2008-03-19

No, I'm not an 11 year old girl...

...but I have been watching Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel. And it's mildly compelling.

If you are not familiar with Hannah Montana (the show) it's and undercover pop star story.

Hannah Montana (the pop star) is a character played by Miley Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus (best known for his country cross over hit "Achy Breaky Heart"). Over the past few months tickets to Hannah Montana concerts were scalped for more than $4,000.

In the show, Miley Cyrus plays Miley Stewart. Miley Stewart pretends to be a normal, unfamous teenager in high school by day. By night, she is pop Hannah Montana, selling out concerts, winning awards, and recording platinum records. She lives with her father, Robby (played by Billy Ray Cyrus) and her brother Jackson Rod Stewart (played by Jason Earles). The show has featured guest stars like Vickie Lawrence and Dolly Parton. Miley, with her friends and family, get into all sorts of wacky adventures, often involving the secret of Hannah.

It's a Disney sitcom. It's safe. It's tame. Many of the subplots are predictable, and we've already seen them on the Honeymooners, Dick Van Dyke, The Bob Newhart Show, The Odd Couple, Laverne and Shirley, Three's Company, Perfect Strangers, and Friends. They're not breaking a whole lot of comedy ground here.

But it's not a bad show to watch while doing other things. The characters are likable. The music is sadly catchy.

The teen age actors -- both the boys and the girls -- are perfectly comfortable on screen doing silly slapstick comedy. It's fairly impressive to see pop star Cyrus willing to Chevy Chase style falls or take a milk shake in the face.

Sure, it's a silly show, but it doesn't pretend to be serious art. It's great for what it is. A Disney Channel Comedy.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Guilty confession time! I quite like watching Hannah Montana, too.

CelloBella said...

I'm not 11 either but I quite like Hannah Montana... didn't realise she was related to Billy though...obviously haven't hung around for the credits.

I also find it a handy way to remember the capital of Montana... Hannah's big sister Helena.

:)
CB

Jillian said...

OK, I love the Disney channel. I watch all the shows. "That's So Raven", "Cory In the House",
Drake and Josh", etc. etc. etc.

And don't get me started on "High School Musical". I purchased a few tracks of the soundtrack from iTunes. "I Don't Dance" is a HUGE favorite.

And I'll admit to kinda liking "Hannah Montana". :-D

Laura Brown said...

Watched her be interviewed, with her Dad, on Oprah yesterday. She looked cute and happy and a real Daddy's girl. There was another daughter in the background, playing bass I think. She was a bit chubby, maybe not the star and feeling it. I wondered about that anyway. Too bad she wasn't included on Oprah. I don't think I get Disney channel.

Anonymous said...

Perfect Strangers. Now that takes you back!

I've watched Hannah, too. And I've seen that Oprah. The thing that I don't like about her dad is that he said he wants to be his kid's friend. That's just poor parenting.

Anonymous said...

My seven year old adores Hannah Montana and we don't have the Disney Channel. I don't know if she has ever seen the show or not at a friends or Grandma's house. Anyway, it start much younger than 11 years old.

Anonymous said...

Glad to know I'm not the only grown person watching Hannah Montana ;)

Anonymous said...

YAY another adult confesses to watching Hannah Montana. I haven't been 11 for 35 years and I love the show.

Cromely said...

It's great to see so many Hannah fans coming out of the closet.

jillian -- High School Musical is on my list. I enjoy musicals, but I haven't seen/heard that one yet.

laura and LDK -- I haven't seen that Oprah episode. Oprah kind of scares me.