So before the D23 Expo, I had looked at Miley’s concert tour schedule to see if it was possible for her to make an appearance at the expo. And for whatever reason (I think I got my dates mixed up, LOL) I was under the impression that Miley wouldn’t be able to make it.
As I tweeted at the time (@anitrain), and recorded on my D23 Expo Website, “I saw Miley! I didn’t think there was any way she could be here now.”
That’s why I was so surprised, shocked, and excited when Dick Cook, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, brought her out on stage on day two of the D23 Expo (09/11/09)!
To round out the talent appearing on stage, Miley Cyrus arrived to help promote the Nicholas Sparks movie she just finished called The Last Song. “I love all of his other movies and to work with someone who kind of inspires you is really cool,” the superstar revealed. “And I remember growing up, my mom would always be reading his books and I always wanted to read them. So now that I can and I’m working with him, it’s really great.” No movie clip was available, but instead, the pop icon thrilled the crowd by singing her smash hit “The Climb.”
Miley did a great job preforming my favorite song of hers. And it was great to finally see her in person! 🙂 I did think it was kinda weird they didn’t have a clip from The Last Song for us though.
Of course, Miley wasn’t the only star to show up on Friday. Actors John Travolta, Johnny Depp, and Nicolas Cage where all there. As where directors Jerry Bruckheimer and Tim Burton. It was a really unbelievable experience.
Miley was the least welcome star though. At the announcement of her name, I heard people behind me groan and one exclaimed “Oh come on!” And I believe that person actually worked for Disney! The people right in front of me actually left when Miley came out. I hope they didn’t mind missing Johnny Depp too!
You’ll find many more photos from Friday’s events in the DC Fans Gallery.
I heard on a celebrity site that Miley was the only celebrity there that didn’t get a standing ovation; the site started “wondering” whether Miley’s star was falling. It’s still building, actually. Did you hear Dick Cook was asked to seek employment elsewhere. Your experience at the expo was a small part of the reason. He kept Miley’s appearance a surprise. But Disney is striving for cross business sector communication and coooperation. He should have asked the other divisions if they thoutht a surprise was good for them or not. There were other issues too, but his action of putting her in front of an audience who was there to see Johnny Depp and etc. was illustrative of his studio island mentality. I wanted to go to the Disney expo, but being from Portland, OR., I have to pick my trips. If I knew Miley was going to be there, I would have been too!
The D23 Expo crowd was definitely an older audience. The kind of people that don’t “get” what Disney Channel is trying to do. So of course Miley didn’t get the warmest reception. I stood and clapped for her, as did maybe 2/5 of the crowd.
But for the rest of the day I heard people talking about Miley’s appearance far more than anyone else.