When they opened Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage at Disney-MGM Studios, they may not have had in mind that it would update every time Disney Channel changed its slate, but if they did, good job. I still miss Bear in the Big Blue House,… Read More »Disney Junior – Live on Stage New Show
As we attempt to raise our Disney Son, who turns 7 this summer, we continue to experience the challenge of finding television shows that are appropriate for a child his age (or younger). You would think that between Disney XD and the Disney Channel there would always be something, but often the options are either unacceptable or not aimed at his demographic.
Now that Disney has announced a new cable channel aimed squarely at pre-school aged kids, future generations won’t have that same issue. Disney Junior will start as a website and that new name of Playschool Disney and then will morph into a full cable channel when it replaces SOAPnet.
Disney Junior’s animated and live action programming will blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills.
“The launch of Disney Junior in the U.S. is the next step in our global preschool strategy, which began 10 years ago with the premiere of our first dedicated preschool channel in the UK,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group.
But why get rid of SOAPnet? “The decision to ultimately transition SOAPnet to accomplish this was not arrived at lightly,” said Sweeney. “SOAPnet was created in 2000 to give daytime viewers the ability to watch time-shifted soaps, before multiplatform viewing and DVRs were part of our vocabulary. But today, as technology and our businesses evolve, it makes more sense to align this distribution with a preschool channel that builds on the core strengths of our company.”
I guess that means we can write off the return of ABC Soap Opera days at DHS.
I’m not sure Disney Junior is a stronger brand than Playhouse Disney. But it does convey that the channel will be more than just play, which I guess is a step in the right direction. I wonder if the yearly Playhouse Disney Live tours will be rebranded too.
For more details check out the press release below the jump;
Hal Boedeker at the Orlando Sentinel profiles the success of Orlando Artist Ethan Long whose flash-animated cartoon character ZeFronk is now appearing on The Disney Channel. ZeFronk is a French Dachshund who hosts a cooking show from his doghouse and teaches kids to eat smarter.… Read More »Orlando Artist’s Cartoon to appear on The Disney Channel
The other day I ran across this postcard of Mickey Mouse through the years. I used to have the full size poster up in my room as a teenager. With a few notable departures (CG Mickey in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Runaway Brain (which hearkens… Read More »Mickey Mouse manipulation
Johnny and the Sprites is a wonderful show on The Disney Channel’s Playhouse Disney morning line up that works to teach children 2-5 some important lessons, while providing entertainment from some of the best talent on Broadway. It’s a recipe that bakes up some of the best magic on The Disney Channel in years. The first season is now available on DVD so you can watch this show with your children at any time.
The DVD features two bonus features. One a magical sing-a-long segment and the other the original shorts that served as interstitials on the Disney Channel and proved the popularity of the show. There are lots of wonderful gems just in the shorts.
What I like most about Johnny and the Sprites is that it’s the show of today that comes closest to the shows of my youth that told fun, but helpful, stories through song and puppeteering. Those were my favorite shows and I’d have to place Johnny and the Sprites: Meet The Sprites in that same echelon.
The full press release is below the cut:
Still looking to book that family vacation this year? If you have young kids or toddlers in your party, you might want to consider some dates between August 26 and October 28. Disney is bringing back a special playschool age program called "Little Ones Travel Time" (last year it was called ‘Magical Beginnings’) that will… Read More »Little Ones Travel Time
Sorry for the absence everyone. The wife has been sick and I’m trying to stay healthy and keep my son healthy which means I haven’t had much time to be on the computer. But the good news is I got to visit some of Disneyworld with my son. Just some quality father and son time… Read More »Some news….