 By: Michael Berger |
| In part two of a three-part series examine both Disney Television programming and the fans of the many wonderful shows that have arisen from it, we take a look at the fans of new shows from the Disney Channel since 2002 and some insight into a related group of fans whose main focus until recently has been on the sister Disney network, Toon Disney.
The Problems Begin Last week I mentioned a certain group of fans that seek the return of the Vault Disney programming block and the problems they see with Disney’s television offerings since it’s removal. What are these problems, and when they started are the subject of this week’s installment. The problems started in 2002 when the executives of the Disney Channel, and in particular Walt Disney Television Animation (WDTA) president Barry Blumberg, decided to “retire” the Vault Disney programming block in favor of rerunning more teen and “tween” (pre-teen and early teen children) programming choices. The uproar was loud and even prompted one viewer to start a petition seeking the return of the previous block of programming. (1) Sue Schuck, a Glendale schoolteacher, perhaps offers some insight into this portion of the viewership: “We baby boomers pay for the cable, the admission to Disneyland and the Disney products. We watched these shows. They are part of our childhood.”(1) This generational difference will be something I will be returning to in a later part of this article. Since 2002, other concerns have been expressed by another (non-Vault Disney) viewership group, who simply seek to see shows that were broadcast on ABC’s “One Saturday Morning” (featuring Disney television animation) in the 1980’s and 1990’s returned to Toon Disney - and perhaps the Disney Channel itself - but I will include this group below. The New Face of Disney Television After this change in the programming schedule came about, is roughly when I became a regular viewer of the Disney Channel. I have of course no memory of Vault Disney, but started to hear of other shows from the Toon Disney catalogue, with titles ranging from “Chip n’ Dales Rescue Rangers”, “Gargoyles”, “Goof Troop” and “Darkwing Duck” among others in the intervening two years. Then of course there are the offerings from the mid-1990’s to now: “Even Stevens”, “Lizzie McGuire” - and in animation - “Kim Possible”, “The Proud Family”, and “Lilo & Stitch: The Series”. Many newer animation series have been produced recently as well, which have raised the ire of these fans, such as “Brandy and Mr. Whiskers” and “Dave the Barbarian”. I will come back to those shortly as well. If one looks at the Disney Channel schedule, you will see not one of the offerings from the ABC “One Saturday Morning” is included. As I’ve mentioned, some of these older animated programs were initially offered on the newer Toon Disney channel, but have since been phased out one by one with newer programming (including the controversial Jetix block - which has caused the creation of another petition). To make matters worse Disney has not expressed any interest in satisfying the fans of these older series with DVD or VHS tape releases - although fans of the series “Gargoyles” managed through many years of work to finally procure a first season set - which is a unique situation so far. The Disney Channel has also taken to showing cancelled teen-oriented sitcoms from ABC and even gone so far as to broadcast non-Disney movies, which invariably garners disdain from all three groups of fans. Many of these fans of the offerings made by Disney’s television division since 1983 have their own differences of opinion on what deserves to be shown and what is basically “tween-oriented” trash. But I see good reason for these two sub-groups to not be so divided, which I will also try to explain. Since 2002 however, the changes have come quickly and furiously. One show that is mentioned quite often - both garnering praise and disdain - is “Disney’s Kim Possible”. The reason for the attention to this one series is quite simple. From its premiere it became not only the highest rated original offering from the WDTA, but had actually gained an Emmy nomination for it’s first episode. (2) The disdain is also simply explained - despite the fact that “Kim Possible” is only one 30-minute series (broadcast twice each day however), it is seen as taking away timeslots which could be used for other series, including those from the “One Saturday Afternoon” block and - more so - Vault Disney. Additionally, WDTA has had in place a policy regarding a limitation on the number of episodes made for each series (animated or live-action). (3) This means that new series must continually appear to keep the offerings new and not bore the viewership with repeats (a situation that could be solved by not limiting the length of the offerings, obviously). Several of these new series - including the aforementioned “Brandy and Mr. Whiskers”, “Dave the Barbarian”, and the soon to be premiered “Jake Long: American Dragon” - seem to be causing a stir among all the fan bases simultaneously primarily because of their lowered quality and lack in the area of the ‘Disney Philosophy’. More series are also on the way – and by Disney’s own admission – 2 more are coming this year alone! (4) Some consider these rapidly appearing series to be nothing more than trash (tween or otherwise), and wish to see a more judicious use of not only the 65-episode policy but of scheduling and series development for the Disney Channel as well. However, despite the fact that many fans seem resigned to the apparent attitude of Disney’s management to continue their historical disregard for the viewers, small but growing groups are taking a more proactive approach with petitions, websites, all seeking to bring pressure to bear on the WDTA department (if not the WDC itself) to change this continuing problem. Next week we’ll take a look at this loss of the “Disney Philosophy” (and hopefully explain what that is) in the arena of Disney television productions, particularly focusing on one animation series in particular. We’ll also attempt to offer one of many potential solutions to the disagreements of these different fan bases. But you’ll have to tune in next week to see that. - Michael Berger with Gregory Issac
(1) Disney Puts the Classics Back in the Vault - Richard Verrier for the Orlando Sentinel (September 3, 2002)
|
 |