Is the Current Disney Channel Era Almost Over?

[TMC1982]

I guess, this current era started around 2006:
*Hannah Montana is scheduled to end I think next spring. It also seems quite apparent that Miley Cyrus is trying as hard as possible to shatter her squeaky clean, Disneyfied image (e.g. pole dancing at the Teen Choice Awards, being caught lap dancing, the "I Can't Be Tamed" and "Who Owns My Heart" music videos, being photographed drinking beer in Spain, etc.)

*Selena Gomez recently announced that Wizards of Waverly Place would be ending after Season 4.

*Demi Lovato just went into rehab and the fate of Sonny with a Chance is really up in the air at the moment.

*Jonas just got canceled and it's arguable that the Jonas Bros. aren't as popular now (Justin Bieber kind of stole their thunder) as say two years prior.

[Speedy Cerviche]

I hope so..... They need more cartoons

[Rick Jones]

All of their kids are pretty much adults now, so I guess it's time to move on to the next batch.

[Blackstar]

This wave of Disney kidcoms may be ending, we know that the Mouse House is already working on the next wave to replace these. I agree that the Disney Channel could use more animated programming, but the live action kidcoms aren't going anywhere. As long as there are kids watching the Disney Channel, there will be Disney kidcoms.

[Philmister978]

All of their kids are pretty much adults now, so I guess it's time to move on to the next batch.

Indeed my fellow Rick. Indeed.

[firefoxprime]

Indeed my fellow Rick. Indeed.

Yeah...I've seen a few commercials for this upcoming dancing comedy.
Umm...I believe its called: Shake it Up. Looks kinda boring to me, and I definetly dont feel like watching a 12 year-old female buddy duo like HM all over again...nah i'm good.

[Darklordavaitor]

*Demi Lovato just went into rehab and the fate of Sonny with a Chance is really up in the air at the moment.

From what I've read, SWAC was going to start production up in January, even if Demi wasn't going to be in therapy. Disney wouldn't outright cancel the show right now, because that would be in poor taste. If she still needs help by then or decides that she doesn't need the added stress, then you can start worrying about the show.

Overall though, I do agree that the age of Disney Channel celebs, or at least this phase, is almost over. I think Miley's persona change was the first sign, while fellow young acts like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber getting airtime outside of Radio Disney and Disney Channel was another major part of this. Outside of a few unavoidable Miley tunes, have you heard any songs from Disney stars on basic mainstream radio? I swear I've caught "Burnin' Up" by the Jo Bros a few times, and "Get Back" by Demi once or twice when they came out, but from what little top 40 I play, these artists never show up anymore. And surely Demi Lovato cancelling her tour to head to therapy isn't a good reflection of how the studio manages their talent.

I think another nail in the coffin and a sign of the future is that Phineas & Ferb is becoming more popular than any of the channel's other shows. With this and Fish Hooks, it looks like Disney might give more or possibly even equal attention to cartoons on the channel now. I can't say I'm a fan of either shows(although admittingly I've only seen clips of Fish Hooks), but I think this is probably better for the channel overall. They can't rely on young multi-talents to make money for them forever, and I think somewhere along the line Disney is going to learn this, when their new live-action shows don't give them the next Miley but P&F repeat ratings are through the roof.

[ABrown]

The key word here is "current" Disney Channel era. Yes, many of the Disney channel shows will probably come to an end in the near future. But Disney has proven over the years that they definitely will replace these shows with new shows featuring new actors/actresses that will enter pop culture.

[Alec]

From what I've read, SWAC was going to start production up in January, even if Demi wasn't going to be in therapy. Disney wouldn't outright cancel the show right now, because that would be in poor taste. If she still needs help by then or decides that she doesn't need the added stress, then you can start worrying about the show.

Where did you hear about production starting in January? I haven't heard anything about it.

[Darklordavaitor]

Where did you hear about production starting in January? I haven't heard anything about it.

Can't recall on the top of my head, but I think this was mentioned in one of the articles online reporting Demi's stay in rehab.

January sounds like a nice time to start anyhow. By then, Demi should've been done with her Camp Rock tour with Jonas and would be in the states long enough to have a quick break before learning her parts for the new season. If I'm wrong though, feel free to correct me, since I don't actively keep up with this stuff.

[Alec]

Can't recall on the top fo my head, but I think this was mentioned in one of the articles online reporting Demi's stay in rehab.

January sounds like a nice time to start anyhow. By then, Demi should've been done with her Camp Rock tour with Jonas and would be in the states long enough to have a quick break before learning her parts for the new season. If I'm wrong though, feel free to correct me, since I don't actively keep up with this stuff.

Just did a little research, it does look like there is a third season. I usually look at the Official Disney Channel Press Release site and there isn't any information on a third season..

However I just found this article and it says it's suppose to start mid-January if Demi's health is better. It'll start production when Demi feels better.

[NewcomerDC]

Even if a third season is made, how can anyone stretch out Sonny with a Chance to last up until the end of 2011/beginning of 2012? Sonny has already received a lot of popularity especially when it comes to singing so there's nothing more to do to make her look as unpopular as anyone else in the 'So Random!' cast. I hope that Disney doesn't repeat themselves with having her break up with Chad like they did with Miley and Jake in Hannah Montana Forever.

[Tommy Lawson]

Almost on cue to answer TMC1982's thread title question, James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter just published an article about one of the upcoming Disney Channel shows.

[Alec]

Almost on cue to answer TMC1982's thread title question, James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter just published an article about one of the upcoming Disney Channel shows.

Thank you for this articfle. You know I heard there was going to be a Pilot called 'Smart Alec' and it was a person who skipped in school and was really smart. This could be the series that got a new title.

You know, I like the idea of the name, but do you think it could turn away viewers because of the name? Why only 13-episodes?

[Kryten]

Indeed my fellow Rick. Indeed.

Hey now. You can't rush the cloning vats. You get lousy clones.

Besides, they're cloning entire shows now. That new show is an EXACT duplicate of "Sonny with a Chance" except now there's TWO Sonnys.

[Alec]

Hey now. You can't rush the cloning vats. You get lousy clones.

Besides, they're cloning entire shows now. That new show is an EXACT duplicate of "Sonny with a Chance" except now there's TWO Sonnys.

If you guys didn't notice this before, but "Sonny With A Chance" is an EXACT duplicate of "The Amanda Show."

[Shawn Hopkins]

Almost on cue to answer TMC1982's thread title question, James Hibberd of The Hollywood Reporter just published an article about one of the upcoming Disney Channel shows.

They're not simply copying a show that Dan Schneider made, there. They're copying a show that Dan Schneider was -in-. Seriously, it sounds like "Head of the Class."

[Mister Intensity]

I guess, this current era started around 2006:
*Hannah Montana is scheduled to end I think next spring. It also seems quite apparent that Miley Cyrus is trying as hard as possible to shatter her squeaky clean, Disneyfied image (e.g. pole dancing at the Teen Choice Awards, being caught lap dancing, the "I Can't Be Tamed" and "Who Owns My Heart" music videos, being photographed drinking beer in Spain, etc.)

*Selena Gomez recently announced that Wizards of Waverly Place would be ending after Season 4.

*Demi Lovato just went into rehab and the fate of Sonny with a Chance is really up in the air at the moment.

*Jonas just got canceled and it's arguable that the Jonas Bros. aren't as popular now (Justin Bieber kind of stole their thunder) as say two years prior.

Plus Suite Life on Deck is rumored to be ending this season as well (this season is the twins Senior Year in high school).

Selena, Demi, Cole, Dylan, and Miley all have their 18th birthdays this year (Miley is the last of that group to turn 18). Plus the characters on their shows (although I'm not sure about Demi's since the character ages are ambiguous on Sonny with a Chance) are all seniors in high school. Disney shows tend not to follow the characters into college, so this era is over.

Shake It Up is the first show of the next era with two younger leads who could lead a show for about the next three to five years. Smart move that they start this show up this season, instead of waiting until next season when all the aging shows are gone, sort of like how the Suite Life of Zack and Cody (which was the first of this era) started while That's So Raven was finishing up.

[bigddan11]

Plus Suite Life on Deck is rumored to be ending this season as well (this season is the twins Senior Year in high school).

Selena, Demi, Cole, Dylan, and Miley all have their 18th birthdays this year (Miley is the last of that group to turn 18). Plus the characters on their shows (although I'm not sure about Demi's since the character ages are ambiguous on Sonny with a Chance) are all seniors in high school. Disney shows tend not to follow the characters into college, so this era is over.

Shake It Up is the first show of the next era with two younger leads who could lead a show for about the next three to five years. Smart move that they start this show up this season, instead of waiting until next season when all the aging shows are gone, sort of like how the Suite Life of Zack and Cody (which was the first of this era) started while That's So Raven was finishing up.

I slightly disagree, because Disney does continually replace old shows with new shows. I would actually place Good Luck Charlie as the start of the new era along with Pair of Kings. Yes, I realize both series contain people from the previous era (Cory, Suite Life, and Hannah), but they both started before Shake It Up! and Charlie certainly contains younger talent than Shake It Up! I don't truly see Disney ever having an end with their current era though. Remember that Lizzie McGuire and Even Stephens success started the current era that led to shows like Raven, Suite Life, and Hannah. Those are ending and now Charlie, Kings, and Shake It Up! have started. As long as a series has success, then they'll continue to have a new series start. Disney has also proven that they'll keep actors and actresses on board an use them in animated series even after they are in high school.

[li_mangaman]

It would be nice to see shows from different production companies on the channel, other than It's A Laugh Productions. But you have to question how will Disney Channel begin to grow when Disney XD is just hitting it's stride? At present, Disney Channel has three live-action sitcoms from It's A Laugh Productions continuing indefinitely: Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up and A.N.T. Farm. Disney XD, on the other hand holds four; I'm In The Band, Pair Of Kings, Wasabi Warriors, and Billion Dollar Freshmen. In addition to these four shows, Disney XD will also be continuing Turtle Rock Productions' Zeke And Luther into a third season. Speaking of Zeke And Luther, Ryan Newman will be releasing several singles soon. I would suspect that with her making a music career Disney may be increasingly interested in proliferating her image.

I am expecting for Disney Channel to surprise us. As Disney XD begins to hit it's stride, I do not believe Disney Channel will use it's shows as frequently as they are at present, what with Pair Of Kings premiering episodes sporadically on either channel. I am expecting for Disney XD shows to eventually remain solely on Disney XD and for Disney Channel to enter a new direction as more than half of their It's A Laugh Productions programs end their run.