The Disney Family Singalong is a series of American music television specials that were broadcast by ABC in 2020. First aired on April 16, 2020, and all hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the specials featured performances of songs from Disney films by musicians and other celebrity guests from their respective homes. The performances featured on-screen karaoke lyrics, encouraging viewers to sing along.
| The Disney Family Singalong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Mason Steinberg Brian Strickland |
| Directed by | Hamish Hamilton |
| Presented by | Ryan Seacrest |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Production location | Virtual |
| Editors |
|
| Running time | 52 minutes |
| Production company | Done and Dusted |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | April 16, 2020 |
| Related | |
| The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II The Queen Family Singalong Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong | |
The first special was seen by 10.3 million viewers. A second special—The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II—was aired on May 10, 2020, which was seen by 5.74 million viewers. This was followed by a Christmas-themed edition, The Disney Holiday Singalong, on November 30. The specials gained a spin-off in November 2021, The Queen Family Singalong, featuring similar performances of songs by British rock band Queen.[1] Another spin-off titled Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong aired on February 1, 2023, featuring similar performances of songs from Schoolhouse Rock![2]
Production
editProduced by Done and Dusted, the special was first announced on April 10, 2020, for a premiere on April 16. It was produced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and as part of impact on television. The special would include public service announcements highlighting Feeding America's COVID-19 response, featuring various Walt Disney Television talent.[3][4]
Kenny Ortega organized a cast reunion of High School Musical for the special, with a performance of "We're All In This Together".[5] Ortega noted that the song had experienced a resurgence in popularity amid the pandemic (including videos of medical workers and others singing the song in support of their responses), explaining that "I can’t imagine that Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, who wrote this song, had any idea that it would have the legs and perhaps mean more now than when we first did it." The performance featured cast members from the film, as well as Raven-Symoné, and cast members from fellow Disney Channel films Descendants and Zombies, and the film's Disney+ spin-off High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.[6] Zac Efron was unable to participate, but made a special guest appearance to introduce the performance.[7]
Performances
editAppearances
edit- Kristin Chenoweth
- Chris Harrison
- AJ Michalka
- Nathan Fillion
- Jaina Lee Ortiz
- Anthony Anderson
- Wendi McLendon-Covey
- Cobie Smulders
- Jimmy Kimmel
- Marcella Izaguirre
- Lionel Richie
- Robin Roberts
- Taran Killam
- Elle Fanning (introduced Ariana Grande)
- Tracee Ellis Ross (introduced Christina Aguilera)
- Zac Efron (introduced Kenny Ortega and the casts of High School Musical, Descendants, Zombies, and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)
- Elizabeth Olsen
- Sebastian Stan
- Jeff Goldblum
- Paul Bettany
- Anthony Mackie
- Emily VanCamp
- Don Cheadle
- Raven-Symoné
- Charli D'Amelio
Broadcast
editThe special received 10.3 million viewers during its initial airing, making it the most-watched program of the evening. It also held a 2.6 share of the key demographic of adults 18-49, beating its nearest competitor Young Sheldon.[14]
On April 24, 2020, an encore of the special on Disney Channel (accompanied by an airing of the sing-along version of High School Musical)[15] drew 515,000 viewers.[16]
On April 21, the special was made available for streaming on Disney+, before being removed exactly one year later.[17]
Follow-ups
edit| The Disney Family Singalong | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II |
| Written by | Mason Steinberg Brian Strickland |
| Directed by | Hamish Hamilton |
| Presented by | Ryan Seacrest |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Raj Kapoor Katy Mullan |
| Producers |
|
| Production location | Virtual |
| Editors |
|
| Running time | 49 minutes |
| Production company | Done and Dusted |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | May 10, 2020 |
| Related | |
| The Disney Family Singalong The Disney Holiday Singalong The Queen Family Singalong | |
Volume II
editOn Mother's Day, May 10, 2020, ABC aired a follow-up special, The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II.[18][19]
Volume II was seen by 5.74 million viewers, with a 1.3 share among viewers 18-49; albeit lower than the initial special, it was still the highest-rated program of the night.[18] The special served as a lead-in for that night's American Idol, which also featured Disney songs as a theme.[20]
Performances
editAppearances
editThe Disney Holiday Singalong
edit| The Disney Family Singalong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | The Disney Holiday Singalong |
| Written by | Brian Strickland Mason Steinberg |
| Directed by | Hamish Hamilton |
| Presented by | Ryan Seacrest |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Production location | Virtual |
| Production company | Done and Dusted |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | November 30, 2020 |
| Related | |
| The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II The Queen Family Singalong | |
On November 30, 2020, ABC aired a third, Christmas-themed edition of the special, The Disney Holiday Singalong, as a lead-in for ABC's CMA Country Christmas special.[23] The special was seen by 5.73 million total viewers, with a 1.3 share among viewers 18-49.[24]
Performances
editAppearances
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ Petski, Denise (October 15, 2021). "ABC Sets 'Queen Family Singalong' Special With Darren Criss, Adam Lambert, More". Deadline. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ "ABC's Newest Iteration of the Hit "Singalong" Franchise Returns with "Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong," Airing Wednesday, Feb. 1, on ABC" (Press release). ABC. January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ White, Peter (April 10, 2020). "'The Disney Family Singalong': ABC Sets Musical TV Special With Celebrity Crooners". Deadline. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ Nicolaou, Elena (April 14, 2020). "Mark Your Calendars: "The Disney Family Singalong" Is Airing on Thursday". O, The Oprah Magazine. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ Rowley, Glenn (April 17, 2020). "'High School Musical' Reunion In 'Disney Family Singalong': Details". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (April 14, 2020). "Kenny Ortega Talks Reuniting 'High School Musical' Cast Members For 'Disney's Family Singalong'; Zac Efron Joins ABC Special". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ "Zac Efron Has to Skip High School Musical Singalong as He's 'Hunkered Down in the Middle of Nowhere'". People. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ Owoseje, Toyin (April 17, 2020). "Beyoncé made a surprise appearance in 'Disney Family Singalong,' delighting fans". CNN.
- ^ Boone, Keyaira (April 17, 2020). "Beyoncé Surprises Fans With Rendition Of 'When You Wish Upon A Star' Dedicated To Healthcare Workers". Essence.
- ^ Bailey, Alyssa (April 17, 2020). "Watch Ariana Grande Nail 'I Won't Say I'm in Love' During Disney's Family Singalong". Elle.
- ^ Boucher, Ashley (April 17, 2020). "Thomas Rhett and His Daughters Perform Song from Frozen for Disney Singalong Special". People.
- ^ Bailey, Alyssa (April 16, 2020). "Why Zac Efron Isn't Singing With the 'High School Musical' Cast in the Disney Family Singalong". Elle.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (April 13, 2020). "Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato & More Join 'Disney Family Singalong' Lineup -- And Here's What They'll Perform". Billboard.
- ^ Thorne, Will (April 17, 2020). "TV Ratings: 'Disney Family Singalong' Draws Massive Audience". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ "Disney Channel to Air THE DISNEY FAMILY SINGALONG & Sing-Along Version Of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL on April 24". BroadwayWorld. April 22, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ "'THE DISNEY FAMILY SINGALONG' SPECIAL WINS ITS TIMESLOT AMONG KIDS AND GIRLS 6-11, AND IS #1 TELECAST OF THE DAY ON DISNEY CHANNEL". Walt Disney Television. April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020.
- ^ Dams, Tim (April 21, 2020). "ABC's 'Disney Family Singalong' Heads to Disney Plus". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Ramos, Dino-Ray (May 11, 2020). "'The Disney Family Singalong 2' Tops Sunday Ratings; 'The Rookie' Dips In Season Finale". Deadline. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (May 1, 2020). "Donald Glover, Katy Perry, Halsey & More Set For New 'Disney Family Singalong': Here's What They'll Sing". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ Daw, Robbie (May 11, 2020). "'American Idol' Recap: The Top 7 Pay Tribute to Disney and Their Moms". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ Balgemino, Nicole (May 1, 2020). "ABC ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF PERFORMANCES FOR 'THE DISNEY FAMILY SINGALONG: VOLUME II,' AIRING MOTHER'S DAY, SUNDAY, MAY 10 AT 7 P.M." ABC Media. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ Balgemino, Nicole (May 6, 2020). "ABC Announces Additional Celebrity Guests for 'The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II,' Airing Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10 at 7 P.M." ABC Media. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ Petski, Denise (October 30, 2020). "Disney Singalong Return and "Reimagined" Disney Parks Special Highlight ABC Holiday Programming Lineup". Deadline. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (December 1, 2020). "'The Disney Holiday Singalong' Hits High Note To Top Monday Ratings; 'The Neighborhood' Ticks Up". Deadline. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ^ The D23 Team (November 13, 2020). "Global Superstar Lineup to Bring the Cheer in The Disney Holiday Singalong Airing Monday, November 30, on ABC". D23. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
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