Jim Hill

In just one week, the Con is on !

Jim Hill reviews the programming for Comic-Con 2008 and then points out some panels & signings that Disneyana fans should probably seek out while they're down in San Diego Read More...

Posted Thursday, July 17, 2008 12:00 AM | 2 Comments

Filed under: Disney, TV, Pixar, ABC, Disney Channel, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, television, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, "Bolt", film, movie, Eric Goldberg, 2008, 2009, Disney / Pixar, TV show, feature film , Chris Sanders, "The Little Mermaid -- Ariel's Beginning", comic book, comic books , ABC reality series, "Up", "Prince of Persia"

Will pirates soon be returning to Treasure ... er ... Discovery Island?

In this week's Why For, Jim Hill talks about the history of Treasure / Discovery Island. More importantly, how WDW Entertainment and Food & Beverage are allegedly thinking of using the "Pirates of the Caribbean" characters to help get this place re-opened Read More...

Posted Friday, June 06, 2008 12:00 AM | 14 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Why For, Imagineering, ABC, Johnny Depp, WED, Walt Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Tom Sawyer Island, "Lost", The Walt Disney Company, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake, WDW Entertainment, WDI, WDW, Imagineer, cast members, cast member, Leota Toombs, 1974, 1998, 1976, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, marshmallows, Food Service, "Blackbeard's Ghost" , 1967, Peter Ustinov , Captain Jack Sparrow, Food & Beverage , Imagineers, April , rum , "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, 1960s, Disney officials , "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise , January, interactive, Capt. Jack Sparrow, Raz Island, "Pirates of the Caribbean", boat ride , treasure hunt , marshmallow, marshmallow roast , Treasure Island, Discovery Island, wilderness preserve , Blackbeard's Island , wizards of WED , 1950, "Treasure Island", Robert Louis Stevenson , Ben Gunn's Cave, Future Attraction, Future Attractions , The Blockhouse , Long John Silver, buccaneer, buccaneers, Spy Glass Hill , Wreck of the Hispaniola, Hispaniola, bird sanctuary , skeleton, aviary, enclosure, buzzard, buzzards , vulture, vultures, treasure map , operational hours , Yo-Ho-Ho , dough-dough-dough, snack bar, honeymoon, honeymoon cottage, honeymoon cottages , interactive gaming , "Myst" , pirate-themed adventure , food component, WDW Food Services, corporate groups, rum drinks , Johnny Depp lookalike

"High School Musical 5 & 6" ?! "Beauty & the Beast" headed back to Broadway ?!

Jim Hill shares some of the domain names that the Walt Disney Company has recently registered. Including a new year-long promotion for 2009 that looks & sounds an awful lot like 2003's "Magical Gatherings" campaign Read More...

Posted Tuesday, June 03, 2008 12:00 AM | 22 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Broadway, musical, "High School Musical", ABC, Disney Channel, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Theatrical, "Beauty & the Beast", Anaheim, Orlando, The Walt Disney Company, "High School Musical 3", "High School Musical 4", "High School Musical" franchise, Disneyland Resort, Jay Rasulo, Disney Parks & Resorts, "Aida", WDW, "Year of a Million Dreams", hotel, Broadway musical, Disney Channel Original, 2008, 2009, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, "Toy Story Mania", "Toy Story Midway Mania", 2007, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" , Broadway production, 2003, on property, TV movie, TV movies , hotels, 2006, Disney franchise, theatrical release, 2010, "My School Musical" , "High School Musical: Get in the Picture" , "High School Musical 5" , "High School Musical 6", Wildcats, East High, Matt Prokop, Justin Martin , Jemma McKenzie-Brown, "HSM3" , domain name , "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - The Musical" , St. James Theatre , Paul Kolnik, Big Apple , holiday treat, seasonal run , seasonal production, revival , "Annie" , Old Globe Theatre, Hilton Theatre, national tour, "Magical Gatherings" , Disney vacation, "Disney’s Magical Celebration", "Disney’s Magical Celebrations", Regular Unleaded, gasoline, DP&R, year-long promotion, heads in beds, consumers, theme park tickets, plane reservations, hotel rooms, birthday buttons, pins, plush

Small town preps big welcome for "Extreme Makeover" family

Jim Hill reports on the preparations that are now underway in Maynard, MA. Where the production team for this popular ABC reality series -- working with local volunteers -- has just built a brand-new house for the Giunta family Read More...

Posted Friday, February 29, 2008 12:00 AM | 5 Comments

Filed under: Disney, TV, ABC, Walt Disney World, WDW, wheelchair accessible, handicap access, 2008, Disney World, The Walt Disney World Resort, 2007, TV show, construction site, snow, Disney World vacation, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", Ty Pennington, Maynard, Massachusetts, audition tape, Paul Giunta Jr, Renee Giunta, Brianna Giunta, Cameron Giunta, Dylan Giunta, Giunta family, handicap-accessible, wheelchair-friendly, wheelchair, construction, makeover, "Move that bus", design team, volunteers, 2006, August, severe head trauma, ABC reality series, ranch house, production team, triathlete, Boston Marathon, February , snowstorms

Tune Tuesday: Get ready for the stage version of "High School Musical 2"

Jim Hill shares all sorts of tidbits from the Disney Theatrical side of the fence. Including the tour schedule for both the North American & UK version of "Mary Poppins" as well as "The Little Mermaid" CD release celebration Read More...

Posted Tuesday, February 19, 2008 12:00 AM | 3 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theater, Broadway, "High School Musical", ABC, Walt Disney Pictures, Disney Theatrical, "The Little Mermaid", "High School Musical 2", The Walt Disney Company, "High School Musical 3", "High School Musical" franchise, New York City, Washington D.C., Australia, Chicago, "The Lion King", Los Angeles, "Mary Poppins", NYC, LA, Broadway musical, stage version, Disney Channel Original, 2009, October, Cameron Mackintosh , Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids , autographs, co-production, stage show

Oscar Watch '08: Miramax maxes out while the Mouse gets skunked

Was today a good day or a bad day at Walt Disney Studios? Well, as Jim Hill points out, it all depends on whether you work at Miramax Films or on the Walt Disney Pictures side of the house Read More...

Posted Tuesday, January 22, 2008 12:00 PM | 37 Comments

Filed under: animation, Disney, movies, Pixar, ABC, NBC, Brad Bird, "Enchanted", Pixar Animation Studios, "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End", Amy Adams, "How to Hook-Up Your Home Theater", Academy Award, film, movie, actress, 2008, Disney / Pixar, animated feature, 2007, feature film , Best Picture nominee, Disney Feature Animation, animated short, picket line, Jan Pinkava, animated features, Oscar-winning , Norman Jewison , "The Man I Love" , George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, "good news day" , Amy Ryan, nomination , Best Actress in a supporting role , "Gone Baby Gone" , Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, ABC Inc, Best Actress , Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Achievement in Music – Original Song, Original Song , nominee, nominations , "Happy Working Song" , "So Close" , "That's How You Know" , Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Jim Capobianco, Best Original Screenplay, Achievement in Sound Mixing , Achievement in Sound Editing, Achievement in Makeup , Achievement in Visual Effects , Oscar, Oscars, Best Animated Short Film, Academy Award nominee, Academy Award winner, Academy voters , February 24th , 80th annual Academy Awards , actors , picket lines, Academy Award nominations , Academy Award nominees, Academy Award winners, Miramax Films , "No Country for Old Men" , Paramount Vantage, Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role , Achievement in Directing , Achievement in Cinematography , Achievement in Film Editing , Adapted Screenplay, "There Will Be Blood", Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role , Achievement in Art Direction , "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" , Pathé Renn , co-production, Michael Giacchino , Achievement in Music – Original Score, Original Score, Oscar broadcast, Golden Globes, hand-drawn animation

Remembering Suzanne Pleshette (1937 - 2008)

Jim Hill looks back on the Disney-related portion of this Emmy nominated actress's career as well as commenting on the role that smoking may have played in her untimely demise Read More...

Posted Monday, January 21, 2008 12:00 AM | 4 Comments

Filed under: Disney, TV, Universal Studios, Walt Disney, ABC, Disneyland, Walt Disney Productions, television, Burbank, film, movie, TV show, Disneyana fans, condolences, Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette , Emily Hartley, Bob Hartley , "The Bob Newhart Show" , Dean Jones, 1966 , "The Ugly Dachshund" , 1968, "Blackbeard's Ghost" , 1975, "The Shaggy DA" , Roddy McDowell , 1967, "The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin" , "The Lion King II: Simba's Pride" , English language version, Hayao Miyazaki, "Spirited Away" , Tony Curtis , "40 Pounds of Trouble" , 1962 , Norman Jewison , Damon Runyon, "Little Miss Marker" , St. Joseph's Hospital , studio , Roy O Disney , Peter Ustinov , Disney lot, James Garner, Laura Hennessy , 2002 - 2005 , ABC sitcom, sitcom , "8 Simple Rules'', smoker, lung cancer, smoking-related illnesses , Emmy-nominated

Tube Tuesday: Gary Trousdale tries to "Shrek the Halls" without first wrecking DreamWorks Animation's most important franchise

Jim Hill chats with this WDAS vet about many of the ogre-sized challenges he faced while directing this new holiday special. Which airs tomorrow night on ABC Read More...

Posted Tuesday, November 27, 2007 12:00 AM | 6 Comments

Filed under: animation, Disney, DreamWorks, ABC, CG, Epcot, "Beauty & the Beast", "Shrek the Third", DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Animation Studios, television, WDAS, Future World , Christmas, film, gags , film franchise, Happy Holidays, "Tis the season" , feature film , "Shrek Goes Fourth", ratings, color coordinated , Godzilla, midnight snack, chimney, cookie plate, cookie, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" , holiday season , gingerbread man, "Twas The Night Before Christmas" , Gingy, holiday perennial, dated , timeless , film parody, in-joke, Disney in-joke, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers , recording session, DreamWorks campus, character bits , TV special, holiday story , "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" , "A Charlie Brown Christmas", Best Picture nominee, Richard Purdum , 1980s, "Cranium Command", Kirk Wise, holiday special, Christmas special, Gary Trousdale, fairytale, Santa's workshop, The North Pole, Puss in Boots, Donkey, Saint Nick, Saint Nicholas, naughty list, Santa Claus, ogre, Shrek, "Shrek's First Christmas", "Shrek the Halls"

Monday Mouse Watch: Is Disney getting ready to send in the "Clones" ?

How badly does the Walt Disney Company want to acquire the broadcast rights to George Lucas' new animated "Star Wars" TV series? So much so that it's reportedly willing to let Lucas ride herd on the retheming of much of Disneyland's Tomorrowland section. Jim Hill shares the latest scuttlebutt coming out of WDI Read More...

Posted Monday, August 27, 2007 12:00 AM | 37 Comments

Filed under: Disney, DVD / Video, movies, theme park, TV, attraction, Imagineering, ABC, Disney Channel, Disneyland, 20th Century Fox, Fox, Disney-MGM Studios theme park, The Jungle Cruise, Anaheim, George Lucas, Innoventions, Star Tours, "Star Wars", ABC Family, HBO, Jedi Training Academy, Astro Orbitor, Star Wars Weekends, Autopia, "Star Wars Insider", Toon Disney, The Clone Wars, ABC Studios

Monday Mouse Watch : Wanna peek at Bob Iger's vision for the future of the Walt Disney Company? And is "Ratatouille" really starting to fade in the Hollywood rat race?

Jim Hill has noticed something interesting about the title sequence for ABC's new "Wonderful World of Disney" movie anthology series. He also sees some disturbing trends in the new box office numbers for Brad Bird's latest film Read More...

Posted Monday, July 16, 2007 12:00 AM | 59 Comments

Filed under: Disney, movies, TV, Pixar, fireworks, Pirates of the Caribbean, ABC, CG, Bob Iger, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, NBC, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Epcot, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios theme park

As "Tarzan" swings off Broadway, is Beyoncé getting ready to play Aida in Disney's next big movie musical?

Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related question. In this week's "Why For," he talks about how the Wiggles wound up at Six Flags, shares the latest news on the "Song of the South" DVD, sounds off about "Soarin'" & "Der Glockner Von Notre Dame" and ... Oh, yeah ... Reveals the latest rumors surrounding the studio's upcoming big screen adaptation of "Aida" Read More...

Posted Friday, July 06, 2007 12:00 AM | 15 Comments

Filed under: animation, Disney, DVD / Video, music, theater, theme park, TV, Why For, Pixar, Broadway, musical, attraction, ABC, Disney Channel, traditional animation, computer animation, CG, Walt Disney Pictures, Michael Eisner, Dick Cook, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Epcot

Why (For) did Walt Disney actually have Disneyland's Submarine Voyage built ?

Jim Hill reveals the hidden history of this soon-to-be-re-opening Tomorrowland attraction. Which only came about because the Ol' Mousetro was determined to "one up" the competition. Which -- back in 1958 -- was this recently rethemed Santa Monica amusement pier that had just been dubbed "Pacific Ocean Park" Read More...

Posted Friday, June 08, 2007 12:00 AM | 27 Comments

Filed under: Disney, theme park, TV, Why For, Walt Disney, attraction, ABC, WED, Pacific Ocean Park, CBS

Monday MouseWatch : Will the third time be the charm with Disney's Muppet revival project ?

Jim Hill walks us through the recent history of the Muppet Holding Company / Muppet Studios LLC. Which has blown through a trio of seasoned Disney VPs in the past three years. So now the question is: Does Lylle Breier really have what it takes to restore Jim Henson's once-beloved set of characters to their former glory? Read More...

Posted Monday, April 30, 2007 12:00 AM | 32 Comments

Filed under: Disney, Save Disney, theater, TV, Muppets, Jim Henson, attraction, Imagineering, toys, Disney Consumer Products, ABC, Disney Channel

Why For wasn't this episode of "Dinosaurs" ever broadcast on ABC ?

In honor of next Tuesday's DVD release of the third & fourth seasons of this acclaimed Touchstone Television / Jim Henson Productions series, Jim Hill talks about a particular show that never actually aired on ABC. A brutally funny send-up of Disneyland & Walt Disney World called "Variations on a Theme Park" Read More...

Posted Friday, April 27, 2007 12:00 AM | 14 Comments

Filed under: Disney, DVD / Video, theme park, TV, Jim Henson, attraction, ABC

Monday MouseWatch : Is Bob Iger getting ready to say "Buenas Noches" to Buena Vista ?

The Mouse House's Big Cheese is all about the branding these days, or so says Jim Hill. Read about how historically significant names like Buena Vista & Hyperion are deliberately being pulled off of Disney's corporate roster. As this new CEO concentrates on putting his company's three main brands (I.E. Disney, ESPN & ABC) in the front window Read More...

Posted Monday, April 23, 2007 12:00 AM | 22 Comments

Filed under: Disney, DVD / Video, movies, TV, ABC