Playhouse Disney was a brand of programming blocks and international cable and satellite television channels that were owned by the Disney Channels Worldwide unit (now Disney Branded Television) of The Walt Disney Company's Disney–ABC Television Group. It originated in the United States as a morning program block on the Disney Channel. Aimed mainly at children at two to seven years of age, its programming featured a mix of live-action and animated series.
The Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel was rebranded as the Disney Junior block on Disney Channel on February 14, 2011. The remaining channels and blocks using the Playhouse Disney brand outside the US relaunched under the Disney Junior brand over the next two years, concluding with the rebranding of the Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel Russia on September 1, 2013.
History Early years (1999–2002) Prior to Playhouse Disney's launch, Disney Channel had aired a lineup of preschool-targeted programs to compete with Nick Jr. (which were mixed alongside animated series aimed at older children) during the morning hours since its debut in April 1983.
On April 6, 1997, Disney Channel underwent a relaunch that signified the beginning of its full conversion into a commercial-free basic cable channel, and its preschool block now utilized a similar graphics package for its promotions as that used for the channel's afternoon children's programs. After Disney Channel's preschool block premiered three new original series in 1998 (PB&J Otter, Rolie Polie Olie, and Out of the Box), the block officially launched as Playhouse Disney on February 1, 1999.
One of Playhouse Disney's most popular series was Bear in the Big Blue House, which debuted on October 20, 1997; the series was named by TV Guide as one of the "top 10 new shows for kids" that year.
For the first three years of its run, the Playhouse Disney block originally aired each weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and weekends from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Following each program, which usually ran 23 minutes (most of which, except for films, aired without promotional interruption), the remainder of the time period was filled by either short segments and music videos (the latter of which were originally aired under the banner "Feet Beat") or an episode of an acquired short series.
On April 16, 2001, Playhouse Disney received a new rebrand produced by motion graphics company Beehive;Opens and Logos, Post Magazine, June 1, 2002. actress Allyce Beasley began serving as the U.S. block's promo announcer at this time, a capacity she would hold until March 30, 2007, being replaced by Margit Furseth. Playhouse Disney also premiered two new original series, Stanley and The Book of Pooh, in 2001. Radio Disney cross-promoted the block by rebranding its "Mickey and Minnie's Tune Time" block as "Playhouse Disney", and in 2002, the TV block's "Feet Beat" interstitials were renamed "BB's Music Time" to promote the Radio Disney block. On June 25, 2001, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group (now Disney-ABC Television Group) announced plans to launch Playhouse Disney Channel, a companion digital cable and satellite channel that would have served the same target audience as the Disney Channel block; plans for the network were later scrapped, although Disney-ABC International Television would launch dedicated Playhouse Disney channels and blocks in international markets (including Canada, Afro-Eurasia and Latin America) between 2002 and 2007. The Walt Disney Company acquired the broadcast rights to The Wiggles as part of their purchase of the Fox Family Channel in 2001; The Wiggles moved to Playhouse Disney in June 2002 and became one of the block's most watched shows during its run.
Marketing expansion (2002–2011) Like Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney was a commercial-free service, but it did show short "promotional spots" (structured as short-form segments for Disney products targeted at the block's demographics) alongside underwriter sponsorships beginning in 2002, (with companies such as McDonald's) within breaks between programs (preschool-targeted programs that aired between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. Central Time outside of the Playhouse Disney banner, included the promotional shorts for Disney entertainment products that were seen during Disney Channel's afternoon and nighttime schedule). On September 30, 2002, Playhouse Disney changed its logo to reflect Disney Channel's on-air rebranding. The block also replaced some of its older interstitial material and introduced a mascot that month named Clay (voiced by Debi Derryberry), an anthropomorphic clay figure who often used the catchphrases "It's true!" and "Are you with me?"
On March 31, 2007, Ooh and Aah, two puppet monkeys (who served as the main characters for one of the short series featured on the Playhouse Disney lineup, Ooh, Aah & You) became the official hosts of the block, replacing Clay. Every summer since 2007, Playhouse Disney's end time was truncated to four hours on weekdays (from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time). Episodes from Disney Channel's original series were aired during the late morning and early afternoon hours. However, the weekend schedule continued to air for seven hours. By 2010, the Playhouse Disney block had expanded to air from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays, and 4:00 to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on weekends, each running a different schedule.
Rebranding as Disney Junior
On May 26, 2010, Disney-ABC Television Group announced the relaunch of Playhouse Disney as Disney Junior, which would serve as the brand for the Disney Channel block and a new standalone digital cable and satellite channel in the United States, as well as the new brand for the existing Playhouse Disney-branded cable channels and program blocks outside the US.PreSchool Programs Replace SOAPnet, The New York Times, May 27, 2010.SOAPnet Will Go Dark to Make Way for Disney Junior , Entertainment Weekly, May 26, 2010. The Playhouse Disney block ended its almost 14-year run on February 13, 2011, with the last program to air being an episode of the short series Handy Manny's School for Tools at 8:55 a.m. Eastern Time.
The Disney Junior block debuted on February 14, 2011, with the Little Einsteins episode "Fire Truck Rocket" as its first program. Several former Playhouse Disney series were carried over to the relaunched block including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Special Agent Oso, Imagination Movers, Handy Manny, and Little Einsteins. With the relaunch of the block, the block's mascots Ooh and Aah were retired and several of its older programs were entirely discontinued (however, Ooh and Aah & You was later briefly available on the Disney Junior website as a part of the Fan Favorites week of July 18, 2011 and was also later carried in reruns on the Disney Junior cable channel). Additionally, its episodes are available on Disney Junior's YouTube channel as of January 6, 2011.
The 24-hour Disney Junior cable channel debuted on March 23, 2012, with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode "Mickey's Big Surprise" as its first program, mainly featuring a mix of original series and programs held over from the Playhouse Disney library (which largely aired as part of the channel's overnight schedule until mid-2014 when over time, more Playhouse Disney shows were taken off the air completely after premiering their series finales and ceased to air in reruns).Disney Junior to Replace SOAPnet in 2012, Deadline Hollywood, May 26, 2010. Disney Junior took over the channel space held by the Disney-owned soap opera-focused channel Soapnet, largely due to that channel's declining subscriber reach (being carried in 75 million households with pay television at the time of Disney Junior's launch). An automated Soapnet feed remained in operation for providers that did not yet reach agreements to carry the Disney Junior channel or providers that were required to continue carrying Soapnet in addition to Disney JuniorVillarreal, Yvonne. "Show Tracker: What You're Watching — Disney Junior 24/7 channel launches Friday, Los Angeles Times, March 22, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012. until Soapnet fully ceased operations by quietly shutting down on December 31, 2013, at 11:59 pm, following an episode of General Hospital as the last program to air on the network.
Programming Final programming Original programming +TitleFirst air dateLast air dateSource(s)Note(s)Little EinsteinsOctober 9, 2005 February 13, 2011 The show ended on December 22, 2009, but continued to air reruns on Playhouse Disney until February 13, 2011.Mickey Mouse ClubhouseMay 5, 2006Handy MannySeptember 16, 2006My Friends Tigger & PoohMay 12, 2007The show ended on October 9, 2010, but continued to air reruns on Playhouse Disney until February 13, 2011.Imagination MoversSeptember 6, 2008Special Agent OsoApril 4, 2009Jungle JunctionOctober 5, 2009
Acquired programming +TitleFirst air dateLast air dateSource(s)Note(s)Charlie and LolaMarch 21, 2005 February 13, 2011ChuggingtonJanuary 18, 2010Timmy TimeSeptember 13, 2010February 11, 2011
Interstitial programming TitleFirst air dateLast air dateSource(s)Shanna's Show20032011Choo Choo SoulMay 1, 20062011Lou and Lou: Safety PatrolJune 16, 20062011Happy Monster BandOctober 1, 20072011Ooh, Aah & YouJuly 15, 20052011Shane's Kindergarten CountdownJune 20, 20052011Can You Teach My Alligator Manners?June 21, 20082011Tasty Time with ZeFronkNovember 8, 20082011Whiffle and Fuzz20082011Where Is Warehouse Mouse?August 24, 20092011Dance-A-Lot RobotFebruary 27, 20102011Handy Manny's School for ToolsJanuary 25, 20102011
Former programming Original programming +TitleFirst air dateLast air dateSource(s)Bear in the Big Blue HouseOctober 25, 1997May 6, 2007PB&J OtterMarch 21, 1998June 24, 2006Rolie Polie OlieOctober 3, 1998December 30, 2006Out of the BoxOctober 10, 1998June 24, 2006The Book of PoohJanuary 27, 2001June 24, 2006StanleySeptember 15, 2001May 16, 2008JoJo's CircusSeptember 20, 2003January 2, 2009Higglytown HeroesSeptember 11, 2004March 29, 2009Johnny and the SpritesOctober 15, 2005January 2, 2009BunnytownNovember 10, 2007November 8, 2008
Acquired programming +TitleFirst air dateLast air dateSource(s)TaleSpinApril 6, 1997October 2, 1998Chip 'n Dale Rescue RangersAugust 29, 1999Amazing AnimalsCo-production.January 2, 2000The Little Mermaid April 7, 1997 September 29, 2002The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh August 1, 2006Adventures in Wonderland June 5, 1998Katie and OrbieJune 2, 1997December 31, 1999MadelineSeptember 4, 2005Jungle CubsSeptember 15, 1997September 3, 2000101 Dalmatians: The SeriesOctober 5, 1998July 16, 1999Sing Me a Story with BelleSeptember 3, 2000RupertSeptember 4, 2000January 2001The WigglesJune 17, 2002May 24, 2009AnatoleSeptember 17, 2002September 13, 2004The Koala BrothersJanuary 26, 2004May 16, 2008The DoodlebopsApril 11, 2005January 2, 2009
Interstitial programming
Circle Time (April 6, 1997 – September 29, 2002) Curious George (April 6, 1997 – 1999) Will Quack Quack (April 6, 1997 – 1999) The Adventures of Spot (April 6, 1997 – September 29, 2002) Joke Time (April 6, 1997 – September 29, 2002) Behind the Ears (1997–2000, 2007–2009) Microscopic Milton (1997 – September 29, 2002) Frankenguy and the Professor (November 1997 – September 29, 2002) Magic Drawings (1998 – April 15, 2001) Feet Beat (1998 – September 29, 2002) Pablo the Little Red Fox (1999 – September 29, 2002) Animal Stories (1999 – September 29, 2002) Poky and Friends (1999 – April 15, 2001) Mini Movies (April 16, 2001 – September 29, 2002) Stanley's Animal Facts (2001–2006) Wiggles Time (January 28, 2002 – March 29, 2007) Mike's Super Short Show (January 1, 2002 – 2007) BB's Music Time (September 30, 2002 – 2007) Good Manners with Max Time (September 30, 2002 – 2007) Mickey's Letter Time (September 30, 2002 – 2006) Page's Word of the Day (September 30, 2002 – 2007) Sharing Time (September 30, 2002 – 2005)