Saturday Disney Explained

Genre:Children's show
Presenter:List of Presenters
Country:Australia
Language:English
Num Series:27
Num Episodes:1,366
Location:Brisbane, Queensland (1990–1997)
Sydney, New South Wales (1997–2016)
Runtime:120 minutes (1990–2012)
180 minutes (2012–2016) (incl. commercials)
Company:Buena Vista Television (1990–2000s)
Network:Seven Network (1990–2016)
7TWO (2012–2016)
7flix (2016)
Related:Seven's Super Saturday

Saturday Disney is a long-running Australian children's television program which aired on the Seven Network in Australia for over 26 years, with the first episode going to air on 27 January 1990.[1] [2] The show was a television block which aired on Saturday mornings, consisting mainly of Disney television series dispersed between hosted content. The original presenters were Jeniene Mapp, James Sherry and Sofie Formica,[3] and the final presenters were Nathan Morgan, Candice Dixon and Teigan Nash. Many hosts have gone on to achieve successful careers in Australian television.[4]

On 5 September 2009, the show celebrated its 1,000th episode.[2] [5] Saturday Disney aired its final episode on 24 September 2016.[6]

Hosts

RoleNameFirst showLast show
HostSofie Formica27 January 1990October 1992
Lisa BarryOctober 1992October 1997
Melanie SymonsOctober 199719 October 2002
Shae Brewster19 October 200227 July 2013
Teigan Nash27 July 201324 September 2016
HostJeniene Mapp27 January 1990October 1996
Shelley CraftOctober 19966 July 2002
Sara Groen6 July 200228 January 2006
Sally Stanton21 January 20067 May 2011
Candice Dixon7 May 201124 September 2016
HostJames Sherry27 January 199029 January 1994
Marc Buhaj5 February 199427 February 1999
Tim McDonald6 March 199929 January 2000
Daniel Widdowson5 February 200027 January 2007
Jack Yabsley20 January 200726 February 2011
Nathan Morgan26 February 201124 September 2016
Notes
Appearances by hosts after leaving the show

History

Part of the Seven Network's output deal and long-running relationship with Disney in the late 1980s was to adopt a local program to feature new animated series such as DuckTales mixed with local studio segments.[8] This was part of an international franchise of programs in the global market to be named Disney Club,[2] [3] the Australian version being located in Brisbane. The producers of this version convinced Disney to allow them to use the Saturday Disney title to avert confusion with The Mickey Mouse Club, a title which seemed dated.[2] The original set was designed to reflect Queensland architecture and make the viewers feel like they were visiting a friend's house on a Saturday morning. The set has since changed several times, the most recent set being introduced in February 2007. Saturday Disney was originally filmed at BTQ-7[3] from 1990 until 1997, when it moved to its new production base at ATN-7 in Sydney. It was originally produced by Buena Vista Television in conjunction with Seven.

On 5 September 2009, the show celebrated its 1,000th episode. The episode was filmed on location at Disneyland to celebrate.[5] [9] A week prior to this, footage of every previous host who had been on the show was aired, looking back at the show's then 19-year history.[2] [10]

Shae Brewster hosted her final episode on 27 July 2013, becoming the longest-serving host in the history of the program. She presented the show for three months short of eleven years, first joining in 2002.[7]

The final episodes of Saturday Disney were filmed on 26 August 2016.[6] TV Tonight reported that the show would be ending before the news was confirmed by a spokesperson for Seven.[11] The final episode aired on 24 September 2016 and featured guest appearances by former presenters Melanie Symons, Daniel Widdowson, Shae Brewster, Sally Stanton and Jack Yabsley. James Sherry also appeared via a video message. David Knox of TV Tonight reported the cancellation of the program was the result of a "change in direction" under a new executive producer in charge of children's programming for Seven.[4]

Format

As a main feature, Saturday Disney originally included three Disney programs dispersed throughout the course of a two-hour episode. From 2012 to 2016, Saturday Disney featured five programs over the course of a three-hour episode. The programs shown regularly rotated around the schedule, and were a mixture of animated cartoons and live action comedies, which were more common after the premiere of Hannah Montana in 2007.[12] [13] There were three hosts of Saturday Disney, who lived in the 'Disney House' and introduced the programs along with performing other activities such as cooking, craft, science segments, interviews and special appearances by guests, usually celebrities, and occasionally live animals. Occasionally, the show was shot entirely on location, where the hosts explored certain cities such as Coffs Harbour or places such as Disneyland for the episode's entirety.[5]

Feature stories produced by and starring the hosts were also included, which were usually articles about places, activities and events, interviews with celebrities or red carpet events.[14] This format has been likened to magazine-style edu-tainment shows. In some stories, the hosts adapted certain characters used as a substitute for themselves presenting the article. Another type of the stories were recurring mini-series with the hosts acting as characters, which air occasionally. Some recurring series from the past included Hazard Man (1990s),[9] The Transfreezers (2000–2001), Tell Tale Trio (2002–2004) and the Secret Agents (2010–2011).[15] A Page in Time (2006),[16] introduced a style of serialised drama, depicting three children returning to 1850s. More recent series such as Danger Island (2009), Race Around the Island (2010) and The Assistant (2014) took on the reality genre, parodying American series Survivor, The Amazing Race, and The Apprentice respectively.

A Double Dog Dare was featured in every episode, where each host took turns (one each week) to complete ridiculous, embarrassing or challenging tasks which upon failure may have resulted in the loser eating unusual foods as punishment. Ingredients were also regularly mixed in a blender.[17] Ideas for dares and punishments were often sent in by viewers. This popular segment was a prominent feature of the show for many years.[18]

Each week there was also a chosen Letter of the Week, which could be letters, drawings, or art sent in by viewers. Winners usually received many prizes, and the artwork was displayed around the set.[19] Throughout the course of the program, emails from viewers were also read out.

Time slot

The program's time slot since the show's inception in 1990 was always every Saturday from 7:00 am until 9:00 am on Seven unless there were interruptions by sporting or news events. Further Disney programming would continue to air after Saturday Disney.[20]

From 4 September 1993 to 25 August 2001, Saturday Disney aired for an extra half-hour until 9:30am to include cartoons such as The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and The Little Mermaid, or C classified programming such as Crash Zone, Squiggle Vision and Science Court. However, the extra programme would be listed separately on TV guides and feature minimal hosted content.

On 4 July 2009, the show moved to the earlier time slot of 6:30 am to 8:30 am.[21] However, the show returned to the previous time of 7:00 am to 9:00 am on 31 October 2009.[22]

It was announced on 8 February 2010, that beginning 13 February 2010, the show would be moved to the later time slot of 9:00 am to 11:00 am, to make way for Weekend Sunrise.[23]

It was announced on 17 March 2012 that, beginning 31 March 2012, the show would be moved to 7TWO and return to the original 7:00 am to 9:00 am time slot with a new look and logo, to make way for The Morning Show.[24] [25] On 12 May 2012, the regular length of Saturday Disney was extended to three hours with a time slot of 7:00 am to 10:00 am.[26]

On 1 September 2012, Saturday Disney moved to the new time slot of 6:00 am to 7:00 am on Seven, then from 7:00 am to 9:00 am on 7TWO, the three hours now airing across both channels.[8] [27] [28]

On 19 March 2016, the program's secondary channel changed from 7TWO to 7flix, airing from 6:00 am to 7:00 am on Seven, then from 7:00 am to 9:00 am on 7flix.[29] The program remained in this slot until its final episode.

Reception

At the time of its final episode, Saturday Disney was the twentieth-longest-running program in Australia, and the fifth-longest-running children's program in Australia.

Viewership

In 2005, Saturday Disney had an average of 196,000 viewers (in the 0–14 age group alone) and was the number-one-rating children's program on commercial television for people aged 0 to 14.[30] [31]

Saturday Disney was the fifth-highest-rating children's program on free television in 2006, averaging 274,425 viewers over 48 broadcasts.[32] In 2008, the program's yearly average viewing audience had ballooned to 395,000 (combining metro and regional audiences), ranking as the eighth-most-watched children's program.[33] Saturday Disney ranked as the fourth-highest-rating children's program in 2009, averaging 368,000 viewers across both metro and regional audiences over 48 weeks.[34]

However, the final episode on 24 September 2016 was comparatively only watched by 41,000 on Seven (6:00 am to 7:00 am) and 24,000 on 7flix (7:00 am to 9:00 am).[35]

Awards

On 18 March 2012, Saturday Disney was announced as a nominee for the 2012 Most Outstanding Children's Program Logie Award. The ceremony took place on 15 April 2012, and the award was presented by former Saturday Disney host Shelley Craft with Sam Moran. The nomination package featured footage from the episode which aired 13 August 2011, in which the hosts visited the Northern Territory. ABC3's My Place won the award.[36]

Programming

1990s

2000s

2010s

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1990: January 27-February 2. Television.AU . 26 January 2010 . 29 April 2016. 19 September 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919025336/http://televisionau.com/2010/01/1990-january-27-february-2.html.
  2. Web site: Knox . David . Saturday Disney flashes back . TV Tonight . 27 August 2009 . 29 April 2016. live. 30 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030014321/https://tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/saturday-disney-flashes-back.html.
  3. Web site: 1990: January 13-19 . Television.AU . 24 January 2010. 29 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20201031101918/https://televisionau.com/2010/01/1990-january-13-19.html. live. 31 October 2020.
  4. Web site: Knox . David . Farewell to Saturday Disney. TV Tonight . 25 September 2016. 26 September 2016. 27 September 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170927112858/http://tvtonight.com.au/2016/09/farewell-to-saturday-disney.html.
  5. Web site: Saturday Disney: 1000th episode . Throng.com.au . 5 September 2009. 29 April 2016.
  6. News: Nash. Teigan. The places we have been, the people we have met and the memories we'll never forget! What an epic team! Thank you to each and everyone of you and anyone we have ever worked with!. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BJkiLNEhEEE . 24 December 2021 . registration. 5 September 2016. Instagram. 26 August 2016. "unfortunately the show is coming to an end... Sept 24th is the last episode ...".
  7. Web site: Knox . David . New presenter joins Saturday Disney . TV Tonight . 18 July 2013. 26 April 2016. 18 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150418062021/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/07/new-presenter-joins-saturday-disney.html. live.
  8. Web site: Bayley . Andrew . Special: Australian TV History Timeline Pt 2 . Television.AU . 26 April 2013 . 26 April 2016. 30 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130013225/https://televisionau.com/2013/04/special-australian-tv-history-timeline-pt-2.html. live.
  9. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160423024821/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/article/-/5847675/whats-your-favourite-saturday-disney-moment/ . What's Your Favourite Saturday Disney Moment? . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. August 2009 . 23 February 2018 . 23 April 2016 . dead.
  10. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160423023223/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/article/-/5853670/history-of-sd-and-an-exploding-cake/ . History of SD and an Exploding Cake! . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. August 2009 . 23 February 2018 . 23 April 2016. dead .
  11. Web site: Knox . David . Axed: Saturday Disney ending after 26 years . TV Tonight . 7 September 2016. 7 September 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107083135/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/09/axed-saturday-disney-ending-after-26-years.html. 7 November 2020.
  12. Web site: Saturday Disney - PREMIERE of Hannah Montana! - Saturday April 7 . Throng.com.au . 20 March 2007. 29 April 2016.
  13. Web site: Knox . David . Returning: Hannah Montana . TV Tonight . 2 April 2009 . 29 April 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104021726/https://tvtonight.com.au/2009/04/returning-hannah-montana.html. 4 November 2012.
  14. Web site: Saturday Disney Adventure Blog . Total Girl . 26 April 2016 . 29 April 2016. 24 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200324110756/http://www.totalgirl.com.au/entertaining/saturday-disney-adventure-blog. dead.
  15. Web site: It's All Aboard Pacific Jewel for Saturday Disney. ETB Travel News . https://web.archive.org/web/20160425143136/http://australia.etbtravelnews.com/107857/its-all-aboard-pacific-jewel-for-saturday-disney/. 25 April 2016. 23 February 2018 . 25 February 2011 . dead.
  16. Web site: Disney delights pupils during filming at Sovereign Hill . 21 June 2007 . The Courier. 29 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180223110938/http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/595118/disney-delights-pupils-during-filming-at-sovereign-hill/. 23 February 2018. live.
  17. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20110310063420/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/03/07/297365_gossip-news.html . Gold Coaster to star on Saturday Disney . Goldcoast.com.au . 10 March 2011 . 27 April 2016 . Stojceska . Milena. dead.
  18. Web site: Dreams come true on Disney . Sunshine Coast Daily . 5 March 2011 . 29 April 2016. Cashin . Miranda. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181005205117/https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/dreams-come-true-on-disney-saturday/787023/. 5 October 2018 .
  19. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160408051945/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/29847729/letter-of-the-week/ . Letter of the Week . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 23 February 2018 . 8 April 2016 . dead.
  20. Dan Martin . 4 November 2013 . BTQ7 Saturday Disney Promo January 1990. 29 April 2016 . YouTube. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113060409if_/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHOzgmlCNZs&gl=US&hl=en. 13 January 2021. live .
  21. Web site: Planes, Tennis, Gymnastics and Jars of Awesomeness! . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 2009 . 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307073850/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/article/-/5691550/planes-tennis-gymnastics-and-jars-of-awesomeness/. 23 February 2018.
  22. Web site: Knox . David . Saturday Disney waking later . TV Tonight . 14 October 2009 . 21 October 2015. 20 September 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920042626/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/10/saturday-disney-waking-later.html.
  23. Web site: Knox . David . Bumped: Saturday Disney . TV Tonight . 8 February 2010 . 29 April 2016.
  24. Web site: Knox . David . Saturday Disney moving to 7TWO . TV Tonight . 29 March 2012 . 29 April 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919170135/https://tvtonight.com.au/2012/03/saturday-disney-moving-to-7two.html. 19 September 2020.
  25. Web site: New Look, New Time, New Station . https://web.archive.org/web/20160216210824/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/article/-/13266081/new-look-new-time-new-station/. 16 February 2016. Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 2012 . 23 February 2018.
  26. Web site: Mother's Day. Saturday Disney. Yahoo7. 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144915/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/article/-/13621020/mothers-day/. 5 March 2016. 23 February 2018. dead.
  27. Web site: Early Start! . Saturday Disney. Yahoo7. 2012 . 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307074155/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/article/-/14675585/early-start/. 23 February 2018. dead.
  28. Web site: Child's Play: Focus on the broadcasters. Screen Australia . 3 May 2013. 23 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160328114415/https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/68414dd5-7e34-4c4b-ae89-d6ec6722b3e7/Rpt_ChildsPlay2_Broadcasters.pdf. 28 March 2016. dead.
  29. Web site: Happy Easter!. Saturday Disney. Yahoo7. 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170110070015/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/31159686/happy-easter-/. 10 January 2017. 23 February 2018. dead.
  30. Web site: Cap from the children's television program Saturday Disney. . Powerhouse Museum . 29 April 2016 . Powerhouse Museum, Australia. live. 24 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180224053130/https://collection.maas.museum/object/353214.
  31. Web site: Children's Viewing Patterns on Commercial, Free-to-air and Subscription Television . Australian and Communications Media Authority . 23 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035147/https://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib310132/children_viewing_patterns_commercial_free-to-air_subscription_television.pdf. 4 March 2016. dead.
  32. Web site: Year in Review 2006 . Free TV Australia . 23 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160927134927/https://thinktv.com.au/Media/Research/Latest_Ratings_Information/2006_Year_in_Review.pdf. 27 September 2016. dead.
  33. Web site: Year in Review 2008 . Free TV Australia . 23 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174831/https://thinktv.com.au/media/Media_Releases/Year_in_Review_2008.pdf. 3 March 2016. dead.
  34. Web site: Year in Review 2009 . Free TV Australia . 23 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309225847/https://thinktv.com.au/media/homepage/year_in_review_2009.pdf. 9 March 2016. dead.
  35. Web site: Knox . David . Saturday 24 September 2016 . TV Tonight . 25 September 2016 . 27 September 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170214062838/http://tvtonight.com.au/2016/09/saturday-24-september-2016.html. 14 February 2017.
  36. Web site: Knox . David . 2012 Logie Awards: winners . TV Tonight . 15 April 2012 . 29 April 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181005205020/https://tvtonight.com.au/2012/04/2012-logie-awards-winners.html. 5 October 2018.
  37. Web site: Knox . David . Logie Awards 2012: nominations . TV Tonight . 18 March 2012. 29 April 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020064533/https://tvtonight.com.au/2012/03/logie-awards-2012-nominations.html. 20 October 2020.
  38. Web site: September – December 2002 News . Cartoon Central Australia. 2002. 23 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20201103124803/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/sep2002.html. 3 November 2020. dead.
  39. Web site: Down on the Farm! . Saturday Disney. Yahoo7. 2008. 23 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140819/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/article/-/5182945/down-on-the-farm/. 5 March 2016. dead.
  40. Web site: January 2005 – April 2005 News . Cartoon Central Australia . 2005. 23 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180930201154/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/jan2005.html. 30 September 2018. dead.
  41. Web site: November 2000 – December 2001 News. Cartoon Central Australia. 2000. 23 October 2015. 3 November 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20201103124852/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/oldnews.html.
  42. Web site: January 2006 – April 2006 News. Cartoon Central Australia . 2006 . 23 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070621/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/jan2006.html. 4 March 2016. dead.
  43. Web site: May – August 2002 News. Cartoon Central Australia . 2002. 23 October 2015. 30 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180930201157/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/may2002.html. dead.
  44. Web site: May 2004 – August 2004. Cartoon Central Australia . 2004. 23 October 2015. 30 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180930201126/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/may2004.html. dead.
  45. Web site: May – August 2003 News . Cartoon Central Australia . 2003 . 23 October 2015. 30 September 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180930201239/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/may2003.html.
  46. Web site: January – April 2003 News . Cartoon Central Australia . 2003 . 23 October 2015. dead. 24 December 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071224113203/http://members.optusnet.com.au/veemon/jan2003.html.
  47. Web site: The Saturday Disney Factor! . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 2013 . 23 February 2018 . 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140807/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/16985155/the-saturday-disney-factor/. dead.
  48. Web site: Travelling Taste buds! . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 2015 . 23 February 2018. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140849/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/28139545/travelling-taste-buds-/. dead.
  49. Web site: Puppets!. Saturday Disney . Yahoo7 . 2014 . 23 February 2018. 13 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160513175731/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/19915440/puppets/. dead.
  50. Web site: Exploring LA! . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 2015 . 23 February 2018. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305145035/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/29931408/exploring-la/. dead.
  51. Web site: Canberra here we come . Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 . 2015 . 23 February 2018. 13 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160513180115/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/29244723/canberra-here-we-come-/. dead.
  52. Web site: The Great Outdoors . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 2010 . 23 February 2018 . 13 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160513090628/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/7482886/the-great-outdoors/1/oldest/. dead.
  53. Web site: Camping Saturday! . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 23 February 2018 . 30 August 2016 . 20 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160920200910/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/32475325/camping-saturday/. dead.
  54. Web site: Baby Sitting Saturday! . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7. 2 May 2016 . 23 February 2018 . 7 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160507221603/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/31492901/baby-sitting-saturday-/. dead.
  55. Web site: 2014 coming to a close . Saturday Disney . Yahoo7 . 2014 . 23 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160513164913/https://au.tv.yahoo.com/saturday-disney/episodes/article/-/25744095/2014-coming-to-a-close/. 13 May 2016. dead.

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