I realize I'm late in recognizing what I've been trying to ignore - a, so-far, $1 billion phenomenon. Walt Disney's 'High School Musical' franchise dwarfs anything and everything else in the entertainment business these days. For those who've also tried to ignore the top rated TV show, when its sequel ran earlier this summer and all the #1 chart action in sales, downloads, ringtones and in your shopping mall (New Yorkers, disregard), 'High School Musical' is about a group of teenagers putting on a show filled with what we older generation people would've called 'Bubble Gum'. It's as wholesome as children's entertainment can get and it's become a cultural phenomenon...
Its first showing on the Disney Channel in 2006, drew a record (for Disney) 7.7 million 'children of all ages'. This summer's sequel drew 17 million viewers to top the TV ratings. DVD's, soundtracks, books, video games, a concert tour and an exclusive line of Wal-Mart merchandise has made HSM a self-contained industry. A third installment of the show is scheduled for release next year. HSM has already conquered Britain, Australia and Scandinavia and the rest of the world will be dropping like flies too...
The nude photo of 18-year old HSM star Vanessa Hudgens is making big news in Hollywood today and no one is taking credit for placing it on the Internet but it was allegedly taken by her co-star/boy friend, Zac Efron. That might put a crimp in the HSM steamroller although the photograph is described as being relatively tame. It shows an 18-year girl, standing in a bedroom in front of deep red curtains, pulling back her hair and smiling for the camera. You're on your own for that but I will give you a taste of the music that describes what 'High School Musical' is all about. It's a video of "We're All In This Together": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7zzbB17Fvo ...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1846] In stitches: Elias Howe of Spencer (MA) receives a patent for the sewing machine. To celebrate, Howe gets ripped, wearing a smile that looks like it was sewn on. From that day on he was known as that old "sew and sew"...
- 1935] Premiered on this date: "Popeye" debuts on NBC Radio...1955] Okay Pilllll-grim, listen up - John Wayne likes this new show, so, you best like it too. It's called "Gunsmoke": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLTbmhIG4VA ...1990] Will Smith debuts as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"...1990] Ellis Island reopens...1993] "The X-Files" debuts on Fox...
- 1953] Mmmmm mmmm: Swanson begins selling "TV dinners" giving us these luscious choices: Salisbury steaks, Meatloaf, Fried chicken and Turkey. All come with delicious mashed potatoes and the greenest peas you've ever seen...
- 1955] Bert parks: Bert Parks begins a 25-year career of singing "There She Is, Miss America" as host of the famous pageant on NBC-TV...
- 1963] Standoff: 20 black students enter public schools in Alabama following a standoff between federal Marshall's and Alabama Governor George C. Wallace...
- 1972] Curtains: Gayle Sayers of the Bears retires after only 7 years in the NFL. He bows out as the lifetime return leader at the time with 9,435 combined net yards and 336 points. How about that NFL record-setting 108-yard return for the Pats' Ellis Hobbs yesterday??? 1993] NBC-TV airs its last episode of "Late Night With David Letterman" as Letterman takes the show to CBS-TV...
- 1974] Legalized larceny: The Cardinals' Lou Brock sets a new major league record for stolen bases in one season with stolen base number 105...
- 1988] Steffi steals the cup: West Germany's Steffi Graf wins the first women's Grand Slam since Margaret Court in 1970 by taking the U.S. Open final...
- 1989] Two-sport hero: Deion Sanders scores a touchdown in his NFL debut with Atlanta (video follows) 5 days after hitting a home run for the Yankees. Sanders becomes the 1st athlete to play in a World Series and Super Bowl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWoZnqnPcso ...
- 1995] Emmy Gold: "NYPD Blue", "ER", "Frasier" and Candice Bergen are winners at the 47th Emmy Awards...2000] "The West Wing" wins a record 9 Emmy's including "Best Drama Series"...
Music Memories:
- Released on this date: 1966: "If I Were A Carpenter" - Bobby Darin. Watch this sensational live-TV video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjFRLOktHXo ...1966] "Last Train To Clarksville" - Monkees...[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Ron Farber informs that programming guru Paul Drew appeared on a recent Jay Leno "Jaywalking" segment where they ask people at random to imitate a music video. As soon as I get my hands on this video, you'll see it...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Guy Ritchie (39), Randy Johnson (44), Colin Firth (47), Amy Irving (54), Aerosmith's Joe Perry (57), Judy Geeson (59), Danny Hutton (65) and the legendary Arnold Palmer (78)...
Timeline Countdown: 13 days until autumn, 23 days until the MLB playoffs and 44 days until the World Series...
