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904 reviews for:
Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire
Ashley Spencer
3.99 AVERAGE
904 reviews for:
Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire
Ashley Spencer
3.99 AVERAGE
informative
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
As a millennial who LOVED EVERYTHING during this era Disney Channel I was soooooo excited to read this! I really enjoyed how the book was organized in explaining the succession of the shows/DCOMs to show how the channel grew. The book consisted of parts of interviews from show runners, upper management, and quotes from interviews/books that the "stars" shared elsewhere. I don't think I really knew/realized that Even Stevens was their first big show. Disney was all about making money and people second.
-The fact that Demi was in rehab so they just made a new show to get rid of her was crazy to read!
-Also, actually reading about the drama with Raven and the lack of Black directors and writers. Like being a Black person, even as a kid hearing my Mom talk about it, is one thing but reading it and hearing what was happening back then like wow.And not really realizing that Raven didn't get a DCOM too! because I was so focused on the Cheetah Girls series
"Raven would now have That’s So Raven to follow suit, making her one of the first Black female stars to ever have her name in a comedy series title."
Just idk such an interesting and joy (and pain) of nostalgia read! It was so interesting to hear how the Disney Channel world worked behind the scenes!
-Also, actually reading about the drama with Raven and the lack of Black directors and writers. Like being a Black person, even as a kid hearing my Mom talk about it, is one thing but reading it and hearing what was happening back then like wow.And not really realizing that Raven didn't get a DCOM too! because I was so focused on the Cheetah Girls series
"Raven would now have That’s So Raven to follow suit, making her one of the first Black female stars to ever have her name in a comedy series title."
Just idk such an interesting and joy (and pain) of nostalgia read! It was so interesting to hear how the Disney Channel world worked behind the scenes!
dark
informative
medium-paced
informative
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Picked up as a nostalgic indulgence from the library’s new arrivals section. The executive drama and conflict was lively at the beginning but got a little repetitive with similar scenarios of micromanagement in each chapter discussing a new show. The extensive research and interviews with former producers and supporting casts (especially the now 47-year-old Jackson of Hannah Montana) kept me interested enough as an elder Gen Z, but not Disney adult.
A missed opportunity to not touch on a cult classic or two not centered on star power like Phineas and Ferb or especially Gravity Falls. Still, appreciated the Cory in the House shout-outs/lore.
A missed opportunity to not touch on a cult classic or two not centered on star power like Phineas and Ferb or especially Gravity Falls. Still, appreciated the Cory in the House shout-outs/lore.
slow-paced
So dense. So slow. More information about the executive team than the shows themselves.
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
A firm 4 out of 5. I really, really enjoyed several parts of this book. If it did nothing else, this book helped me connect again to a time in my life that feels very far away. The chapters on Suite Life & HSM were wonderful & honestly made me relive childhood memories.
While HSM, Lizzie McGuire, and That’s so Raven received plenty of page time, my overall complaint is that this book felt rushed the longer it went on. While I enjoyed pretty much all of the book & insight, I often found chapters(especially those that covered the shows I enjoyed, to be good but lacking. Also, the Jonas brother chapter really felt shoehorned into the narrative.
Also, this book is called the rise and fall of Disney Channel, but you honestly spend a good 95% of the book on the rise and peak, and only really the epilogue references Disney’s channel’s fall from grace. Honestly, I guess a lot of my criticisms seem to come down to the fact that I think the book should have been a lot longer. I’m sure someone disagrees. 🤷🏻♂️😂
While HSM, Lizzie McGuire, and That’s so Raven received plenty of page time, my overall complaint is that this book felt rushed the longer it went on. While I enjoyed pretty much all of the book & insight, I often found chapters(especially those that covered the shows I enjoyed, to be good but lacking. Also, the Jonas brother chapter really felt shoehorned into the narrative.
Also, this book is called the rise and fall of Disney Channel, but you honestly spend a good 95% of the book on the rise and peak, and only really the epilogue references Disney’s channel’s fall from grace. Honestly, I guess a lot of my criticisms seem to come down to the fact that I think the book should have been a lot longer. I’m sure someone disagrees. 🤷🏻♂️😂
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced