Growing up watching Disney Channel in the 80’s, I used to love watching the episodes of the Disney anthology show where Walt Disney would take viewer behind the scenes of the theme parks and film. I have felt that Disney was missing an opportunity of providing these kinds of programs to today’s audiences. While there is the occasional Travel Channel special, I want something more.
Disney XD surprised me last night as I was packing for Comic-Con with the announcement of the Disney Fandom programming block that will air on July 30 through August 1. The block that airs from 8:00pm to 1:00am features a look at Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars projects through a variety of Synergy specials. They are also airing the first three “Pirates of the Caribbean” films.
Here are some highlights that were included in the press release:
TUESDAY, JULY 30
8:00 P.M. – “On The Red Carpet Disney Fandom Edition” (Disney Fandom premiere)
“On The Red Carpet” host Rachel Smith and Disney XD Insider and Radio Disney on-air personality Morgan Tompkins give fans at home an all access pass to San Diego Comic-Con.
8:30 P.M. – “Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl”
Rogue pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) joins forces with a young blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) to rescue the Governor’s daughter (Keira Knightley) and reclaim his ship.
11:00 P.M. – “Star Wars Tech”
A documentary about the technical aspects of Star Wars – from Darth Vader’s robotic limbs to the light saber, to how X-wings compare to modern jets.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
8:30 P.M. – “Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest”
Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back with a blood debt to pay – he must recover the mysterious Dead Man’s Chest which holds the heart of legendary Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) – or risk eternal damnation.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
8:00 P.M. – Live Well Network’s “My Family Recipe Rocks – Star Wars” Special Edition (Disney Fandom premiere)
Host Joey Fatone visits the world’s largest collection of Star Wars memorabilia showcased in a museum on the ‘Ranch Obi Wan’ near Skywalker Ranch and cooks a Star Wars themed breakfast from the Star Wars Cookbook.
8:30 P.M. – “Meet the Disney Legends” (Disney Fandom premiere)
Disney Legends honor the many individuals whose imagination, talents and dreams have created the Disney magic. “Meet the Disney Legends” is a TV special hosted by Brandon Johnson (“My Yard Goes Disney”) that lets you meet the newest Disney Legends first. The special features interviews with “Monsters University” star Billy Crystal, famed Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter, animator Glen Keane, and more legendary talents, who will be inducted on Saturday, August 10 at the D23 Expo.
8:45 P.M. – “Once Upon a Time: For the Fans” (Disney Fandom premiere)
“Once Upon a Time: For the Fans” is a television premiere hosted by Lee Arenberg (“Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, “Once Upon a Time”) featuring never-before seen interviews with ABC’s “Once Upon a Time” cast, a profile of Captain Hook (“Sincerely Hook”) and a special look at the families of Storybrooke and how they’re intertwined (“A Fractured Family Tree”), along with a preview of ABC’s new fall series “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.”
9:00 P.M. – “Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End”
While the Flying Dutchman ghost ship wreaks havoc on the Seven Seas, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) unite to save Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) from Davy Jones’s (Bill Nighy) locker.
Now I often hear Disney fans lament that the Disney Channel does not offer programming for Disney fans. And while this lineup won’t please everybody, it is a step in the right direction. Showcasing Disney Legends, upcoming films, and television programs is a good start at getting more of this type of content on the airways.
That being said, we need to support this effort. Watch the shows. Get your friends to watch the shows. Starting on Tuesday, July 23 visit Disney.com/Fandom and play some games. Post it on Facebook. Tweet about it. Create a social media storm the size of a sharknado. If we do not support these programs, we will not get more.
This is a call to action for all Disney fans. Make this Disney Fandom block a success. I would not be surprised to see if this is Disney trying to see if there is an audience for this type of programming. Prove to them that there is.