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.
Add me to the “watched it a zillion times this weekend” crowd. We have been waiting for this to come out. Even my 17 year old was excited to watch it with the rest of us. I thought it was great. I loved the “I Don’t Dance” baseball number.
I really had fun watching it. And I’m not a Disney fan either, but it’s nice to have a simple and time-tested plot redone for modern audiences. And watching this with my children afforded me and us with lots of time to discuss the plot and the conflict within Troy’s character. My kiddos certainly understood how this applied within even their own classrooms, and both are in a Christian school.
Disney has gotten it right, and they are seeing their reward. Parents and children actually are very entertained even without sleaze, swear words and degradation.
On a side note to the parents:
If you want to interject something which will **totally impress** your children and their friends...
Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) is in the movie, if you look closely enough. She’s best seen in the last musical number at the pool. She’s the brown-haired dancer wearing a green top!
FREERIDER PING!
I’d put this up with Chuck-E-Cheese’s as a top reason for being a FREERIDER.
OH AMEN!!!!
Please explain to me what that means.
Thread hijack about 4-500 posts in.
I know how you feel. I have a young cousin that watches this crap, and it makes me want to poke my own eyes out. I remember when the Disney Channel actually showed Disney cartoons and was enjoyable.
Your take, I am sure, is exactly what mine would have been if I’d had to see that. Yow!
Man oh man, what you said!
Ugh!
I even like most of the Disney projects. Tried to get through the first one a couple of times - was bored to tears. The characters were boring, the songs were horrible.
Tried it again when it became such a huge hit - didn’t make it to the first commercial break. It was horrible!
FREERIDERS do it on the economy!!
FREERIDERS THE MUSICAL!
Maybe we should write a FREERIDER theme song.
Okay, so I gather your life choices or circumstances have given you no children. You enjoy your pick-up-and-go freedom but wish you didn’t have to pay taxes supporting schools, children’s programs, etc. And somehow, you have come to the conclusion that persons posting about children’s issues are trying to validate insecurities? Is this the definition of a freerider?
We all love our freedom in America, including the freedom to choose what we watch and what we read.
I think it’s important to note that Disney has finally given in and produced a product that parents can feel good about. The market is there to produce items for this ‘tween segment of society but all Hollywood has time and again come up with are things with smart-mouthed kids wearing sleazy clothing. I find it amusing that wholesome entertainment is like the plague in Hollywood and they avoid it at all cost since it would cater to more conservative persons and families. That is, until now.
I personally don't mind paying taxes to support decent schools. Afterall, in my little rural neighborhood we had two kids graduate High School this year. One valedictorian, and one going to West Point. As for pick-up-and-go freedom, I usually end up being the one who has to cover for some co-worker who just has to take their kid to a soccer game.
And somehow, you have come to the conclusion that persons posting about children’s issues are trying to validate insecurities?
No, folks taking an interest in what thier kids are exposed to is very important, not only for the family but for society.
Is this the definition of a freerider?
Actually, we're just a bunch of fun loving folks that took umbrage at being called parasites on several occasions by those with kids. And the automatic assumption some make that having kids entitles one to a mantle of virtue.
We all love our freedom in America, including the freedom to choose what we watch and what we read.
Couldn't agree with you more, although you will find others here who would disagree, and assure you that you will go to hell for such things as Harry Potter for instance.
I think it’s important to note that Disney has finally given in and produced a product that parents can feel good about. The market is there to produce items for this ‘tween segment of society but all Hollywood has time and again come up with are things with smart-mouthed kids wearing sleazy clothing. I find it amusing that wholesome entertainment is like the plague in Hollywood and they avoid it at all cost since it would cater to more conservative persons and families. That is, until now.
I will not argue that there is a dearth of entertainment choices for families, and rest assured that I find "popular" entertainment tedious as well.
I'm a FREERIDER too. I loved going to Chuck-E-Cheese’s when I was a kid, . . . over 20 years ago.
I still love pizza and arcade games. Eating pizza and playing video games still would be fun, but today the fun would be ruined by hundreds of screaming, obnoxious, annoying kids.
It would be cool if there was a restaurant/bar with video games open only to people 21 and older.
I expect it will break more records as Vanessa Hudgens’ nude photo floats around the internet.
Unfortunately, they will be just be adding a much older and creepier demographic.
I read a reference to this on another thread, but haven’t found anything about it.
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