Disney Channel news stories on Newser

Demi Lovato Furious Over Disney Anorexia Joke

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:01:00 CST

After battling anorexia, singer/actress Demi Lovato is furious her former boss, the Disney Channel, joked about the eating disorder on a TV show. A character on the program Shake It Up said recently: “I could just eat you up. Well, if I ate.” Lovato responded in an incensed, all-capitals tweet....

Disney's Lovato Quits Tour, Enters Rehab

Matt Cantor — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:59:00 CDT

Disney Channel actress and singer Demi Lovato has quit the Jonas Brothers’ tour and entered rehab, the New York Daily News reports. The 18-year-old is seeking “medical treatment for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time,” said a rep. The Camp Rock and Sonny With a...

Ramona and Beezus Sweet, Harmless

M. Morris — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:39:32 CDT

Ramona and Beezus plays fast and loose with its source material, the classic children's books by Beverly Cleary, but the family movie—Disney tween favorite Selena Gomez's film debut—generally has the critics on its side. Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer : "The overall tone of the film is sunny, with Ramona...

Say Goodbye to Hannah Montana

M. Morris — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:29:38 CST

The fourth season of Hannah Montana, which begins shooting Jan. 18, will be the show's last. The Disney Channel hit, which made an international star of Miley Cyrus, debuted in 2006 and averages 5 million viewers a week. "We're scheduled to wrap after shooting this new batch of episodes," a...

Hollywood Has Its First Gay Studio Chief

Harry Kimball — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:06:00 CDT

You wouldn’t know it from the press—well, most of the press—but Hollywood has just passed a milestone and minted its first openly gay studio chief. Rich Ross has taken over at Disney, which "has long been the most gay friendly studio in Hollywood,” writes Patrick Goldstein in the...

Hannah Plays It Safe

Rob Quinn — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:22:52 CDT

Hannah Montana: The Movie slickly translates the Disney Channel tween smash onto the big screen, say critics, but those who aren't already fans can safely sit this one out. Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times : The movie "is an excuse for some generically catchy songs and a showcase for Miley Cyrus' charmingly...

Disney Channel Coming to Russian TV

Harry Kimball — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:30:01 CST

Disney has become the first Western company to crack the potentially lucrative Russian TV market, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company and a Russian broadcaster are finalizing plans to introduce Disney programming on 30 stations nationwide. Disney will have a 49% ownership stake in the deal with Russia's Media-One...

Small Screen's Biggest Brains

Paul Stinson — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:49:16 CST

It may be dubbed the "idiot box," but there are some bright bulbs behind TV's smartest shows and network deals. After polling Hollywood insiders, Entertainment Weekly lists the top 25 smarties: S eth MacFarlane , executive producer, Family Guy , American Dad . Tina Fey , executive producer, actress, 30 Rock . Nancy Tellem , president...

Disney's New Princess Could Grab Miley's Crown

Rob Quinn — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:15:32 CDT

A new star is rising through the Disney ranks and teen entertainment watchers think she could go all the way to the top, Entertainment Weekly reports. At 16, Demi Lovato already has a decade of showbiz experience under her belt and the Camp Rock star looks set to go take...