Disney Channel Fans

Looks like the Wizards movie was a hit!

Source: Zap2It

The Disney Channel’s newest movie/exercise in franchise building put up magical ratings numbers on Friday night.

“Wizards of Waverly Place the Movie” premiered to 11.4 million viewers on Friday, making it the most-watched cable telecast of 2009. It’s also the No. 2 Disney Channel movie ever in terms of total viewers, behind only 2007′s “High School Musical 2.”

The movie could very well also end up as the most-watched show on television this week — broadcast or cable. The Tuesday edition of “America’s Got Talent,” which has been leading the broadcast rankings for much of the summer, averaged 11.2 million viewers in the overnight ratings this week. There’s typically a small change in the numbers when the final ratings are calculated, but at worst “Wizards” should end up second on all of TV for the week.

“Wizards of Waverly Place the Movie” follows the Russo family on a vacation to the Caribbean resort where parents Jerry (David DeLuise) and Theresa (Maria Canals-Barrera) first met. Daughter Alex (Selena Gomez), however, inadvertently casts a spell that undoes that meeting, and she and her brothers (David Henrie and Jake T. Austin) have to reverse the spell before it’s too late.

The movie also drew predictably strong numbers among Disney’s core kid and tween audiences, bringing in 4.5 million viewers ages 6-11 and 4 million in the 9-14 set.

Miley’s looking awesome in these new promo shots for her new CD The Time Of Our Lives and her new clothing line, both at WalMart.

Gallery updated with several new Ultra High Quality Photos.

And speaking of the new CD, it’s available Monday.

Okay, that was one of the best DCOMs ever. The cast and crew where awesome, of course. The script was very well done. This was one of those films where you knew the basic plot outline from the very beginning, so what was most important thing was to keep the audience engaged and interested. And in that respect, I think they did a great job.

It was obvious that the crew had a pretty decent budget. There was some serious magic in this film, which was a very nice change from the last few episodes of the series.

I totally did not see the whole wizards competition part coming. I mean, yes it was kinda in the previews, but I was still surprised when it happened! And I must admit, I was rooting for Alex. And despite the fact that she gave it up (a bit of a cop out so they could make season three) you have to admit she certainly has an advantage for when they have the real wizards competition.

My minute by minute commentary follows:

0:00 LOL That bag really sucks.

0:02 Alex really is a good pick pocket.

0:03 Are they on a new set? There are a lot of other camera angels.

0:05 How is she steering it? … Oh, it’s magic and knows where it’s going. Right.

0:07 “Seriously! Who designed this subway?”

0:10 “They where supposed to be tigers”

0:11 “Sticky note to self: Do not forget sticky notes.”

0:13 That was a great shot of Alex diving out of the car.

0:16 Check out Alex’s sunglasses.:)

0:18 Wow, Max did magic that didn’t go terribly wrong.

0:20 How many people in the world are wizards and/or former wizards.

0:24 “Well, every castle needs a princess” You can be my princess Alex.

– commercial –

0:29 “More like a never ending photo shoot”

0:32 “…like you’re actually pleasant to be around”

0:35 “So you’re admitting this is kinda your fault”

0:37 Why are they having Max do the magic?

0:41 LOL Alex sleeping face down in the hammock.

0:42 That guy is back. Okay. Glad to see that wasn’t a dead end.

– commercial –

0:50 “That doesn’t count. I actually am a little girl”

0:51 Okay, that guy is up to something. We get it already

0:53 That was mean, even for Alex.

0:55 That really didn’t go as expected. But maybe it worked.

0:59 Wow. that was dramatic.

1:00 Pay attention Guys!

1:04 He sank the boat! Maybe Max has a chance of winning the wizards competition after all

1:05 It’s the campfire scene that Selena was talking about.

1:07 You’re the boy, you go check it.

1:08 “Oh, there it is again. So close”

– commercial –

1:15 More goats.

1:17 I want one of those floating captions!

1:18 Looks like the cavalry is coming. Probably too late, but whatever.

1:19 The quicksand claims another victim.

1:20 I think it’s the right cave.

1:24 “Hold on the the torch thing, but not the hot part”

1:25 don’t step on the crumbly parts!

1:30: Why was Max the first to go? I would have thought Justin would be as he is the oldest.

1:31 Okay, it’s wizard competition time. This is starting to make sense.

1:34 Holy sh*t! This competition is intense!

1:36 She’s the bird! What a bitch!

1:37 Go Theressa! Too bad she’s a wizard.

1:38 He used his one wish to turn her back into a bird? What a waste.

1:40 Alex did it! I’m shockingly not surprised.

1:41 “I taunt you and I tease you but you love me anyway.”

1:42 Now Justin’s gone that doesn’t make a lot of sense.

1:43 Universal undo button for the win!

1:45 So much hugging

1:46 And end credits. Wow, that was something!

In the final Wizards vs. Vampires episode, “Wizards & Vampires vs. Zombies” it again makes no difference that Juliet is a vampire. In fact, I don’t think it even came up.

Speaking of Juliet, she’s looking good in this episode. And it looks like Justin survived the trip to the lake.

Of course, no one out-cutes Alex!

I like Harper’s Penguins.

LOL. More Alex.

Anyway, Alex put together one heck of a Zombie prom. Seems like it would have been a lot of work. I hope she cheated and used magic.

And have I mentioned that she looks awesome in that outfit?

Juliet doesn’t look too bad in the dance off either.

And the episode ends with Justin and Juliet. Going steady.

It sounds like Bridgit Mendler will be back for at least one episode of Wizards Season Three. but I don’t know any more than that. When I know more, I’ll be sure to post it here first!

And don’t forget that the WOWP movie premieres tonight (08/28/09) on Disney Channel!

You can also find screencaps from the first three Wizards vs. Vampires episodes in our screencap gallery.
Wizards vs. Vampires On Waverly Place
Wizards vs. Vampires: Tasty Bites
Wizards vs. Vampires: Dream Date

Warning, cheap thrills ahead.

Miley is looking good in these candid pics from Burbank earlier this week.

Click either picture to see the whole set.

“Dream Date” was an episode about relationships. The fact that Juliet is still a vampire wasn’t really of any significance. We didn’t even see her parents.

We learn early in the episode that Alex has been using magic to dream date Dean. Whom apparently moved away a while ago. I never noticed. LOL

Meanwhile, Juliet asks Justin to go away with her. As he values his life, he’s not so sure about the idea.

It occurs to me that Alex seldom looks happy in this series. But always cute!

Even when they try to make Alex look terrible, nothing can hide Selena’s cute face.

Dean likes having Lincoln as his wing-man. Okay. We won’t be seeing any more of either of them.

Why is Juliet, like, a full size girl with bat wings? Her parents turned into regular sized bats in the first Wizards vs. Vampires episode.

And Max in the hot dog costume: “Oh no, this is for something I’m doing later” LOL!

It’s about time!

BURBANK, Calif., Aug 25, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Teen wizards in training are creating magic and mayhem on Waverly Place. Wizards of Waverly Place the video game for Nintendo DS(TM), inspired by the popular Disney Channel television series, is available now at all major retailers. The video game allows fans to experience familiar faces and places in the world of wizards with five fun and new adventures. Mysterious mishaps start when Alex Russo buys a bracelet off the World Wide Wizard Web to impress a boy. True to Alex’s style, her plan goes awry and her brothers Justin and Max join in on the fun. Alex’s best friend Harper, along with Theresa and Jerry Russo are also featured in the game, taking part in adventures on Waverly Place.

Players can experience the lives of the Russo kids as they explore locations from the show, including the Waverly Sub Station, the Wizards Lair, Tribeca Prep, WizTech, the Russo loft and many more. To complete various tasks throughout the game, fans apply their wizard skills in exciting mini-games by using their stylus to levitate, move and freeze objects. New and familiar story beats inspire the mini-games in Wizards of Waverly Place, such as timed sub sandwich making, casting spells to prep the sub shop, playing a game of 12-ball and organizing loose books in the library that quiz your knowledge of the show.

As the game progresses, players will have the opportunity to find a number of coins and magic trinkets hidden in each of the game locations. Fans can use these items to unlock new wardrobe options to customize clothes for Alex and her brothers.

“In Wizards of Waverly Place on DS, players will experience a brand new storyline along with familiar characters and exciting mini-games,” said Craig Relyea, senior vice president of global marketing, Disney Interactive Studios, “This is an exciting opportunity for fans of the hit television show to explore and enjoy the world of their favorite wizards.”

Wizards of Waverly Place for Nintendo DS features Disney’s DGamer functionality allowing players to engage with other Disney game players in a secure online community via their Nintendo DS (Wi-Fi or local wireless) or computer. The service allows users to log into their DS and online accounts to create and customize a unique 3-D avatar and persistent profile. Kids can chat, view user profiles of their DGamer friends, and post high scores to leaderboards.

Developed by Black Lantern Studios, Wizards of Waverly Place is rated E for Everyone with Comic Mischief by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Wizards of Waverly Place for Nintendo DS(TM) is priced at $29.99.

Wizard of Waverly Place: The Mobile Game is also available on all major wireless carriers for Java/Brew platforms. Fans play as one of the Russo kids in this puzzle game, featuring favorite characters from the hit series on Disney Channel. Prices for mobile games vary by carrier.

This is a long article, but there’s a lot of good information about the upcoming D23 Expo.

ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug 20, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Disney’s spectacular product lines will come to life like never before in over 20,000 square feet of fun-filled interactive experiences and activities at the inaugural D23 EXPO, where the entire world of Disney will come together under one roof at the Anaheim Convention Center in California from Sept. 10-13. Disney Consumer Products (DCP) will treat fans to a sneak peek of the latest and most innovative Disney products as well as the chance to meet and hear from the artists and designers that bring them to life.

D23 EXPO attendees will have the premier opportunity to visit the first-ever Disney Dream Home, stroll through 30 years of Disney-inspired Hallmark keepsake ornaments, witness Disney Fine Art created right before their eyes, and immerse in the magic of a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding where guests will get a first look at the yet-to-be-unveiled Princess Tiana wedding gown inspired by the upcoming animated feature The Princess and the Frog. They will go behind the scenes of Disney products through a series of events and presentations including fashion shows, art galleries, appearances by best-selling authors such as Ridley Pearson and artists such as Thomas Kinkade, and seminars describing the creative process by Disney toys and electronics designers. Plus, they will be part of a special introduction to the history and future of Disney Store by Disney Stores Worldwide president, Jim Fielding, and much more.

There will be fun for the whole family at the Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola, the Disney Princess Story time and Royal Manners event, the Baby Einstein World of Discovery Center, and a magnificent live LEGO building event of Disney characters with the help of Master Builders.

Additional highlights of DCP’s exciting line-up at the D23 EXPO include:

– Disney Store and www.DisneyStore.com guests will get a first look at this year’s hottest Halloween costumes, exclusive The Princess and the Frog product assortment (available only at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com) and limited edition collectible Snow White deluxe dolls; and on September 12, a special presentation by President Jim Fielding on exciting new developments coming soon to Disney Store retail.

– Guests will stroll through the ultimate showcase house and experience the first-ever Disney Dream Home featuring Disney furniture, carpeting and rugs, paint, lighting, bedding and home decor. They will preview the new color collection from Disney Color by Behr and wall-to-wall imagination from Shaw Carpets. Eight beautifully designed rooms will come to life including a central courtyard, nursery, boys and girls rooms, living and dining rooms, home office, master bedroom and even a Lillyput Play Home in the backyard.

– Guests will travel back through time as Hallmark and Disney introduce the Disney Hallmark Keepsake Museum featuring more than 30 years of Disney keepsake ornaments.

– Disney Toys and LEGO Master Builders will host a live building event where guests can join in the fun and help construct a life-size mural of Disney characters paying homage to innovation.

– Families are invited to Early Bird Books, seminars from renowned Disney Publishing authors including Ridley Pearson, who will discuss the Kingdom Keepers series and Peter and the Starcatchers books where he will be joined via satellite feed by co-author Dave Barry.

– Additional luminaries speaking at Early Bird Books panels include author Don Hahn, acclaimed producer of The Lion King, who will discuss The Alchemy of Animation: Making an Animated Film in the Modern Age; author and animation historian JB Kaufman, who will speak about his book South of the Border and reveal the story behind Disney’s contribution to Nelson Rockefeller’s “Good Neighbor” program; and Jason Surrell, author of The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies, who will discuss the evolution from beloved attraction to major motion picture.

– The Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola will bring to life Andy’s room from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story where guests will learn drawing techniques from DCP character artists John Quinn and George McClements.

– Disney Fashion & Home will host a series of fashion shows featuring the latest styles from Disney Couture, Disney Couture kids and the Wizards of Waverly Place collection inspired by the hit Disney Channel series starring Selena Gomez.

– Guests will go “behind the fairy tale” at the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings showcase; they will hear from celebrity wedding designer David Tutera and couture wedding gown designer Kirstie Kelly who will unveil the first public viewing sketch of the Princess Tiana-inspired wedding gown releasing this October.

– Collectors Editions will showcase beautiful art displays and host an all-star list of artists, voice talent and legendary Disney personalities, including Margaret Kerry (the original Tinker Bell model), Dick Jones (original Pinocchio voice), Eddie Carroll (current Jiminy Cricket voice) and Paige O’Hara (original Belle voice from Beauty and the Beast).

– BOOM! Comics will present comic legend and writer Mark Waid.

– Disney Toys and MINDstyle will introduce Disney’s Stitch: The Experiment 626 Project custom art tour – a collection of interpretive Stitch vinyl figures.

– The original art program “Mickey By” will make its first public debut. These artistic interpretations of Mickey Mouse, in a classic pose, come from Disney artists of every style and genre. The result is a celebration of one of the most recognizable and beloved characters around the globe.

– eFX Inc, will preview an astonishing four foot replica of Captain Nemo’s iconic Nautilus from the classic Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea based on the Jules Verne novel.

– S/R Laboratories’ artists will demonstrate how animation art backgrounds are made for the new Courvoisier Miniatures art collection.

– EK Success will showcase its latest Disney crafts products, from scrapbooking to stamping to paper crafting, and share tips and techniques.

– The Disney food, health and beauty group will offer samplings from the latest Disney food product lines and fun beauty activities for girls featuring Disney beauty products that are age-appropriate, fun and easy-to-use.

– Disney and Retro 51 will host an hourly raffle for a D23 collectors pen. Plus, Retro 51 will introduce a unique design-your-own-pen contest in which guests will have the opportunity to use a Retro 51 pen template to design their own Disney-themed pen. At the conclusion of the D23 EXPO, 23 winning designs will be chosen to be featured in Disney Twenty-three magazine, and souvenir pens with those designs will be produced for the winners by Retro 51.

This is a long article, but there’s a lot of good information about the upcoming D23 Expo.

I’ll be there at the expo, and posting my experiances there on my D23 Expo Website.

ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug 20, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Disney’s spectacular product lines will come to life like never before in over 20,000 square feet of fun-filled interactive experiences and activities at the inaugural D23 EXPO, where the entire world of Disney will come together under one roof at the Anaheim Convention Center in California from Sept. 10-13. Disney Consumer Products (DCP) will treat fans to a sneak peek of the latest and most innovative Disney products as well as the chance to meet and hear from the artists and designers that bring them to life.

D23 EXPO attendees will have the premier opportunity to visit the first-ever Disney Dream Home, stroll through 30 years of Disney-inspired Hallmark keepsake ornaments, witness Disney Fine Art created right before their eyes, and immerse in the magic of a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding where guests will get a first look at the yet-to-be-unveiled Princess Tiana wedding gown inspired by the upcoming animated feature The Princess and the Frog. They will go behind the scenes of Disney products through a series of events and presentations including fashion shows, art galleries, appearances by best-selling authors such as Ridley Pearson and artists such as Thomas Kinkade, and seminars describing the creative process by Disney toys and electronics designers. Plus, they will be part of a special introduction to the history and future of Disney Store by Disney Stores Worldwide president, Jim Fielding, and much more.

There will be fun for the whole family at the Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola, the Disney Princess Story time and Royal Manners event, the Baby Einstein World of Discovery Center, and a magnificent live LEGO building event of Disney characters with the help of Master Builders.

Additional highlights of DCP’s exciting line-up at the D23 EXPO include:

– Disney Store and www.DisneyStore.com guests will get a first look at this year’s hottest Halloween costumes, exclusive The Princess and the Frog product assortment (available only at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com) and limited edition collectible Snow White deluxe dolls; and on September 12, a special presentation by President Jim Fielding on exciting new developments coming soon to Disney Store retail.

– Guests will stroll through the ultimate showcase house and experience the first-ever Disney Dream Home featuring Disney furniture, carpeting and rugs, paint, lighting, bedding and home decor. They will preview the new color collection from Disney Color by Behr and wall-to-wall imagination from Shaw Carpets. Eight beautifully designed rooms will come to life including a central courtyard, nursery, boys and girls rooms, living and dining rooms, home office, master bedroom and even a Lillyput Play Home in the backyard.

– Guests will travel back through time as Hallmark and Disney introduce the Disney Hallmark Keepsake Museum featuring more than 30 years of Disney keepsake ornaments.

– Disney Toys and LEGO Master Builders will host a live building event where guests can join in the fun and help construct a life-size mural of Disney characters paying homage to innovation.

– Families are invited to Early Bird Books, seminars from renowned Disney Publishing authors including Ridley Pearson, who will discuss the Kingdom Keepers series and Peter and the Starcatchers books where he will be joined via satellite feed by co-author Dave Barry.

– Additional luminaries speaking at Early Bird Books panels include author Don Hahn, acclaimed producer of The Lion King, who will discuss The Alchemy of Animation: Making an Animated Film in the Modern Age; author and animation historian JB Kaufman, who will speak about his book South of the Border and reveal the story behind Disney’s contribution to Nelson Rockefeller’s “Good Neighbor” program; and Jason Surrell, author of The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies, who will discuss the evolution from beloved attraction to major motion picture.

– The Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola will bring to life Andy’s room from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story where guests will learn drawing techniques from DCP character artists John Quinn and George McClements.

– Disney Fashion & Home will host a series of fashion shows featuring the latest styles from Disney Couture, Disney Couture kids and the Wizards of Waverly Place collection inspired by the hit Disney Channel series starring Selena Gomez.

– Guests will go “behind the fairy tale” at the Disney Fairy Tale Weddings showcase; they will hear from celebrity wedding designer David Tutera and couture wedding gown designer Kirstie Kelly who will unveil the first public viewing sketch of the Princess Tiana-inspired wedding gown releasing this October.

– Collectors Editions will showcase beautiful art displays and host an all-star list of artists, voice talent and legendary Disney personalities, including Margaret Kerry (the original Tinker Bell model), Dick Jones (original Pinocchio voice), Eddie Carroll (current Jiminy Cricket voice) and Paige O’Hara (original Belle voice from Beauty and the Beast).

– BOOM! Comics will present comic legend and writer Mark Waid.

– Disney Toys and MINDstyle will introduce Disney’s Stitch: The Experiment 626 Project custom art tour – a collection of interpretive Stitch vinyl figures.

– The original art program “Mickey By” will make its first public debut. These artistic interpretations of Mickey Mouse, in a classic pose, come from Disney artists of every style and genre. The result is a celebration of one of the most recognizable and beloved characters around the globe.

– eFX Inc, will preview an astonishing four foot replica of Captain Nemo’s iconic Nautilus from the classic Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea based on the Jules Verne novel.

– S/R Laboratories’ artists will demonstrate how animation art backgrounds are made for the new Courvoisier Miniatures art collection.

– EK Success will showcase its latest Disney crafts products, from scrapbooking to stamping to paper crafting, and share tips and techniques.

– The Disney food, health and beauty group will offer samplings from the latest Disney food product lines and fun beauty activities for girls featuring Disney beauty products that are age-appropriate, fun and easy-to-use.

– Disney and Retro 51 will host an hourly raffle for a D23 collectors pen. Plus, Retro 51 will introduce a unique design-your-own-pen contest in which guests will have the opportunity to use a Retro 51 pen template to design their own Disney-themed pen. At the conclusion of the D23 EXPO, 23 winning designs will be chosen to be featured in Disney Twenty-three magazine, and souvenir pens with those designs will be produced for the winners by Retro 51.