Thursday, February 23, 2012

SOAPnet's Replacment, Disney Junior, To Feature DOC MCSTUFFINS

When SOAPnet goes dark for most at the end of March 22, what will you wake up to on that channel?  Disney Junior.  Today Disney sent out a press release promoting their new Disney Junior show, DOC MCSTUFFINS, starring Ty Burrell.  If you have children in their target demographic (2-7 year olds), do you think there's a lack of programming for kids?  And is this different or better than what exists today?  We want to hear what you think. I have a number of cable channels that seem similar but perhaps this new iteration is filling a void for someone somewhere? Read the full press release below.

TY BURRELL ("MODERN FAMILY") GUEST STARS IN "DOC MCSTUFFINS,"
AN ANIMATED SERIES FOR KIDS AGE 2-7,
PREMIERING FRIDAY, MARCH 23 ON DISNEY JUNIOR

-- 24 hour Channel, Disney Junior, Launches Friday, March 23,
Daily Disney Junior Programming Block Continues on Disney Channel --

-- USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center Consults on Stories that Model 
Health, Hygiene, Compassion and Nurturing --


Emmy Award-winning Ty Burrell ("Modern Family") guest stars in Disney Junior's "Doc McStuffins," an animated series that models good health, hygiene, compassion and nurturing for kids age 2-7. The series premieres FRIDAY, MARCH 23 on the popular Disney Junior block on Disney Channel (10:00-11:00 a.m., ET/PT) and the new 24-hour Disney Junior channel (4:00-5:00 p.m., ET/PT). The heartwarming stories, each featuring an original song, introduce a little girl named Doc who can talk to the stuffed animal and toy world -- and they talk to her too, especially when they need her help repairing a stitch or bandaging a boo-boo. Along the way, Doc and her friends Stuffy, Lambie, Hallie and Chilly impart helpful tips about self care and care for others, and chase away the worries over visiting the doctor.

(Editors please note: images and clips are available at www.DisneyJuniorMedianet.com)

Burrell voices Big Jack, a nurturing Jack-in-the-Box, who takes his son Little Jack to get a check-up from Doc in the first story of the premiere episode titled "Out of the Box." In the second story, Doc helps her little brother Donny's toy race car recharge in "Rundown Race Car."

The series voice cast includes: Kiara Muhammad as Doc; Loretta Devine as Hallie; Lara Jill Miller as Lambie; Robbie Rist as Stuffy; Jess Harnell as Chilly; Jaden Betts as Donny McStuffins; Kim Brooks as Mom McStuffins; and Gary Anthony Williams as Dad McStuffins. The series' theme song is performed by the star of Disney Channel's hit series "A.N.T. Farm" and Hollywood Records recording artist, China Anne McClain.

An 11-minute preview episode will be available for download on iTunes on Monday, March 12. A full-length preview will be available on Disney Channel on Demand (SVOD) on Friday, March 16. A sneak peek will also be presented Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18 (8:45 a.m., ET/PT) during the Disney Junior block on Disney Channel and in primetime, Monday, March 19 (8:00 p.m.).

The premiere of "Doc McStuffins" on Friday, March 23 will be simulcast on Disney Channel's mobile providers Sprint TV and MobiTV and be available immediately thereafter on DisneyJunior.com and Disney Channel mobile VOD. The full episodes will also be available on iTunes and Xbox Live beginning Saturday, March 24.

In conjunction with the premiere on March 23, DisneyJunior.com will debut a "Doc McStuffins" supersite featuring an interactive clinic where kids can assist Doc in nurturing toys back to health, three new online games and "Doc McStuffins"-themed crafts. A "Doc McStuffins" character gallery and clips are currently available at www.DisneyJunior.com/Doc.

Created and executive-produced by Humanitas Prize and Emmy Award-winning Chris Nee (writer on "Little Bill" and producer of "Deadliest Catch: Crab Fishing in Alaska") and directed by Emmy-winning Norton Virgien ("Rugrats"), "Doc McStuffins" is a production of Academy Award nominated Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Channel. The series carries a TV-Y parental guideline.

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior’s series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network's biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49, increasing by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels.

3 comments:

  1. I have four children aged 3-8. I can attest to the fact that plenty of programming is available to children, especially preschoolers. Between all the cable programming, PBS, and the ability to stream via Netflix my children have access to plenty of television. More than they are ever allowed to watch.

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  2. There are dozens of places where children ages 2-7 can go to find suitable programming. There will be NO PLACE HOWEVER for soap opera viewers of any age to go to watch same day repeats of the soap operas. Of course SoapNet has little interest, being ABC owned, since Brian Frons made sure ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE would be cancelled, with GENERAL HOSPITAL to follow soon thereafter, making ABC a NO SOAP OPERA network.

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