Friday, November 28, 2008

Toon Disney??


Ok, so maybe this belongs over on the rant blog, but it's not political in nature. It's Disney in nature.


How did Toon Disney get it's name??


According to Wikepedia: "Toon Disney is a 24-hour American cable television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company that mostly airs children's animated television series. The network debuted April 18, 1998 (the date may have been chosen to commemorate Disney Channel's 15th anniversary). A spin-off of Disney Channel, Toon Disney shows children's cartoons 24 hours a day (except for minimal live action programming)..."


I take exception to that description. As I'm scrolling through the channels, trying to figure out what Christmas movie to have on in the background while decorating the Christmas tree, I stumble across "Toon" Disney. I notice...it's not very "toonish." Here is the upcoming schedule: Right now is Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl (Live Action Movie), from 7 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. tomorrow it's Suite Life of Zach and Cody (Live Action Series), yes 13 hours straight. At 8:00 a.m. we get two hours of Pocahontas II, followed by American Dragon Jake Long (Animated Series). Then at 10:30 it's 4 more hours of Zach and Cody. A brief reprieve with Emperor's New Groove (Animated Movie), then right back into Zach and Cody for 15 hours!!!!


So my question is...when did Toon Disney become the Zach and Cody Channel?? Now I understand that sometimes you get these marathons in order to promote a particular show, but this is a bit much.


Overall, I have always been unimpressed with the direction the Disney Corporation has gone with Toon Disney. I understand that I'm not their target audience, but I could be. They claim to be after the 2-11 year old's with a 7-13 year old audience in the evening, but I don't know a lot of either age category that is watching after 9:00 or 10:00 at night. Why not show some old school cartoons from 10:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. I'm sure people smarter than me have done tons of market research and found that Oban Star Racers, Shinzo, and Gargoyles plays to a wider audience during these hours, but it's just painful. To think that a channel exists, supposedly dedicated to Disney Animation, and you can't find any of what put them on the map...it's depressing.


Am I alone on this one???

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Quick Hello

Just wanted to write a quick post to let everyone know I'm still here. Thanks to Mike and Matt for asking. Training is moving along. I'm hoping to get in an 8 mile run next weekend and then a 12 mile the weekend after. Probably 1 more real long run (10-12 miles) some point after that, then it will be time to start winding down a little. I can't believe we are getting so close to race day. It truly is going to be exciting to meet everyone face-to-face, and accomplish a common goal, together. It's good to see everyone else doing well. I'm determined to post more often in this last surge to race day. I don't want to get down there and have everyone say, "who are you again?" "Oh yeah, you used to post, right?"