In response to this week’s “Oh-ho, the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin’ … again” story, Close2Glenn wrote to say:
Dear Jim,
I really enjoyed yesterday’s story about “The Music Man.” But — in your article — you neglected to mention two other musicals that Disney recently produced for television: “Geppetto” (which starred Drew Carey and aired on ABC in May 2000) and “South Pacific” (which starred Glenn Close and aired on ABC in March 2001).
I realize that these two other made-for-TV musicals weren’t quite up to “Cinderella” and “Annie”‘s caliber. But I still think that they were worth mentioning. So is there some reason that you left these two shows out of your article … or are you just getting forgetful in your old age?
Actually, leaving “Geppetto” and “South Pacific” out of the article was a deliberate choice, Close2Glenn. You see, the focus of that piece was TV musicals that were produced by Storyline Entertainment. Rather than all the musicals that Disney has had produced for television to date.
“Geppetto” was actually produced by James Pentecost Productions and Karz Entertainment in association with Walt Disney Television, while “South Pacific” was actually an ABC Premiere Event. Which means that the network’s own Movies and Mini-series division developed this new TV movie version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic (with Lawrence D. Cohen, Michael Gore and Glenn Close herself executive producing).
However, given that neither of these productions racked up really impressive ratings and/or garnered the same sort of great reviews that “Annie” and “Cinderella” got, Disney and ABC seemed to have learned their lesson. Which is why — from here on in — only Craig Zadan and Neil Meron of Storyline Entertainment will handle the development of any new made-for-television musicals for the ABC network.
Speaking of which: Word broke earlier this week that ABC officials have officially greenlit production of a live action TV movie based on Disney’s 1996 animated musical, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Storyline Entertainment has tapped Jeff Becker (who just finished directing next month’s TV movie version of “The Music Man”) to helm “Hunchback.” Production is supposed to get underway in early 2004, with an eye toward having this new live action musical ready to air on ABC during the February 2005 sweeps period.
There’s no word yet as to possible casting for this TV movie. But as soon as I hear something. I’ll let you know, okay?
Next, KrazyKatt44 chimed with this e-mail to say:
Jim:
By now, you’ve no doubt heard the awful news that David Stainton has been named as Thomas Schumacher’s replacement. So the new head of Disney Feature Animation is the former head of Disney Television Animation. That’s it. Game Over, Jim.
Well, you have to admit that it was a pretty nice run. 65 years as Hollywood’s No. 1 Feature Animation operation. But now … I guess we’re in for a never-ending series of pieces of crap like “101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure.”
Ah, well. It was fun while it lasted.
KrazyKatt44 –
You’ll forgive me if I don’t join in with all you Disney gloom-and-doomers. Those of you who have been gnashing your teeth and rending your garments even since this news broke earlier this month.
Why for? Because I’m afraid that I don’t share your opinion that David Stainton’s recent appointment automatically translates to the end of Walt Disney Feature Animation as we know it.
I mean, did you even bother to read Stainton’s resume before you started complaining about this guy? Sure, David’s been the president of Walt Disney Television Animation since January 2001. But in the 10 years prior to that, Stainton was a WDFA employee. A guy who worked his way up through the ranks by shepherding pictures like “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and “Hercules” through production.
You want to know what David Stainton is really like? Talk with any of the animators who worked with the guy while he was in charge of WDFA’s Parisian studio (January 1998 – 2001). They’ll tell you that David was a suit who actually liked artists. A guy who’d regularly run interference for Glen Keane and the production team over in France with the executives back in Burbank. Just so they’d have the time (and the money) they needed to do “Tarzan” right.
Or — better still — ask some of the WDFA vets like Burny Mattinson (the producer/director of “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” and “The Great Mouse Detective”) who are still employed by the Walt Disney Company thanks to David.
How’d that happen? Well, do you remember back in the Fall of 2000, when WDFA began laying off employees? Handing out pink slips to long time Feature Animation staffers like Burny? David couldn’t stand to see all that talent, all that experience and expertise walking off the lot. So, as soon as people like Mattinson would walk out from under that giant Sorcerer Mickey hat, Stainton would snatch them up and put these artists to work over in the Frank Wells building (the building on the lot that Disney Television Animation is based out of).
This wasn’t the act of some faceless, gutless suit, KrazyKatt44. A guy who’s out to make a name for himself (like the former head of Disney Parks and Resorts Paul Pressler) by gleefully doing Eisner’s bidding. Stainton’s that rarest of rare thing, kids: an animation executive who actually likes animation. A guy who really understands how important it is to nuture and protect artists, not abuse and neglect them.
That’s the reason that so many talented former WDFA story and storyboard artists are now happily working for Disney Television Animation. That’s also why I’m inclined to cut David Stainton some slack.
After all, Stainton’s in an awfully tough spot right now. I mean, he’s under orders to make additional cuts at WDFA. To do everything he can to get production costs down and then keep them down. So soon David won’t be the guy who’s rescuing animators by finding them new jobs over at DTA. But rather, David will be the one who’ll now be deciding who gets a pink slip.
Still, given his history (and all the good things that I’ve heard about this guy), I have to imagine that Stainton will do everything he can to keep the accountants at bay. Which is why I’m asking all you Disney doom-and-gloomers to back off a bit. After all, David’s job is going to be difficult enough without Disneyana fans immediately asking for his head.
Putting it bluntly: This isn’t another “Promote Paul Pressler” situation, people. David’s actually one of the good guys. So don’t make an already difficult situation harder than it has to be. Let’s back off on the rabble-rousing rhetoric for a while (please?) and let the man do his job.
Which (right now) is trying to figure out how to keep the accountants from heedlessly dismantling the Mouse Factory.
Finally, Count Floyd flaps in to ask:
Jim:
Love the site. Got a quick question for you, though: I’m headed out to Hollywood next month. And — while I’m in town — I’d love to take a tour of the Disney lot in Burbank. So do you know someone that I could contact to set up something like that?
Dear Count Floyd:
Sadly, Walt Disney Studios isn’t like Universal Hollywood (which is open to tourist traffic virtually every day of the year) or even Warner Bros. or Paramount (which each offer tours to small groups on weekdays by reservation only). Disney’s Burbank production facility is an extremely tightly closed shop. So, if you show up at the gate and don’t have your name on the list, Security will politely but firmly turn you away.
That said, there still might be a way for you to get onto the Disney lot next month, CF. That’s if you’ll agree to become a member of the studio audience for an upcoming taping of “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter,” the ABC sitcom that’s currently being shot on the Disney lot.
“And just how do I go about doing that?,” I hear you asking, Count Floyd. Well, it’s simple, really. You just contact “Audiences Unlimited,” the LA-based company that actually actively recruits audience members for tapings of network shows.
As of this morning, there are still tickets available for the two “8 Simple Rules” tapings that are scheduled for February: Friday, February 7th (at 7 p.m.) and Friday, February 14th (at 7 p.m. also). So, if that fits in with your travel plans, Count Floyd … contact Audiences Unlimited by clicking here or by calling the office directly at (818) 753-3470 and order your tickets today.
Please be advised that you could be in for kind of a long night, CF. Typically, it takes 3 to 4 hours to tape a 30 minute long sitcom. And — as exciting as it may be initially to see John Ritter and Katey Sagal in person — the fun starts to fade out once you realize that you’re sealed inside a soundstage and can’t get out again until the taping’s complete.
On the upside, your ticket to the taping is absolutely free. And — as you’re being escorted from the Zorro parking structure to the “8 Simple Rules” soundstage — you’ll get to see at least some of the Disney backlot.
All in all, it’s a fun experience, Count Floyd. Something you should do at least once while you’re playing tourist in LA. (Whether or not you opt to ever do it again depends on how you feel about having your bathroom breaks rationed.)
FYI: For those you folks who aren’t all that keen to get on the Disney lot but would still like to see a Disney movie/sitcom star up close, has Audiences Unlimited got a deal for you! AU is currently recruiting audience members to be a part of a pretty special TV special, which will be taped on Friday, January 24th.
“So what’s so special about this TV special?,” you ask. Well, it’s “A User’s Guide to Home Improvement,” a retrospective for the hit ABC sitcom of the 1990s. This very special special will be taped at Westwood’s historic Wadsworth theater. Best of all, “A User’s Guide to Home Improvement” will be hosted by the “Tim the Tool Man” himself, Tim Allen.
So, you’d like to see Tim Allen in person — and maybe even take part in a Q & A session with the star which (hopefully) will make it into the final cut of this special (which is currently scheduled to air next month on ABC as part of that network’s Sweeps programming) — contact Audience Unlimited today!
Anyway … that’s it for this week, folks.
Oops. Almost forgot. Earlier this week, I got a note from her editorship, Michelle Smith (AKA the Fabulous Disney Babe). She tells me that (once again) the cupboards are bare here at JimHillMedia.com. So — if I ask nice — can I please get you nice folks to kick in some cash to help cover JHM’s operating costs?
I know, I know. It’s really aggravating to have people constantly badger for money. Which is why I try not to do it very often.
But honestly, folks … where else on the Web are you going to find stories like this past Wednesday’s piece about the Secret Lab? Or read about scenes and songs that got cut out of your favorite Disney films?
Your donations will help keep stories like that coming in a steady stream. So please (pretty please?) throw some dough in the Amazon honor box to help keep JHM alive and kicking.
On behalf of my ex-wife, I thank you.
Talk to you later,
jrh