The Return of the Jonas Brothers

If you have tween or teen girls in your house, you’d better plug your ears: the Disney channel has renewed both of the Jonas Brothers’ television series. “JONAS,” the hit sibling band’s sitcom-style series, will return mid-2010. Meanwhile, season 2 of “Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream,” will debut earlier in 2010. “Living the Dream,” the Jonas Brothers’ short-form reality series, is likely returning earlier because it can be filmed while the brothers focus on other projects, such as their current European tour. Gary Marsh, President of Entertainment of Disney Channels Worldwide, says of the show, “We can deliver something to … Continue reading

Star News: George Clooney Returns, Marcia Cross Retreats, and Caroline Kennedy Reassesses Plans

It may be the worst kept secret in Hollywood. First he was, then he wasn’t, then he really wasn’t. But, now it appears George Clooney has finally decided that he will in fact grace the set of ER during the show’s farewell season. The hunky star is planning to return to the NBC drama that launched his career, according to sources close to the show. There’s no word on how many episodes the award-winning actor plans to appear in during the show’s final season, though rumor has it that ER co-creator John Wells has ordered a closed set to keep … Continue reading

Jonas Brothers’ Plan to Ring in 2009 and Fran Drescher vs. Caroline Kennedy

Those hip, hot and happening brothers, who make wearing a purity ring oh-so cool, will be rocking in 2009 from Times Square. ABC just announced that the Jonas Brothers will be joining Ryan Seacrest and a slew of other stars on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” Taylor Swift and Lionel Richie will join the mega-hot singing siblings live from New York while Fergie will host segments of the show originating from Hollywood. Joining the duchess in Tinseltown will be Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, Solange and Robin Thicke. ABC execs also announced that singer … Continue reading

Disney Channel Friends for Change Games

“High School Musical” star Corbin Bleu at a prior Disney Games event In 2007 and 2008 the Disney Channel’s then-stars such as Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers competed in a series of gladiator-style games for charity. The event was filmed and called the Disney Channel Games. The Orlando Sentinel has the scoop that after a two-year break the games return in 2011, albeit with some changes. This time, in keeping with the theme “Friends for Change” that the Disney Channel’s developed for its Project Green program, the event’s called the Disney Channel Friends for Change Games. Rather than filming … Continue reading

Charlie’s Got More than Luck

Most Disney Channel original series focus on the lives of their intended audience. Shows on Playhouse Disney often feature young protagonists learning to interact with the world. The plethora of Disney Channel’s tween and teen shows, the channel’s bread and butter, again usually focus on the lives and problems of its protagonists, whose ages usually match that of the channel’s target audience. Refreshing, then, is the Disney’s Channel recent hit series “Good Luck Charlie.” Although the series’ main character is arguably Teddy Duncan, a 15-year-old girl, the show really revolves around the entire family. The premise of the show is … Continue reading

America Embraces the Telenova

Of late I’ve found myself drawn to the concept of the telenova. The telenova is a form of television show originating in Latin American countries; the form usually revolves around a romantic story line told within a finite number of episodes. The stories tend toward predictable melodrama, but I’m drawn to them because they focus on a limited number of characters, thus lending greater development to the ones on the screen; the limited number of episodes means I don’t have to worry about the show continuing despite losing its steam after a few seasons. While I wouldn’t want all of … Continue reading

Disney’s Project Green

This Thursday, April 22, is the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day. In honor of that I’m making it Earth Week on the Disney blog, and I’m going to explore ways in which the Walt Disney Corporation contributes to ecological causes. Now that green is hip and mega global conglomerates like Disney are getting in on the environmental action, I start to wonder if the trendiness of green initiatives doesn’t sometimes overshadow or outweigh actual conservation efforts. Take Disney’s Project Green, for example. The House of Mouse throws together a splashy website, herds Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato out of the … Continue reading

Will High School Musical Continue?

Parents, you might need to console your tweens and teens: it’s a bittersweet day for fans of Disney’s mammoth “High School Musical” franchise. After two Disney Channel movies, one silver screen flick, and countless albums, merchandise, theater and international spin-offs, the era of the Wildcats as we know it is over. But the story isn’t entirely finished, thus the silver lining to the cloud. Ashley Tisdale, who played the drama queen antagonist of the series, signed on to star in the spin-off tv movie “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure.” The movie starts filming this summer for a 2011 release on the Disney … Continue reading

What Celebrity Would You Most Want to Share Thanksgiving With?

Share Thanksgiving dinner… that’s it. At least that’s the way I interpreted AOL’s survey question. Because if given the chance I would want to share more than just a meal with Matt Damon. The Internet site recently gave users the opportunity to choose their dream Thanksgiving guest. Thousands replied and the winner is… Jennifer Aniston. How did that happen? According to AOL, more than 26 percent of responders chose the former “Friend” as the person they would most enjoy sitting next to at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Other Hollywood stars voters wanted to share a turkey leg with include actress … Continue reading

Come Soon to a Screen Near You

Hang on to the teleprompter Ron Burgundy is heading back to the TV studio. Yes, the rumors are true. According to Will Ferrell, he is in fact returning to the big screen as 1970s newsman Ron Burgundy in a sequel to hit comedy “Anchorman.” According to Ferrell, “Anchorman 2” will be a go provided he can bring the original cast back. Also headed to a movie theater near you in the near future… the Jonas Brothers. And not only will the singing sensations be appearing on the big screen, they will also be hitting it in all their 3-D glory. … Continue reading