The Mandalorian Helps Drive Disney to 22 Emmy® Awards for 2020

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Just 10 months after its launch, Disney+ received eight trophies in the 72nd Emmy® Awards, including seven Emmys® for The Mandalorian, from Lucasfilm, and one for Pixar’s Forky Asks a Question: What is Love. This marks the most Emmy wins ever for a streaming service in its inaugural year.

Titles from across The Walt Disney Company combined to win 21 Creative Arts Emmys plus two juried awards and one Primetime Emmy, which was given to Uzo Aduba for her acclaimed performance in the FX limited series Mrs. America, for a total of 24 awards in all for this year. In addition to The Mandalorian, ABC’s Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “All in the Family” and “Good Times” and The Oscars®, and National Geographic’s The Cave were honored in multiple categories, receiving two Emmys apiece. Disney’s additional Emmy-winning titles also included black-ish from ABC; Godfather of Harlem and This Is Us from Disney Television Studios; Archer from FX (juried award); The Handmaid’s Tale from Hulu; Life Below Zero and National Geographic Presents Cosmos: Possible Worlds from National Geographic (juried award); and The Last Dance from ESPN, which was named Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

Both the Creative Arts Emmy Awards and the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards ceremonies looked a bit different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Creative Arts Emmys were announced in five ceremonies held from September 14–19 on Emmys.com and, for the final night, broadcast live on FXX. Jimmy Kimmel presided over the Emmy festivities last night on ABC, hosting live from Los Angeles’ Staples Center where an advanced technological set-up made it possible to produce the first major awards show during the global health crisis.

Kimmel kicked off the primetime ceremony with an opening monologue that was missing only one thing: a live audience. Revealing that he was standing alone on stage at Staples Center rather than amusing a packed house full of TV’s biggest stars (who appeared to be in attendance via archival footage from previous years), Kimmel stressed our collective need for fun right now and the desire to celebrate television—that “old friend” who has been there for us during the pandemic, 24 hours a day. Through everything, Kimmel said, “television is there for you.”

Uzo Aduba went on to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie for her role in FX’s Mrs. America as Shirley Chisholm, who made history as the first African American Congresswoman. Accepting her award from home, Aduba thanked Chisholm “for her championship for all people who have been forgotten and marginalized, who she represented.”

Below is the list of all of The Walt Disney Company’s Emmy recipients for 2020. Congratulations to all of the winners!

ABC
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “All in the Family” and “Good Times” (2 wins)

Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Special

The Oscars (2 Wins)

Outstanding Production Design For A Variety Special
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Series Or Special

ABC / DISNEY TELEVISION STUDIOS
black-ish

Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling – “Hair Day”

DISNEY+ / LUCASFILM LTD.
The Mandalorian (7 wins)

Outstanding Cinematography For A Single Camera Series (Half-Hour) – “Chapter 7: The Reckoning”
Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Program (Half-Hour) – “Chapter 1: The Mandalorian”
Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score) – “Chapter 8: Redemption”
Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation – “Chapter 1: The Mandalorian”
Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation – “Chapter 2: The Child”
Outstanding Special Visual Effects – “Chapter 2: The Child”
Outstanding Stunt Coordination For A Drama Series, Limited Series or Movie

DISNEY+ / PIXAR
Forky Asks a Question: What Is Love?

Outstanding Short Form Animated Program

DISNEY TELEVISION STUDIOS
Godfather of Harlem

Outstanding Main Title Design

This Is Us

Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series – Ron Cephas Jones – “After the Fire”

ESPN
The Last Dance

Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series

FX NETWORKS / FXP
Mrs. America

Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie – UzoAduba

Archer

Outstanding Individual Achievement In Animation (juried)

HULU
The Handmaid’s Tale

Outstanding Production Design For A Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour Or More) – “Household”

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
The Cave (2 wins)

Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program

Life Below Zero

Outstanding Cinematography For A Reality Program

National Geographic Presents Cosmos: Possible Worlds (1 win, 1 juried win)

Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction Or Reality Series
Outstanding Innovation In Interactive Programming (juried)

JUST ANNOUNCED: Celebrate The Mandalorian with Mando Mondays

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020

By the D23 Team

Ready to discover a bounty of all-new Star Wars products, books, comics, and digital content inspired by Disney+’s hit Lucasfilm series The Mandalorian? Well pour yourself a glass of Blue Milk and settle in, because we’ve got some fantastic news for you… Disney and Lucasfilm just announced Mando Mondays—an all-new product-reveal program, debuting tons of amazing goods inspired by The Mandalorian—kicks off on October 26, only a few days before the big season-two premiere of The Mandalorian.

From then on, after experiencing the latest episode every Friday on Disney+, fans can light speed over to MandoMondays.com each Monday to see what must-have new toys, collectibles, apparel, books, comics, digital content, and more will be unveiled. The intergalactic fun will continue for nine weeks, culminating on December 21.

But that’s not all: To celebrate this momentous occasion, select pre-orders for the first wave of Mando Mondays products will kick off today at 1 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. EST—through shopDisney.com as well as a host of global retailers. Products available for pre-order include the Hasbro Black Series Credit Collection; new Funko Pop! Bobbleheads; the LEGO® Star Wars The Child construction set; and so much more—all viewable right this very minute at MandoMondays.com.

The countdown begins… now! For more details, visit the Mando Mondays website—make sure to follow the conversation on social too, using the hashtag #MandoMondays—and don’t forget to mark your calendars for the much-anticipated season-two premiere of The Mandalorian on Friday, October 30, streaming only on Disney+!

Wild Design: Bongo’s Frontier Fashion

September 21, 2020September 10, 2020

By Rebecca Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives

Long before Henry led the Country Bears in their “Jamboree,” or even before Walt Disney made Davy Crockett’s raccoon skin cap all the rage in the 1950s, another famous Disney bear nearly sported some very “lively” headgear on top of his little red cap.

These story sketches for an unproduced comedy gag for the featurette Bongo (1947) were rediscovered in the Walt Disney Archives art collection a few years ago, but still delight us every time we talk about them. Created circa 1945, the drawings are not signed—so we cannot confirm the artist—but as Disney Legend Marc Davis was a character animator on the film, they may have provided inspiration for him when he helped create the beloved Audio-Animatronics^® characters of Henry and his raccoon pal Sammy in the late 1960s for the eventual Country Bear Jamboree at Disney Parks.

Either way, consider this a coincidence we find to be “beary” fun.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

September 21, 2020September 18, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Plan your nights accordingly, because there are a lot of new things to watch this week!

Monday marks the return of both Big Hero 6 The Series on Disney XD and DisneyNOW and Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC. This week also brings two inspiring specials: ABC’s TIME100 and Nat Geo WILD’s India from Above. Rounding out the viewing options is Secret Society of Second-Born Royals, a brand-new original movie that will stream exclusively on Disney+.

Big Hero 6 The Series—Monday, September 21, at 7:30 p.m. ET on Disney XD and DisneyNOW
In the season premiere, Hiro (voice of Ryan Potter) and a short-handed Big Hero 6 team—Baymax (voice of Scott Adsit), Go Go (voice of Jamie Chung), Wasabi (voice of Khary Payton), Honey Lemon (voice of Genesis Rodriguez), and Fred (voice of Brooks Wheelan)—attempt to stop Noodle Burger Boy (voice of Lucas Neff) and his new family. For more on what to expect in season three, check out an exclusive clip and interview with Big Hero 6 The Series’ executive producers Nick Filippi, Mark McCorkle, and Bob Schooley.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!—Monday, September 21, at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC
Jimmy Kimmel will end his summer hiatus the day after hosting and executive producing the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards^® on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel Live! will return to its home at the El Capitan Entertainment Centre in Hollywood and also return to its regular, one-hour format. Guests for the premiere will include Charles Barkley and The Chicks, the latter of whom will also perform.

TIME100—Tuesday, September 22, at 10:02 p.m. ET on ABC
ABC, in partnership with TIME, will bring the annual TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people to life with a one-night-only television event. For the first time since the iconic list’s inception, viewers will get an entertainment-filled inside look at the leaders, creators, and everyday heroes comprising the 2020 list ahead of its print debut. TIME100 will reveal the full list by category—Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Icons, and Titans—and feature clips and exclusive interviews with each honoree. Look forward to special appearances by Trevor Noah, Sandra Oh, Kumail Nanjiani, John Legend, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle, in addition to performances by Halsey, Jennifer Hudson, and The Weeknd.

India from Above—Thursday, September 24, at 9 p.m. ET on Nat Geo WILD
One of the world’s oldest continuing civilizations, India has the youngest population of any country on the planet. With an average age of 29 years old, the population is now faced with the largest democratic exercise in human history. The latest From Above special hovers over the 850 million voters casting their ballots in 2019 to form a government. This story of India, simultaneously modern and steeped in mysticism, is told over two powerful episodes.

Secret Society of Second-Born Royals—Friday, September 25, on Disney+
Meet Sam (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), a teenager who’s second in line to the throne of the kingdom of Illyria. Sam is ready to rebuke her royal title… until she discovers she has super-human powers and is invited to join a secret society of similar extraordinary second-born royals who keep the world safe. With guidance from their instructor, James (Skylar Astin), Sam and a new roster of royal recruits—Roxana (Olivia Deeble), Tuma (Niles Fitch), Matteo (Faly Rakotohavana), and January (Isabella Blake-Thomas)—must soon learn to harness their new powers at a top-secret training facility before they can defend the world.

The Wonderful World of Disney Returns to ABC—Plus More in News Briefs

September 18, 2020September 17, 2020

By Courtney Potter

ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney Returns with Guardians of the Galaxy

Mark those calendars for the return of ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney! Yes, the beloved series will make its way back onto our TV screens (or streaming device of choice) beginning Wednesday, September 23, when it features the network broadcast premiere of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy.

Lest you’re drawing a blank on the hilarious, action-packed plot of the 2014 hit, here’s a refresher: A bounty is placed on impetuous adventurer Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) after he steals a mysterious orb coveted by the powerful villain Ronan (Lee Pace). To evade Ronan once and for all, Quill is forced to forge an unlikely alliance with a quartet of misfits—Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon; Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), a tree-like humanoid; Gamora (Zoe Saldana), an enigmatic assassin; and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), a vengeful warrior. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the threat it poses, he must rally his ragtag team for a last stand… all while the cosmos’ fate hangs in the balance.

The Wonderful World of Disney presents iconic feature films currently available on Disney+ in primetime on ABC. Pop some corn and settle in!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Speaking of assembling snacks and finding the comfiest spot on the couch, here’s what you can expect for some choice viewing from around the worlds of Disney this very weekend. If it’s a sports-related rom-com you’re craving, 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham debuts on Disney+ beginning Friday, September 18. And for fans of all things TV, you positively cannot miss the 72nd Primetime Emmy® Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. With Kimmel at the helm—and nominees reporting in virtually—it’s sure to be a supremely memorable night… Read up on all these, and more, by clicking here.

Big Milestone for Construction of TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park

Here’s some great scoop out of Walt Disney World Resort: Walt Disney Imagineering has just reached a major milestone in the development of TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom park. This week, our pals at the Disney Parks Blog shared pictures of the very first piece of canopy being installed in what will become an instant iconic attraction—and portal to The Grid in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park.

This was the first of nearly 40 pieces that will create a dramatic “curved wave” canopy, known as the Upload Conduit. Zach Riddley, Walt Disney World Site Portfolio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, told the blog that “each section is strategically assembled before installation, including alignment of the steel, welding, grinding, some painting, and electrical work. It’s an intricate process and something we’ll get to see rise before our eyes over the coming weeks and months.”

The massive, awe-inspiring canopy will swirl organically over guests as they race beneath it aboard a Lightcycle, which serves as a digital bridge for their transition into The Grid. Dynamic stripes of lights will follow along the canopy as the Lightcycles speed by, which is sure to look truly stunning to riders and bystanders alike. We can’t wait to see the whole thing in action!

Tokyo Disneyland Celebrates All-New Fun Beginning September 28

In other Disney Parks and Resorts news: It’s the largest expansion in the park’s history, and it all kicks off later this month… If you’ve kept those eyes peeled here at D23.com, you know that Tokyo Disneyland has been gearing up for the big reveal of incredible new fun stretching across Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Toontown—and now we know when guests will be able to experience the magic for the first time! Disney Parks Blog just this week announced that these new attractions, restaurants, and shops will debut on Monday, September 28.

The additions to Fantasyland will bring Disney’s iconic 1991 animated film Beauty and the Beast to life through the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast attraction, themed shops, and all-new dining locations. Over in Tomorrowland, guests will experience the fresh new The Happy Ride with Baymax attraction inspired by the Oscar®-winning 2014 hit Big Hero 6. Meanwhile, Toontown will offer a new Disney Character greeting experience called Minnie’s Style Studio, and guests will find new delectable delights at The Big Pop, a specialized popcorn shop.

Congrats to all involved, and let the celebrations commence!

The Mandalorian Season 2 Trailer Revealed!

Show of hands—who’s already counting down the days until the brand-new season of The Mandalorian begins on Disney+? (Truth be told, we’ve been counting down basically since we watched the final episode of season one.) We’ve still got a little over a month to go before the title character, portrayed by Pedro Pascal—and his ridiculously adorable sidekick, the Child—return, but just this week we were gifted with a brand-new second-season trailer to help tide us over… If you haven’t already, check it out, above!

The next season will find this dynamic duo continuing their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through a dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire. In addition to Pascal, The Mandalorian stars Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, and Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon. Episode directors this time ’round include such notables as Disney Legend Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Weathers, Peyton Reed, and Robert Rodriguez. Look for season two of The Mandalorian beginning Friday, October 30, streaming only on Disney+.

Character Art Revealed for All-New Animated Episode of ABC’s black-ish

We were already totally tickled by the thought of a fully animated episode of ABC’s hit series black-ish—but now that we’ve seen the character art for the special event, we seriously can’t wait! Take a look at the fun animated version of the Johnson family in the just-released image, above.

The animated half-hour is part of a special one-hour event on Sunday, October 4, beginning at 10 p.m. EDT (ahead of the show’s season premiere on Wednesday, October 21). First up, in “Election Special Pt. 1,” Junior (Marcus Scribner) is excited for his first time voting but discovers he’s 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 the special animated episode, “Election Special Pt. 2,” Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) colleague Stevens (Peter Mackenzie) makes an ill-advised decision to run for Congress, so Dre enlists his family’s help and campaigns against him… but gets caught up with fundraising and private interest groups. Both parts of the special are directed by Oscar® winner Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love).

Just a head’s up, for planning purposes: Airdate and timing for this special are subject to change due to the NBA Finals schedule.

Just Announced: Disney+ to Debut The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse

Come along and sing a song, and join the jamboree—an all-new animated shorts series is coming to Disney+, starring the one and only Mickey Mouse! From the good folks behind Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts comes The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, premiering on the streaming service on Mickey’s birthday, November 18. Read all the news that’s currently fit to print about the series by clicking right here.

ABC Reveals Scripted Drama Series Premiere Dates for Fall 2020

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Let the drama begin! Moments ago, ABC announced the highly anticipated premiere dates for its scripted drama series slate, rounding out the network’s fall 2020 schedule. Dates for the network’s new and returning unscripted and comedy series were previously announced.

“Our fall schedule is now complete with a dynamic lineup of new and returning drama series,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment. “From fan-favorite shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Doctor to David E. Kelley’s thrilling new drama Big Sky, our strength is in our storytelling, and we could not be more energized to bring these compelling series to our viewers.”

ABC’s scripted drama series premiere dates are as follows:

Monday, November 2
10–11 p.m. ET/PT: The Good Doctor (Season 4)

Thursday, November 12
8–9 p.m. ET/PT: Station 19 (Season 4)
9–11 p.m. ET/PT: Grey’s Anatomy (Season 17) (Two-Hour Premiere)

Tuesday, November 17
10:01–11 p.m. ET/PT: Big Sky (Series Premiere)

Wednesday, November 18
10–11 p.m. ET/PT: For Life (Season 2)

Thursday, November 19
10:01–11 p.m. ET/PT: A Million Little Things (Season 3)

Note: The Rookie will premiere later in the season.

All the Mousequerade Winners to Inspire You for the Halloween Mousequerade Costume Contest

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

While most of us Disney fans have dreamed of twirling in a princess dress or creeping in a villainous cape, those talented enough to craft, create, and sew are able to make those pixie-dusted dreams a reality. There’s no better showcase of the sheer talent that Disney costume crafters possess than Mousequerade—our costume contest highlighting all the wonderful and wacky costumes Disney fans create. Combine Mousequerade with Halloween (the other time of year when talented costume creators emerge to strut their stuff) and we have the perfect recipe for dazzling Disney delights! If you’re thread-y to show off your skills, you can enter our Halloween costume contest now through October 1. Not sure what Disney duds to don? We’ve rounded up the past winners of our costume contests to help give you the spark to create your own enchanting ensembles.

2013

Before there was Mousequerade, there was… Heroes and Villains à la Mode! This costume contest from 2013 featured five awards categories: best original design, best re-creation, best craftsmanship, best young fan, and best in show.

Best Original Design — Antagonista

Best Re-recreation: Merida

Best Craftsmanship: Prince Edward and Giselle

Best Young Fan: The Rocketeer

Best in Show: Queen Amidala

2015

In 2015, the costume contest transformed into the Mousequerade we know and love. Hosted by Disney’s Jim Babcock, the five-category contest was judged by luminaries including Dancing with the Stars winner Alfonso Ribeiro; Once Upon a Time costume designer Eduardo Castro; Global Entertainment Costume Design Lead for Disney Parks, Leigh Slaughter; and former Disney Channel star Zendaya! The five categories in which cosplayers competed were Heroes Unmasked; Once Upon a Costume; The Wonderful Worlds of Disney; Weird, Wild, and Goofy; and Best of Star Wars.

Heroes Unmasked: Spider-Man

Once Upon a Costume: Ursula

The Wonderful Worlds of Disney: Matterhorn Yeti

Weird, Wild, and Goofy: SuperDiamondDisney60TextMeAdliocious

Best of Star Wars: Chewbacca Beast

Best in Show: Matterhorn Yeti

2017

This year saw the debut of two of our current Mousequerade judges: Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the creator of the Her Universe clothing line; and Yvette Nicole Brown, host of The Big Fib on Disney+. Joining them was another judge with an eye for scary-good design: Descendants 2 costume designer (and Project Runway alum) Kara Saun! The five categories this year brought back some familiar categories along with some new categories that promised to inspire epic costumes: Once Upon a Costume, Worlds of Adventure, Heroes and Villains, Inspired by Disney, and Cast of Characters.

Once Upon a Costume: Sally

Worlds of Adventure: Groot

Heroes and Villains: Te Fiti and Te Ka

Inspired by Disney: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Cast of Characters: Mary Poppins, Bert the Chimney Sweep, and Mr. and Mrs. Banks

Best of the Best: Te Fiti and Te Ka

2019

The 2019 Mousequerade was our most recent display of costume delights, featuring the return of Eckstein and Brown as our faithful judges, along with newcomer Jennifer Leonard—owner and designer of clothing line Raw Threads. The categories remained the same as in 2017—and the costumes were once again beyond anything we’d ever imagined!

Once Upon a Costume: Lumiere

Worlds of Adventure: Princess Shuri

Heroes and Villains: Ursula

Inspired by Disney: The Grim Grinning Gown

Cast of Characters: Mad Princess Party

Best of the Best: The Grim Grinning Gown

Who will take home the Best in Show prize for this year’s Mousequerade? Maybe it’s you! Starting now through October 1, you can enter your costume themed to “All Things Disney” for a chance to win.

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in October 2020

September 17, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Disney+ has spoken.

The second season of the Emmy® Award-winning series The Mandalorian will premiere October 30, capping off an exciting month that includes new episodes of The Big Fib, Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, One Day at Disney, Weird But True!, and more! On October 9, blast off with two episodes of The Right Stuff, a brand-new original series from National Geographic that chronicles the incredible story of the early days of the U.S. space program. Another new series joining Disney+ on October 16 is Meet the Chimps, which takes animal lovers into one of the largest and most unique wildlife sanctuaries in the world. That same day, Disney+ will premiere the movie Clouds, inspired by the incredible true story of Zach Sobiech, a musically gifted high school student living with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. And Frozen fans will finally learn more about Olaf’s backstory when the new Walt Disney Animation Studios animated short, Once Upon a Snowman, premieres October 23.

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

Thursday, October 1
Maleficent

Friday, October 2
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under (Season 1)
The Simpsons (Season 31)
Zenimation Extended Edition (Premiere)
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 102—“Happy Birthday, Gino!”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 144—“Pablo Tufino: Ride Show Technician”)
Weird But True! (Episode 308—“Our Solar System”)

Friday, October 9
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Oil Spill of the Century
Wild Portugal
X2: X-Men United
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 103—“Betty and the Beast”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 145—“Gabriela Clark: Creative Print Marketing”)
The Right Stuff (Premiere) (Episode 101—“Sierra Hotel”) (Episode 102—“Goodies”)
Weird But True! (Episode 309—“Cooking”)

Friday, October 16
Disney Junior The Rocketeer (Season 1)
Drain (Season 3)
Lost on Everest
Marvel’s Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United
Clouds (Premiere)
One Day at Disney (Episode 146—“Alfredo Ayala: R&D Imagineer”)
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 104—“Meet the Mandrills”)
Meet the Chimps (Premiere)
The Right Stuff (Episode 103—“Single Combat Warrior”)
Weird But True! (Episode 310—“Explorers”)

Friday, October 23
Gathering Storm (Season 1)
India from Above (Season 1)
Marvel Super Hero Adventures (Shorts) (Season 4)
Pompeii: Secrets of the Dead
Ultimate Viking Sword
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 105—“Aardvark Love!”)
Once Upon a Snowman (Premiere)
The Big Fib (New Episodes: 116–130)
One Day at Disney (Episode 147—“Jason Benetti: Play-by-Play Commentator”)
The Right Stuff (Episode 104—“Advent”)
Weird But True! (Episode 311—“Scuba Diving”)

Friday, October 30
Disney The Owl House (Season 1)
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
X-Ray Earth (Season 1)
The Mandalorian (Season Premiere)
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 106—“Peri’s Prickly Pregnancy”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 148—“Dana Amendola: Disney Theatrical Productions”)
The Right Stuff (Episode 105—“The Kona Kai Seance”)
Weird But True! (Episode 312—“Camping”)

Everything You Need to Know About the 72nd Primetime Emmy® Awards on ABC

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Ready to tune in for television’s biggest night?

The 72nd Primetime Emmy® Awards, airing live on ABC, will undoubtedly be a ceremony unlike any other. Returning to host the show for the third time, executive producer Jimmy Kimmel will help bring together 138 stars from 114 locations across 10 countries for one unpredictable night. Due to the global health crisis, he will host the show from inside Los Angeles’ Staples Center, which will have no audience or red carpet. “It’s the biggest possible venue,” says Kimmel. “We want to space the few people that will be there out as much as possible.” That means the majority of the nominees, presenters, and winners will make remote appearances for the first time ever. “It’s a massive undertaking,” explains Kimmel. “Just think about having a Zoom with your family and how complicated that is!”

Since his role as host and executive producer was announced in June, Kimmel has been hard at work to ensure the production is unforgettable. “When I do my show [ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!] every night, I have a monologue, we write jokes, and we come up with some funny stuff. For the Emmys® or for the Oscars®—or for any big awards show—you want the very best possible jokes. It’s a rare occasion where you’re really trying,” he says with a laugh. “My motto during my talk show is: ‘90 percent is fine.’ In this case, we want to give somewhere in the neighborhood of 98 [percent]… sometimes even up to 100 percent!”

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this year’s show:

How and when can I watch the pre-show?
ABC News Live’s Countdown to the Emmys, a 90-minute live special, will be hosted by Good Morning America weekend co-anchors Eva Pilgrim and Whit Johnson and ABC News correspondent Janai Norman, live from ABC News headquarters in New York City. The live-stream will begin Sunday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Available globally and to more than 200 million streamers through distribution of ABC News Live, it will feature live interviews with nominees, predict winners and possible upsets, spotlight the unprecedented year for TV production, and revisit some of the greatest red carpet fashions of the past—along with a glimpse at this year’s “couch couture.” Joining Pilgrim, Johnson, and Norman will be ABC News correspondent Chris Connelly and ESPN’s The Undefeated senior entertainment reporter Kelley Carter, who will be posted outside the Staples Center.

How and when can I watch the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards?
ABC will broadcast the show live on Sunday, September 20, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Those who subscribe to Hulu + Live TV can also stream the ceremony live on ABC. Preceding the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT will be a special episode of the game show Celebrity Family Feud (which will air at 9 p.m. MT/11:36 p.m. PT) featuring Brad Garrett vs. Ray Romano and Fall Out Boy vs. Weezer.

Who are the nominees?
The Walt Disney Company received an impressive 145 nominations, led by Disney+’s The Mandalorian with 15. Other nominations spanning ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Television Studios, Disney+, ESPN, FX, Hulu, and National Geographic include The Handmaid’s Tale and Mrs. America with 10; The Oscars with nine; What We Do in the Shadows with eight; Pose with six; Little Fires Everywhere, The Politician, and This Is Us with five; American Horror Story: 1984, black-ish, The Cave, Devs, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “All in the Family” and “Good Times,” and Normal People with four; Dancing with the Stars, The Last Dance, The Little Mermaid Live!, Modern Family, Ramy, and The Simpsons with three; The Great, Life Below Zero, Shark Tank, and Tales from the Loop with two; and the 2019 American Music Awards, Bob’s Burgers, Cake, A Celebration of the Music from Coco, Central Park, The Conners, Forky Asks a Question, Godfather of Harlem, Hillary, Homeland, How to Get Away with Murder, The Imagineering Story, National Geographic Presents Cosmos: Creating Possible Worlds, The Rookie, Sea of Shadows, Star Wars Resistance, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga with one. To view the full list of the Television Academy’s nominees, please visit Emmys.com. After the ceremony, D23.com will publish a list of winners from across The Walt Disney Company.

Which celebrities will appear during the ceremony?
Familiar faces including Anthony Anderson, Jason Bateman, Sterling K. Brown, Ty Burrell, Laverne Cox, D-Nice, America Ferrera, Morgan Freeman, Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson, Ken Jeong, Mindy Kaling, Tatiana Maslany, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bob Newhart, Randall Park, Issa Rae, RuPaul, Patrick Stewart, Jason Sudeikis, Gabrielle Union, Sesame Street’s Count Von Count, J.J. Watt, Lena Waithe, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey are scheduled to make appearances, with more surprises and special guests to be announced closer to the broadcast. “The show this year will be a mix of celebrities and people to whom we want to pay tribute for their work during this pandemic,” reveals Kimmel. “There will be more noncelebrities involved in this show than there’ve ever been.”

Who will be performing?
Grammy® Award winner H.E.R. has been tapped for a special “In Memoriam” piece.

What will the virtual production look like?
Adhering to social distancing and safety guidelines, camera operators will be remote and on site with most of the nominees—meaning more than 100 live feeds will be wired through the Staples Center’s production facility. “Because we can’t really rely on people operating their equipment at home, we are sending out these video packages. It’s a box and it has a camera in it and it will connect you right to the Emmys. I guess the hope is that after the Emmys, people will send this stuff back. I don’t think I would. If I won, I would send it back,” Kimmel says. “If I didn’t win, I would keep it. That would be my award for the night.”

Everything You Need to Know About Big Hero 6 The Series’ Brand-New Season

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

When we pick back up with Hiro, Baymax, and the rest of Big Hero 6 in the third season of Big Hero 6 The Series, they’re defeating villains virtually within a challenging simulation program, leading teenage tech whiz Hiro to declare the team “ready for anything.” But little do they know, an old nemesis is about to embark on a sinister plan, and it will be up to our heroes to save San Fransokyo from Noodle Burger Boy and his team of evil mascot robots. The impastably entertaining season premiere episode airs Monday, September 21 (7:30 p.m. ET/PT), on Disney XD and DisneyNOW.

Following in the footsteps of the Oscar®-winning feature film that inspired it, Big Hero 6 The Series has always delivered a powerful combination of action, comedy, and heart, and that continues as our heroes kick off what Fred enthusiastically dubs “Phase Three.” The series’ sophomore season drew to a heartwarming conclusion with the Big Hero 6 team prevailing over archenemy Trina before they celebrated a major milestone: the graduation of Go Go, Wasabi, and Honey Lemon from the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, and Hiro’s poignant speech on behalf of his late brother, Tadashi, who would have received his diploma alongside his friends. “When we finished that, we were kind of like, wow, this feels like the series is over—but it’s not,” says Bob Schooley, who executive produces alongside Mark McCorkle and Nick Filippi. The trio—who were behind another fan-favorite animated series for Disney Channel, Kim Possible—realized they had an opportunity to change things up for season three, which Schooley describes as “a lot lighter and more comedy-focused.”

A generous helping of laughs comes in the season premiere from the return of Noodle Burger Boy. Once an affable restaurant mascot—albeit one built with military grade materials and designed to be completely indestructible—Noodle Burger Boy fell into the wrong hands and became a hench-robot for mega villain Obake. “The idea of a very cute robot who was deadly just felt like a natural for this world,” Schooley shares, crediting the actor who voices Noodle Burger Boy, Lucas Neff, for making him “adorable and creepy at the same time.”

Despite his evil tendencies—or perhaps because of them—Noodle Burger Boy has won the hearts of fans and become a favorite for the creative team, as well. “We love the design and we love the voice,” McCorkle says, explaining, “Early on, when we were trying to find that voice, we gave our story editor, Jeff Poliquin, the challenge of this guy, all of his sayings and aphorisms and whatever, need to be fast food lingo. Jeff really came through and set the tone in season one that everyone else could sort of follow. He’s a fun character.”

In season three, Noodle Burger Boy engages in some truly diabolical doings, but they’re motivated by his super-sized desire for a family. Executive producer Filippi notes that the Big Hero 6 will have their work cut out for them, where their noodle nemesis is concerned. “Because it’s Noodle Burger Boy, his schemes have the potential to be incredibly destructive and hazardous for citizens in the city, but they’re often very random, bizarre plans. He’s definitely a force for random chaos and mischief,” Filippi says.

The executive producers promise that Noodle Burger Boy won’t be the only familiar face cropping up in season three. Hiro may be on summer break from the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, but Professor Granville will still insinuate herself into his life, which McCorkle says leads to some “great comic fun.” He also reveals that fans can look forward to a romance for Fred this season, and hints that we’ll get to see Mr. Sparkles in a new light, too.

Our heroes may be seeing each other in a new light, as well, this season, which finds Hiro, Fred, and Baymax coming to grips with the fact that half of their group has entered a different phase of their lives as they search for jobs that enable them to use the tech skills they’ve honed at SFIT. “I think the idea that some of the group is moving on and this is our last summer together definitely sort of is overarching the season to a degree,” Schooley shares. But, McCorkle adds, “Even though there’s going to be this shift, it’s not like the three of them are abandoning the team by any stretch.”

Season three kicks off with a 22-minute episode that includes an epic visit to the Hyper-Potamus Pizza-Party-Torium, a dining and entertainment experience that is truly not to be missed, as you can see in this exclusive clip:

But beginning with the next episode (airing on September 28), fans can look forward to two 11-minute stories each week, a new format that presents the creative team with opportunities to try different things that might not have felt organic as part of a larger story. According to Filippi, “Shortening the episodes gives us a chance to spend more time with individual characters instead of having such a big ensemble; and also, not having to set up so much during an episode allows our directors and writers and story artists the ability to explore and go off in some directions that we wouldn’t have been able to in a [22-minute story].” Those directions include a foray into Heathcliff’s past and a song-filled story featuring a popular K-pop band in the Big Hero 6 The Series world, 4 2 Sing, a favorite for Wasabi, who appreciates the symmetry that only comes from a quartet comprised of not one, but two sets of singing twins.

The executive producers cast K-pop stars Nichkhun Horvejkul (“2PM”) and Jae Park (“DAY6”) as the two halves of the four-man boy band. The season three guest cast also includes Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Killing Eve) as Cobra, a charming and crafty villain; and Nichole Bloom (Superstore) as Olivia, a passionate comic book fan. The returning voice cast includes Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass, Ryan Potter as Hiro, Scott Adsit as Baymax, Jamie Chung as Go Go, Khary Payton as Wasabi, Genesis Rodriguez as Honey Lemon and Brooks Wheelan as Fred; as well as Jenifer Lewis as Professor Granville, Jane Lynch as Supersonic Sue, Horatio Sanz as El Fuego, Andy Richter as Globby, Alan Tudyk as Krei, Haley Tju as Karmi and David Shaughnessy as Heathcliff.

For fans who can’t wait until Monday for a return trip to San Fransokyo, the first two seasons of Big Hero 6 The Series are available for streaming now on Disney+. And be sure to tune in for the start of new adventures on September 21 on Disney XD and DisneyNOW. Filippi emphasizes, “There’s a lot of crazy stuff this season—it’s going to be fun!”