Zac Efron, Disney’s new tweeny-bopper idol, heart-throb and meal ticket is working hard plugging his new movie with Mathew Perry, 17 Again, which comes out this Friday. If you watched American Idol tonight, you saw the big marketing promotion in full swing and Disney continues to market to every prepubescent girl in America on the Disney Channel and buying spots on younger children’s programing, problem is, a minute little detail that is continued to be overlooked — the movie is rated PG-13. Now, I’m no prude and not necessarily opposed to taking young children to such a movie, but how many moms out there are going to take their little 7 year olds girls to this movie, thinking that it’s a Disney movie with the High School Musical safe cutie Zac Efron only to discover, uh….it may not be appropriate?

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I put my foot down with myself and made an executive decision for the family.  I will only be seeing one movie this weekend and that is final.  The choice turned out to be easy for the kids.  Sari wanted to see HSM3 and Drew wanted to go mask shopping with Dad.  Jack Skellington in 3D would just have to wait.  I could have gone either way.  Like I’ve said before, my idea of a good kid’s movie is one that engages my children.  Their enjoyment is contagious.  As it turned out, we had a great time.

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Is there any kid on the planet who is not out of their minds over the upcoming HSM3 premiere?  The release date is October 24.  Having overheard Sari (8) and I discussing our advanced ticket options, my Son Drew (12) piped in, “Did you guys get me a ticket?”  This from the kid who dares to slander Zac Efron in our own house.  You would think the groundings and extra chores would discourage him from continually referring to our “Zackikens” eyebrows as “girlie” and prediciting he would be the first one to be kicked off Dancing With the Stars. I’ll get him a ticket alright.  Straight to bed without his 4th meal… high metabolismed Troy Bolton hater.  He probably just wants to go because he knows there will be lots of chicks there.

Anyway, Sari and I are pretty excited over here.  The movies have been looping today instead of The Coffeehouse, our favorite Sirius music channel that sets the sound track to our lives during homework chores, and dinner.  Ryan and Sharpay are currently bopping to the top behind me.

No, the kids from East High are no “Entourage” but I do get caught up in my daughter’s enthusiasm.  She’s been hooked on the original “Hairspray” since she was 3 and now the remake as well.  (Zac Efron, Hello!)  She has not yet gone wild for “Grease” but there is still time.  The HSM franchise is as original as it is unoriginal.  Coming in at the front of the musical revival it was a brave project.  Now, though, it’s the most common safest bet.  At 8 years old, she has plenty of time to get “edgy” later.  I like her following the Disney influence and “niceness”.  I will continue to be excited with her and encourage it.

It is in that spirit that Sari and I wanted to share our East High Spirit so our gift to you today is the Countdown to High School Musical 3 ticker included here.  Check back frequently when you need an update.

It’s pahhhhttty time! And also time to make the Disney Company even richer.

Because kids are growing up way too fast these days, our 4- and 9-year-olds are joining the ranks of crying, love-sick tween girls in anticipation of High School Musical 2, debuting tomorrow on Disney Channel.

It’s hard to believe there is any money out there that Disney doesn’t already have, but you have to give credit where credit is due — they know how to pick attractive theater geeks and write catchy tunes, combined with blitz marketing schemes that span their many TV shows and turn robotic teens with mediocre singing and acting skills into franchise juggernauts.

If you haven’t heard that Corbin Bleu has, like, the coolest hair and that Zac Efron is dreamy, then your kids are too little to be in the know or too old to be so dorky. I cannot escape the dorkiness however, so our Tivo is set.

The cast of “HSM: 2″ gaying it up

If you don’t believe me, chew on these stats:

7 million: Dollars budgeted for “High School Musical 2″ (the original was made for $4.2 million).

2,000: U.S. schools and community theaters that have licensed to do “HSM” stage productions.

100 +:Countries in which “HSM” has been televised.

42: Cities visited on the sold-out “HSM” concert tour.

18: Age of Corbin Bleu, the youngest member of the cast.

9: New songs featured in the sequel.

2: Emmy Awards won by “HSM” (best children’s program and best choreography).

1: The ranking held by the “HSM” soundtrack in album sales for 2006 (3.7 million units sold).

Please don’t tell me I’m alone in having to listen to this crap, at least in the background while I write blog posts.