How it took this long, I do not know. ABC is developing a reality competition based on Disney Channel's uberpopular High School Musical, Variety reports.Eyeing a summer debut, the multi-episode series will launch with a nationwide talent hunt, followed by a chosen few honing their skills at a music conservatory. Wannabe Troys and Gabriellas will be eliminated each week until a winner (of what, that has yet TBD) is chosen. Appearances by kicking and screaming HSM stars are likely, says the trade.
read more
High School Musical's Kaycee Stroh had music on her mind on the red carpet of the Bebe Lingerie Launch Party, held Feb. 13 at Element in Hollywood. Besides anticipating the filming of High School Musical 3, she is embarking on a singing career. "I just got my first song for Disney and I will be recording it within the next couple of weeks," she shared. "Hopefully it will come out either right before or right after High School Musical 3."Stroh hopes to convey confidence and sassiness in her upcoming song. Referring to her self-acknowledged weight gain due to recent knee surgery, she wants to build confidence in girls everywhere. "No matter what size or shape or color, girls are beautiful and girls are fun. This song I’m doing has to do with being confident. I hope I can project that." — Summer Brooks
read more
High School Musical heartthrob Zac Efron is in the hospital with appendicitis, TMZ reports. With his singing ostensibly stopped for the moment, is the music still in him?Only time will tell, but sources say he has had his appendix removed and is recuperating. It won't be too long, then, before Troy's back to get his head in the game for production of the third HSM installment. — Anna DimondRelated:• High School Musical 3 Cast Confirmed• High School Musical 3 Not Struck by Strike
read more
Thanks to an imminent production start, Ashley Tisdale's feature-film debut might not be High School Musical 3 but rather They Came from Upstairs, an adventure comedy lensing in a few weeks and also starring Carter Jenkins (Viva Laughlin Surface), Austin Butler (Ned's Declassified Guide...)and Robert Hoffman (Step Up 2). The plot, says the Reporter, finds a group of teens defending their Maine vacation home from aliens. All this on top of the usual acne concerns!
read more
Whatever they’re paying Zac Efron, it isn't enough. In 2007, for the first time ever, the commercial-free Disney Channel beat out every ad-supported cable network in prime-time viewership. Granted, it only won by a mouse whisker — its average of 2.694 million total viewers was just 15,000 more than runner-up USA Network — but still, it won. Not coincidentally, the premiere of High School Musical 2 earned bragging rights as the No. 1 cablecast of all time. Elsewhere in the year-end wrap-up, TNT came in third, albeit down seven percent, and No. 4 ESPN slipped 11 percent. Among the cablers on the upswing were Bravo, MSNBC (up an impressive 32 percent), A&E (up 20 percent), Discovery Channel, Court TV, TLC and VH1 (gaining 19 percent, not all of which can be attributed to the masses that have made out with Tila Tequila... right?). — Ben Katner
read more
