That’s So Not Disney: Is Disney Channel going downhill? (Editorial)
More stories from Chaela Williams
Out with old in with the new. Disney Channel redesigned their logo back in 2014. Many old fans were critical of the new logo. (Courtesy of the official Disney Channel website)
Our generation has a great appreciation for the childhood shows we grew up on. What 90’s baby can forget about That’s So Raven, Hey Arnold, and even Hannah Montana. Let’s face most of our childhood favorite shows come from the “old” Disney channel.
The shows were full of virtue, inspiration, and genuine. The new generation of Disney includes shows like Girl Meets World, K.C. Undercover, and Live & Maddie. However, in my opinion Disney has lost its magic touch.
Looking at the shows now, the actors & actresses look more materialistic and over the top. The channel now has unrealistic story lines where as the shows in the 2000’s had real-life storylines that were more relatable to us.
The new Disney channel lack substance. One show that was part of new Disney, Shake It Up, made a small joke about anorexia. The offensive comment came from a supermodel who was talking to the main characters, Rocky and CeCe: “I could just eat you up. Well, if I ate.”
This comment was panned by former Disney starlet, Demi Lovato, who went to Twitter to rant about the episode. “I find it funny how a company can lose one of their actresses from the pressures of an EATING DISORDER and still make jokes about that very disease… #nice.” She also asked, “What are we promoting here? #notfunnyATALL.”
The new shows get even worse and worse from there. Best Friends Whenever is about two best friends that have the ability to time travel whenever by hugging or high fiving. These types of unrealistic, stupid storylines are the reason why many fans of the old Disney criticize what Disney channel has become.
To ease the old fans Disney channel created Disney Replay that shows reruns of the classics, Kim Possible, The Proud Family, and Even Stevens every Thursday but now its now been replaced as an app.
Disney Channel is not the only channel people are annoyed with. ABC Family changed their name to FreeForm. The purpose of doing this was to rebrand the channel. According to the Hollywood Reporter website, ABC Family President Tom Ascheim said that it was “meant to better cater to new viewers who fit its target of viewers ages 14-34.” The channel will still keep it’s signature series like Pretty Little Liars but was it really necessary to change the name just for new viewership?
Even though the older generation is highly disappointed with the new channels, the younger children are enjoying the shows they’re watching, even though they’re not gaining anything important. 90’s kids will forever keep the old Disney shows in their hearts, considering them “classics.”
Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2015-2016 Periscope staff, CHS Administration, or the CHS student body.
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Chaela is a member of the Periscope staff. It's also her third year on staff. She is a senior at CHS. She loves writing stories, watching anime,...
Camera Bailey • Nov 19, 2021 at 9:08 am
I see that I’m not alone in this, but I think that we have just become more observant to the jokes and stereotypes that Disney makes. I think they have gotten better recently, but then again, I don’t watch very many Disney shows anymore.
Bella • Jul 5, 2017 at 12:33 pm
I think the new Disney Channel is just ruined people have forgotten the reason why it was aired on tv to entertain viewers.
I’m not entertained anymore I don’t watch tv I miss the old shows people weren’t trying to be funny they were funny.
New shows try to hard sitting here now watching it, it’s not making me laugh or learn if that’s one of its purposes
Erik Praestgaaard • Jan 11, 2017 at 10:27 am
Like many people, I watched the Disney Chanel as a kid. However, I don’t think the essence of Disney has really changed that much. Rather, since we are older, we are less enticed by shows that have been just as materialistic and shallow as they are now. For a child, they provide easy entertainment and entrancement; an adult requires something more substantial.. In 10 years, I think today’s fourth-graders will write a very similar article about the “Old Disney Chanel.”
Mary Smith • Jan 15, 2016 at 2:44 pm
I loved Disney when I was younger, but it really has changed. I feel like the new shows are enforcing even more stereotypes, and just making kids think that they have to grow up faster than they really do. I loved Disney, but the older I get, the more I realize that Disney is giving kids wrong impressions of middle school and high school.