judyindisguise
08-25-2006, 12:28 PM
Looks like Disney has finally accomplished a meaningful Mouse comeback. Here's the latest news about Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, courtesy of Medialife.com:
These days cartoon characters aimed at preschoolers have become startlingly sophisticated. The Little Einsteins have a magical spaceship, Dora the Explorer uses an interactive backpack, and Bob the Builder has talking tools.
So it’s more than a little surprising that, with all these cool, advanced characters to choose from, tots still have an allegiance to a simple mouse whose only special power is his extra high-pitched voice.
Indeed, Mickey Mouse is once again becoming a favorite among young kids. His Disney Channel series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” which debuted in May, was the No. 1 series on basic cable among kids 2-5 for the first time last week, the week ended Aug. 20.
It averaged 790,000 viewers in that demo for a 5.0 rating last week. That’s up 90 percent over the same timeslot the same week last year, when Disney aired “Charlie and Lola” and "The Wiggles" in the Sunday and Saturday 9-10 a.m. timeslots.
“Clubhouse” airs four episodes per week. Since its debut, it’s averaging a 4.6 rating and 714,000 2-5s, bettering last year’s timeslot by 53 percent.
The Mickey, Donald and Goofy on this show have changed somewhat from the past. They’re now rendered in CG animation, and the show is interactive, encouraging kids to count to 10 and develop other skills. Each episode aims to solve a problem and asks viewers for help while also letting the cartoon characters act silly.
But the core group are the same characters from half a century ago, and even more obscure figures like Mortimer Mouse and Willie the Giant have appeared.
In fact, that nostalgia factor may help explain why kids are still choosing Mickey over more contemporary cartoons: Their moms are watching, too.
Ratings for “Clubhouse” have spiked among women 18-49, the tots’ mothers and the ones who grew up in an era when it was Mickey Mouse and little else. Faced with watching a less-familiar show like Cartoon Network’s competing “Squirrel Boy” or Mickey Mouse, moms will likely opt for the latter.
Among women 18-49, “Clubhouse” is averaging a very healthy 353,000 viewers, up 46 percent over the same slot last year. By comparison, only one network, Nick at Nite, averaged more than 350,000 women 18-49 in total-day during July.
I couldn't be more delighted. This new CGI Mickey rocks. He looks great, as do all the other vintage Disney critters. Plus it's fun to see what other characters besides the core group appear on the show. So far I've seen Black Pete, Ludwig Von Drake and Chip and Dale. :D
These days cartoon characters aimed at preschoolers have become startlingly sophisticated. The Little Einsteins have a magical spaceship, Dora the Explorer uses an interactive backpack, and Bob the Builder has talking tools.
So it’s more than a little surprising that, with all these cool, advanced characters to choose from, tots still have an allegiance to a simple mouse whose only special power is his extra high-pitched voice.
Indeed, Mickey Mouse is once again becoming a favorite among young kids. His Disney Channel series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” which debuted in May, was the No. 1 series on basic cable among kids 2-5 for the first time last week, the week ended Aug. 20.
It averaged 790,000 viewers in that demo for a 5.0 rating last week. That’s up 90 percent over the same timeslot the same week last year, when Disney aired “Charlie and Lola” and "The Wiggles" in the Sunday and Saturday 9-10 a.m. timeslots.
“Clubhouse” airs four episodes per week. Since its debut, it’s averaging a 4.6 rating and 714,000 2-5s, bettering last year’s timeslot by 53 percent.
The Mickey, Donald and Goofy on this show have changed somewhat from the past. They’re now rendered in CG animation, and the show is interactive, encouraging kids to count to 10 and develop other skills. Each episode aims to solve a problem and asks viewers for help while also letting the cartoon characters act silly.
But the core group are the same characters from half a century ago, and even more obscure figures like Mortimer Mouse and Willie the Giant have appeared.
In fact, that nostalgia factor may help explain why kids are still choosing Mickey over more contemporary cartoons: Their moms are watching, too.
Ratings for “Clubhouse” have spiked among women 18-49, the tots’ mothers and the ones who grew up in an era when it was Mickey Mouse and little else. Faced with watching a less-familiar show like Cartoon Network’s competing “Squirrel Boy” or Mickey Mouse, moms will likely opt for the latter.
Among women 18-49, “Clubhouse” is averaging a very healthy 353,000 viewers, up 46 percent over the same slot last year. By comparison, only one network, Nick at Nite, averaged more than 350,000 women 18-49 in total-day during July.
I couldn't be more delighted. This new CGI Mickey rocks. He looks great, as do all the other vintage Disney critters. Plus it's fun to see what other characters besides the core group appear on the show. So far I've seen Black Pete, Ludwig Von Drake and Chip and Dale. :D