Miley has reason to be smiley: 'Hannah Montana" is a tween hit

By RODNEY HOCox News ServiceLOS ANGELES -
Reading through a script the other day for an upcoming fantasy episode of Disney's hit show "Hannah Montana," actress Miley Cyrus spied her new bed, which featured a gaudy gold headboard. The 14-year-old leapt on the mattress and said to nobody in particular, "I feel like a princess!"
Miley has a good reason to feel like royalty. Her show sits atop the Disney tween kingdom.

For the uninitiated, she plays regular teen Miley Stewart by day, then dons a blond wig to become mondo pop star Hannah Montana for concerts and appearances. It's a secret known only to her closest friends and her family, including her dad Robbie, played by her real-life dad Billy Ray Cyrus. (Yes, that's the ponytailed dude who sang "Achy Breaky Heart" back in 1992.)

Disney finished 2006 as the top-rated basic cable network in two youth categories, ages 6 to 11 and 9 to 14. It offers hit movies such as "High School Musical" and the new "Jump In!" plus a coterie of regular series such as "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" and the new "That's So Raven" spinoff, "Cory in the House."

Among all TV shows, however, "Hannah" finished second among tweens behind only "American Idol."

The sitcom, taping its second season, evokes a style that would have fit comfortably in the ABC TGIF lineup 15 years ago, sandwiched between "Full House" and "Family Matters."It features plenty of sweet goofiness, such as Miley pretending to be a mannequin so her dad won't buy her an ugly dress, or wearing a moose outfit. Plus, there are visits by real-life stars such as Dolly Parton and Vicki Lawrence and, in the episode being taped this week to air in July, a squeal-worthy Jesse McCartney.

Sure, the whole double-life gambit is a lark, but the concept allows Disney to turn Miley/Hannah into a genuine pop star. Already, she has a hit single with "Best of Both Worlds," and the show soundtrack, released in October, has already sold more than two million copies."

Disney does a great job promoting us," said Emily Osment, the younger sister of actor Haley Joel Osment, who plays Miley's best friend, Lilly. "Although I've done a lot of other work before this, people now scream 'Lilly!' That's the only thing they know me for."

During the few weeks when the show is not churning out episodes, Miley is on the road doing concerts, including a recent stop opening for another Disney-created group, the Cheetah Girls.

"It's been tiring, but it's really fun," Miley said, during a break in rehearsals. "If I get eight hours of sleep a night, I'm fortunate. I usually get five or six." Still, she seems a youthful whirlwind of energy, with her rush of words and ever-present grin. (Her real name is Destiny; "Miley" is a nickname derived from the fact she smiled all the time as a toddler.)

The Nashville native wasn't easy to find, show producers said. Originally, she was considered too small and too young. But after sifting through thousands of tapes and auditioning more than 50 girls, they came back to Miley.

The second season will feature more plotlines where Miley's secret identity almost leaks out, and we will learn more about her long-lost mom, played by Brooke Shields."Brooke's daughter loves the show," Peterman said.

Disney's modus operandi is to tape as many shows as possible as soon as possible, then bank the episodes. Why?

"Well," Peterman said, "kids have a nasty habit of growing up."

Source: Philadelphia Daily News

Big Congrats to Miley and the entire cast of Hannah Montana!! :D