Disney Yanks Episode of Hannah Montana

Disney Trying to Cure Hannah Montana Diabetes Plot
By Natalie Finn
Fri Nov 7, 5:16 PM PST
Hannah Montana’s latest checkup resulted in a troubling diagnosis.

The Disney Channel confirmed to E! News that the network scrapped the episode it had intended to open the hit series’ third season—an episode titled “No Sugar, Sugar” that features a character (Hannah’s pal Oliver) dealing with diabetes—after some initial concerns as to how the disease was portrayed.

According to a network executive, the Disney Channel’s Standards and Practices team consulted with medical experts during the script-writing process “to inform the story and be sure it was told responsibly.”

Notwithstanding the measures we took, and based on the episode’s preview and early feedback from parents, we removed the episode from Sunday’s schedule and are now reevaluating it,” the Disney rep said.

“We will await the results of the episode review by a variety of experts and then will make a determination on the episode’s future. Most importantly, we listened to those who expressed their concerns and consulted with the creative team (programmers and producers).”

It was then that they chose to pull the Nov. 2 episode, opting to make “He Ain’t a Hottie, He’s My Brother” the sitcom’s season-three premiere instead. Episode No. 2, “Ready, Set, Don’t Drive” (Billy Ray’s message to the almost-16-year-old Miley, perhaps?) premieres Sunday.

“Still, there is great interest, especially from parents, in seeing the subject of living with diabetes somehow incorporated into our storytelling for kids and families, so we’re hopeful we’ll do so in the future,” added the Disney Channel exec.

And it’s not as if the Mouse House doesn’t have a handle on the subject matter already. Also on Nov. 2, the Disney Channel aired an installment of Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream that explored how Nick Jonas manages his diabetes both at home and on tour. The 16-year-old JoBro appeared in a PSA afterward in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

I have to say, the title of the thread filled me with false hope.
But why is it that all children’s TV shows have to deal with some disease in an episode?  For that matter, why do they all have to have morals?  I watched cartoons without morals shoved in every twelve seconds, and I haven’t gone off to slaughter the masses.  Isn’t it the parents job to teach thier kids right from wrong, not the television?  Eh, I dunno, I don’t like kids anyway, who the hell am I to talk…

Jen, Leader of The Hamster Brigade - 09 November 2008 10:09 AM

I have to say, the title of the thread filled me with false hope.

Me too.

Jen, Leader of The Hamster Brigade - 09 November 2008 10:09 AM

But why is it that all children’s TV shows have to deal with some disease in an episode?  For that matter, why do they all have to have morals?. . .Isn’t it the parents job to teach thier kids right from wrong, not the television?

But these days a lot of parents seem to be letting the television raise their kids.

Of course, they could just turn on the television to the food channels and teach their kids morels instead.

and morsels.