Tot TV Watch

Thanks to a tip from the lovely Miss Zoot, here’s a little peek at what you can expect to see on Disney’s High School Musical 2:

High School Musical, High School Musical 2, Disney, sneak peek, video, youtube

The second installment of Nickelodeon’s Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge, airs on Sunday, May 27th, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.  St. Louis Rams Running Back Steven Jackson will make a special appearance during the “Workout Like a Pro” segment, and teach kids how to strengthen their bodies doing basic exercises like push-ups.  Kenderick and April, this year’s challengers, have already made progress by making small changes in their everyday lives.  The second episode will follow Kenderick as he trains for the Arkansas Invitational Kids Triathlon and April as she begins training for volleyball tryouts.

The first installment of the challenge had more than 1 million viewers and was the number two video on TurboNick, with 1.8 million streams.  The previous “Workout Like a Pro” segment was downloaded on iTunes 6,400 times.  With over 250,000 kids signing up for the challenge in the last year, the program appears to be a success.   I’m thinking I should tune in and get a few tips myself.

Nickelodeon, Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge, Workout Like a Pro, Steven Jackson, Kenderick, April, TurboNick

It looks like the kids will have something else to look forward to in August besides just going back to school. Disney’s “High School Musical 2″ will be premiering on the Disney Channel August 17th.

Hal Boedeker at the Orlando Sentinel was given the opportunity to preview the movie and gave the following summary of the plot:

Still bummed that she was upstaged in the first movie, Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) plots her revenge. She arranges for Troy (Zac Efron) to land a summer job at her family’s country club and tries to isolate him from his friends. He, however, brings his pals along to work at the club.

Undeterred, Sharpay tempts Troy with opportunities. He loses his way and alienates his buddies.

The movie will follow a similar format to the first, including an assortment of original songs. It will also throw some high school sports action in, this time including the baseball team.

Gary Marsh, entertainment president for Disney Channel Worldwide, says that the theme of the second movie will be “What’s important to me?” It will be about the struggle to find your own moral compass and then follow it, rather than just going along with the crowd.

As previously reported, “High School Musical 2″ will see a return of all of your favorite stars from the original movie.

Here’s a video of interviews with some of the cast:

High School Musical, High School Musical 2, premiere, Disney, Ashley Tisdale, Zac Efron, Gary Marsh, YouTube, video

You may know him as the hottie Troy Bolton from High School Musical, but it looks like Zac Efron is moving on to some other projects.  The Disney Blog reports that he will be playing ‘Link’ in the new movie version of Hairspray. Some of the other big name stars taking part in the movie are John Travolta, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, and Michelle Pfeiffer. The movie will be based on the stage version, which was based on the original 1988 John Waters film.

Hairspray may not be appropriate for the younger kids, but my guess is your tweens and teens will love it.  If nothing else, it shares a great message about beating the odds.  I loved the original movie and will definitely be checking this one out.

Here’s the trailer for the movie:

High School Musical, Zac Efron, Hairspray, Troy Bolton, Link, John Travolta, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, trailer, video, movie

(Source: Nickelodeon)
One of the most common complaints I hear about children’s television is that it encourages kids to sit in front of the TV instead of being active and using their imagination.  TV shows and video games are often cited as some of the leading causes of childhood obesity and other pediatric health problems.

In 2005, Nickelodeon partnered with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to try to combat this problem.  The “Let’s Just Play” initiative was formed to encourage kids to engage in healthy and active lifestyles.  Using Nickelodeon’s multimedia platforms, the group has been able to spread their message and reach millions of kids.

Beginning Sunday, April 29, at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT, Nickelodeon will premiere the second season of its Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge.  The six month series, airing during TeenNICK, will showcase real kids participating in a challenge to live a healthier lifestyle.  It will feature two 12-year-olds, Kenderick and April, as they participate in the challenge to become healthier.  It will also include a revolving third storyline each month that will focus on an individual or group of kids working to improve health and wellness in their personal lives or communities.  Various NFL players will also appear in the new “Workout Like a Pro” segments, where they will provide fitness tips.

This year’s challenge will include all new multimedia content and tools online to help kids participate.  Beginning April 5th, kids can download a personalized tracker to their desktops to help them track their progress during the Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge.  The tracker includes a list of favorite activities and healthy food options.  Kids can use the tracker and an online e-calendar to keep their activities and healthy habits organized.

In order to reach the most viewers, the Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge will be available on multiple platforms.  TurboNick will be streaming the full episodes, along with behind-the-scenes footage of the challengers.  Episodes will also be available as free downloads from iTunes and made available  on video-on-demand platforms.  Profiles of Kenderick and April will also be featured in the April and May issues of Nickelodeon Magazine.

While the television segments may be aimed at the elementary and tween/teen crowd, I think parents can also adapt many of the healthy habits showcased for the younger audience as well.  There is no reason that your toddlers and preschoolers can’t start learning healthy habits early on.

TV, television, video games, childhood obesity, health, Nickelodeon, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Let’s Just Play, Go Healthy Challenge, TeenNICK, Kenderick, April, NFL, Workout like a Pro, multimedia, TurboNick, iTunes, Nickelodeon Magazine

First there was the Disney movie, then the cd, dvd, concert tour, plans for a second and third movie, the ice tour and now there’s a traveling stage version of the ever popular High School Musical. I hate to be negative, but haven’t we had enough? Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, says that the tour is “a direct response to overwhelming demand.” I’m glad Disney is making money from their tween phenomenon, but there has to be a point where enough is enough. How many different versions of the same show can you really have and still find a demand?

The new stage version will not feature the same talent as the movie, so if you are looking for Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale or the rest of the gang, you are out of luck. You won’t be seeing them in this show. The show will include include a live orchestra and 35 yet-to-be-announced actors.

The theatrical version of High School Musical debuted at the Theatre of the Stars in Atlanta earlier this year and will make several stops before the official opening August 1st at the LaSalle Bank Theatre in Chicago. On sale dates for tickets will be announced locally. Official tour dates will be announced later this spring.

(Source: The Disney Blog)

High School Musical, Disney, Zac Efron, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale, Theatre of the Stars, LaSalle Bank Theatre

If you haven’t had enough of High School Musical, then you are in luck. Apparently the live concert tour wasn’t enough because now they are bringing “High School Musical: The Ice Tour” to a city near you. Supposedly, the ice will bring a new twist to the tween favorite, but I have to wonder if this isn’t overkill. How many different versions of the same show do we really need to see?

Rehearsals are already underway and tickets for the U.S. shows will be on sale April 2nd. The show kicks off August 31st in Lakeland, Florida, and will travel to at least 100 cities.

High School Musical fans also have “High School Musical 2″ to look forward to this summer, and “Haunted High School Musical” in 2008.

High School Musical: The Ice Tour, High School Musical 2, Haunted High School Musical, tour

Nickelodeon has announced yet another new interactive series that will include viewer uploaded content. Premiering in September of 2007, iCarly will join ME:TV as one of the numerous convergent entertainment experiences recently launched by Nickelodeon. iCarly is a comedy about a young girl who produces her own home-grown web show. Carly, played by Miranda Cosgrove (of Nick and Jake fame), will give viewers a specific assignment and direct them toward the web site to upload their creations. The uploaded content may be included in a future episode, or as part of Carly’s online web cast.

The description from Nickelodeon is as follows:

In iCarly, Miranda lives with her twenty-something brother/guardian Spencer (Jerry Trainor) and produces her web casts from a makeshift third- floor loft studio. Grappling with adolescence, she never aimed to gain fame as a rising star/underground celebrity to kids. As events unfold in the pilot, it all happens by accident when a teacher (guest star Mindy Sterling, Austin Powers’ Frau Farbissina) puts her in charge of the school talent show. She and her sassy best bud Sam (Jeannette McCurdy) turn the audition process into a show, which Carly’s tech savvy smitten friend Freddy (Nathan Kress) tapes — including their hilarious banter and great chemistry — and posts on the web unbeknownst to them. The online audience clamors for more, and a pop phenomenon blooms, with Miranda and sidekick Sam’s regular web casts ultimately featuring everything from comedy sketches and talent contests to interviews, recipes and problem-solving.

iCarly is set to begin taping the first thirteen episodes in March of 2007. Personally, I can’t wait to see this show take off. Nickelodeon has found a fresh new way to foster creativity in kids and I think we’ll be seeing a lot more shows combining television and user-uploaded content in the future.

iCarly, Nickelodeon, Miranda Cosgrove, ME:TV, interactive, user-uploaded content, web cast, Jerry Trainor, Mindy Sterling, Frau Farbissina, Jeannette McCurdy, Nathan Kress

Manny Rivera is just an average pre-teen boy living in Miracle City, but he possesses superpowers that he’s not quite sure what to do with. With a quick spin of his mystical belt buckle, Manny transforms into the mighty El Tigre, but he just can’t decide whether he wants to become a superhero or a supervillain. Sometimes he manages to be good, but other times he really enjoys just being bad. Most of the time he is just interested in finding a new adventure for himself and his best friend Frida. Frida isn’t always a great influence though, as she often leads him down paths he would have otherwise avoided.

Manny’s father Rodolfo, once a superhero himself, is trying to steer Manny in the right direction, but he’s not always successful. Although he is semi-retired and prefers to focus on his family and 9 to 5 job, he still transforms into White Pantera and saves the day when there is a dire emergency.

Manny’s Granpapi, also known as the super villain Puma Loco, loves his grandson dearly and strives to show Manny the ropes of his villainous ways. Though he claims to be retired, he still manages to pull of an occasional heist. He never misses a chance to show Manny just how fun it is to be bad.

Overall, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera looks like a good show. The struggle between good and evil is always present and it is interesting to see which way El Tigre will turn. Created by husband and wife team Jorge R. Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua, El Tigre is an entertaining Mexican-folk inspired cartoon. While younger viewers may enjoy the animation, it is probably best aimed toward the elementary and/or tween age range.

El Tigre premiered on March 3, 2007. You can catch new episodes on Nickelodeon Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m./9:30 a.m. Central. The episodes will also re-air throughout the week on Nickelodeon. Check local listings for times.

El Tigre, Manny Rivera, White Pantera, Puma Loco, Nickelodeon, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Sandra Equihua

Nickelodeon’s new ME: TV is an unprecedented new entertainment platform. On February 19th, Nickelodeon launched the first-ever TV programming block featuring user-generated content. Kids can upload their own videos and content online and it will be aired during a two hour block each day Monday through Friday.

Tom Ascheim, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Nickelodeon Television says, “Nickelodeon’s ME:TV is you TV. It gives us the opportunity to showcase the talents of our audience and give life to the content that they are creating. It is the next step in convergent entertainment for this multiplatform generation of kids.”

ME: TV is broadcast live from New York City with a live studio audience. It is hosted each day by Alexandra Gizela and Jordan Carlos and features four kids live via web cam, online voting, gaming, giveaways and celebrity guests. Children can participate at home via phone, on-screen message boards and voting on Nick.com. They can also upload their own content at www.nick.com/metv, then rate, watch, and share it on TurboNick. The best of the uploaded content will be aired on the show.

I think this will be a fun way for kids to express a little creativity. All content is moderated and Nickelodeon does require parental permission before any content will appear online or on-air.

Nickelodeon, ME:TV, user-generated, Alexandra Gizela, Jordan Carlos, TurboNick

Disney announced plans last Thursday for yet another sequel to the ever popular High School Musical. They had previously annouced production of High School Musical 2, to be released this summer on the Disney Channel. The third movie in the series, to be titled “Haunted High School Musical” will hit the big screen in 2008.

There is no mention of the plot yet, but it has been said that all of the original cast members will return for “Haunted” and it will take up right where the original left off. Fans of Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu and the other High School Musical cast can rejoice. They won’t be seeing the end of these guys for a while.

Haunted High School Musical, High School Musical, Disney, Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu