Interesting article how Disney is changing the ways they find child stars

[dpic]

Disney and Nickelodeon executives worry about pushback from parents who are fed up with a tween-star scenario that has become all too common: actresses sold as role models who quickly become the opposite. At what point do skeptical parents stop allowing their children to tune in?


Jamie Lynn Spears of Nickelodeon’s “Zoey 101” became pregnant at 16. Vanessa Hudgens (“High School Musical”) had a nude photo scandal. Ms. Cyrus abruptly adopted a sex kitten persona, a transformation inexplicably backed by the Disney-owned Hollywood Records. Ms. Lovato, famous for “Camp Rock” and “Sonny With a Chance,” has recently been in rehab...



Indeed, Mr. Marsh has started screening parents as carefully as potential stars. Too fame-hungry themselves? Too reliant on their children for income? Maybe Disney should move on to a different candidate.

Link

FYI: The Times used to be totally free with registration. Now, you get 20 articles/month free, unlimited for $15/month.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

After I skimmed the first couple paragraphs, I thought the Next Teen Queen was going to be a reality show.

 

[FireDancer]

Too many people confuse the actor and the character. A character can be a role model even if the actor or actress playing that character is not. Personally I think getting role models from the media (whether it is an actor or sports star) is almost always a bad idea.

What Miley Cyrus does has absolutely nothing to do with what Hannah Montana does and vice versa. Al Picino for example is not a murderous Cuban drug deal. Tony Montana was not real, he was a character played on a screen as is Hannah Montana.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

What Miley Cyrus does has absolutely nothing to do with what Hannah Montana does and vice versa. Al Picino for example is not a murderous Cuban drug deal. Tony Montana was not real, he was a character played on a screen.

I disagree to an extent, Frank. Adults can (most of the time, with the possible exception of Susan Lucci) tell the difference between a character and an actor. For young girls, it's a little murkier. A child could see pictures of Miley on a magazine cover and think, "That's Hannah Montana. Why is she dressed in a teddy?"

 

[topolino]

Too many people confuse the actor and the character. A character can be a role model even if the actor or actress playing that character is not. Personally I think getting role models from the media (whether it is an actor or sports star) is almost always a bad idea.

What Miley Cyrus does has absolutely nothing to do with what Hannah Montana does and vice versa. Al Picino for example is not a murderous Cuban drug deal. Tony Montana was not real, he was a character played on a screen as is Hannah Montana.

I agree, and I never understood those people who stopped letting their kids watch Pee Wee Herman after Paul Reubens was arrested for public indecency. How does the behavior of the actor off screen and out of character change the content of the show?

 

[FireDancer]

I disagree to an extent, Frank. Adults can (most of the time, with the possible exception of Susan Lucci) tell the difference between a character and an actor. For young girls, it's a little murkier. A child could see pictures of Miley on a magazine cover and think, "That's Hannah Montana. Why is she dressed in a teddy?"

That is when a parent steps in and plays the role of parent. The word role in role model is too often forgotten. The role Disney plays in life isn't parenting your kids, it is entertaining them. They fulfill that role very well and it is up to other people to fill other roles.

Tiger Woods isn't modeling the role of husband so I don't care what he does in that role. He is only relevant in the role of golfer, at least publicly.

Michael Vick isn't modeling the role of pet owner, he is modeling the role of NFL Quarterback.

Neither Hannah nor Miley are modeling the role of chaste teen. They are modeling the role of entertaining you for an hour a week.

Bottom line for me: Celebrities aren't responsible for teaching your kids or anyone else how to live their lives. That is what parents or guardians are for.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I agree with you, but a kid has to be a certain age to understand the difference between real and not real.

And I think you meant chaste.

 

[FireDancer]

I agree with you, but a kid has to be a certain age to understand the difference between real and not real.

And I think you meant chaste.

Yea, that. All the you and your in that were the general you, not you particularly.