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The last time the Disney Channel bet on a 13-year-old Southern starlet, it was Miley Cyrus. So now that Miley is all grown up (turning 18 in 2 weeks), I hear that The Powers That Be are putting the Southern starlet Bella Thorne on the same fast-track teen career path. Tennessee native Miley shared the sitcom spotlight with her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus. The brass are counting on Floridian Bella to be the breakout star of the new Disney Channel buddy comedy series Shake It Up which premieres tonight at 8:30 PM in a no-lose slot after the one-hour Hannah Montana Forever special “I’ll Always Remember You”. Miley’s character lived her dream singing while navigating school. In Shake It Up, Bella (who was cast when she was 13) is living her dream dancing while navigating school. Hey, no one ever accused TV execs of having original ideas even though Carolina Lightcap replaced Rich Ross who moved up to movies… And while Miley is repped by CAA, Bella just signed with WME agent Thor Bradwell. (Her manager Adam Griffin is at Kritzer Levine Wilkins Griffins Entertainment.) Bella was last seen on the HBO series Big Love playing ”Teeny” Henrickson, replacing Jolean Wejbe in the 4th season as polygamists Bill’s and Barb’s younger daughter. Thorne’s first film appearance was an uncredited role as a sidelines fan in the 2003 film Stuck on You and has appeared on Entourage, The O.C., October Road, Dirty Sexy Money, My Own Worst Enemy, and the Disney Channel’s own Wizards of Waverly Place. Cyrus, of course, became a worldwide brand as Hannah Montana released in 150 countries and 26 languages. Can the Disney Channel get hit by lightning twice?
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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bella seems to have the same charm as miley. i think they may have another star.
She was a standout in a guest appearance on WOWP – but this show seems to fall very flat on writing. I watched tonight and 3 things are abundantly clear from the beginning with the biggest being – this show comes about as close to kiddie porn as you can get with regards to dress, mannerisms, and sexual overtones.
1. it’s clear Gunther is gay as a kid can get (and as a matter of fact, there’s not one heterosexual male on the show – all the little boys are just … clearly gay). Even the ‘skirt chaser’ brother to Rocky is as gay as a kid can get. I wouldn’t be surprised to see these kids dressing up their dolls before too long.
2. but that works for the girls who obviously have a little more than friendship going on (they almost made out 3 times just on tonights episode and next week they’ll be eating the same spaghetti … leading to another almost make out session). I mean, they clearly want to be with each other.
3. which happens when you’re always picturing everyone around you naked …
This is NOT High School Musical or Camp Rock … not by a long stretch. This is selling 12 year old sex… the looks, glances, close calls, that PJ’s scene … And even the mom can’t button her shirt up all the way.
Bella, btw, has a striking personality similar to Lohan … she may be 13 but she’s definitely a vet and has that young drive that could really turn into something more scary later on … hope not – her older sisters seem to be doing well, but then, they aren’t Disney big bet superstars.
BTW, the writers on the last Hannah did a real disservice to several of those long time characters… horrible horrible idea to have them do a Something About Mary type thing rather than incorporate them in an actual story line. They must not have thought much of those actors.
Disney needs to analyze the institution known as Miley Cyrus and realize what made her so successful before they bet on a clone. This girl by the sound of her, doesn’t fit the profile.
PS. Totally unrelated, but Deadline is one of the greatest blogs ever, and has brought much joy to my life. Thanks, Finke!
It would probably help if the two leads could…actually dance.
I agree, I find it very disturbing that every show on the Disney Channel is sex obsessed. I understand that teenagers are growing up faster today, but do we have to encourage and promote teenage sexuality?
At least the Brady Bunch had clever writing and real dramatic conflict. All these new shows are centered around who is dating who. It’s really sad when you have to tell your kids they can’t watch a Disney show because you’re afraid of what they might be exposed to. Very hard to be a parent these days. But of course, the 20 somethings that are writing these shows don’t have any kids of their own, so what do they care….
The Leave it to Beaver days were left back in 1956. If you put a show on Disney Channel, Nick or any other network like The Brady Bunch it would fail, why? because people just don’t live that way in 2010. This is the reason why ABC’s hot new “family show” is Modern Family not a clone from 1950, 1060 or even 1970.
Disney shows are carefully planned, to sell merchandise, product, concerts, DVD’s, Soundtracks, Disney Parks, Itunes downloads, and along the way they entertain.
Wow. “12 year old sex”? What a Puritanical response. While this show is by no means good, I didn’t see any of these sexual overtones you speak of. And having written for the Mouse House before, I can tell you their S&P process is as rigid as you will find.
I have never been so captured by an incredible young talent as Bella Thorne. She has all the natural talent, ease and comfort in front of the camera, charisma, and charm that makes for a big future star! There are so many young people who are talented but Bella really stands out in the crowd, manages to throw funny line after line at the audience with the precision and timing of Lucy and Ethel.
Disney has obviously found their next superstar!
i don’t think any of you really watched the show tonight cuz i did and it was the best thing on disney. i LOVE it. bella is so good and so is the other girl named rocky. i watched it over and over and it’s my new fave show. there was no hooking up or dating or whatever you are saying.
I watched the show tonight and I think it has a lot of potential! Can’t wait to see everything evolve next week, Bella is definitely pulling ahead as the star of the show.
I’m confused by the characterization of Miley having been on a fast track. (…The Powers That Be are putting the Southern starlet Bella Thorne on the same fast-track teen career path.) Though I realize now that you mean giving this girls show a good comeing out lead-in slot.
As a Miley fan, my perspective is that Disney was constantly behind the curve of Miley’s popularity and was constantly surprised by it. The “fast tracking” didn’t really happen until after the Best Of Both Worlds Tour. Then Disney started putting Miley on it’s shows like Dancing With The Stars, having meetings about maximizing their Miley revenue, and asking her about what future projects she might be interested in. Miley and her representation often had to struggle early on for Disney to give her more non-Hannah Montana show opportunities. That’s my perspective.
I always enjoy this site. Thanks, Nikki.
Originally this formula wasn’t about sex, it was about fitting in. The Disney Channel’s first breakthrough series, Lizzie McGuire, actually had intelligence and wit.
After that came Even Stevens with Shia Laboeuf. And Kim Possible. Hanna Montana dragged the concept into the muck…let’s hope this new one revives the empowerment principle that made the Disney Channel what it is.
Junk show, the first 15 minutes seemed like an hour. Bella is talented but already has the reputation of a complete diva (and not in the good way) around town. Snotty kid alert!
How fast time is, kids grew unnoticeably. I could have not imagined that Miley will be turning 18 since I just saw her doing her series. How time flies.
I, for one, would pay to see the Disney Channel get hit by lightning.
Bella has been through multiple agents in the past couple of years:
Abrams, AKA, Innovative and now WME.
She has been critically panned on most jobs she’s done including My Own Worst Enemy and Big Love, where she promptly disappeared.
One has to question why she wears out her welcome so quickly.
She has a reputation and it isn’t a Disney one.
The show was a poor knock-off of Hannah Montana, and that’s saying something. After watching it, it was apparent that her co-star Zendaya Coleman was much more talented, charismatic and edited positively. Zendaya may be the next Miley, but Bella is not.
I predict Disney will make Bella disappear shortly. After Demi Lovato’s troubles, they really can’t afford to have another Lindsay/Britney/Miley on their hands.
She’s super cute and I thought the show was fun to watch. I think she’s going to be a big star!
You just have to look and listen to Bella Thorne to see this is a special, talented and lovely young lady who was and is destined to go far. I had never been so excited about someone in a very long time and I knew when I first had contact with her over 4 years ago that this was a star waiting to happen. I am extremely proud of her
Continued success to our Bella !! Your friend, Howard
I’m happy to know that bella is going to the next gig thing,and that Miley b-day is coming:)!