See Kermit and Pals in New Muppets Now Trailer—Plus More in News Briefs

July 17, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Meet Joe from Legal in New Muppets Now Trailer

If you’ve read News Briefs for any length of time, you know we’re big, big fans of the Muppets ’round these parts… so naturally, we’re on pins and needles whilst anxiously awaiting the big premiere of Muppets Now on Disney+! And just this week, we got another sneak peek at the kind of hilarious shenanigans we can expect, via the new trailer above!

In preparation for the world premiere of the Muppets’ first-ever streaming show, Kermit the Frog conducted a video chat—with a host of Muppet faves—a few months ago to break the news that Disney+ ordered six all-new, half-hour “muppisodes.” With a roster of amazing guest stars and pure unscripted mayhem, Muppets Now will break new ground for the gang in their Disney+ debut. And don’t worry about Joe from Legal… he’s approved this message.

Fellow Muppet fans should take note: Disney+ is the streaming home for the Muppets collection, where Muppets Now will join an assortment of fan-favorite Muppet movies, series, and shorts.

Look for the premiere of Muppets Now on Friday, July 31—with new “muppisodes” released every Friday—only on Disney!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

There’s a bottomless well of thrilling things to watch this weekend from around the worlds of Disney—including the season finale of Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted on National Geographic and a new episode of Elena of Avalor on Disney Channel. But as fans of multi-hyphenate Lin-Manuel Miranda, we’re especially excited for the highly anticipated arrival of Hulu’s Freestyle Love Supreme documentary. See what else you can expect this weekend by clicking here.

Original Documentary Howard to Premiere on Disney+ This August

We’ve been looking forward to seeing this particular documentary for a while now… so when news came out this week that it’s coming to our TV screens in just a few weeks’ time, we were thrilled!

Disney+ just announced that the original documentary film Howard will premiere exclusively on the streaming service this August. The film—which premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival—follows the life of Disney Legend and Academy Award®-winning lyricist Howard Ashman.

Directed by Don Hahn, Howard is the untold story of Ashman, the brilliant lyricist behind Disney classics such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast (which Hahn produced), and The Little Mermaid—as well as the creator of musicals including Little Shop of Horrors. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, personal films and photographs, and interviews with friends and family, the film is an intimate look at Ashman’s life, his creative drive, and the process behind the music. Spanning his childhood in Baltimore to his formative years in New York, and his untimely death from AIDS, Howard goes in-depth to explore Ashman’s journey to become the lyricist behind some of the most beloved and well-known classic family films in the world.

Howard features interviews with Ashman’s longtime musical collaborator, fellow Disney Legend Alan Menken (who also scored the film); Ashman’s partner Bill Lauch; Disney Legends Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid) and Paige O’Hara (Beauty and the Beast); his sister Sarah Gillespie; and many more. See it exclusively on Disney+ beginning Friday, August 7.

Tyra Banks Joins Dancing with the Stars as New Host and Executive Producer

The ballroom at ABC’s Dancing with the Stars is getting a bit of a makeover in the form of a new host and executive producer… Just this week, ABC and BBC Studios announced that supermodel and businesswoman Tyra Banks will take over from Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews on the dance floor sidelines, and she’ll join the show’s executive producer and showrunner Andrew Llinares to help steer the series behind-the-scenes.

“I’ve been a fan of DWTS since its beginning,” Banks recently said. “The fun mixed with raw emotion, seeing celebrities push past their comfort zones, the sizzling dance performances… it’s always transported me to my days of turning it up 10 notches on the catwalk.”

Keep your eyes peeled for more information on Dancing with the Stars and its 29th incredible season in the coming months.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch—Coming in 2021 to Disney+

Hot on the heels of the incredible series finale of The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm just announced a brand-new animated Star Wars series coming to Disney+ next year. Read up on what you can expect from Star Wars: The Bad Batch—about a group of experimental clones first introduced in The Clone Wars—right here at D23.com.

Weird But True! Returns to Disney+ on August 14

In further Disney+ news—and something amazing for the young and young-at-heart in your household to watch together—National Geographic has announced that a brand-new season of Weird But True! will premiere Friday, August 14. And get ready, cuz things are gonna get even weirder…

Children’s entertainers and educators Charlie Engelman and Carly Ciarrocchi host the third season of the Emmy® Award-winning series—and this time, they’re embarking on even more imaginative and strange adventures to reveal surprising and interesting facts about the world. Set both in a studio and in the field, the 13-episode series involves a mix of arts and crafts, unbelievable facts, and real-life exploration. Whether hunting for dinosaur fossils, hiking volcanoes, or flying planes, Charlie and Carly inspire kids to get excited about the world around them.

The weekly series will also feature guest appearances from Nat Geo Photographers and Explorers—including Anand Varma, who teaches the correct way to take the perfect photo, and professor (and founder of SciStarter) Darlene Cavalier, who describes how she is exploring new ways to connect people with science. Plus, famed astrophysicist Michio Kaku will appear as a special guest star—playing a fictional character named Buster Infinity, from the Global Space Administration Interplanetary Expedition.

The first two seasons of Weird But True! are available now on Disney+. Let’s get weird, y’all!

Ticket to Dream: Disneyland Treasures from the Archives

July 17, 2020July 14, 2020

By Kevin Kern, Walt Disney Archives

Do you remember the first time you passed through the turnstiles and into a Disney Park? That unmistakable feeling of excitement—the sense that magic is just a few feet away within the many realms of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy—is shared by all who come to these happy places. It’s an exhilarating feeling that millions of Disney Parks guests have come to know since Disneyland first opened on July 17, 1955. Each visit begins in the same, ritualistic fashion—with those memorable “first moments” through the gates.

Disney Legend John Hench once noted that, “[w]hether we go to a Disney park or a ball game, there is always the excitement of deciding to go and planning what to take and to wear, the anticipation of arrival, and the pure pleasure of walking through the entrance with the intention to play.” The main entrance to any Disney Park is our embarkation point for adventure—the point that takes us all to a place where we have (again via Hench) “the opportunity to feel more alive.”

The legacy of our collective main entrance experiences all started 65 years ago, enabled by a few special tickets (shown here), that thankfully have been preserved in the Walt Disney Archives collection.

Ticket to Dream — One of the rarer pieces of ephemera from Disneyland’s invitational press preview and dedication day on July 17, 1955, is this parking pass. Meant to be discarded after initial use, a piece like this speaks to the anticipation guests must have experienced that day in getting to the front entrance (as Hench hints at above)—but first you had to park!

Thanks to the accomplished work of the remarkable artists, Cast Members, craftspeople, employees, and Imagineers who helped make Walt Disney’s kingdom of dreams a reality, these mementoes help remind us not only of that storied past, but what it was like to first anticipate what was (or what could be) just on the other side of the gate.

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in August 2020

July 16, 2020July 30, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Next month is chock-full of premieres on Disney+! From feature films and documentaries including Howard, The One and Only Ivan, Magic Camp, and Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe to an all-new season of National Geographic’s Weird But True!, August can’t come fast enough. Add in the series finale of Disney Family Sundays, new episodes of the Disney+ Original Muppets Now, and library titles such as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, The Peanuts Movie, X-Men, Ant-Man and the Wasp, ZOMBIES 2, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Fantastic Four, and more, and our plans for August are set!

All the confirmed film and television titles coming to Disney+ in August are listed below:

Friday, August 7
Hidden Kingdoms of China
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Adventure Awaits
The Peanuts Movie
UFO Europe: The Untold Stories (Season 1)
X-Men
Howard (Premiere)
Muppets Now (Episode 102 – “Fever Pitch”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 136 – “Ryan Meinerding: Marvel Studios Creative Director”)
Disney Family Sundays (Episode 140 – “Goofy: Pencil Cup”) (Series Finale)
Pixar in Real Life (Episode 110 – “WALL·E: BnL Pop-up Shop”)

Friday, August 14
Alaska Animal Rescue (Season 1)
Ant-Man and the Wasp
India’s Wild Leopards
Jungle Animal Rescue (Season 1)
Nature Boom Time (Season 1)
Sam’s Zookeeper Challenge (Season 1)
Scuba Sam’s World (Season 1)
Spaced Out (Season 1)
T.O.T.S. (Season 1)
T.O.T.S. Calling all T.O.T.S. (Season 1)
The Greatest Showman
Wild Cats of India (Season 1)
ZOMBIES 2
Muppets Now (Episode 103 – “Getting Testy”)
Magic Camp (Premiere)
One Day at Disney (Episode 137 – “Pavan Komkai: Broadcast Engineer”)
Weird But True! (Episode 301 – “Dinosaurs”) (Premiere)

Friday, August 21
Back to the Titanic
Beauty and the Beast
Mars: One Day on the Red Planet
The One and Only Ivan (Premiere)
Muppets Now (Episode 104 – “Sleep Mode”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 138 – “Heather Bartleson: Holiday Services”)
Weird But True! (Episode 302 – “National Parks”)

Friday, August 28
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Fantastic Four
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe (Premiere)
Muppets Now (Episode 105 – “The I.T. Factor”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 139 – “Eric Baker: Imagineering Creative Director”)
Weird But True! (Episode 303 – “Farming”)

Every Way to Have the Ultimate Disney Parks Day at Home

July 16, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Do you want to have a truly magical day without leaving the comfort of your home? Thanks to our friends at Disney Parks, it’s possible to plan a day-long adventure that takes you from sunrise over a stunning castle to that final “kiss goodnight.” And along the way, you’ll enjoy thrills from iconic attractions, chills evoked by performances of best-loved Disney songs, and tasty spills (we promise!) as you concoct favorite Disney Parks treats and eats in your very own kitchen. Check out our roundup, below, and visit the Disney Parks Blog daily for more #DisneyMagicMoments to stir the imagination, inspire the heart, and invite guests to just have fun, wherever they may be.

Gaze at the Sunrise
It’s OK if you want to sleep in past dawn—we’ve got you covered, with sunrises over Disney Parks around the globe.

Discover new details and hear the sounds of Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland Park like never before.

The sunrise from Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort is as stunning as one might expect at the most magical place on Earth.

Watch the sun come up over Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park and soak up the towering Cadillac Range mountains, the undisturbed sounds of Route 66, and the natural beauty of the Ornament Valley.

Visit the Disney Parks Blog for a breathtaking time-lapse video that showcases the sunrise over Disneyland Paris’ Sleeping Beauty Castle in just 90 seconds. C’est magnifique!

These Toy Story sunrises will have you greeting the day with a “Howdy!” in place of “Good morning!” From the Toy Story Hotel at Shanghai Disney Resort and Toy Story Playland at Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris; to Toy Story Land at Hong Kong Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios; these stunning vistas truly “reach for the sky.”

“Bright suns” is the customary morning greeting on the planet Batuu, and you’ll understand why in these sunrise views from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park offers so many unique vantage points for the morning light—from Harambe Market to the floating mountains of Pandora – The World of Avatar to the park’s iconic centerpiece, the Tree of Life. Each sunrise vista is more spectacular than the next; see them all here on the Disney Parks Blog.

Construct Your Own Disney Paper Parks
This at-home activity begins with the creativity of the architects and designers from the Walt Disney Imagineering Design + Planning Studio, along with a few items you likely have on hand—paper, scissors, and glue—and ends with an exquisite 3-D version of Main Street, U.S.A., complete with floats from the Magic Happens parade and more. These printable activity sheets—both Part 1 and Part 2, complete with instructions—are available for download now.

Enjoy Virtual Thrills on Favorite Attractions
In the mood for a swinging journey on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or a fast-paced adventure as you avoid the infamous, elusive yeti on Expedition Everest? Or is a leisurely cruise aboard it’s a small world more to your liking? Our friends at Disney Parks have made it possible for you to experience all of these classic attractions right in your home, and even learn a few facts you might not have gleaned while riding them in person. We’ve shared a few of our favorites, below, with more available on the Disney Parks YouTube.

Cook Up Disney Parks Magic at Home
Are you nuts for the Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake from 50s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Do you find the thought of making a big pot of the famous Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup from Le Cellier Steakhouse at EPCOT to be extremely comforting right now? Do you want to start your morning with a warm plate of Tonga Toast from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort? (All of these are proverbial questions, by the way.) You can find these recipes—and more—on the Disney Parks Blog. Venture forward with a healthy appetite; the more you see, the more you’ll want to make!

Tour Walt Disney World and Disneyland with the Resorts’ Security Teams
Back in May, members of the Security teams at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort “took over” the resorts’ Twitter accounts (@WaltDisneyWorld and @Disneyland) and provided their own unique perspectives on the Parks. Meet the teams and check out their adventures here on the Disney Parks Blog.

Bring the Galaxy Far, Far Away Directly to Your Home
The Force is strong in the Droid Depot app, which enables fans to enjoy an out-of-this-galaxy experience with their BB-series or R-series astromech droid unit. The droids—which can be found in Droid Depot at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge—can interact with elements during visits to Batuu, but now, thanks to the free app, they will interact with you at home, as well. And if you haven’t already built an astromech droid unit, you’ll want to set your coordinates for the Droid Depot app nonetheless, where you can build a digital droid (or several) and create a whole new virtual collection. Droids can be customized before they go on a host of in-home adventures… which can even include some intergalactic fancy footwork, accompanied by some of DJ R3X’s most danceable jams. These are the droid adventures you’re looking for! Find out more on the Disney Parks Blog, and download the Droid Depot app for free in the U.S. and Canada on the App Store or Google Play.

Host a Video Chat Filled with Disney Magic
While you’re video conferencing with friends and family, why not go to Shanghai Disneyland, Pandora – The World of Avatar, or Sleeping Beauty Castle at the Disneyland Resort? A stunning variety of virtual backgrounds featuring Disney Parks locations from around the world can be found on the Disney Parks Blog.

Take a Break for the Magic Happens Parade
Plant yourself firmly in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland Park and relive every moment of the Magic Happens parade, which debuted on February 28 of this year. The parade features nine newly designed floats, highlighting magic from classic Walt Disney Animation Studios tales, such as The Sword in the Stone, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, along with more recent stories such as Frozen 2, Moana, and The Princess and the Frog, as well as Disney and Pixar’s Coco. The video below puts fans at home in the best seat in the house to enjoy a close-up look at the floats, which were created as pieces of moving art. And, with an energetic musical score and new songs co-composed by singer/songwriter Todrick Hall, your toes are sure to be tapping along in no time.

Travel Around Disneyland with Disney+
So many of our favorite experiences at the Disneyland Resort have been inspired by favorite Disney films, beginning with the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle—and so many of these films are now on Disney+. Our friends at the Disney Parks Blog have put together a collection of movie titles that every Disney fan can watch to feel a little closer to Walt’s first park. Have a hankering to visit Critter Country? Put Winnie the Pooh in your queue. Or, if you’re feeling a little zanier, check out A Goofy Movie or Who Framed Roger Rabbit? for a Mickey’s Toontown vibe. The Disney Parks Blog has the ultimate watchlist… you simply have to pop the popcorn!

Take a Closer Look Behind the Magic Through Imagineering in a Box
If you’re like us during any Disney Park visit, you spend a fair amount of time thinking to yourself, “How did they do that?” Imagineering in a Box—a free, online educational curriculum available through Khan Academy—provides a one-of-a-kind learning experience that draws from the diverse talents of Disney Imagineers around the world. Through 35 educational videos, learners of all ages can discover a curriculum featuring project-based exercises that apply science, technology, engineering, art, and math to create themed experiences. Begin making your own magic now at KhanAcademy.org.

Sing Along with #VoicesFromHome
It only takes a few bars from the Dapper Dans for you to be transported to Main Street, U.S.A.—even if you’re just in your living room. The same can be said for EPCOT’s Mariachi Cobre, known for their vibrant and warm performances at the Mexico Pavilion, and the Voices of Liberty, whose a cappella melodies bring patriotic music to life at the American Adventure. They’ve continued to bring #VoicesFromHome to our homes, and it’s the perfect soundtrack to make any day feel more magical. Here are a few selections to get your heart singing; visit the Disney Parks Blog and search #VoicesFromHome for more.

End with a Spectacular Grand Finale
As the story goes, Walt Disney himself thought that a fireworks show was the perfect end to a day exploring the park, a “kiss goodnight” for guests before they returned home. Disney fans can enjoy virtual viewings that include Disneyland Paris’ breathtaking nighttime spectacular Disney Illuminations and Shanghai Disney Resort’s unforgettable 2016 grand-opening gala. Even now, 65 years after Disneyland’s opening, there is still no bigger finish to a Disney Park adventure—in-person or virtual—nor any happier ending.

Disney Legend Ruthie Tompson Celebrates 110 Magical Years

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

By Jeffrey Epstein

On July 22, Disney Legend Ruthie Tompson turns 110, and the birthday celebration is already underway. At the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) campus where Ruthie resides, the staff has decorated the halls where she lives with her two favorite things: Disney and the Dodgers. “She is very excited to celebrate!” says Jo Obedencio, who works at MPTF and is having a Disney-themed cake created for the occasion as well.

(From L to R): Ruthie Tompson, Dot Smith, Walt and Donna Lupo

Before joining Disney as an Ink and Paint artist to work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Ruthie was already familiar to Walt and Roy. She grew up near the Disney Bros. Studio on Kingswell Avenue, and Roy had used her and several other neighborhood kids as live-action reference models for one of the Alice Comedies they produced. After Snow White, Ruthie worked on virtually every animated feature up through The Rescuers, before retiring in 1975, having progressed at the studio from inking and painting to working on animation checking and scene planning.

Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger wished Ruthie well, saying she’s “an amazingly talented artist, a courageous pioneer, and a true Disney Legend, and all of us at The Walt Disney Company salute you and wish you the very best. Keep smiling!” And fellow Disney Legend Whoopi Goldberg, who gave her Minnie Mouse-themed shoes to Ruthie right off her feet after the Disney Legends Awards at D23 Expo 2017, wished Ruthie a happy birthday saying, “Ruthie, you are all that! And when I grow up, if I ever do, I want to be just like you.”

We were able to catch the oldest living Disney Legend and ask her the secret to her youthful exuberance.

What’s the secret to your longevity?
It’s because I’m a vampire! [Laughs] My secret? How can I tell you my secret, because then it won’t be a secret! [Laughs] I’m a dummy for living this long. I don’t know why I am still here, but I know that I don’t want to be revered for how old I am, I want to be known for who I am.

Any wisdom you’d like to share that you’ve accumulated through the years?
Have fun. Try to do as much as you can for yourself. Remember all the good things in life.

What’s your favorite part about living at MPTF?
Without MPTF, I would probably be living on the street somewhere. [Laughs] I want to do as much as I can myself. But when I can’t, they take care of me. I am grateful for so many things. I like the people here and I like to be with people I like. My friendships here aren’t picked, they just happen and they stay with me.

In honor of Ruthie’s milestone birthday, MPTF is planning to dedicate one of their post-production facilities in her name. Find out more here.

Check Out These Totally Retro Disneyland Souvenirs to Commemorate 65 Years of Disneyland

July 16, 2020July 17, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Mouse ear hats. Spirit Jerseys. Autograph books. Throughout Disneyland’s 65 years of magic, there’s always something special you can take home to serve as a memento of your day at the Happiest Place on Earth. No matter where you are, souvenirs act as a way to remind us that the magic of Disneyland—and any Disney park, for that matter—is not in the location, but the lasting impression it makes in your heart. Do you have a favorite souvenir? Our friends at the Walt Disney Archives are sharing some souvenirs from the early years of Disneyland—check them out below!

“I Tink Disneyland Is Great” lenticular pin

Disneyland eraser set

“Mickey Mouse” Disneyland bolo tie

Disneyland felt pennant

Goofy U pennant

Tour Guide doll

Disneyland “Tencennial ’65 Celebration” Sleeping Beauty Castle hat

The Primeval World, “Dimetrodon” figurine

Adventureland View-Master® stereo pictures

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

July 16, 2020July 16, 2020

By Zach Johnson

The time has come to say goodbye to Heartland Docs, DVM and Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted… for now! Both series’ season finales will air this weekend, on Nat Geo WILD and National Geographic, respectively. This weekend will also see the premiere of Hulu’s highly anticipated documentary film Freestyle Love Supreme. Meanwhile, Freeform will air another can’t-miss movie marathon and Disney Channel will air a new episode of the hit animated series Elena of Avalor. Here’s a closer look at what we’re watching this weekend:

Freestyle Love Supreme—Friday, July 17, on Hulu
Years before the world fell in love with the Tony® Award-winning Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, the inimitable Lin-Manuel Miranda was in an improvisational hip-hop group called Freestyle Love Supreme with director Thomas Kail and performers Christopher Jackson and Anthony Veneziale. Andrew Fried began following the group in 2005, documenting the early days of Freestyle Love Supreme as they beatboxed and rapped on the sidewalks—unaware of how their story would unfold. Fourteen years later, Fried captured them reuniting for a series of shows in New York City that led to a triumphant run on Broadway. Poignant and inspired, the documentary film recalls the creative dreams of youth and why the show means so much to each of these performers.

Heartland Docs, DVM—Saturday, July 18, at 8 p.m. ET on Nat Geo WILD
In the season finale, “All in the Farm-ily,” Ben and Erin will be challenged by some rare animal cases leading up to the big Schroeder family dinner. Dr. Erin will perform a life-saving surgery on a massive dog with a uterus ten times its normal size, while Dr. Ben will try to get to the bottom of what’s ailing an underweight cow. Then, working together, the veterinarians will diagnose a trembling pup with a condition they’ve never seen in real life.

Funday Weekend—Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, on Freeform
In addition to featuring classics like Hercules and Cars 3, the network’s movie marathon lineup will feature some of our favorite Disney Princesses! Special showings of Pocahontas (11:30 a.m. ET Saturday and 9 a.m. ET Sunday), The Princess and the Frog (5:40 p.m. ET Saturday and 3:05 p.m. ET Sunday), Brave (7:45 p.m. ET Saturday and 5:10 p.m. ET Sunday), and Tangled (9:50 p.m. ET Saturday and 7:15 p.m. ET Sunday) are just around the riverbend!

Elena of Avalor—Sunday, July 19, at 5 p.m. on Disney Channel
As the show’s theme song says, loyal friends are always there! In the new episode “The Lightning Warrior,” Princess Elena (voice of Aimee Carrero) will give Victor (voice of Lou Diamond Phillips) and Carla (voice of Myrna Velasco) a chance to redeem themselves by helping to free Ixlan (voice of guest star Stephanie Beatriz), an ancient Maruvian princess.

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted—Sunday, July 19, at 10 p.m. ET on National Geographic
In the season finale, “Norway’s Viking Country,” chef Gordon Ramsay will channel his inner Viking to embrace the freezing temperatures of a Norwegian winter to discover the flavors of its cuisine. He’ll dive for shellfish in the frigid waters of the fjords, wrangle a stomping herd of reindeer with the Sami people, ferment fish and eat sheep’s head… all before putting his skills to the test to make a Christmas feast with local chef Christopher Haatuft.

You’re About to Fall in Love with ABC’s United We Fall

July 15, 2020July 8, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Parenting is no joke… but ABC’s new family sitcom United We Fall is full of ’em!

The heartwarming and hilarious series, premiering with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET, follows the trials and tribulations of Bill Ryan (Will Sasso) and Jo Rodriguez (Christina Vidal Mitchell), parents of two young kids, as they try to make it day to day as a functioning family. Bill’s judgmental live-in mother, Sandy Ryan (Jane Curtin), and Jo’s large Latinx Catholic family never mince words as they criticize the couple, but Bill and Jo always have each other’s backs. Together, they stand united against other parents, coaches, co-workers, doctors, specialists, teachers… and, of course, their own kids.

“I think America’s just going to relate to Bill and Jo a lot, because they’re not perfect by any means,” says Guillermo Diaz, who plays Jo’s brother, Chuy Rodriguez. “Even my character thinks he’s perfect, but he’s so not. In fact, at first, I didn’t see myself in the role, because he’s a very conservative dad—a religious, Type A personality. Very judgmental.” And yet, it was a role Diaz couldn’t pass up. “I was scared about filming in front of a live audience,” he says, “but the script is so good that I was like, ‘I can’t say no.’ And here I am!”

Created by Julius “Goldy” Sharpe, who wrote and executive produced the pilot, United We Fall is filled with as much heart as it is humor. Says Vidal Mitchell, “As I was watching playback, I was like, ‘This gives me that warm hug feeling of those shows I grew up on.’” The original series joins the network’s iconic family comedy brand, which includes two of TV’s top four comedies: The Conners and The Goldbergs. “ABC knows how to do family comedies better than anyone else,” says Sasso, “so we feel like we’re in really good hands.”

United We Fall will also introduce viewers to the adorable Ella Grace Helton, who makes her television debut as the couple’s daughter, Emily Ryan. “It’s really fun! I like it a lot,” she says. “Will’s very funny and Christina is nice and pretty—and she’s always fun to play with!”

Off-camera, the cast has formed their own version of a family. “Ella calls us mom and dad, so…” Sasso jokes. “But it’s interesting. When you’re working with a kid you end up rallying around the child to make sure it’s fun for them. So, in a way, it reminds us to have fun, too.”

Seasons of Sunshine at Disneyland

July 15, 2020July 16, 2020

By Julia Vargas, Walt Disney Archives

Warm weather and sunshine have always been a cause for celebration, especially at Disneyland. Over the years, numerous parades and events have been held at the Park during the spring and summer months for Guests to enjoy.

One long–running tradition held at the Park was the “Old Fashioned Easter Parade,” which debuted on April 1, 1956, with an abundance of floral décor and adorable Easter bunnies. The next year, the parade featured a “Shower of Flowers,” wherein flower petals flurried down from a helicopter. Then, as one Cast Member publication recalled, 1962 saw “vintage cars with 200 riders and dancers dressed in turn-of-the-century styles, promenaded down Main Street” as part of the parade. From 1962 to 1967, Guests could also enjoy a display of the “La Coquette” hot air balloon, from the Academy Award®-winning film Around the World in Eighty Days. The 1978 celebration also featured an Easter Bonnet Judging. The beloved “Old Fashioned Easter Parade” ran until 1982, and helped lead the way for new traditions such as “Thumper’s Easter Egg Hunt” and “Disney Egg-stravaganza.”

Musical entertainment was also a big draw at the Park during this season. Spring 1962 brought about “Spring Fling,” which featured top bands, and ran through 1974 before developing into a special entertainment segment. The “Big Band Festival” launched the celebration of summer, debuting in 1974. The two-day shindig was often held on Memorial Day weekend, and featured performances from musicians such as Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie, among many others.

Many a summer season have been highlighted with memorable Disneyland fireworks displays. In 1957, the Park launched its first dedicated (and extensive) nighttime program for the summer months, which included the aptly-named “Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks.” In 1961, Tinker Bell began to open the show by flying from the peak of the Matterhorn to Sleeping Beauty Castle. The show was changed to “Believe… There’s Magic in the Stars” for the park’s 45th anniversary in 2000, after an impressive 42-year run.

Finally, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” premiered on June 17, 1972, at Disneyland. The parade floats and units recreated iconic scenes from classic Disney films by way of half a million tiny, and brightly colored, lights. Regularly running through the summer months, the parade would leave an indelible impact on generations of parkgoers, and eventually included versions that ran at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disney California Adventure Park. The second-generation debut of the parade in 1977 highlighted new 3D units averaging 17 feet in height. Over the next few years, new features were added such as the 108-foot-long “Honor America” finale, a replica of Sleeping Beauty Castle, and a scene from The Fox and the Hound. The parade ran at Disneyland through 1996, with limited-engagement returns in 2017 and 2019.

Year after year, the spring and summer months have allowed for Guests of all ages to come to Disneyland to have fun in the sun and find entertainment to enjoy.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch Coming to Disney+ in 2021

July 13, 2020

By Zach Johnson

We’ve got a good feeling about this! Today Disney+ ordered its next animated series from Lucasfilm, Star Wars: The Bad Batch. Fresh off of the critically acclaimed series finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the original series will debut on the streaming service in 2021.

The series follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in The Clone Wars) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch—a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army—each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew. In the post-Clone War era, they will take on daring mercenary missions as they struggle to stay afloat and find new purpose.

“Giving new and existing fans the final chapter of Star Wars: The Clone Wars has been our honor at Disney+, and we are overjoyed by the global response to this landmark series,” said Agnes Chu, senior vice president, Content, Disney+. “While The Clone Wars may have come to its conclusion, our partnership with the groundbreaking storytellers and artists at Lucasfilm Animation is only beginning. We are thrilled to bring Dave Filoni’s vision to life through the next adventures of the Bad Batch.”

Star Wars: The Bad Batch is executive produced by Dave Filoni, Athena Portillo, Brad Rau, and Jennifer Corbett; co-produced by Carrie Beck; and co-executive produced by Josh Rimes as producer. Rau is also serving as supervising director with Corbett as head writer.