Disney Channel's January is highlighted the debut of the new animated comedy series THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL, based on the feature, THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and Saturday mornings on ABC Kids. For the youngest viewers, a new season of HIGGLYTOWN HEROES debuts with guest stars Emmy Award-winning choreographer and actress Debbie Allen as the dance instructor who helps saves the day.
Disney Channel looks to roll into 2006 with approximately 41 million votes its highest ever for the 8th annual New Year's Eve Viewer's Choice programming event. The polls have been open for three weeks at www.DisneyChannel.com/NewYearsEve and close at 12:00 midnight, PT, tonight (Dec. 30).
The episodes with the most viewer votes determine the programming lineup for Saturday, Dec. 31 (6:00 pm-12:30 am, ET/PT). It's all wrapped up with an on-air party hosted by Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Ashley Tisdale and Brenda Song, originating from the set of their hit series THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY.
On Sunday, Jan. 1, the eight-hour Toon Disney marathon (11:00 am 7:00 pm, ET/PT) features the animated movies ROBIN HOOD, A GOOFY MOVIE, OLIVER & COMPANY and HERCULES plus, a preview of BRANDY & MR. WHISKERS (4:35 pm, ET/PT) before its debut on Toon Disney later in the month.
On Monday, Jan. 2 at 7:30 am, ET/PT, Debbie Allen guest stars as the voice of the dance instructor in the season premiere of HIGGLYTOWN HEROES during the learning-focused Playhouse Disney block for preschoolers on Disney Channel. In the story, Eubie's delight at being the ring-bearer in his cousin's wedding quickly turns to anxiety when he discovers he will have to dance at the wedding. Well-meaning members of the community demonstrate various dance moves from disco to break-dancing, but the real hero is the Dance Instructor who teaches Eubie how to do The Waltz. Also among the celebrities providing the voice of various heroes this season are: Wilmer Valderrama, Henry Winkler, Jorge Garcia, Katy Sagal, Joey Fatone, Wayne Brady, Kathy Najimy and Aisha Tyler.
In addition, JoJo's adorable pet Goliath from JOJO'S CIRCUS gets the lion's share of attention in the specially themed week, Go Goliath Go, featuring Goliath-centric episodes every day plus, a new episode on Friday, Jan. 6, at 8:30 am, ET/PT.
On Sunday, Jan. 8 at 5:00 pm, ET/PT, Toon Disney will air a new episode of the Jetix action/adventure KONG: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Kong and Tann must save their friends Jason and Lua from the clutches of an evil Professor.
Moreover, a special primetime presentation (7:30 pm, ET/PT) of the Playhouse Disney hit series LITTLE EINSTEINS reveals how Leo, Annie, Quincy, June and Rocket came to be the Little Einsteins. The storyline depicts the kids on the day they met Rocket and embarked on their first mission: a 'round the globe adventure to help Rocket find a home. Also featured this evening are THE CARE BEARS BIG WISH MOVIE (6:00 pm) and Disney Channel's premiere of MUPPETS WIZARD OF OZ, a retelling of the classic story starring recording artist Ashanti, Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzy and Miss Piggy (8:00 pm, ET/PT).
On Thursday, Jan. 12 at 4:30 pm, ET/PT, Jake goes undercover as professional wrestler Dragonfire to rescue Hobie, a 400-pound giant, from the evil clutches of King Hammer, owner of the King Extreme Wrestling League (K.E.W.L), on a new episode of AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG on Disney Channel.
On Saturday, Jan. 14, BRANDY & MR. WHISKERS premieres on Toon Disney with a six-episode marathon (1:00-4:00 pm, ET/PT). The regular time slot is Monday-Friday, 8:00 am, ET/PT. Kaley Cuoco and Charlie Adler provide the voices of the title characters in this quintessential buddy comedy that follows the comical misadventures of a pampered pooch (Brandy) and an excitable, offbeat rabbit (Mr. Whiskers) who must forge a friendship while stranded in the Amazon rainforest.
On Monday, Jan. 16, in a new episode of HIGGLYTOWN HEROES (7:30 am, ET/PT), Kip, Eubie, Wayne and Twinkle accidentally cause an old tree to fall onto the side of Kip's house. It's up to the Tree Trimmer to save the day in order to protect Kip's house, Fran's tree house and the tree itself. Then, Wayne wins ten gold coins for placing first in the science fair competition so he seeks the advice of the Banker who teaches the Higgly kids about how the banking system operates.
In addition, in a new episode of CHARLIE AND LOLA on Playhouse Disney (9:30 am, ET/PT), Lola comes to realize the value of good company when she becomes so engrossed with her pretend "jobs" that her brother Charlie, her best pal Lotta and even Lola's imaginary friend, Soren Lorenson, lose interest in playing with her.
During the week of Jan. 16, Disney Channel will present a daily Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance block (5:00-10:00 pm, ET/PT) featuring musical-themed episodes and movies, which includes KIM POSSIBLE, THE PROUD FAMILY and THE PROUD FAMILY MOVIE.
Over on Toon Disney (2:00-7:00 pm, ET/PT) are crossover episodes of LILO & STITCH: THE SERIES featuring Kim, Ron and Rufus from KIM POSSIBLE, Trixie, Spud, Fu Dog and Jake from AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG and Penny, Trudy and Oscar Proud from THE PROUD FAMILY. Also presented is the premiere of a new LILO & STITCH: THE SERIES episode guest starring the kids from RECESS who, while on a visit to Hawaii, end up helping catching an experiment that makes them lazy (4:30 pm, ET/PT).
During the Jetix block on Toon Disney (7:00-10:00 pm, ET/PT), a three-hour marathon of SUPER ROBOT MONKEY TEAM HYPERFORCE GO! rounds-up alien creatures the Monkey Team has encountered and includes a new episode in which Chiro takes pity on a sideshow beast called the Lug and ends up becoming a lug himself.
On Monday, Jan. 23, in a new episode of JOJO'S CIRCUS (8:30 am, ET/PT), Dinky's illness prevents him from playing in the snow. This spurs, JoJo and her friends cheer her up by making a special snow clown and hauling it all the way to his house. Viewers are encouraged to imitate JoJo and her friends as they traverse the snow and practice making snow angels Then, Trina injures herself while teaching JoJo how to ice skate, so to go for help, JoJo must put her new skills to the test. Preschoolers are encouraged to practice balancing and moving to the music.
On Thursday, Jan. 26, Australia Day is celebrated with new episodes of LITTLE EINSTEINS, THE KOALA BROTHERS and THE WIGGLES during Playhouse Disney on Disney Channel.
On Friday, Jan. 27 (5:30-10:15 pm, ET/PT), in a royalty themed evening, Disney Channel premieres THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL. THE EMPERORS NEW SCHOOL finds would-be emperor, Kuzco, faced with the challenge of making it to high school graduation before he can claim the throne and becomes the official emperorall while thwarting the infamous Yzma and Kronk's attempts to foil him (7:30 pm, ET/PT). On Sat. Jan. 28, the new series will make its debut on ABC Kids.
Also included during this evening are a new episode of live-action series, THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY, and a special presentation of THE PRINCESS DIARIES.
Also premiering, on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3:30 pm, ET/PT, is W.I.T.C.H. The new series Disney Channel depicts five ordinary tween girls who receive extraordinary powers - and a heavy duty to protect Earth as they form W.I.T.C.H., an acronym spelled by the first letters of their names: Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin. Harnessing newfound powers of energy, water, fire, earth and air, these seventh and eighth grade girls must shield the universe, and their hometown Heatherfield, from the evil Prince Phobos, the ruler of a parallel world called Meridian. Combining good versus evil action, character-driven comedy and the high jinks of magical powers, an absorbing, continuing story unfolds of five hip, modern-day heroines caught between the trials and travails of tweendom and saving the world.
On Sunday, Jan. 29 (12:00-3:00 pm, ET/PT), Disney Channel commemorates Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dog with six-episodes of AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG including a new episode where Jake and a group of magical misfits are captured and used as targets for the Huntsclan's annual hunting contest. Jake must whip the unlikely group into a lean, mean fighting machine in order to escape (2:30 pm, ET/PT).
On Monday, Jan. 30 (7:30 am, ET/PT), in a new episode of HIGGLYTOWN HEROES, it takes the special skill of the Furnace Repairman to fix the heater at Eubie's aunt's home. Then, when the local ducks are covered in oil, the Higgly kids learn about the importance of preserving the natural world and cleaning up after ourselves when they meet another hero, the environmentalist.
The same day, THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL premieres on Toon Disney (3:00 pm, ET/PT). In addition, Toon Disney rolls out a Monster Movie Marathon each day this week (Monday, Jan. 30-Friday, Feb. 3, 4:00-6:00 pm, ET/PT), with presentations of MONSTERS, INC., DISNEY'S DINOSAUR, RECESS: SCHOOL'S OUT and LION KING 1 1/2 culminating with the television premiere of TREASURE PLANET on Friday.
At 8:00 pm, Toon Disney presents the premiere of the Jetix action/adventure series A.T.O.M. Alpha Teens On Machines, a group of rebel teens Axel and his best friends, Hawk, Shark, King and Lioness are recruited by an industrialist, Mr. Lee, and equipped with the coolest high-tech gear and vehicles imaginable. Now, with exceptional physical skills and a no-fear attitude, these talented test pilots are up for any challenge. But when they cross the path of criminal mastermind Mr. Paine, past and future worlds collide, setting A.T.O.M. on an amazing adventure, forging friendships, breaking rules, pushing the limits of their high-tech gear and themselves.
The Jetix programming events continue with a new episode of SUPER ROBOT MONKEY TEAM HYPERFORCE GO! (8:30 pm, ET/PT) where the group encounters a mischievous, magical creature, the Wigglenog that gives them three wishes. What they don't know is the third wish will set the Wigglenog free and that's a not a good thing.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
