Disney: A to Zed

Today, The Tokyo Disney Resort premiered ZED (we call it Zee in America).  Here are some fun facts about the new Cirque du Soleil show:

·         The stage is one of the largest in Japan at about 115 feet wide, 65 feet deep and 70 feet high.  

·         The theater seats 2,170 guests.

·         The set takes its inspiration from many eras and influences, including the Renaissance, the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci and astronomy.

·         Backstage facilities include dressing areas for 70 performers, a training room and a rehearsal space with acrobatic equipment.

·         ZED will not tour and may only be seen at Tokyo Disney Resort.

I am excited about this new offering in Tokyo, but it can’t help but be a little bittersweet.  La Nouba has been at Walt Disney World for ten years now.  Is it not time to refresh this offering.  I love have Cirque at Walt Disney World, but the show has grown a little long in the tooth.  As Downtown Disney continues its transformation, I hope they don’t forget to transform Cirque du Soleil as well. 

Quick Takes:

Studio Entertainment:  Miramax has released a statement regarding the National Federation of the Blind’s plans to protest their film, Blindness: We are saddened to learn that the National Federation of the Blind plans to protest the film BLINDNESS.  Miramax Films and filmmaker Fernando Meirelles have worked diligently to preserve the intent and resonance of the acclaimed book by Nobel prize winning author, Jose Saramago, that is a courageous parable about the triumph of the human spirit when civilization breaks down.  I thought Miramax was going to be less controversial after the departure of the Weinstein Brothers.  Unfortunately, it looks like controversy will continue to plague the poor little movie studio. 

Media Networks: Off the success of the ABC Studio’s Army Wives, which is the #1 cable drama of the year, and the Coco Chanel telefilm, Lifetime television had a very strong September.  They jumped 13% in the women 25-54 demographic.  Disney owns 50% and Hearst owns the other 50%.  Hearst also owns 20% of ESPN and many ABC affiliates.  Obviously, Disney and Hearst get along very well.  But one can’t help but wonder if Disney would have greater success extending the Lifetime brand, like they did with ESPN, if they managed it directly.  I know Bob has thought about this, but crafting a deal is probably a lot easier to say than to do. 

Consumer Products: Wal-Mart has announced that they will be slashing the prices of the toys this holiday season as they try gain sales in what could be the worst holiday sales season in 17 years.  Hopefully this will include Disney toys.  A good friend told me that Disney toys are best when they are free and second best when they are cheap. 

Disney Interactive Media:  As all of you know, Disney’s fiscal year begins today!  So Happy New Year everyone!  Fiscal 2009 will mark Disney Interactive Media’s first full year of existence as a business unit of The Walt Disney Company.  I wish them the best as they grow and develop.       

What to Watch: While I try to avoid politics…. I can’t avoid what might be the most watch Vice Presidential Debate in history.  ABC News’ coverage begins at 9 eastern. 

Video of the Day: Yahoo Movies has a new clip from Beverly Hills Chihuahua.  This is about a piñata.  I love piñatas because they have candy.  I love them even when they have a rat and an iguana in them. 

News from Around the Web:

ABC News:  Disney, along with the other major Hollywood studios, are suing RealNetworks trying to block their release of DVD copying software.  RealDVD would allow users to rip DVDs and store them on their hard drive.  The studios say it is against the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act while RealNetworks said it is “fair use”.  In any case, I am rooting for Disney.  This is not because I have any legal understanding to do so, but I always root for Disney.  Just ask those Pooh people.   

NY Times: Warren Buffett is going to be investing $3 billion in G.E.  Of course G.E. owns Disney rival, NBC Universal.  The last thing I want is G.E. to have more money to invest in buisnesses that compete with Disney.  To counter-act this investment, I will be investing $3 billion in G.E. competitor Sylvania, a Siemens company.  Take that Jeffrey Immelt!

USA Today: This is not Disney related, but it does relate to somethiong I brought up yesterday.  USA Today reports on TBS’s second year of televising MLB Playoffs.  They discuss new analysts and camera angles, but sadly they do not say that Frank TV promos will not be allowed.  Drats!     

LA Times: The LA Times reports on Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s dissenting views on The View.  Remember when Disney wasn’t controversial? 

Orlando Sentinel: Looks like there is a traffic slump at Orlando International Airport.  Total traffic dropped 6.3% in August when compared to last year.  Though the theme parks don’t seem to have been affected.  A revealing stat is that domestic travel dropped 7.9 percent while international traffic rose 16 percent.   

Variety:  Bollywood has gone on strike as 147,000 workers representing 22 unions did not show up to work.  I have no doubt that is related to the release of Cheetah Girls: One World.  Now that Bollywood has hit the big time, everyone wants a piece of the action.  I love how this news comes out the day after Disney announces they will be producing four live action films in India.  Tough break!