Walt Disney Studios Showcase - 9/24/2008
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The next film offered was Bedtime Stories, starring Adam Sandler. What if the stories we tell our children came true, Cook proposed. He then introduced a clip to illustrate just that. The clip featured Sandler as �Uncle Adam,� telling a vivid tale about a magical studio in a far off land called Hollywood. As he described the magical studio�s great success, the camera pulled back to reveal a nightcap clad Dick Cook, snuggled into bed with a toy Mickey Mouse under his arm. He smiled as �Uncle Adam� described the vast revenue and plum bonuses the film would create.

There was appreciative laughter when Cook returned to the stage to introduce the real trailer for Bedtime Stories. He pointed out that it marked Adam Sandler�s first film for Disney, and predicted that the film would be remembered for a new star, Bugsy the gerbil.

Bedtime Stories trailer here: http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/bedtimestories/trailer_large.html

Reaching back to Disney�s creative legacy, Cook next spoke of Race to Witch Mountain. Joining him was star Dwayne Johnson, most recently seen in Disney�s The Game Plan. They spoke of making the film, then presented a trailer. Race to Witch Mountain updates the Disney classic, while retaining much of the spirit of the original.

Race to Witch Mountain site here: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/racetowitchmountain/

As Cook prepared to introduce the next film, he mentioned that it featured two old dogs. And he didn�t mean Bob and Harvey Weinstein. No, for Thanksgiving 2009, Old Dogs would co-star, for the first time, Robin Williams and John Travolta. After viewing a trailer, Cook pointed out that the two stars had made a combined gross of 2.2 billion dollars for the Disney studios, having appeared in such hit films as Aladdin, Wild Hogs, Dead Poets Society, Ladder 49, and Good Morning Viet Nam.

To talk about the film, both Robin Williams and John Travolta were on hand. As they settled in for a brief chat, Williams couldn�t stop making jokes about appearing in a film called Old Dogs. Travolta was proud to point out that the film also marked the film debut of his daughter, although Williams couldn�t resist pointing out that she was playing his daughter. And that Travolta�s wife was playing his wife. An extended clip of a comic scene involving accidentally switched medications was shown, and was well received by the crowd.

Cook again cited the Disney Channel as a creative fountainhead for feature films. Hannah Montana, having already been the subject of a successful 3D concert film, would now be the subject of a feature film. The stars of Hannah Montana: The Movie, Miley Cyrus and her father Billy Ray Cyrus entered to discuss the film. Cook first mentioned Miley�s upcoming Sweet 16 party at Disneyland. She expressed amazement at the plans, noting that she had never before had a parade for her birthday. What gift was she expecting from her dad? She turned puppy eyes to him and hinted that a car would be nice. He pointed out she could certainly afford to buy her own car; maybe he should get her a car dealership, instead. After looking at a photoshopped image of Miley Cyrus Chevrolet (�Free Album with Each Purchase!�), the audience was treated to a live performance of one of the songs that will be featured in the film.

Dick Cook took evident pleasure in introducing the next part of the program. Animation, he said, has always been and always will be the heart of the Walt Disney Company. 2008 is a significant year, he continued, as it marked the 80th year since the introduction of Mickey Mouse. The company was celebrating their commitment to quality animation with Wall-E, the best reviewed film of 2008. Cook spoke warmly of the heads of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation, John Lasseter and Ed Catmull. Lasseter then entered, as Cook introduced him as, �a man with more job titles than Hawaiian shirts.�

Lasseter first proudly showed off his newest shirt, covered with colorful images from the studio�s next animated feature Bolt. He then turned to a future release, Up. He noted that it would mark Pixar�s tenth feature, and the first produced in Disney Digital 3D. As he introduced the characters and situations from Up, he pointed out that director Pete Docter�s desire had always been to create a film in the classic Disney style. Up, Lasseter promised, would feature engaging characters, exotic locales, and a story line with broad appeal.

Turning to Disney Feature Animation, Lasseter said, �We haven�t forgotten what got us here in the first place.� Set for a Christmas day 2009 release, The Princess and the Frog would mark the return of the sincere, classic, Disney fairy tale. Producers Ron Musker and John Clements have Disney in their blood, he added. He also took this opportunity to announce officially that Oprah Winfrey would be joining the voice cast as Eudora, Tiana�s mother.

Citing it as his favorite city, Lasseter said that The Princess and the Frog would be set in New Orleans in the 1920s. Several of the characters were shown, including a jazz loving gator, a love sick mosquito, a compelling new villain, and the lovely Tiana, the destined princess. The Princess and the Frog would feature a film score composed by Randy Newman. To perform one of the numbers created for the film, New Orleans legend Dr. John, with full band accompaniment, was introduced.

The Princess and the Frog official site: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/