Tamron Hall Embarks on a Second Season of Conversations that Matter

October 4, 2020October 8, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Most mornings, work on Tamron Hall begins at 5 a.m. with the first of many texts between the show’s host and executive producer, Tamron Hall, and executive producer/showrunner Candi Carter, together looking ahead to what the next episode has in store. Since the series’ second season launched on September 14, Hall has sat down with actor Chris Evans to discuss his recently launched civic engagement website; she’s chatted with multi-talented singer and songwriter Jason Derulo about social media stardom; and she’s talked with pop-culture sensation Carole Baskin about her failed attempt to claw her way to the top of the Dancing with the Stars leaderboard. But Hall’s daily show, which airs across the country in national syndication, has also welcomed ordinary people and taken a closer look at the important issues affecting so many of us right now—from the global pandemic to civil rights.

“When we launched the show, the intention was to be a traditional daytime talk show where we could have newsmakers on, but we would also have people who just want to share their journey,” Hall said during ABC’s recent Television Critics Association press event. The focus of the show, she noted, is “how we can connect and how we can have difficult conversations and give people the grace and space to just relax for that hour and share who they are.”

Speaking from the Tamron Hall set, Hall and Carter talked about facilitating these “conversations that matter”—a mission they’ve doubled down on since the beginning of the pandemic. Carter had just joined Tamron Hall as executive producer when the show, like so many other productions, came to a halt, and her first order of business was leading Hall and the production staff through the transition to remote shows. “Tamron was doing Zoom interviews on her cell phone. She was doing intros on her iPad. We had every device she ever had in the room,” Carter detailed, recalling the dedication and ingenuity that went into delivering new episodes that were created fully remotely.

“We converted, believe it or not, my baby’s monitor to one of our monitors,” Hall shared with a laugh.

Carter noted that the process was challenging, but that “it was an opportunity for Tamron to have an intimate connection with the audience during COVID, which I think a lot of people really appreciated.” And while Carter was quick to underscore that we’re not yet on the other side of the pandemic, Tamron Hall is moving forward in a safe and socially distanced way, with a virtual audience and a weekly lineup consisting of three shows that are taped live and two shows that are recorded ahead of time.

Hall shared her conviction that daytime television, much like live sports, can be a comfort for viewers during times of crisis. “We can shepherd people through by saying, ‘Listen, incrementally we will get there.’ And I think being back in our studio without our live audience shows that, yes, things are absolutely different, but we can move forward, just as the NBA in this bubble,” she said, noting that she believes the show’s conversation has been elevated through its reflection of what the audience has experienced during the pandemic.

In the new season, viewers are also seeing more preproduced packages that not only introduce the guest, but allow Hall to begin their conversation on a higher plane. “Once you lay out the story, then it’s not an interview about somebody saying, ‘Well, this happened, and then I went to her house, and I did this, and I did that,’” Carter pointed out. “We want to take the story to the next level. How does it impact [the guest]? How does it impact the people that she impacted? And that’s what a lot of the tape allows us to do.”

Hall emphasized that while she may not agree with all of her guests, her goal is to, hopefully, come to a deeper understanding of what drives them—not to beat them down. “I’ve reported and covered news now for 27 years. I just celebrated my 50th birthday. I was in cable news for 10 years. And while it was rewarding in many ways, it was a learning experience for me in how to allow people to say who they are and be who they are. That doesn’t mean I have to meet you where you are,” she says, adding for good measure, “I also, by the way, practice transcendental meditation.”

This week, Walt Disney Television announced it has renewed Tamron Hall for a third season and the show will continue to be a daily destination for its “Tamfam” in 2021–22. Hall, a self-described “TV junkie” who isn’t kidding when she says she remembers the exact broadcast lineup from 1975, will look forward to more honest, fair and open conversations. She says, “I take my TV seriously, from the joy that it can bring, but also the serious education it can offer as well.” That’s what Tamron Hall has been navigating, and why Hall is excited that she will continue to say, “Let’s talk about it.”

65 Years in the Making: A Club for You and Me

October 3, 2020October 2, 2020

By Nicole Carroll, Walt Disney Archives

“Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!”

Sixty-five years ago, on October 3, 1955, this popular anthem was heard for the first time as the Mickey Mouse Club debuted on ABC and became one of the most popular children’s television series of all time. The show was originally part of Walt’s Disneyland investment pitch to ABC, but the network initially chose to focus on the Disneyland anthology series. After the success of the anthology series in 1954 and as the cost of the park continued to grow, Walt returned to ABC with the idea for the children’s television show. This time the project was greenlit and Walt turned the project over to studio producer and future Disney Legend, Bill Walsh.

Archives MMC — Walt Disney, director Sid Mill, and producer Bill Walsh on the set of the *Mickey Mouse Club* in 1957.

Their first task? Choose a name for the program. It was ultimately decided to call the show the Mickey Mouse Club, reminiscent of the popular children’s movie theater club in the 1930s. Next up for the team was picking format and talent. The show was organized by themed days of the week: Monday was Fun With Music Day, Tuesday was Guest Star Day, Wednesday was Anything Can Happen Day, Thursday was Circus Day, and Friday was Talent Roundup Day. Perhaps the most iconic part of the show was the lovable cast of 24 Mouseketeers and their adult leaders Jimmie Dodd and the Big Mooseketeer, Roy Williams. Although the popular show would not debut until a few months after the park opened, the Mouseketeers were introduced on Disneyland’s opening day telecast. And when the show finally did debut, it was an overnight sensation with many of the Mouseketeers— including Annette, Tommy, Darlene, Sharon, Bobby, and Cubby—becoming instant celebrities.

The original series ran from October 3, 1955, to September 25, 1959, and included 260 one-hour episodes in the first three seasons and 130 half-hour shows in the fourth season. Due to its popularity, it returned in syndication to rousing success, which led to a modernized “new” Mickey Mouse Club that premiered in January 1977 and ran through December 1978. And once again in 1989, following the launch of The Disney Channel and subsequent re-airings of the original Mickey Mouse Club program, yet another updated version— this time with a new name “MMC”— aired and ran until 1994. This latest version of the club starred many Mouseketeers who remain household names today such as Disney Legend Christina Aguilera, J.C. Chasez, Ryan Gosling, Keri Russell, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake.

Many of the iconic props and costumes from the original series, as well as popular merchandise of the time, are prized assets cared for by the Walt Disney Archives today. Enjoy a special look inside the Archives with a few of our favorite Mickey Mouse Club pieces in the gallery below.

In honor of the Mickey Mouse Club’s 65th anniversary, be sure to check out the debut episode and select others, now streaming on Disney+! And while you’re watching the show, enjoy your own version of a Mousekartoon with a few printable activity pages from coloring and activity books in our collection and be sure to pick up your own Mickey Mouse coloring book at your favorite store!

Click here to download.

“Now it’s time to say goodbye, to all our company. M-I-C, see you real soon! K-E-Y, why? Because we like you! M-O-U-S-E.”

11 Great Sports Movies You Can Stream on Disney+

October 2, 2020

By Max Lark

There’s no question sports are back. With the National Football League and college football seasons underway, Major League Baseball beginning post-season play this week, National Basketball Association Finals already in progress, the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup just won by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and international tennis, golf, and soccer competitions at fever pitch around the world, sports fans everywhere are relishing the return of their favorite teams and players. If watching your favorite matchups on ESPN+, ABC, and ESPN still leaves your inner sports fan wanting more, there is plenty of great cinematic sporting fare on Disney+ to keep you happy between sports jousts (including a few movies celebrating anniversaries this month). Here are 11 great sports movies on Disney+ every sports fan should watch (or watch again)!

The Mighty Ducks (1992)
Quack! Quack! Quack! Sports fans love underdogs (under-ducks?), and on October 1, 1992, Emilio Estevez and a cast of relatively unknown kid-actors hit the ice in the ultimate underdog story. The Mighty Ducks was the surprise hit of 1992, launching a trio of films, an animated TV series, and even a professional hockey team, the Anaheim Ducks. Estevez stars as hard-hitting trial lawyer Gordon Bombay, who gets in trouble with the law and is slapped with a community service assignment of coaching a disastrously bad kids’ hockey team. And although Bombay’s past experience as a win-at-all-cost youth-league hockey player (and lawyer) seem, at first, to be exactly what this losing team needs, he soon learns that some things are more important than winning. The film launched the careers of many of its young actors, including Joshua Jackson, who went on to star in Dawson’s Creek, Fringe, Urban Legend, and Cruel Intentions; Aaron Schwartz, who also starred in the film Heavyweights; and Elden Henson, who became a fan favorite in Marvel’s Daredevil and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 and Part 2. The success of the film led to the release of more Mighty Ducks fun, also available on Disney+.

D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
Riding high on the success of The Mighty Ducks, Estevez returns as coach Bombay, who brings back “the Flying V” for another round of on-the-ice comedy and madcap fun. This time, he gathers the Ducks together for a trip the Junior Goodwill Games in California for another edge-of-your-seat overtime showdown.

D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
For the third and final film in The Mighty Ducks trilogy, also celebrating an October anniversary, the ragtag Ducks team grows up and receives scholarships to a prestigious prep school, where they face off against the pretentious varsity team. Audiences, of course, are given much to cheer about as the Mighty Ducks prove once and for all why they are one of the most beloved hockey teams on film.

Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series (1996)
Disney’s Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series is a wholly different adventure about a band of hockey-loving ducks who fight back against the sinister Dragaunus and his plans to take over Puckworld. They form a hockey team, the Mighty Ducks, and build a secret base to protect Earth from Dragaunus’ sinister plans.

Cool Runnings (1993)
The idea of a competitive Jamaica bobsled team has the makings of comedy and movie gold, but the fact that it’s based on a true story makes this film a true family gem. Giving the film extra poignancy is the fact that it also happens to be one of the final onscreen appearances of beloved comedy legend John Candy—and the last movie released during his lifetime. Based on the true story of the Jamaica national bobsleigh team’s debut in competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the film, out 27 years ago this month, landed clearly in the hearts of audiences and critics alike. As can be expected, pulling together a team from the warm-weather paradise of Jamaica to compete at the highest level of winter-weather sports is no easy task, but Candy’s character, Irving Blitzer, is up for the challenge, even if the world thinks it can’t be done. We won’t spoil the ending for you, but rest assured that the film never disappoints and is about a whole lot more than coming in first place—and its heart-stealing final scenes will have you hitting rewind again and again.

Remember the Titans (2000)
When young Black coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington), new to Alexandria, Virginia, is hired as head coach of the T.C. Williams High Titans over Bill Yost, a white man with several years seniority, the pair learns to work with each other and discovers they have a lot more in common than just football. One of the best movies about football ever made, Remember the Titans features realistic gridiron action, an unforgettable performance by Denzel Washington, an impossibly undersized outside linebacker played by Ryan Gosling, and a moving storyline that will have you shouting “Remember the Titans!” as the end credits roll.

The Big Green (1995)
The dusty town of Elma, Texas. Kids and parents alike don’t seem to be going anywhere, until a British schoolteacher, Anna Montgomery (Olivia D’Abo), arrives and proceeds to shake things up. She introduces her students to football—football as the world knows it, that is, soccer—and proceeds to transform what begins as an athletically challenged group of quirky characters into a formidable team of giant slayers. The accent is on comedy in The Big Green and the movie reminds you of all the bad teams that you played on as a kid but how much fun it was to play together.

The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)
Golf movies hold a special place in the hearts of any human being who has had the courage—or stupidity—to pick up a mashie, a niblick, or a mashie-niblick (i.e., golf clubs). There’s something so spiritual about the sport, so enigmatic (ask former pro golfer David Duval, who went from No. 1 in the world and winning the Open Championship in 2001 to never winning a tournament again) that fans love to watch golf movies, if only to understand what makes the sport so intriguing, beautiful, and utterly frustrating. The Greatest Game Ever Played is one of those special films that golfers everywhere love to talk about. It tells the true story of Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf), a former caddy, who won the U.S. Open at age 20, assisted by his 10-year-old caddy, Eddie. It’s inspiring enough to make you pick up the old clubs—or forget that dumb idea and sit back and watch the movie again!

Johnny Tsunami (1999)
Everyone wishes they had a grandfather as rad as Johnny Tsunami is in the Disney Channel Original Movie of the same name. Johnny Tsunami tells the story of Johnny Kapahala, a teen surfing prodigy in Hawai‘i who is forced to move to Vermont when his father scores a new job, leaving his grandfather, Johnny Tsunami, behind in Hawai‘i. In Vermont, outsider Kapahala gets embroiled in a rivalry between the Skies—local prep school skiers—and the Urchins—public school snowboarders. Eventually, Johnny Tsunami rejoins the family in Vermont and resolves the conflict and teaches his grandson how to harness his competitive spirit and unleash his prodigious athletic abilities.

The Game Plan (2007)
If Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is in a movie, it’s pretty much a must-watch, and The Game Plan proves that theory again. He plays Joe Kingman, a self-indulgent professional quarterback who has everything he always wanted—cool digs, supermodel girlfriend, immense athletic talent—who one day is shocked to find an 8-year-old girl, Peyton, at the door of his über-cool bachelor pad, informing him she is his daughter. Over the course of a football season, Joe learns that the only game that really matters has nothing to do with touchdowns, but with winning the heart of the one little fan who matters most.

Glory Road (2006)
Just about anyone who loves the sport and didn’t attend the school pretty much dislikes the University of Kentucky basketball team. They have this somewhat obnoxious habit of winning almost every game they play. That gives Glory Road, not that it needs it, an extra bounce of likeability, because it tells the inspiring true story of perennial underdog the Texas Western Miners, coached by passionately dedicated coach Dan Haskins (played with relentless conviction by Josh Lucas), who in 1966, fielded an all-Black team that won the NCAA tournament, vanquishing the all-white University of Kentucky Wildcats. It’s an inspiring story that’s as relevant today as it was in 1966.

Miracle (2004)
Disney Legend Kurt Russell plays hockey coach Herb Brooks, who at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, fielded a ragtag squad of elite wannabes who would eventually go on to win the gold medal in men’s hockey. To do so, they had to vanquish a juggernaut Soviet Union team, gold medal winners in the previous four Winter Olympics, a squad still thought of today as the greatest international hockey team of all time. If you were old enough to watch this event unfold live on television (ahem), the movie always sparks warm nostalgia; if you never saw the game, you have to watch this retelling of one of the most miraculous sports events of all time.

Double Dribble (1946)
While most sports movies immortalize and celebrate the virtues of sport, the Disney animated short Double Dribble skewers sports’ idiosyncrasies by depicting a college basketball game between U.U. and its thousands of assembled fans, and P.U., who only has one fan in the arena, Goofy. The game, played by Goofy look-alikes, proceeds in ludicrous fashion, spotlighting the cheating players and the semi-blind referee missing all the calls. We won’t reveal who wins this titanic struggle, but players’ names—including Hannah and Lounsbery—were inside jokes and based on the short’s director, Disney Legend Jack Hannah, and animator, Disney Legend, and member of the “Nine Old Men,” John Lounsbery.

The Rookie (2002)
Director John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks) hits another one out of the park with The Rookie, which tells the story of Jim Morris (as an adult played by Dennis Quaid), who is robbed of a professional career in baseball by injury and who is now a high school teacher and baseball coach in Big Lake, Texas. His team makes a deal with Morris; if they win the district championship, coach has to try out with a big-league team. When the team goes from worst to first, Morris gets a try out, dazzles the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with his fastball, and earns a minor-league contract. The Rookie remains a powerful story about never giving up on your dreams (and Dennis Quaid looks like he can really pitch!).

First Look at New Marvel’s 616 Anthology Docuseries—Plus More in News Briefs

October 2, 2020

By Courtney Potter

Brand-New Trailer for Disney+’s Marvel’s 616 Anthology Docuseries

Eight remarkable stories. Eight unique filmmakers. Such is the through line of Disney+’s upcoming docuseries, Marvel’s 616—which debuts exclusively on the streaming service this November. Giving viewers a deeper look into the creative world of Marvel than ever before, the series will explore Marvel’s rich legacy of pioneering characters and creators. Take a look at the just-released new trailer for the series, above.

Each episode of Marvel’s 616—helmed by a different director (including Community’s Gillian Jacobs and Mad Men’s Alison Brie)—will showcase the intersections of storytelling, pop culture, and fandom within the Marvel Universe. Topics covered will include a roster of global artists; the trailblazing women of Marvel Comics; “forgotten” characters; and so much more.

Look for all eight episodes of the series to debut on Disney+ on Friday, November 20.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

This first full weekend of October features some fa-boo-lous viewing from around the worlds of Disney to get you in the spooky mood. Alice Cooper (no stranger to Halloween shenanigans) returns as a guest voice to Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures; Freeform brings back its fan-favorite Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic special; and look for two brand-new election-themed episodes of ABC’s black-ish on Sunday, October 4. See more of what you can expect by clicking here.

Get Into the Halloween Spirit with Mickey Mouse and Disney Junior!

October also means that Disney Junior’s “Mickey’s Trick or Treats” programming event has officially begun! The month-long event kicks off on Friday, October 2, with some adorable themed interstitials hosted by Mickey Mouse himself and the premieres of several fan-favorite Disney Junior shows, including Puppy Dog Pals, T.O.T.S., and Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures.

The event also includes the debut of four brand-new Halloween music videos—the first of which, “That’s How You Know It’s Halloween,” just premiered on the channel; check it out, above. We’re warning you… it’s dangerously catchy. Be sure to add it to your Halloween-related video playlist!

Disney+ Reveals Spine-Tingling Halloween Content … and a Whole New Way to Watch It

But wait, there’s more: All month long, our good pals over at Disney+ will be skele-brating the Halloween season with their first-ever “Hallowstream” event, offering subscribers a collection of some of the most thrilling and chilling Halloween movies, specials, and episodes of all time. It’s sure to be your go-to Halloween destination, with films including Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as the best Disney Channel and Disney Junior Halloween episodes and 30 episodes of The Simpsons’ iconic “Treehouse of Horror” franchise! To see more of what you can expect, visit disneyplus.com.

But that’s not the only big news to come from Disney+ this week… Should you want to plan an All Hallows’ Eve marathon with your friends, you can now do so with Disney+’s brand-new GroupWatch co-viewing feature! GroupWatch allows for up to seven people to watch together in a synced playback experience available across desktop, mobile, connected TV devices, and Smart TVs, and share reactions in real time.

Subscribers can launch the experience through the GroupWatch icon found on the “Details” page of content in the Disney+ library. They will then receive a link to invite up to six other people to watch with them (Disney+ subscription required for everyone, natch). Invitations must originate from desktop or mobile, but they can then be watched from a connected TV device or Smart TV. The synchronized playback seamlessly allows each viewer the ability to pause, play, rewind, or fast forward, for the whole group! And while watching, viewers can react in real time with six different emojis: “like,” “funny,” “sad,” “angry,” “scared,” and “surprised” through the Disney+ app.

Happy hauntings, Disney+ fans!

ICYMI: Mickey Mouse Funhouse Coming to Disney Junior

If you’ve got little ones in your life, listen up—there’s a fantastic new series for them that’s just over the horizon, and D23 has all the scoop! Disney Junior has announced that production’s begun on Mickey Mouse Funhouse, a new animated series that will introduce Funny, an enchanted talking playhouse who leads Mickey and his pals on all manner of adventures. Click here for more info on the colorful good times in store!

Your Adorable Baby Animal Fix, Courtesy Disney’s Animal Kingdom…

Honestly, is there anything better than watching baby animals, of all stripes (pun intended), frolic and play? We think not. And it’s heartening to know that the folks down at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort are always ready and willing to pass along some insanely adorable footage when brand-new babies have joined the fold.

Case in point: Last week—just as the new Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom series from National Geographic was getting ready to debut on Disney+ (it’s now streaming, by the way)—a baby female Masai giraffe was born backstage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Weighing in at 156 pounds and standing a whopping 6 feet tall, the baby (born in the wee hours of Tuesday, September 22) is healthy, and was strong and feisty during her first neonatal exam. See her in action in the cute clip, above!

According to our friends at the Disney Parks Blog, the as-yet-to-be-named girl is already showing a close bond with mother Mara; the pair will continue to stay behind-the-scenes until baby meets all her developmental milestones. She’s expected to join the herd on the savanna in the coming weeks.

Rev Up This Quiz to Give Your Car a Disney Name!

October 2, 2020October 2, 2020

By Courtney Potter

That’s right—it’s National Name Your Car Day, so start those engines and take to the road, but don’t forget to start referring to your vehicle by its rightful moniker…

What’s that? You’re not exactly sure what to name your car? There are literally billions of options, it’s true, but never fear: We here at D23 are happy to help! We’ve devised a quiz to help you figure out which car from around the worlds of Disney (well, six in particular) has the perfect name to adopt for your own automobile. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Buckle up and read on; you’ll find the answers at the bottom of the page.

1. How would you describe your car’s “personality”?

A) A real go-getter
B) Affable
C) Smart-alecky
D) Laid back
E) Energetic
F) Resourceful

2. What’s your favorite thing about your car?

A) How adaptable it is…
B) That I can always depend on it!
C) Driving it makes me laugh.
D) The rockin’ paint job.
E) All its zippy bells and whistles!
F) Our memorable history together…

3. What’s your personal driving style?

A) Straight-ahead, to the point, and maybe a little hasty.
B) Clever and a bit cautious, unless faced with peril.
C) I know all the secret ways to get to any destination ASAP!
D) I take my time and enjoy the view…
E) Fun and fast! (Within reason, of course.)
F) I put my ride in gear and see where it takes me.

4. Which totally extravagant personal touch would you add to your car?

A) A new set of state-of-the-art rims and undercarriage LED lights.
B) An ejector seat—I’d love to play pranks on friends!
C) A microphone so people on the street can hear my hilarious jokes.
D) A killer sound system, including a digital keyboard.
E) An air canon so I can shoot snacks out to passers-by!
F) My car already has a ton of personal touches…

5. All told, how much time do you spend in your car?

A) I’ve almost become my car at this point.
B) Unless it’s up on blocks, I’m racing around town most days.
C) Driving is my job, so—a lot!
D) I hit the road whenever I like… or I don’t. Y’know. It’s cool, dude.
E) I’d spend waaaaay more time in it, if I could.
F) I’m always on call for friends in need—or the occasional Kessel Run.

RESULTS

Mostly As
Lightning McQueen

Ka-chow! Your car deserves the name of a winner like Lightning McQueen from Disney and Pixar’s 2006 film Cars. Ambitious yet kind-hearted, determined yet humble, you’re a true leader when you take to the road.

Mostly Bs
Herbie

Friendly, occasionally mischievous, but always full of heart—both you and your car are reliable and protective… so of course your vehicle should be named after the first iconic Disney car, from 1969’s The Love Bug!

Mostly Cs
Benny the Cab

If only your real-life car could talk, it’d have the perfect wisecrack for every situation—much like Benny the Cab in 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Our one hope is that you pay a bit more attention to the rules of the road than Benny does…

Mostly Ds
The Electric Mayhem Bus

Like wow, man. You’re a total free-spirit, and we wouldn’t be surprised if your ride is covered with all manner of stickers and paint. So why not name it after Dr. Teeth’s transport of most heavy-duty proportions in 1979’s The Muppet Movie?

Mostly Es
The Candy Kart

Vanellope von Schweetz’s Sugar Rush game cart in 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph has gummy-worm tire treads and a chocolate-covered wafer for a rear spoiler. Your car might not have all those yummy bells and whistles, but this is a great name for a sweet ride.

Mostly Fs
The Millennium Falcon

Okay, hear us out: We know that the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy” isn’t exactly a car, but it’s the perfect name for an automobile that may look a little worn but always gets you where you need to go. We’re sure Lando, Han, and Chewie would approve.

Finding the Real John Glenn and Alan Shepard in Disney+’s The Right Stuff

October 1, 2020October 1, 2020

By Jim Frye

In 1979, famed American writer Tom Wolfe turned our gazes skyward, releasing The Right Stuff, a book richly detailing the young pilots selected for NASA’s very first attempt to put men into space. These astronauts, the “Mercury Seven” as they were called, galvanized the country in the early ’60s around a shared ambition and hope, proving that they truly did have the titular “right stuff” to lead us into the new frontier. Wolfe’s book became a worldwide best-seller, spawning a 1983 movie of the same name, and forever cementing the mythos of America’s first astronauts into our shared national pride. National Geographic takes a fresh look at those storied events with its new series The Right Stuff, premiering October 9, 2020, on Disney+.

Based on Wolfe’s iconic 1979 book, the new series delves deeper into the incredible tales of America’s first astronauts, focusing especially closely on two men at the center of the story jockeying to become the first man in space: Major John Glenn, a Marine and committed family man, and Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard, one of the best pilots in Navy history.

The actor Patrick J. Adams, perhaps best known for his role in the long-running series Suits, portrays Major John Glenn, a bigger-than-life character who became a giant presence in the American psyche. To prepare for the part, Adams jumped headlong into the mountains of information available to him regarding Glenn. “I had the luxury of an enormous amount of resources—John Glenn’s life is incredibly well-documented,” says Adams in an exclusive interview with D23.com. “Ohio State University has the John Glenn archives, which are hundreds and hundreds of boxes of stuff. I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days trying to find some key pieces. And I just tried to steep myself in all things John Glenn.”

Adams was able to study a whole slew of material, from Glenn’s private letters, journal entries, and notes from throughout his service, to his correspondence with U.S. Presidents and many others. “I went through it all and looked for those pieces that would spark something in me and I used those as my linchpins, and I moved away from the idea of having to do an impression of John Glenn,” he says. “I had to move beyond him as a person in the culture and embrace what parts of him felt like they brought something up in me.”

Taking on the role of Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard is Jake McDorman, who audiences may have seen in TV series such as Limitless, Shameless, and FX’s What We Do in the Shadows. In contrast to John Glenn, who seemed to embrace the acclaim and didn’t shy away from the spotlight, his counterpart, Shepard, preferred a different route. McDorman describes him as the yin to John Glenn’s yang—a completely different animal. “He was not a public person,” says McDorman. “He was really uncomfortable with a lot of the aspects of celebrity.”

As he dug into his research for the role, McDorman found out more about this dichotomy between Glenn and Shepard, and why they approached their lives—and careers—so differently. “The more I researched Shepard, the more I researched the arc of the Mercury program, and the more I found out why they were so different—I think John Glenn was already somewhat of a celebrity. He had fought in the Korean War and had been on TV in a very public persona, and he understood how important it was to have public opinion in favor of the Space Program in order to get the momentum it needed. Shepard, though, was an all-out, mad-dog fighter jock—hard-drinking from the get-to. He was uncomfortable being not just a role model but being the family-friendly persona of an astronaut that they all had to adopt.”

Understanding these aspects about the real-life Alan Shepard helped McDorman to get better into the minds of the test pilots and their relationship with fear, death, and international celebrity. “Shepard wanted to [keep] his head down and not lose who he was or change who he was,” he says. “His drive to push the limits, as test pilots would—to find the limits, find the edge, find the line, to execute your job effectively—that was kind of what made him tick.”

In the late ’50s, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union dominated the space race, casting a long shadow on the rocket program in America. NASA had the monumental task of sending a man into space, something engineers estimated would take decades. They were given two years, and the Mercury space program was born. And although their approaches were considerably different, both John Glenn and Alan Shepard are today regarded as modern-day heroes and examples of accomplishing the impossible.

In addition to Patrick J. Adams as Major John Glenn and Jake McDorman as Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard, The Right Stuff stars Colin O’Donoghue as Captain Gordo Cooper, the youngest of the seven astronauts; Eloise Mumford as Trudy Cooper, an accomplished pilot in her own right; James Lafferty as Scott Carpenter, dubbed “The Poet” by his colleagues; Nora Zehetner as Annie Glenn; Eric Ladin as Chris Kraft, Jr.; Patrick Fischler as Bob Gilruth, NASA engineers; Aaron Staton as Wally Schirra, the prankster; Michael Trotter as Virgil “Gus” Grissom, who became the second man in space; Micah Stock as Deke Slayton, quiet yet incredibly smart; Shannon Lucio as Louise Shepard; and Josh Cooke as Loudon Wainwright, Jr., the writer assigned to cover the astronauts.

Get Early Access to the October Limited-Edition Mickey

The October Limited-Edition Disney Mouseketeer Mickey Mouse Plush is SOLD OUT! Check back next month for the announcement of November’s plush theme and the date and time for the sale launch on Amazon.

NOTE: Due to the strong response to these incredible plush, D23 and Amazon are making the following adjustments to the on-sale announcement for the upcoming months.

D23 Members will continue to be among the first to be notified about each month’s theme and have an opportunity to order the month’s design.
Each month D23 will provide Members with advance notice of the date the plush will be available for purchase on Amazon.com.
On Monday, October 5, at 9 a.m. PST,visit this page on D23.com for the link to purchase The Mouseketeer Mickey Mouse Plush.
Please Note: You must be signed in as a D23 Member to access the link to purchase. Click “Sign In” at the top of the page.
Please note extremely limited quantities of the plush will be available on Amazon.com.

Mouseketeer Mickey Mouse
Commemorate the Year of the Mouse with this Limited-Edition Disney Mouseketeer Mickey Mouse Plush. The tenth of twelve collectible large plush in the series, this exclusive Mickey Mouse celebrates the month of October. Mickey Mouse stands 16 inches tall and features a Mouseketeer-themed outfit. He is made of a cotton jersey fabric featuring embroidered buttons and embroidered eyes. This plush features a commemorative gold-and-satin foot patch and includes a Certificate of Authenticity. He even comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging; ideal for collectors. The Year of the Mouse Mousketeer Mickey Mouse Plush makes the perfect gift for Disney fans of all ages. Collect all twelve of these commemorative Mickey Mouse plush. Ages 3+

The Mickey Mouse Club is one of the most popular children’s television programs of all time, premiering on ABC on October 3, 1955. The world was introduced to the merry Mouseketeers, a group of talented children who became instant celebrities, singing, dancing, and introducing Disney cartoons. Walt Disney returned to the microphone to once again voice Mickey Mouse in the daily opening sequences for the Mickey Mouse Club, nearly a decade after his last performance in “Mickey and the Beanstalk” (1947).

Special-Edition Mouseketeer Mickey Mouse Plush celebrates the month of October.
Includes Certificate of Authenticity.
Comes in a window box featuring special Year of the Mouse packaging.
Amazon exclusive.
Mickey stands 16 inches tall.
Made of cotton jersey fabric featuring embroidered buttons and embroidered eyes.
Collect all twelve.
Ages 3+
Made of soft suede woodgrain patterned fabric featuring Mickey Mouse sketches with embroidered buttons, and embroidered eyes.
Collect all twelve.
Ages 3+

Continue to watch every month for a brand-new Mickey plush design announcement! For more Disney favorites, visit amazon.com/Disney for a full assortment of products.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

October 1, 2020September 29, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Get into the spooky season this Friday with a brand-new episode of Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures on Disney Channel featuring guest star Alice Cooper returning to voice Alistair Coop De Ville. The chills continue with the new series Monsterland, premiering on Hulu that same day. And on Sunday, Freeform will rebroadcast the fan-favorite special Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic. Other fantastic things to watch include the recent season of The Simpsons on Disney+ and two election-themed episodes of black-ish on ABC.

Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures—Friday, October 2, at 8:30 a.m. ET on Disney Channel
In the first story, “The Mystery of Hot Dog Lake!,” Pete (voice of Jim Cummings) is absolutely certain he’s spotted a legendary creature known as the “Scronchasaur” in the water. So, Mr. Bigby (voice of Disney Legend Bill Farmer) offers a prize to whomever can take a picture to prove its existence. Then, in “Phantom Wing,” Daisy Duck (voice of Tress MacNeille) gets a mysterious note from her GramQuacker Lily (voice of MacNeille), leading Daisy to think she has a secret double life as a superhero named Phantom Wing!

The Simpsons (Season 31)—Friday, October 2, on Disney+
Enjoy the latest episodes of the longest running scripted primetime series in television history—now on Disney+! The 22-episode season features a solid lineup of guest stars, including Cate Blanchett, Jane Goodall, Kevin Feige, Beanie Feldstein, Taran Killam, Joey King, Camila Mendes, Jason Momoa, John Mulaney, Bob Odenkirk, Jim Parsons, Billy Porter, Lili Reinhart, the Russo brothers, Lilly Singh, Kevin Smith, Cobie Smulders, and Chrissy Teigen, plus special musical performances from John Legend and Weezer. It also includes fan-favorite episodes “Thanksgiving of Horror” and “Treehouse of Horror XXX.”

Monsterland—Friday, October 2, on Hulu
Inexplainable encounters with mermaids, fallen angels, and other strange beasts drive broken people to commit desperate acts in this original anthology series based on the collection of stories from Nathan Ballingrud’s North American Lake Monsters. The cast includes Adria Arjona, Nicole Beharie, Bill Camp, Roberta Colindrez, Mike Colter, Kaitlyn Dever, Hamish Linklater, Adepero Oduye, Marquis Rodriguez, Michael Hsu Rosen, Taylor Schilling, Charlie Tahan, Kelly Marie Tran, Trieu Tran, and Jonathan Tucker. Created, written, and executive produced by Mary Laws, all eight episodes are streaming October 2.

Decorating Disney: Halloween Magic—Sunday, October 4, at 2:05 p.m. ET on Freeform
Hosted by The Fosters’ Cierra Ramirez, this special goes behind the scenes at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney Cruise Line. Disney Imagineers and decorators reveal how they magically transform the parks and cruise ships overnight with spooky decorations!

black-ish—Sunday, October 4, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC
Academy Award® winner Matthew A. Cherry directs two back-to-back episodes, airing ahead of the official season seven premiere, which follow the Johnsons as they navigate the upcoming election. In “Election Special Pt. 1,” Junior (Marcus Scribner) is excited to hit the polls for the first time, only to discover he has been purged from the voter polls. So, he does a deep dive into why, trying to understand the systems in place for voter registration. Then, in an animated episode, Stevens (Peter Mackenzie) makes an ill-advised decision to run for Congress, so Dre (Anthony Anderson) enlists his family’s help and campaigns against his colleague—only to get caught up with fundraising and private interest groups.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Production Begins on Disney Junior’s Mickey Mouse Funhouse

October 1, 2020September 30, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Here’s something fun to start the day: Our friends at Disney Junior have just announced that production has begun on Mickey Mouse Funhouse, a whimsical animated series that will introduce Funny, an enchanted talking playhouse who leads Mickey and his pals—Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto—on imaginative adventures. The new series, which is geared toward preschoolers and their families, is slated to debut in 2021.

“Preschoolers around the world love Mickey Mouse and friends, and we are eager to showcase these beloved characters as they are transported to magical new destinations in each episode, encouraging kids to expand their own worlds using their imaginations,” Joe D’Ambrosia, senior vice president, Original Programming, and general manager, Disney Junior, said. “We can’t wait for our young audience to meet Funny, who is a dynamic and playful addition to the treasured world of Mickey Mouse.”

Each episode of Mickey Mouse Funhouse will include two 11-minute stories separated by a dance break that’s sure to get everyone up and moving. The series will demonstrate imaginative play, encourage wish fulfillment, and impart age-appropriate social and emotional lessons about friendship, creativity, and ingenuity.

Executive producer Phil Weinstein, co-executive producer/supervising story editor Thomas Hart, and story editor Mark Drop are all part of the creative team from Disney Junior’s Emmy® Award-nominated series for preschoolers Mickey and the Roadster Racers. Emmy winner Alan Bodner (Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure) is the new series’ art director. Music for Mickey Mouse Funhouse will be composed by Beau Black (The Lion Guard), who will also co-write original songs for the series with Loren Hoskins (Jake and the Never Land Pirates). Mickey Mouse Funhouse is produced by Disney Television Animation.

Behind the Emerald Curtain: Concept Art from Disney’s Return to Oz

October 1, 2020October 1, 2020

By Kevin Kern, Walt Disney Archives

Every now and then, while working with the historical production artwork preserved in the Walt Disney Archives, one has to pause to appreciate just how special each individual piece is, and what story it helps to tell. Some of my favorite examples to peruse in this way come from the production of director Walter Murch’s 1985 epic, Return to Oz.

Combining lavish production design and intricate special effects, the film marks a unique moment in Disney studio history, one that has come to be fondly embraced as a cult classic by an entire generation of fans. Return to Oz is a unique artistic realization, featuring a sense of design grandeur that firmly plants itself in both the realms of Baum’s classic Oz tales and the era of Hollywood blockbusters it was produced amidst.

Return to Oz — *Emerald City Restored*. Production drawing. Blue-line on paper. 1983.

Taking cues from a studio looking to broaden its film fare, boldly experimenting with some of the brightest and most creative minds in the motion-picture industry at the time, Return to Oz showcased a memorable take on Baum’s source material—itself which has become known as the prototypical series of American fairy tales. Digging deep into our vaults (something we’re sure even the great Nome King would be proud of), we wanted to share a brief gallery of concept artwork from the film, highlighting this important, yellow-bricked crossroad, one of the many intersections between Disney and Oz.

Loose and highly stylized, the following sketches are the work of current Pixar production designer Harley Jessup, who was a story artist on Return to Oz early in his career. Representing the special effects-heavy sequence from the film when The Gump first takes flight, whisking Dorothy and her travel companions away from the clutches of the evil Mombi, these small felt marker works are meant to immediately invoke a heightened sense of character, energy, and scope for what is an exciting, action-packed moment in the film.

From Oz to Kansas and back, we hope you enjoy this artistic peek at Return to Oz, one of The Walt Disney Studios’ most ambitious projects.

Follow the yellow-bricked crossroad and Return to Oz, now streaming on Disney+!