Robbins, B., Bridgett, S. S., Feldman, M., & Marmel., S. (Producers). (2009). Sonny with a chance [Television series]. Burbank, CA: Disney Channel.
Interest Level: Ages 8 to 17
Genre: Family/Teen Sitcom
Subjects/Themes: Comedy, Fame, Teenage Actors/Actresses, Rivalry
Running Time: 23 minutes per episode
Rating: TV-G
Plot: Sonny Munroe (played by Demi Lovato) has won the chance to star on her favorite comedy television show, So Random!. Sonny is a good hearted, hard working, goofy and friendly individual. The show is divided between Sonny's interactions behind the scenes with the So Random! cast and their rivals, the Mackenzie Falls cast, and clips from the So Random! and Mackenzie Falls shows. Mackenzie Falls, one of the shows within the show, is a tween soap drama with overacting characters. So Random! is a collection of comedy sketch shows similar to Saturday Night Live but for tweens.
Personal Thoughts: This show has a lot of different things going on in it, one of which will probably appeal to most tweens. First there's the comedy sketches, then the Mackenzie Falls scenes, then the behind the scenes interactions, and then Sonny's interactions with her mother. Sonny tends to act more like an adult then her mother at times but her mother is supportive and cares about Sonny a lot. The So Random! cast is expectedly funny made up of Tawni (fashion obssed diva), Zora (a quirky genius), Nico and Grady (two pranksters who are best friends). Chad is the star of Mackenzie Falls and has a love/hate relationship with the So Random! cast members. He is spoiled and egocentric but also kind and sweet and times. A good show for tweens interested in some good laughs.
Awards/Recognition:
Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards: Favorite Comedy Show Winner (2009)
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards: Favorite TV show Nominee (2010)
Teen Choice Awards: Choice TV Show: Comedy Nominee (2010)
Website: Disney Channel's Sonny with a Chance Website
Showing posts with label TV Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV Show. Show all posts
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (TV Show)
Kallis, D. & Geoghan, J. (Producers) (2005). The suite life of Zack & Cody [Television series]. Burbank, CA: Disney Channel.
Interest Level: Ages 8 to 17
Genre: Family/Teen Sitcom
Subjects/Themes: Family, Siblings, Comedy, Hotel,
Running Time: 23 minutes per episode
Rating: TV-G
Plot: The series focuses around Cody and Zack who are twin brothers living in the Tipton Hotel with their single mother. Their mother works at the Tipton Hotel as a lounge singer. Their father, Kurt, is a musician who travels around a lot. The boys tend to get into a lot of mischief trying to pass the time or make some extra cash. London Tipton, the rich hotel owner's daughter, is a bit air brained, gets what ever she wants, and also lives at the hotel. Maddie works for the hotel as a candy counter girl and is the opposite of London being both smart and frugal. Mr. Moseby runs the Tipton hotel and is often the person trying to stop the boys from destroying the hotel or disturbing the guests.
Personal Thoughts: A great show for boys or girls. Each of the characters have their strengths and weaknesses. We also see the characters grow up in the series from childish pranksters to more social savvy teens. The hotel setting offers a lot of different opportunities for the boys to meet different superstars, officials, and tourists that normal they would not come in contact with. Each episode usually revolves around the boys coming up with some plan that ends up with them crossing paths with a Tipton Hotel vistor. London and Maddie are often doing other activities or schemes that sometimes has them working with the boys. The series ended in 2008 and was followed by the sequel The suite life on deck. In the sequel, the boys and London are attending a semester away at sea on the Tipton cruise ship. Mr. Moseby is also there as manager of the ship. A great show for all ages, definitely a Must See!
Awards/Recognition:
BMI Film & Television: Cable Award (2005 & 2007)
Young Artists Award: Best Family Television Series (Comedy) (2007)
Kids' Choice Award, UK: Best Television Series (2007)
ASCAP Award for Top Television Series (2008 & 2009)
iParenting Media Award (2008)
Website: Disney Channel's The Suite Life Website
Interest Level: Ages 8 to 17
Genre: Family/Teen Sitcom
Subjects/Themes: Family, Siblings, Comedy, Hotel,
Running Time: 23 minutes per episode
Rating: TV-G
Plot: The series focuses around Cody and Zack who are twin brothers living in the Tipton Hotel with their single mother. Their mother works at the Tipton Hotel as a lounge singer. Their father, Kurt, is a musician who travels around a lot. The boys tend to get into a lot of mischief trying to pass the time or make some extra cash. London Tipton, the rich hotel owner's daughter, is a bit air brained, gets what ever she wants, and also lives at the hotel. Maddie works for the hotel as a candy counter girl and is the opposite of London being both smart and frugal. Mr. Moseby runs the Tipton hotel and is often the person trying to stop the boys from destroying the hotel or disturbing the guests.
Personal Thoughts: A great show for boys or girls. Each of the characters have their strengths and weaknesses. We also see the characters grow up in the series from childish pranksters to more social savvy teens. The hotel setting offers a lot of different opportunities for the boys to meet different superstars, officials, and tourists that normal they would not come in contact with. Each episode usually revolves around the boys coming up with some plan that ends up with them crossing paths with a Tipton Hotel vistor. London and Maddie are often doing other activities or schemes that sometimes has them working with the boys. The series ended in 2008 and was followed by the sequel The suite life on deck. In the sequel, the boys and London are attending a semester away at sea on the Tipton cruise ship. Mr. Moseby is also there as manager of the ship. A great show for all ages, definitely a Must See!
Awards/Recognition:
BMI Film & Television: Cable Award (2005 & 2007)
Young Artists Award: Best Family Television Series (Comedy) (2007)
Kids' Choice Award, UK: Best Television Series (2007)
ASCAP Award for Top Television Series (2008 & 2009)
iParenting Media Award (2008)
Website: Disney Channel's The Suite Life Website
Friday, November 19, 2010
Franklin (Cartoon)
Bourgeois, P. (Writer), & Clark, B. (Illustrator). (1997-2004). Franklin [Animated television series]. Toronto, Canada: Nelvana Limited.
Interest Level: Ages 5 to 2
Genre: Cartoon,
Subjects/Themes: Friendship, Preschool Activities, Preschool Life, Animal Characters
Running Time: 22 minutes each episode
Plot: Franklin is a young 6 year old turtle who deals with issues that relate to those a preschooler would face. Franklin is kind and often tries to think of other people's feelings. Though sometimes he does need some help or reminding about the right thing to do from his friends or adults in his life. The animation is done in bright colors similar to those in the book series. Two stories are shown in each episode that are about 11 minutes long each.
Personal Thoughts: This cartoon is very age and developmentally appropriate for young preschoolers. The story goes at a pace slow enough for young preschoolers to follow but fast enough that they don't get bored. The concepts and morals of each story are explicitly stated so that children can easily understand them. One of the episodes I watched explained that the saying "finders keepers" isn't really always a good thing. Franklin finds a camera and wants to keep it but comes to understand that the family that lost the camera is probably very sad that they lost it. Franklin even further learns his lesson when he loses his stuffed dog doll Max and is worries that someone else will "finders keepers" it. The best part about the Franklin cartoons is their ability to explain ideas and concepts from a viewpoint that a preschooler can relate to.
Note: This series was based off of the original Franklin book series by Bourgeois.
Cartoon Website: Nick Jr.'s Franklin Website
Interest Level: Ages 5 to 2
Genre: Cartoon,
Subjects/Themes: Friendship, Preschool Activities, Preschool Life, Animal Characters
Running Time: 22 minutes each episode
Plot: Franklin is a young 6 year old turtle who deals with issues that relate to those a preschooler would face. Franklin is kind and often tries to think of other people's feelings. Though sometimes he does need some help or reminding about the right thing to do from his friends or adults in his life. The animation is done in bright colors similar to those in the book series. Two stories are shown in each episode that are about 11 minutes long each.
Personal Thoughts: This cartoon is very age and developmentally appropriate for young preschoolers. The story goes at a pace slow enough for young preschoolers to follow but fast enough that they don't get bored. The concepts and morals of each story are explicitly stated so that children can easily understand them. One of the episodes I watched explained that the saying "finders keepers" isn't really always a good thing. Franklin finds a camera and wants to keep it but comes to understand that the family that lost the camera is probably very sad that they lost it. Franklin even further learns his lesson when he loses his stuffed dog doll Max and is worries that someone else will "finders keepers" it. The best part about the Franklin cartoons is their ability to explain ideas and concepts from a viewpoint that a preschooler can relate to.
Note: This series was based off of the original Franklin book series by Bourgeois.
Cartoon Website: Nick Jr.'s Franklin Website
Friday, September 3, 2010
Phineas & Ferb (Cartoon)
Walt Disney Television Animation. (2007). Phineas and Ferb [Animated television series]. Burbank, CA: Disney Channel.
Interest Level: Ages 6 to 14
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Cartoon
Subjects/Themes: Stepbrothers, Friendship, Siblings, Family, Creativity, Imagination.
Plot: Phineas and Ferb (stepbrothers) create incredible projects in an attempt to find something to do during each day of their summer vacation while their older sister Candice tries to convince their mom of what the brothers are doing when she’s not around to see. Meanwhile unknown to anyone, their pet platypus Perry, aka secret agent P, foils the attempts of Dr. Doofenshmirtz from taking over the city.
Personal Thoughts: This cartoon is great for those children who grew up with shows like American Idol . Almost every cartoon in the series contains a new catchy jingle related to the story. The cartoon itself is very positive in nature with strong themes of friendship, family and creativity. While the story line is simple making it more appropriate for young children, tweens watching the cartoon will be able to relate to the older sister while still enjoying the cartoon.
Awards: 2008, 2009 & 2010 Emmy Nominations; 2009 & 2010 Kids Choice Award Nominations.
Interest Level: Ages 6 to 14
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Cartoon
Subjects/Themes: Stepbrothers, Friendship, Siblings, Family, Creativity, Imagination.
Plot: Phineas and Ferb (stepbrothers) create incredible projects in an attempt to find something to do during each day of their summer vacation while their older sister Candice tries to convince their mom of what the brothers are doing when she’s not around to see. Meanwhile unknown to anyone, their pet platypus Perry, aka secret agent P, foils the attempts of Dr. Doofenshmirtz from taking over the city.
Personal Thoughts: This cartoon is great for those children who grew up with shows like American Idol . Almost every cartoon in the series contains a new catchy jingle related to the story. The cartoon itself is very positive in nature with strong themes of friendship, family and creativity. While the story line is simple making it more appropriate for young children, tweens watching the cartoon will be able to relate to the older sister while still enjoying the cartoon.
Awards: 2008, 2009 & 2010 Emmy Nominations; 2009 & 2010 Kids Choice Award Nominations.
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