You know, we’re still getting a lot of mail here at JimHillMedia.com about that recent programming change at the Disney Channel. Extremely angry e-mails like this one from P**** B. of Townsend, MA. Who writes to say:
“I can’t believe that Eisner actually had the b&%$@ to cancel ‘Vault Disney.’ Now what are my kids supposed to watch? This ‘Zoog Disney’ s&^% like ‘Kim Possible’ and ‘The Proud Family’?!”
… Which is what immediately clued me into the fact that P****B. has never actually watched “Kim Possible” or “The Proud Family.” How can I tell? Well, these two ‘Zoog Disney’ animated series may be many things – well written, loaded with great design as well as humor that plays at a variety of levels, fun for both kids & adults to watch – but they are decidedly NOT “s&^%”
Of course, these days, it’s “Kim Possible” that getting most of the press. Which is sort of understandable (I guess). Given that “The Proud Family” debuted back in September 2001, while “Kim Possible” was just rolled out back in June. So the Disney Channel’s currently throwing most of its marketing might behind “Kim” (Just to make sure that that highly lucrative 7 to 14-year-old tween demographic is aware that “Kim Possible” is out there).
Well, all of that publicity must be working. For “Kim Possible”‘s premiere (back on Friday, June 7th) broke records at the Disney Channel, delivering 2.5 million total viewers and 1.8 million households, the highest ever on the 19-year-old network. The “Kim Possible” that aired Friday before last (September 27th) reportedly tied the record ratings for the show’s highly hyped premiere … And an audience of that size for a regularly scheduled episode of “KI” can only mean one thing: “Kim” isn’t just a hit with kids anymore. It’s a toon that adults are also checking out & watching now on a regular basis.
So “What’s the sitch” with “Kim Possible”? Why does this Disney Channel animated series (which stars a brainy cheerleader who battles super villains when she’s not juggling homework assignments) play so well with audiences of all ages? Well, “KI” does feature some truly great character design by animator/cartoonist Stephen Silver. But – if I’m going to be awarding credit as to who got this show right – I guess I’d have to point toward “Kim Possible”‘s trio of executive producers: Chris Bailey, Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley.
After all, all three of these guys are animation vets. Chris is probably best known to the Disneyana crowd for his work on Disney’s “Runaway Brain” short as well as Miramax’s late, lamented “Clerks – The Animated Series.” (FYI: Bailey also directed the “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” 3D CG film that’s still being presented at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as well as Disney’s California Adventure theme parks.)
And as for Bob & Mark… Well, if you’ve ever seen an episode of “Aladdin – The Animated Series,” “Hercules – The Animated Series” or “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command,” you’re familiar with McCorkle & Schooley’s work. Which is typified by very strong stories that have clever dialogue as well as some very odd gags.
I mean, who but Bob & Mark – when looking for an actress to provide the voice of Echidna, the “Mother of all monsters” for “Hercules and the Return of Typhon” would have thought of Kathie Lee Gifford? Or would have thought of a way to top that gag by hiring Kathie Lee’s much beleaguered co-host, Regis Philbin, to provide vocals for Echidna’s constantly kvetching husband, Typhon?
So – when you pool all the talent of all these animation veterans – what do you get? You get a series that looks great but is also more than slightly smart assed. I mean, who else but these guys – when told by the Disney brass that Kim’s best friend, Ron Stoppable, needed to have a pet (so that the show would have something cute to potentially market further on down the line) – would have thought to make that character the proud owner of a naked mole rat?
I mean, this sort of snarky sensibility snakes through all aspects of “Kim Possible”? I personally love “KI”‘s weird little moments that deviate significantly from spy movie tradition. Like when arch fiend Drakken is about to reveal his evil plan to Kim. That’s when Drakken’s smarter associate, Shego, interrupts and reminds the evil genius that things always go wrong when the villain makes the mistake of telling the hero what he’s about to do. So Drakken actually shuts up!
Or that wonderful moment in the “Kim Possible ” pilot when a giant killer robot is bearing down on Ron. Staring up at the mechanical marvel, Stoppable says something to the effect of “That would be so cool if it weren’t about to hurt us.
That’s another thing that “Kim Possible” has got going for it. The show (to put it bluntly) is cool. “KI”‘s distinct look, the show’s smart writing as well as its fleet pacing all add up to one great half hour of television. If you haven’t seen “Kim Possible” yet, make a point of doing so soon.
Not because “KI” is going off the air anytime soon, mind you. Far from it. Disney actually just ordered up 30 additional episodes of “Kim Possible” (Why? Because execs at the Disney Channel are reportedly talking about stripping “KI.” Which would involve having a different episode of “Kim Possible” to air every weeknight in the same time slot. If these executives have their way, this Disney Channel programming change could be in place as early as late 2003 / early 2004). A line of “Kim Possible” action figures are also reportedly already in the works. Not to mention the possibility of a live action “Kim Possible” feature film in the not-so-distant future (But – hey – you didn’t hear that from me … )
So what is it really that makes “Kim Possible” so successful? Some might say it’s because the show’s title character is such a positive role model for young women. Kim truly is a girl of action. Of course, the same might be said about Penny Proud, the central character of the Disney Channel’s other great animated series, “The Proud Family.” That Penny’s also a great role model for young women.
But to point toward this appealingly animated young lady as the sole reason that “The Proud Family” is popular would really be selling this Disney Channel show short. “The Proud Family” is a big hit with kids and adults for many of the same reasons that “Kim Possible” is popular.
By that I mean, the writing on the Disney Channel’s “Proud Family” is top notch. Sharp and consistently funny. Of course, what helps is that “The Proud Family”‘s head writer / executive producer Ralph Farquhar has had plenty of experience in the sit-com field. Ralph served as the supervising producer on Fox’s “Married … With Children” as well as executive producing and co-creating UPN’s “Moesha” and its spin-off “The Parkers.”
And the animation on “The Proud Family” is absolutely aces too. Of course, it helps that Bruce Smith – best known to Disneyana fans as the guy who served as supervising animator on Kerchak in “Tarzan” and Pacha in “The Emperor’s New Groove” – created this show. Bruce has a real gift for affectionately caricaturing African-Americans. This gift was first glimpsed with his under-rated but still highly amusing 1992 animated feature, “Bebe’s Kids.” But it’s really come to full flower with “The Proud Family.”
By that I mean … What other TV series (live action OR animated) would dare to take so many good natured swings at Magic Johnson, former basketball great, now inner-city entrepreneur? The “Proud Family”‘s Wizard Kelly character is obviously modeled after Johnson. From his distinctive speech pattern right on up to his enormous height, Wizard is clearly intended to be seen as a parody of Magic.
Which (I’ll grant you) might be considered a pretty odd thing to see on a Disney Channel show. If it weren’t so obvious that this was an affectionate parody. That it’s all meant in fun.
Yeah, you won’t see characters anywhere else on television that look like Sugar Mama or Oscar Proud. But – as biting as some of the writing and/or character designs on the]is show might be, “The Proud Family” ultimately still wears its heart on its sleeve.
“The Proud Family” also boasts one of TV’s best vocal casts. This talented group of performers (I’d say) is second only to “The Simpsons”‘s stellar vocal ensemble. Tom Davidson is a particular standout as Oscar Proud. As is Jo Marie Payton as Sugar Mama.
Another thing that “The Proud Family” has in common with “The Simpsons” is the top flight talent that’s begun lining up to do voicework for the show. Take – for instance – last year’s wonderful “Seven Days of Kwanza” episode, where Samuel L. Jackson, Vivica A. Fox, & Raven Symone provided the voices of a homeless family that the Proud family unintentionally invites into their home over the holiday season.
So how can you not like a show that’s this sharp & funny … yet still ultimately manages to be so upbeat & positive? Which might explain why Disney has also ordered up additional episode of “The Proud Family” (Again with an eye toward turning this animated series into a weekly strip for the Disney Channel in late 2003 / early 2004.)
So don’t be like P**** B., folks. Don’t turn your back on an excellent program like “Kim Possible” or “The Proud Family just because it’s not a 45 year old rerun of “Zorro.” Yeah, it’s sad that “Vault Disney” went off the air. But that still doesn’t mean that you should deny yourself the opportunity to see these two great TV shows that air as part of “Zoog Disney”?
If you still want to protest this Disney Channel programming change, fine. Make a point of changing the channel during “Lizzie Maquire” or the umpteen millionth rerun of “Boy Meets World” and/or “Sister, Sister.” But do make a point of checking out “Kim Possible” and “The Proud Family.” You can thank me later.
“Kim Possible” airs at 6:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. central time) weekends on the Disney Channel. “The Proud Family” comes right after “Kim,” airing at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. central time). Also on weekends. Also on the Disney Channel.
For those of you who don’t get the Disney Channel, good news! In an inspired bit of programming repurposing, “Kim Possible” and “The Proud Family” are now part of ABC’s “ABC Kids” Saturday morning line-up. Consult your local listing for exact channels & showtimes.