It's just simple math

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Aug 23, 2007 | by Scott D. Pierce Deseret Morning News

If you are wondering why the third "High School Musical" movie will be released as a theatrical film, the answer is all in the math.

The initial showing of "High School Musical 2" on Friday attracted an estimated 17.2 million viewers -- an absolutely astonishing number that made it the most-watched telecast on basic cable ever.

The first "HSM2" repeat on Saturday night drew 8.4 million viewers; the Sunday repeat drew 7.5 million.

Certainly, some of the viewers from Friday tuned in again on Saturday and/or Sunday, but that aggregate of 33.1 million is staggering. (If you missed any of the first three airings, the Disney Channel is repeating "HSM2" tonight at 9 p.m.)

Let's do some very conservative math here:

-- Let's assume that just a third of those TV viewers -- 11 million -- would rush out to see "High School Musical 3" in theaters.

-- Let's assume every one of those 11 million viewers is paying discounted or children's prices for tickets -- $5 apiece.

-- That would be a $55 million opening weekend for a movie that probably wouldn't cost that much to make (in relative Hollywood terms).

Again, that's being pretty conservative. Disney estimates that more than 200 million people in 100 countries have seen the original "High School Musical."

And that explains why the next movie -- tentatively titled "Haunted High School Musical" -- will be opening at a theater near you in about a year.

POWERED BY "HSM2," the Disney channel was the No. 3 network in total viewers in prime time last week, beating NBC, ABC and The CW and nearly tying Fox.

Disney averaged 5.8 million viewers, only 3 percent behind Fox (6 million) and 9 percent ahead of NBC (5.3 million), 32 percent ahead of ABC (4.4 million) and 222 percent ahead of The CW (1.8 million.)

The cable channel also had three of the top four shows overall in prime time. The Friday premiere of "High School Musical 2" (17.2 million viewers) was No. 1; "Phineas and Ferb" tied for No. 2 (10.8 million); and "Hannah Montana" was No. 4 (10.7 million).

The Disney Channel beat every broadcast and cable network on both Friday and Saturday night in total viewers; it trailed only CBS on Sunday.

These numbers are nothing short of astonishing. Even those who expected big things out of "High School Musical 2" didn't expect this much.

"HEROES" 1, "LOST" 0: It has been no secret that ABC and the producers of "Lost" were pursuing former "Veronica Mars" star Kristin Bell for a recurring role on that series.

So it's a bit of a kick in the pants that Bell has signed on for a recurring role on NBC's "Heroes." (That's in addition to the role she'll have as the unseen narrator of the new CW series "Gossip Girl.")

Details about Bell's role on "Heroes" are sketchy -- she'll begin her multiple-episode arc in October, playing "Elle, a sexy, intriguing, mysterious young lady who has ties to Peter's apparent death, H.R.G.'s death and Claire's future." We're also told that, when we first see her, she'll "commit a terrible crime," but "it will be unclear whose side she is really on."

At fourth-place NBC, where they haven't had a whole lot to celebrate in recent years, they're treating this as a major victory. As are various publications that cover the entertainment world.

Personally, I think it's great. I love "Heroes," and I'm a big fan of Bell.

But this is sort of a Hollywood tempest in a teapot. "Veronica Mars" was never a hit, and most viewers still don't know who Bell is.

Maybe "Heroes" can change that.

FOX HAS ANNOUNCED that Ryan Seacrest will host this year's Prime- Time Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 16.

The host network gets to pick the host of the awards. More often than not, the host picks a big star from its own lineup.

Apparently, Krusty the Clown was busy.

IF YOU'VE EVER seen Kevin Federline try to act, you know that he, well, can't.

Which makes the announcement by The CW that Federline is going to join the cast of "One Tree Hill" oddly appropriate -- bad actor on a bad show.

Oh, and he's going to be playing the "cocky, enigmatic frontman" for a rock band.

Anyone who's ever heard Federline perform knows that that will require waaaaay more acting talent than he possesses.

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com