azcentral.com main | entertainment | classifieds | pets

Disney parents (or lack thereof)

Posted April 21st, 2008 by MsYvette

movies & tv

Stayed home with a sick daughter & watched a little too much Disney channel today. I noticed a considerable lack of parents on these shows, one seeming to be enough if any at all. Now I know it's a long standing tradition for the parents to be killed off early in any Disney movie, with I think the record being held by Finding Nemo offing mom before the opening credits. Didn't Raven & her brother used to have 2 parents? I'm getting a little creeped out.

Very interesting

On April 21st, 2008 lovemy4 says:

Very interesting observation. I wonder if anyone has ever done an analysis. Mulan had 2 parents, Fiona from Shrek did for 2/3s of the movies. But that is about all I can come up with off the cuff.

Lovemy4 is a discussion leader for North Central Phoenix, tired mother of 4 great kids and wife to one great husband.

Funny, we were just talking

On April 21st, 2008 brookeromney says:

Funny, we were just talking about that at the park today. It goes back to telling a tragic tale is much more interesting than sunchine and roses. I didn't realize it was happening on the real stuff too. That's too bad actually.

Brooke Romney is an unbalanced mom of three young boys who constantly has too much to do, and too little time. She writes the Mom Beat column for The Gilbert Republic.

Not having adults is the

On April 21st, 2008 not_the_mama says:

Not having adults is the whole point! The idea is to create the world on the childrens' terms, and let them imagine things that they suspect that parents would poo-poo.

For example, do we know for sure that, if there isn't a grown-up around to believe in gravity, children wouldn't be able to fly with Peter Pan?

I'm pretty sure that Aladdin doesn't sweep by on his magic carpet to take children for rides if their parents are watching.

Disney has delighted, enchanted, and engaged several generations of children; I'm pretty sure yours are safe.

I understand the whole

On April 22nd, 2008 MsYvette says:

I understand the whole fantasy concept, but why carry it over so severly to sitcom? Now granted, I have a narrow view of these shows (looks like I'll be home again today) but I Carly lives with her brother? Corey suddenly only has a Dad when Mom was the stable one? We all know what happened to Zoey 101. Where's the adult influence? I know it allows for a more 'wacky' story line, but it seems the only adults portrayed are addled idiots. Why should kids turn to adults for anything in real life when their 'idols' clearly don't need it? Yes, as the adult, the parent is ultimately in charge in real life (including master of the TV) but it seems an unhealty influence on a daily basis. I've noticed some of this sitcom lift trying to sneek into my girls real attitude at home & they're limited on what they can watch already. I know Disney=fantasy, but do kids?

I doubt the kids see disney

On April 22nd, 2008 mamaofone says:

I doubt the kids see disney equals fantasy but in a way they do. iCarly lives with her OLDER brother since her dad is deployed in Iraq (A thing that just as well might happen in real life today). Yes, Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant, but on her show she wasn't with parents because she is at a boarding school (also again can happen in real life) Cory and his dad moved to the white house, while the others stayed behind, there is still a parent while again in real life a lot of the time kids only have one parent. These are just shows, and do kids really want their fun shows based off of the parents? No. They probably wouldn't like the show if it was. It's not like the kids are dealing drugs or anything like that in the shows. I just think parents are starting to look too much into things. ( Example: My child's show's don't have parents in them!?)

Oh and yes, we all know what happened to Zoey 101. But also Jamie Lynn plays a character, and kids are starting to understand earlier on in life that these are shows and not reality. Anyways haven't you heard that Miley Cyrus has pictures that just leaked on the internet of her with a boy and her shirt is up with his hands on her stomach and there's another one with her pulling her shirt down an showing her bra? It's bound to happen to all of them, something will happen to each young star that your kids love and you will question if they should watch them anymore. But your kids won't understand why you think they shouldn't watch their show anymore, since that didn't happen in the show they are watching, But your kids are too young to be watching celebrity news, going to Perezhilton or buying celebrity magazines.

All in my opinion, everyone needs to stop looking too much into sitcoms on TV.

I don't have an issue at all

On April 22nd, 2008 azmommyof4 says:

I don't have an issue at all with the parent thing. I do however have a problem with the dating, and kissing. On Zoey 101 the teens are always talking about they love eachother and kissing. They totally glamourize it. I prefer Hanna Montana, Corey and Zach and Cody because there is not so much kissing if any. Drake and Josh is ok. But on Zoey there is kissing every show. I recently noticed all the smooching and have been contemplating whether or not my kids can watch zoey. For the time being they are still allowed though. This is a tough one.

Jennifer is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com and mommy to four beautiful girls who range from 9 to 4 years of age.