Has the quality of Disney's TV programming declined? - DISboards - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-15-2012, 04:31 PM

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=43433742

Quote:

Is it just me or are the shows put out by Disney these days lacking in quality? I understand that the programs are geared towards children,
but if you look at Disney's output on TV in days gone by, you will
find intelligent family programming. From the old cartoons and specials to the more recent "Disney Afternoon" shows, Disney created content that could be enjoyed by both young and old. I have watched some of the modern shows on the Disney Channel and found them to be almost unwatchable. Bad acting, puerile humor, and plots without substance. Am I alone in this opinion? Are there shows out there that
are decent?

ThomasE · 03-02-2012, 08:31 PM

Too candy like for me. Too sugary. Too OMG for me.

Songfellow Strum · 03-02-2012, 09:08 PM

Bring back Dumbo's Circus, Welcome to Pooh Corner, and Under the Umbrella Tree or get out.

icecream · 03-02-2012, 09:45 PM

Yes! They used to have good shows on their lineup like Growing Pains and Boy Meets World. I think Disney may have been the 1st place I saw Growing Pains.

Regulus · 03-02-2012, 10:12 PM

Do fish know how to swim?

chacha6581 · 03-11-2012, 11:58 PM

IMO, they have the kids on the "new" Disney shows speaking to recklessly to adults, and kissing and talking about dating.... it's like that on Nick. too.

Silly Lily · 03-12-2012, 06:38 PM

It all went down hill after High School Musical aired. It seemed like everything on Disney and Nick had to incorporate some sort of singing and dancing after that.

TMC · 08-17-2012, 04:31 AM

http://lifeofananimationstudent.blog...weeney-is.html

Quote:

But ever since 2004 when Anne Sweeney ended up being in charge of the channel, it steadily got worse and in 2006, Sweeney was given a task. How do you make Disney Channel viable to Nickelodeon? Since 1992, Nick had been getting more and more viewers, and eventually became the #1 TV network for kids. Since Nickelodeon was getting the most viewership of any channel for kids, what could she do?

Simple: Stop focusing on the DISNEY part of the name, and focus on the CHANNEL. Or even better, stop airing so much stuff related to Disney in general. The Disney Channel isn't supposed to entertain people, it's just there to make money and ratings and is the profit driver for The Walt Disney Company.

The idea Anne had was to change the network from a station dedicated to family oriented programming and stuff actually related to Walt Disney himself, to an MTV for pre-teen girls. Shows such as Hannah Montana (which was terrible, overrated to the exact), Wizards of Waverly Place (another overrated show with Selena Gomez, one of the few tolerable Disney Channel stars today, being the show's only saving grace), and their latest shows such as Shake It Up and A.N.T. Farm all focus on kids either being famous or having a secret. Sounds cool, but... well, we all have seen those kinds of concepts before. It's become too generic, and is unfortunately a formula that works for them now. Sure shows such as Lizzy McGuire and Even Stevens we're aimed at tweens, but the entire family could enjoy them unlike now.

Meanwhile, we're seeing the legacy Walt and his company left probably almost 80 years ago suffer as a whole.

Walt Disney believed that a show or a movie he was involved with should not be aimed at just kids and no one else, he always did projects that both kids and adults could enjoy. This trend made a comeback in the 1990s when Disney had their renaissance. The '90s wasn't just the decade for Disney Animation, it was the decade for animation in general. The Disney Renaissance and the animation industry's comeback seemed to come to an end when Tarzan came out in 1999.

Now, it's pretty rare that you can really watch the classics that made Disney popular outside the internet, and most of the stuff Disney Channel airs now are their own original movies and shows... nothing else! To me, the fact that the classic Disney cartoon shorts with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and others are stuck on the internet with the channel that bears the Disney name on it not willing to give them another chance on cable TV... my god, it's shocking! Walt is spinning in his grave over this as we speak.

Back when Disney still had its renaissance in the '90s, they still promoted their animated movies very aggressively, especially on Disney Channel, and it was one hell of a good thing for the company. Sure, they had tween shows back then too (Mickey Mouse Club anyone?), but at least it was neither the majority of the channel's programming back then nor the stuff that overshadowed the animated films Disney itself is known for. To me, the decline began back in 2004.

Since the start of Anne Sweeney's reign as Disney Channel's president in 2004, their line-up has been more of a focus on not producing entertainment the whole family or introducing a new generation to the classic Disney movies and shows made when Walt himself was still alive (especially the stuff with Mickey & Pals), but instead making more shows aimed at preteen girls, focusing on a few original shows, and seeing what sticks. It's more in line with MTV and Cartoon Network in sense that the name is in "spirit" only, and it's irritating as a Disney fan and someone who wants to be an animator someday to see this happen to a once great TV network.

CommonTater · 08-17-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

Is it just me or are the shows put out by Disney these days lacking in quality? I understand that the programs are geared towards children,
but if you look at Disney's output on TV in days gone by, you will
find intelligent family programming. From the old cartoons and specials to the more recent "Disney Afternoon" shows, Disney created content that could be enjoyed by both young and old. I have watched some of the modern shows on the Disney Channel and found them to be almost unwatchable. Bad acting, puerile humor, and plots without substance. Am I alone in this opinion? Are there shows out there that
are decent?

I agree!!!!!!!!

yankeesrj12 · 08-17-2012, 11:48 AM

That's So Raven was the last Disney Channel series I watched. I would rank it as my all time favorite Disney Channel show, just in front of Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire. It's sad to see what its become.

AKA · 08-17-2012, 02:28 PM

Forget That's So Raven, Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens; This is the Disney Channel I miss.

UMFaninMD · 08-19-2012, 01:45 PM

When I was a kid in the early 80's, I used to watch the free cable previews of The Disney Channel and enjoyed their movies and and cartoons. Now it's nothing more than a marketing warehouse intent to make pop music stars out of its actors and actresses, most that can't even act or sing to begin with. If you've ever seen Saturday Night Live's sketch "Disney Acting School" with Miley Cyrus, that pretty much sums up the channel today in a nutshell.

Schmoopie · 08-19-2012, 08:18 PM

I watch a lot of the Disney Channel and at first I didn't really like the shows, but now I've really gotten into a few of them. Some are better than others but overall I think they are entertaining and it's nice to be able to watch shows without feeling uncomfortable when the occasional "bad word" or reference to sex arises.

comedyfreak · 08-19-2012, 08:56 PM

I don't think the quality has went downhill. I like Good Luck Charlie, Jessie, Wizards of Waverly Place, Austin & Allie. Disney is doing better than Nickelodian.

ajgenard · 08-21-2012, 01:11 AM

The Disney Channel is one of the largest cable-station-gone-to-hell offenders. It's really quite sad that they went from intelligent, well-designed shows for the whole family to mass produced opiate for the asses (in this case prepubescent girls). Their lineup used to be home to a wide variety of high profile programming and at times they aired some real gems like the classic Disney cartoon shorts.

It's a textbook case of corporate America selling it's soul for larger profits. Disney wins, 13 year old girls win, and who loses - the original audience who appreciates quality television.

03-02-2012, 08:31 PM	#2
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Too candy like for me. Too sugary. Too OMG for me.
	__________________ Check out my my "It's A Living" Facebook Fanpage!!! https://m.facebook.com/groups/107208...&source=result

03-02-2012, 09:45 PM	#4
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,602	Yes! They used to have good shows on their lineup like Growing Pains and Boy Meets World. I think Disney may have been the 1st place I saw Growing Pains.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

03-02-2012, 10:12 PM	#5
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,371	Do fish know how to swim?
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

03-11-2012, 11:58 PM	#6
chacha6581 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 08, 2008 Location: Flint,Mi Posts: 264	IMO, they have the kids on the "new" Disney shows speaking to recklessly to adults, and kissing and talking about dating.... it's like that on Nick. too.
	__________________ www.twitter.com/chacha6581

08-19-2012, 08:18 PM	#13
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I watch a lot of the Disney Channel and at first I didn't really like the shows, but now I've really gotten into a few of them. Some are better than others but overall I think they are entertaining and it's nice to be able to watch shows without feeling uncomfortable when the occasional "bad word" or reference to sex arises.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

03-02-2012, 09:08 PM	#3
Songfellow Strum Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 27, 2012 Posts: 5	Bring back Dumbo's Circus, Welcome to Pooh Corner, and Under the Umbrella Tree or get out.

03-12-2012, 06:38 PM	#7
Silly Lily Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 04, 2008 Posts: 125	It all went down hill after High School Musical aired. It seemed like everything on Disney and Nick had to incorporate some sort of singing and dancing after that.

08-17-2012, 11:48 AM	#10
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	That's So Raven was the last Disney Channel series I watched. I would rank it as my all time favorite Disney Channel show, just in front of Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire. It's sad to see what its become.

08-17-2012, 02:28 PM	#11
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Forget That's So Raven, Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens; This is the Disney Channel I miss.

08-19-2012, 01:45 PM	#12
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	When I was a kid in the early 80's, I used to watch the free cable previews of The Disney Channel and enjoyed their movies and and cartoons. Now it's nothing more than a marketing warehouse intent to make pop music stars out of its actors and actresses, most that can't even act or sing to begin with. If you've ever seen Saturday Night Live's sketch "Disney Acting School" with Miley Cyrus, that pretty much sums up the channel today in a nutshell.

08-19-2012, 08:56 PM	#14
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	I don't think the quality has went downhill. I like Good Luck Charlie, Jessie, Wizards of Waverly Place, Austin & Allie. Disney is doing better than Nickelodian.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

08-21-2012, 01:11 AM	#15
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	The Disney Channel is one of the largest cable-station-gone-to-hell offenders. It's really quite sad that they went from intelligent, well-designed shows for the whole family to mass produced opiate for the asses (in this case prepubescent girls). Their lineup used to be home to a wide variety of high profile programming and at times they aired some real gems like the classic Disney cartoon shorts. It's a textbook case of corporate America selling it's soul for larger profits. Disney wins, 13 year old girls win, and who loses - the original audience who appreciates quality television.