females falling down and screaming all over America!

No, it's not Justin Timberlake's HBO concert, it's the premiere of Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2"!

The first movie was a phenomenon like we haven't seen in a long time. (New Kids on The Block anyone?) Who knows what HSM2 will bring. But from the media blitz, I'm assuming the phenomenon is only going to be getting bigger!

This time around they are going to a country club. I think I've seen this before. Remember when "90210" spent the summer at the beach club? What about when Zack and the crew on "Saved By The Bell" did the same?

A lot of young people in my life are attending HSM2 parties! If you're throwing or attending one, Disney wants to help!

On their website you can get help with party planning, invitations, song lists, props to use, recipies, guesses on plot lines and so much more.

Think the parties are just for the kiddies? Not so fast, check out this article in the New York Daily News which highlights ADULTS who can't wait.

So, what about you? How do you feel about HSM2?

STOP REMAKING MY CHILDHOOD!

I just read this in the Hollywood Reporter:

"Andy Fickman is coming on board to direct "Witch Mountain," Walt Disney Pictures' modern reimagining of its 1975 adventure movie "Escape to Witch Mountain.'"

COME ON!! Do we really need that to happen? What are you TwoCents on this?

High School Musical 2 News

Buckle up kids - HSM2 is getting close!!

The highly-anticipated summer event for kids, tweens and families, the premiere weekend of "High School Musical 2," will feature a telecast hosted from a backyard barbeque with the movie's stars, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Olesya Rulin, Chris Warren, Jr., KayCee Stroh and Ryne Sanborn, and with acclaimed director/choreographer Kenny Ortega, on FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

Wildcat Chat, an interactive element where viewers get their questions answered by the stars of "High School Musical 2," will be featured during the telecast of the movie on Saturday, August 18 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT). A recap of the results of the "HSM 2 Play Your Way" poll – which amassed 44 million votes worldwide and determined certain elements of the movie – will be presented.

A Sing-Along telecast, with lyrics to each song visible on screen and available for printing exclusively at DisneyChannel.com, will be showcased Sunday, August 19 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT).

In the contemporary musical sequel "High School Musical 2," the Wildcats are back. This time, school's out and East High School hoops star Troy Bolton, A-student Gabriella Montez and the rest of the Wildcats are getting ready for a fun summer vacation. But that all changes when scheming drama queen Sharpay Evans uses her dad's connections to get Troy a job at their ritzy country club – and a chance at a college basketball scholarship. The catch? He'll have to turn his back on his friends and pair up with Sharpay in a musical extravaganza for the club's annual talent show. But when Gabriella and the Wildcats start making plans without Troy, he must decide where his loyalties truly lie.

Farewell...

... Art Stevens, Disney Animator.

Stevens began work at Walt Disney Studios in 1939. According to an AP Story: "Stevens applied for a job at Disney in 1939 after he learned that Walt Disney planned an animated feature based on one of his favorite stories, "Alice in Wonderland," which eventually came out in 1951."

Stevens directed "The Fox & The Hound" and "The Rescuers".

He also worked on such classics as "Fantasia", "Peter Pan", "Bambi", "101 Dalmations", "Mary Poppins", "Robin Hood" and more!

Stevens died from a heart attack at his home at the age of 92.

Jafar, Bambi and The Beast Won't be Returning...AGAIN!

Not in direct-to-DVD movies anyway!

In a GREAT move, Walt Disney Studios has announced they are going to stop making those direct-to-DVD sequels to their best selling original movies.

You know the ones. The Return of Jafar, Lion King 1 1/2, and Mulan 2 for example.

Disney decided to keep the QUALITY in their films and focus on the major releases of their new movies and Pixar films.

They have one more sequel in the works (based on Tinkerbell), and then they will be done.

Nice choice Disney, well played.

A Princess Perfect Wedding...

Disney is now entering yet ANOTHER money making arena.

They are going to sell wedding dresses especially designed by people for the Disney brand.

Would you ever get married in a Disney wedding gown?