Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens.
Posted on 08/19/2007 9:58:20 PM PDT by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL
News reports say early Nielsens show that Friday's premiere of The Disney Channel's made for TV High School Musical 2 was the most-watched basic cable television program of all time.
With 17.2 million viewers, it was also the most-watched basic cable movie of all time, the highest-rated television program ever for children age 6 to 11 and the second-highest-rated television program of all time (behind only the 2004 Super Bowl) for viewers age 9 to 14.
It also was the most-viewed Friday television telecast, cable or broadcast, in the past five years. Now the $7 million musical sequel will be shown in 100 countries.
All this shows that TV viewers will respond to good, clean, energetic fun. (As Time magazine reviewed, "It's a raging bacchanal of hand holding, milk drinking and explicit thespianism!")
The pic's phenomenal success clearly means that not everything in entertainment has to be edgy. Could Hollywood suddenly be hungry for clean-cut?
The pic's star, tween hearthrob Zac Efron (the 19 year old with pipes known for his blue eyes and bowl haircut), is now taking meetings with Francis Ford Coppola.
The sequel repeated Saturday night and tonight there's a sing-along. (Fans are supposed to download song lyrics off the Internet.)
Just think about it: the little $4.2 million Kenny Ortega directed and choreographed original movie urging kids to be true to their dreams has been seen by more than 160 million people around the world. Most importantly to the Walt Disney Co, it has morphed into a $100-million-plus bonanza for all divisions of the company. It has sold more than 6.5 million DVDs, it was the No. 1-selling CD of 2006, its series of books about the characters sold 4.5 million copies, its stars sold out a 42-city national tour, it even spawned an ice show. TV analysts say the High School Musical franchise also has meant a triple jump in revenue for the Disney Channel. There's an upcoming promotion with Wal-Mart, and about 300 licensed products will reach stores by the end of the year.
If you haven't seen either movie, I suppose you could think of Grease meets Flashdance; completely cleaned up and very safe for family viewing but geared toward the 8-14 crowd.
Anyway, I just had to post this little blurb on FR, noting the author's connection between the movie's "phenomenal success" and its wholesome, clean-cut rating.
And what a cutie that Zac Efron is! I felt like a kid again!
My kids are watching it again for the third time right now. We Tivo’d it, and I expect I’ll know all the lyrics before much longer, whether I want to or not. I like that the actors are all dressed fairly modestly. I also like the name Sharpay. It cracks me up every time I think of it. LOL
Zac Efron & Vanessa Hudgens.
This was pure torture for me, but I'm probably 30 years older than the target audience. The obssessing over materialism and looks and makeup and PC multiculti stuff was annoying, but this show would be fine for five-year-olds. Anyone else will be bored.
The actors were dressed very well in the appropriateness category — I agree. And I have grown to adore the actress who plays Sharpay! She was hilarious!
Both my grandkids watched the movie Friday night (my 9 year old grandaughter has been asking if she could watch it and knew the channel, time and day weeks ago) and both loved it! I didn’t have to endure it as we had plans, but I am glad to hear it is wholesome. I know my granddaughter loves the first one and is singing the songs all the time.
My tween daughters love both of the HSM movies and I try (unsuccessfully) not to rag on it too much. The first HSM had a munchkin basketball team that was unintentionally funny. None of the players were 6 foot yet they won the state championship. Yahoo for Spud Webb.
Lol! You’re entitled to your opinion, but I so very much disagree with you.
And materialism? Were you even paying attention? The whole movie was about being true to yourself, and not allowing money and power to be the driving force in your life. Perfect for today’s generation!
The intense interest the kids have for this is intriguing. They buy the CDs and watch the original movie repeatedly. I guess this is like the teen heartthrob mags of decades past, but the heartthrobs move and dance and sing.
bump
Yes, I was--were you? Characters SAYING one shouldn't let money be the motivation in a situation where everyone HAS lots of money and material things is called "hypocrisy".
The movie takes place in a world of perfect everything, everyone with the hippest, newest clothes, cars, houses like palaces, country club living, everyone a perfect little robot except for the token fat girl. NOT seeing the completely artificial, materialist values this movie was pushing proves just who wasn't paying attention.
What? The lead character, Troy, is saving up for his first car. His dad surprises him with an old beat-up pick-up.
These kids wind up waiting tables at a country club due to ONE character (Sharpay)’s very well-to-do family connections.
I watched the sing along tonight and absolutely loved it. I have no kids but knew of the movie and missed it the other night. Tonight’s show was great - good clean fun, fresh faces - Disney at its finest. Walt would be proud.
I watched it with my 9 year old niece. I was bored silly but she loved it. However, it wasn’t crude or rude at all and I will give HSM three cheers for that. The other show I watched with my niece was a Nicolodean awards show.....it was horrible and full of deliberate belching, nose picking, and references to farting.....it would have made Benny Hill blush!
Both of my daughters ended up at parties to watch this.
I thought, from the few glimpses I got of the first one, it was hideous pap, but fairly harmless.
Give me a 50s or 60s musical any day. :)
Uh, okay--but that's where the whole movie takes place, so I don't quite know what it being connected to ONE character has to do with anything. (Isn't it two characters--her brother is the very gay kid? And her clique of girlfriends?)
You can't seem to grasp that what you WANT the movie to be doesn't mean that's what the kids GET from it. If you think this movie would be equally successful if all the kids wore plain clothes and were dancing around a normal suburban environment, you're dreaming.
Don't get me wrong, I'm only criticizing this from MY point of view--the movies I loved as a kid were considered junk by my parents, too. But this thing IS junk, and it isn't somehow leading kids to better themselves. And that's completely fine, it's just a musical. All I'm reacting to is what I saw, and as I said, I'm not the target audience.
I'm not big on musicals. I liked Singin In the Rain, and that's about the only one I can stand.
Courtesy Comment:
I watched the HS Musical 1 and 2 several times this weekend. Took my daughter and son to a swim party and both came home early to watch the movie.
I do not know what some of the FReepers who hate this movie was watching but I found it to be very entertaining.
Those old 60’s and 70’s movie musicals are boring compared to this movie.
Disney has some great shows for kids such as Drake and Josh, Sweet Life of Zac and Cody, Thats so Raven, Cory in the House and Hanna Montana.
I have yet to hear a cuss word and I like that whether it is a Musical or a War movie.
Disney I hate (yes I said HATE, not politically Correct) your politics but your kid shows are good.
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