'High School Musical 2' Sets TV Record

(NEWSER) - The sequel to Disney's smash hit 'High School Musical' will air Friday, and with a barrage of merchandise including CDs, DVDs, musical handbags, stationery, bedding, and a board game, the two kids' flicks are expected to rake in $100M for the Mickey Mouse company, reports the LA Times. More»

Selena Gomez stars in adaptation of Beverly Cleary classics

(NEWSER) - Ramona and Beezus plays fast and loose with its source material, the classic children's books by Beverly Cleary, but the family movie—Disney tween favorite Selena Gomez's film debut—generally has the critics on its side.

• Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer : "The overall tone of the film is sunny, with Ramona and Beezus resiliently turning life's lemons into lemonade." The flick also "boasts a daddy/daughter plotline that is very touching."

Mickey and pals get first Western foothold in massive market

(NEWSER) - Disney has become the first Western company to crack the potentially lucrative Russian TV market, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company and a Russian broadcaster are finalizing plans to introduce Disney programming on 30 stations nationwide. Disney will have a 49% ownership stake in the deal with Russia's Media-One Holdings. The channel will likely debut next year, pending regulatory approval. More»

Miley Cyrus says next season the last

(NEWSER) - Tween queen Miley Cyrus is ready to part ways with her Disney show and alter ego Hannah Montana. "We’re thinking this is our last season," 15-year-old Cyrus told E! Online. "I just think we did a lot of episodes. We basically did two seasons in one last year. It seems like it's been on, like, longer." More»

Disney reeling after Hudgens bares all

(NEWSER) - Disney’s squeaky-clean billion-dollar High School Musical franchise has been staggered by an amateur nude photo of star Vanessa Hudgens making the rounds on the internet. So far The Mouse is backing Hudgens, but the shot has been ripped by parents. Hudgens is negotiating for the third Musical installment, but some blogs report Disney is now considering Adrienne Ballon of The Cheetah Girls. More»