Saturday Disney

Saturday Disney

Saturday Disney title card used from 31 March 2012 onwards
Genre Children's show
Presented by Nathan Morgan
Candice Dixon
Teigan Nash
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 27
No. of episodes 1,346 (as of 7 May 2016)
Production
Location(s) Brisbane, Queensland (1990–1999)
Sydney, New South Wales (1999–present)
Running time 120 minutes (1990-2012)
180 minutes (2012–present) (incl. commercials)
Production company(s) Buena Vista Television (1990-2000s)
Release
Original network Seven Network (1990–present)
7TWO (2012–2016)
7flix (2016–present)
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original release 27 January 1990 – present
Chronology
Preceded by Seven's Super Saturday
External links
Website

Saturday Disney is a long running Australian children's television program currently hosted by Nathan Morgan, Candice Dixon and Teigan Nash which has aired on the Seven Network in Australia for over 25 years, with the first episode going to air on 27 January 1990.[1][2] The show is an interstitial program which airs on Saturday mornings, consisting mainly of Disney television series dispersed between hosted content. The original hosts were Jeniene Mapp, James Sherry and Sofie Formica.[3] Many presenters have gone on to achieve successful careers in Australian television.

Saturday Disney was originally filmed at BTQ-7 [3] from 1990 until 1999 when it moved to Seven's Sydney station, ATN-7.

On 5 September 2009, the show celebrated its 1,000th episode.[2][4] As of 19 March 2016, Saturday Disney airs on both Seven and 7flix.

Hosts

 Original   Replacement   Current 

Role Name First Show Last Show
Host Sofie Formica 27 January 1990 October 1992
Lisa Barry October 1992 October 1997
Melanie Symons October 1997 26 October 2002
Shae Brewster 26 October 2002 27 July 2013
Teigan Nash 27 July 2013
Host Jeniene Mapp 27 January 1990 October 1996
Shelley Craft October 1996 6 July 2002
Sara Groen 6 July 2002 28 January 2006
Sally Stanton 21 January 2006 7 May 2011
Candice Dixon 7 May 2011
Host James Sherry 27 January 1990 29 January 1994
Marc Buhaj 5 February 1994 27 February 1999
Tim McDonald 6 March 1999 29 January 2000
Daniel Widdowson 5 February 2000 27 January 2007
Jack Yabsley 20 January 2007 26 February 2011
Nathan Morgan 26 February 2011
Notes
  • Saturday Disney has had three hosts at any one time always consisting of two females and one male.
  • The presenters are also credited as 'segment producers', and write and research their own stories.
  • The only exception of having more than three hosts on air at one time is whenever a co-host is leaving and their replacement is introduced on screen either a number of weeks beforehand, or during the final episode of the co-host who is leaving.
  • Shae Brewster was the longest serving host in the history of the show. She hosted the show for three months short of eleven years.[5]
Appearances by hosts after leaving the show
  • Both Shelley Craft and Melanie Symons returned to the show as guests after their departures. Craft returned in October 2002 to talk about her new hosting role on Perfect Match and via satellite on 29 October 2005 to chat about her time on the show and wish the guys a happy 800th episode. Symons returned on 2 August 2003 to talk about her new show, Australia's Best Backyards.
  • Several hosts have appeared after their departure through old footage. On the 999th episode on 29 August 2009, footage of every previous host who had been on the show was aired, looking back at the show's then 19-year history.[2]
  • Sally Stanton was interviewed by Teigan Nash on 2 May 2015 at the Cinderella red carpet event. Stanton was reporting for Event TV.

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.[6] This was part of an international franchise of programs in the global market to be named The Disney Club,[2][3] the Australian version to be 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 current set being introduced in February 2007. Saturday Disney was originally filmed at BTQ-7 [3] from 1990 until 1999 when it moved to its current 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.[4][7][8] 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][9]

Former presenter 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.[5]

Format

As a main feature, Saturday Disney originally included three Disney programs dispersed throughout the course of a two-hour episode. As of 2012, Saturday Disney features five programs over the course of a three-hour episode. The programs shown regularly rotate around the schedule, and are a mixture of animated cartoons and live action comedies, which have been more common since the premiere of Hannah Montana in 2007.[10][11] There are three hosts of Saturday Disney, who live in the 'Disney House' and introduce 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 is shot entirely on location, where the hosts explore certain cities or places such as Disneyland for the episode's entirety.[4][7]

Feature stories produced by and starring the hosts are also included, which are usually articles about places, activities and events, interviews with celebrities or red carpet events.[12][13] This format has been likened to magazine-style edu-tainment shows.[14] In some stories, the hosts adapt certain characters used as a substitute for themselves presenting the article. Another type of the stories are recurring mini-series with the hosts acting as characters, which air occasionally. Some recurring series from the past are Hazard Man (1990s),[8] 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, poking fun at popular American series Survivor, The Amazing Race, and The Apprentice respectively.

A Double Dog Dare is featured in every episode, where each host takes turns (one each week) to complete ridiculous, embarrassing or challenging tasks which may result in eating unusual food punishments upon failure, regularly ingredients mixed in a blender.[17] Ideas for dares and punishments are regularly sent in by viewers. This popular segment has been a prominent feature of the show for many years.[18]

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

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.[6][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]

Reception

Saturday Disney remains a staple in Australian television, after more than 25 years on air, and is one of the longest running children's programs in Australia.[30]

Viewership

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

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.[32]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2012 Logie Award Most Outstanding Children's Program Saturday Disney Nominated [33]

Programming

Current Schedule

As of 7 May 2016, Saturday Disney's schedule is as follows [34]

All Programming

1990s

2000s

2010s

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ "1990: January 27-February 2". Television.AU. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Knox, David (27 August 2009). "Saturday Disney flashes back". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "1990: January 13-19". Television.AU. 24 January 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Saturday Disney: 1000th episode". Throng.com.au. 5 September 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  5. 1 2 Knox, David (18 July 2013). "New presenter joins Saturday Disney". TV Tonight. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 Bayley, Andrew (26 April 2013). "Special: Australian TV History Timeline Pt 2". Television.AU. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Saturday Disney’s 1000th Episode!". Channel 7 - Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. September 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  8. 1 2 "What’s Your Favourite Saturday Disney Moment?". Channel 7 - Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. August 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "History of SD and an Exploding Cake!". Channel 7 - Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. August 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "Saturday Disney - PREMIERE of Hannah Montana! - Saturday April 7". Throng.com.au. 20 March 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  11. ↑ Knox, David (2 April 2009). "Returning: Hannah Montana". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Saturday Disney Adventure Blog". Total Girl. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Daysh, Charlot. "Disney Presenter Candice Dixon". Bond Briefs and Scope Magazine. CharlotDaysh.com. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  14. 1 2 Powerhouse Museum. "Cap from the children's television program 'Saturday Disney'.". Powerhouse Museum, Australia. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "It’s All Aboard Pacific Jewel for Saturday Disney". ETB Travel News. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Disney delights pupils during filming at Sovereign Hill". The Courier. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Stojceska, Milena. "Gold Coaster to star on Saturday Disney". Goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  18. ↑ Cashin, Miranda (5 March 2011). "Dreams come true on Disney". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Letter of the Week". Channel 7 – Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  20. ↑ Dan Martin (4 November 2013). BTQ7 Saturday Disney Promo January 1990. YouTube. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "Planes, Tennis, Gymnastics and Jars of Awesomeness!". Channel 7 – Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  22. ↑ Knox, David (14 October 2009). "Saturday Disney waking later". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  23. ↑ Knox, David (8 February 2010). "Bumped: Saturday Disney". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  24. ↑ Knox, David (29 March 2012). "Saturday Disney moving to 7TWO". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "New Look, New Time, New Station". Channel 7 – Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "Mother’s Day". Channel 7 – Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  27. ↑ "Early Start!". Channel 7 – Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  28. ↑ "Child’s Play: Focus on the broadcasters" (PDF). Screen Australia. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  29. ↑ "Happy Easter!". Channel 7 – Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  30. ↑ "Saturday Disney has a new home on 7TWO". Prime7. Yahoo7 News. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "Children's Viewing Patterns on Commercial, Free-to-air and Subscription Television" (PDF). Australian and Communications Media Authority. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  32. ↑ Knox, David (15 April 2012). "2012 Logie Awards: winners". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  33. ↑ Knox, David (18 March 2012). "Logie Awards 2012: nominations". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  34. ↑ "Baby Sitting Saturday!". Channel 7 – Saturday Disney. Yahoo7 TV. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
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