Disney Channel Fans

Source: AWN News

Home to the month’s No. 1 TV telecast with HANNAH MONTANA and the No. 1 TV movie with the debut of 75th original movie, HATCHING PETE, Disney Channel ranked as TV’s No. 1 network in Total Day in Tweens 9-14 (478,000/2.0 rating), a position held each week throughout the month in the key demo.

In addition, Disney Channel generated its largest audience in the daypart in 8 months (since August 08) in Total Viewers (1.5 million), Kids 6-11 (564,000) and Tweens 9-14 (478,000), making this month the network’s most-watched April ever in the key targets. Year to year, the net improved by hefty double-digit percentages: +15% in Total Viewers (vs. 1.3 million), +21% in Kids 6-11 (vs. 465,000) and +25% in Tweens 9-14 (vs. 381,000).

Disney Channel delivered the month’s No. 1 TV telecast in Tweens 9-14 with HANNAH MONTANA, as its original outing on Sunday, April 19 (2.1 million/8.4 rating) overshadowed both first run airings of Nickelodeon’s ICARLY for the month (4/11/09 – 1.9 million/7.9 rating; 4/22/09 – 1.7 million/6.9 rating) and all 8 AMERICAN IDOL telecasts on Fox. In Kids 6-11, HANNAH MONTANA was the month’s No. 2 live-action telecast on all of TV (2.0 million/8.0 rating), also surpassing every telecast of American Idol during the month.

In Prime, April 09 wrapped as Disney Channel’s most-watched month in target kid demos in 6 months (since October 08), ranking No. 1 for the 50th consecutive month in Kids 6-11 (953,000/3.9 rating) and for the 49th in Tweens 9-14 (804,000/3.3 rating).

Also impressive, driven by hit series MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE and newest entry SPECIAL AGENT OSO, the net’s preschool targeted Playhouse Disney block recorded the largest Total Viewer (1.3 million) and Kid 2-5 (504,000) audiences for an April ever in the daypart, climbing by a considerable 24% over year-ago levels in both categories.

Program Highlights

– The premiere of the net’s 75th original movie, HATCHING PETE (4/24/09, 8:00-9:40 p.m.) stood as the month’s No. 1 TV movie in Kids 6-11 (1.7 million/7.0 rating) and Tweens 9-14 (1.6 million/6.4 rating), and cable’s most-watched movie in Total Viewers (4.1 million).

– In Tweens 9-14, on an all-play basis, Disney Channel was home to the months’ Top 2 scripted TV shows with SONNY WITH A CHANCE (1.2 million/4.8 rating) and Wizards of Waverly Place (898,000/3.7 rating), and 4 of the Top 5 with HANNAH MONTANA (No. 4 — 822,000/3.4 rating) and THE SUITE LIFE ON DECK (No. 5 – 810,000/3.3 rating) added to the mix.

– In Kids 6-11, among all regularly scheduled series, Disney Channel delivered TV’s No. 1 scripted TV series for the month with SONNY WITH A CHANCE (1.2 million/5.0 rating), 3 of the Top 4 when including WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE (No. 3 — 982,000/4.0 rating) and HANNAH MONTANA (No. 4 — 968,000/4.0 rating).

– A consistent Top 10 player each week, in April 09 MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE ranked among TV’s Top 10 programs in core Kids 2-5 demo (No. 8 — 711,000/4.4 rating).

– Launched at the top of the month, SPECIAL AGENT OSO ranked No. 1 versus all TV in its time slot in Kids 2-5 (619,000/3.8 rating, M-Su, 8:00-8:30 a.m.), towering over runner-up Nickelodeon by 31% (454,000/2.8 rating — PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR, SPONGEBOB and FAIRLY ODDPARENTS).

Source: Nielsen Media Research, April 09: 3/30/09-4/26/09 — Live+7 blended with Live+SD unless otherwise noted. Telecast rankings based on Live + Same Day. Ratings based on national rating unless otherwise noted. All rankings sorted on 000s, then rating.

Source: Broadway World

Magical is a new Disney fireworks spectacular created especially to celebrate Summer Nightastic! at Disneyland. Powerhouse vocalist Eden Espinosa, a longtime signer at Disneyland who starred in the Broadway production of BKLYN and also played Elphaba in Wicked, sings Magical’s theme song as well as classic Disney tunes like “Baby Mine.” Other songs included in this extravaganza include “Second Star to the Right” from Peter Pan, “Hi-diddle-dee (An Actor’s Life for Me)” from , “Jolly Holiday” from Mary Poppins and “So This is Love” from Cinderella. Longtime Disneyland composer Greg Smith supplies the score.

Press notes state that, “Tinker Bell is once again your host, waving her wand to ignite the brilliant color, stunning special effects and charming music. But she won’t be alone in the sky this summer. Dumbo will make his surprise airborne debut in the new show. Tink’s sparkling touch awakens a fantastic array of Disney’s most magical characters, from Pinocchio to Mary Poppins to Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, and the Three Good Fairies from Sleeping Beauty (wait ’til you see Flora and Merryweather engaged in colorful overhead battle between their signature colors pink and blue!).”

Espinosa is best known for her starring role as Elphaba in the Broadway, Los Angeles and San Francisco runs of WICKED. Espinosa’s other Broadway credits include the title role in Brooklyn, as well as her starring role as Maureen in the final Broadway company of Rent. She also recently appeared in the title role of Flora, the Red Menace for Reprise Theatre Company in Los Angeles. She can be heard on such recordings as Hair (Actor’s Fund Benefit recording), The Maury Yeston Songbook, Bright Lights, Big City, John McDaniel Live at Joe’s Pub and Scott Alan’s Dreaming Wide Awake.

Eden Espinosa will make a triumphant return to Southern California with Eden Espinosa-ME on Friday, July 24, 2009 as part of Upright Cabaret’s Wicked Summer Nights at the Ford Amphitheatre. With special guest Audra Mae (singer/songwriter, Judy Garlands grand-niece).

I had hoped to post new Hannah Screencaps today, but I just got a letter from my hosting company stating that I’ve exceaded the amount of files I am allowed. So unfortunately, there won’t be any new screencaps posted until this issue is resolved.

“With a Chance of Dating” was a very good episode. I again enjoyed seeing Tawni and Sonny getting along. Especially since Tawni can care about Sonny and still retain her inherent Tawni-ness. And of course, it’s now pretty clear that Chad likes Sonny. but I don’t think she likes him back, yet.

That said, why was Sonny dressed as a teapot? Does she not change before lunch? LOL

Maybe it’s just me, but I wouldn’t ever want to eat frozen yogurt directly from the machine.

We also know that Sonny is easily impressed. I mean, $40 worth of flowers and she comes around? Tawni certainly can’t believe it!

Zora actually had a part in this episode, even thought it was as a character. LOL

Looks like sonny’s having a good time on her date.

…never mind.

Cute when she’s mad? Psh, dude, Tanwi’s always cute.

Not even Chad can believe this guy!

Sonny and Chad are having way to much “fake” fun.

Wait, go back to before!

I love Chad’s reaction to the fake kiss. It’s like “What are you doing!? Not that I’m complaining”

And after all that, I think Chad came out ahead. Well… he did get his phone back at least.

Am I the only one that always lets the Suite Life on Deck slip my mind? I mean, it’s rather well written show, and I always mean to watch it, but I always forget. Hannah, Sonny, and Wizards are easy to remember because they’re all in a new block on Sundays, but On Deck is all by itself on fridays.

Anyway, enough excuses, here are the screencaps for “The Wrong Stuff.”

And we’ll start with the first pretty girl I see, London Tipton.

This is another episode without Bailey. Seems kinda strange she’d be a title character and still be absent from so many episodes.

And now here’s Zach with old people. Since when is he the activities cordinator?

Zach threw a smoothie at Cody. Mildly amusing I suppose.

Oh, Woody met an alien. Sort of.

Man… this episode blows. LOL

Well, at least we get to see London in a pink space suit. On earth. Where it’s completely unnecessary.

Ah, space. that’s better.

And I was going to ask why the Tipton’s have their own space station. But ya know what? I don’t think I want to know!

…I just thought that was a cool title.

Those who read the comments would know that Bill found some a really great picture of Emily Osment from Miley’s girls night out after the HM movie premiere. So I’ve added the whole set to the site.

While I as at it, I decided to add a few other Miley sets that I’ve had for quite a while.

This set is of Miley at Walt Disney World.

This next set is one of my favorites of Miley (ever) at Idol Gives Back!

This next set has Miley in a green tracksuit with her dad and dog from about a year ago.

No real story here, but here’s Miley getting coffee.

And one last set, this one was from last year just after the Vanity Fair shoot when she was dropping off her sister at school.

There’s a new game on the official Disney Channel Website called Snack Cart-a-pult.

Jillian Murray (Portlyn) is featured in the game, and writing on her official facebook she said the following about it: “LMFAO!!!!!!!!” I agree completely Jillian!

The game involves catching prop food, (hey look, Tawni and Sonny working together)

And then dropping it on Chad and Portlyn.

Of course, Chad and Portlyn don’t take that lying down, and things get more complex as you play along. Check it out.

I would like to thank bubbleface for letting me know that there where new Selena bikini photos from Puerto Rico. Selena posed in a skimpy red bikini with fans.

And someone stole her Blackberry. I wonder what kind of blackberry she had? And I wonder if we’re gonna see Demi Lovato’s phone number leaked like what happened after Paris Hilton’s phone was hacked.

I went to see the HM movie today. It was actually rather well done.

It starts with Robbie Ray sitting in Miley’s dressing room wondering where she is. We then see Miley and Lilly desperately trying to get into the concert venue – and they are not having much luck. “You’re the only pop star I know who can’t get into her own concert” – Lilly. They end up stealing a security golf cart and smashing some stuff backstage. Miley eventually takes the stage and through an interesting cinematic trick, we come out of the scene and into a music video shoot which might be before or after that first scene. After the video shoot scene, we meet the tabloid reporter that follows Miley the entire film.

Following the introduction, it is conveniently Lilly’s 16th birthday. And Miley gets into her shoe fight (after being egged on by her publicist) and misses Jackson’s departure for college in Tennessee. She then races to make it to Lilly’s sweet 16 party, but is being pursued by the reporter which prevents her from changing back from Hannah to Miley.

Instead of telling Lilly what is going on, Hannah crashes the party and totally upstages Lilly at her own party. Oh, and Oliver and Rico blow up the cake. That’s all they do in this movie. This is all a plot construct in order for a then pissed off Lilly to tell the Reporter that Hannah’s hometown was Crowley Corners. Great timing there, Lilly.

After the party, Hannah’s publicist sets up a trip to New York for some big awards show, but it means missing Miley’s Grandma’s birthday. And Miley’s dad won’t stand for that, so he redirects the plane to Tennessee and Jackson meets them at the airstrip. Miley’s rather pissed and is still all Hannah-ed up on their drive to the house. Miley demands her dad stops, and she gets out and refuses to go along with this … and gets attacked by a horse. And it’s her horse “Blue Jeans” too boot. Anyway, to cut to the chase, she meets the guy that she knew way back in kindergarten, meets up with the rest of the family, and is generally miserable. Then she starts doing stuff with the guy, and she starts to legitimately enjoy herself.

Now for the complication, a large tract of land called Crowley Meadows was deeded to the city on the death of its owner. But to pay the income/inheritance/capita gains taxes, they need to raise half a million dollars. And cheapskate Miley doesn’t just cut them a check. Okay, I guess her Hannah money would be in a trust fund, but her Dad could cut the check if she wanted him to. However, I’m getting ahead of myself. Instead, they have a music night fundraiser, which raises a few thousand, but nowhere near enough. The seedy developer guy challenges them to get a headliner (he suggests the Beatles) at which point Travis announces: “Miley knows Hannah Montana!”

In order to keep up the charade, and because we needed some excuse to get Lilly out to Tennessee, Lilly dons the Hannah wig and flies out to meet Miley. Once Hannah has arrived, Miley uses Hannah to see if Travis likes her (Miley, not Hannah). Turns out he does (duh) and at Hannah’s urging, he proceeds to ask Miley out – the same day that Hannah/Lilly agree to go to the mayor’s special Hannah dinner.

Again, instead of talking to people, (ie “Travis, I really like you, but can we reschedule for tomorrow?” It’s not that hard.) Miley conducts a series of quick changes and runs back and forth between both events. She ends up ruining both dinners, blows her secret to Travis and another random Hannah fan, Travis dumps her, and inadvertently forces her dad to choose between her and his new girlfriend. This turn of events, while expected and predictable was a lot worse than I would have ever imagined. It was quite a powerful scene toward the end, even if it was kinda stupid.

Following that disaster, it was time to put everything back as it should be and resolve everything. The important change being that Miley did not care how Hannah affected her when everything went wrong at the beginning of the film, but totally got it the second time around. With this accomplished, Miley, and her dad resolved their issues with a song “Butterfly Fly Away.” She then finished her project with Travis and was off to her Hannah benefit concert. Her grandma met her there, and they had the traditional “I’m so proud of you, and your mom would be too.”

Hannah takes the stage and everything is okay. Then Travis sees what Miley did for him, he realizes that he was an idiot, and races to the concert. When Hannah sees him show up, it triggers something deep within her and as she looked at all the people her Hannah secret had hurt, she says: “There’s only so many sacrifices you can ask a family to make. The last time I stood on this stage, I was six… I was just Miley… I still am.” At which point she pulls off the wig. And there’s just this stunned silence. At this point, she decides to sing a new song, “The Climb,” on stage as Miley. After the song, the little girl that saw her change before yell to her, “Please don’t stop being Hannah!” The rest of the crowd follows suit with similar comments and a general promise that they’ll keep her secret.

Sleazy tabloid reporter guy, on the other hand, doesn’t play fair and snaps a picture. They chase him down and use his kids (whom the publicist brought to the show for some reason) to convince him not to. His character seems completely unnecessary to the plot.

Anyway, Miley takes the stage for one more song as Hannah, there is a shot of the money being raised, and the movie ends. I don’t know what it is with recent Disney films and abrupt musical endings, but it’s starting to get a little old. Nevertheless, it was a decent film. Definitely watchable, the music didn’t seem overdone, the physical comedy was kept to a minimum, and there were some very beautiful scenes. Overall, I’d say it was a B-