An event called D23 is going on this weekend down at the Anaheim Convention Center. Billed as "the ultimate Disney fan expo," it's pretty much a big infomercial and Disney Store combined, catering to folks who are just fine with that and eager to attend.
Yesterday morning, they had a ceremony to induct more names into the annals of Disney Legends. I gather there's a widespread feeling among Disney purists that the definition of a "Disney Legend" is being lowered to anyone famous who's ever done anything that made the company a buck. This year's inductees included a bunch of folks who did one voice of one character on one movie…an achievement that somehow doesn't seem to warrant quite the same trophy given to Carl Barks, Ub Iwerks, the Sherman Brothers or the members of the Nine Old Men who lived into the era when they began giving these things out.
In any case, they presented one to a person no one would argue was a legend, though some might argue Jim Henson wasn't exactly a Disney legend. I'm not quite sure why it took until 2011 for Mr. Henson to make the cut. Disney acquired his major characters in 2003. Jim Henson died in 1990 and hasn't made any noticeable contribution since then. How did he suddenly become worthy of the honor now?
The award to Regis Philbin is an example of a significant difference in how the company thinks and how the fans, in general, think. To the latter, "Disney" is the company that operates the theme parks, handles the classic characters and makes movies and TV shows that are obvious extensions of the ones Walt produced. Regis, whatever his achievements, doesn't fit into that even if his paycheck does come from (and the profits from his show do go to) the Disney corporation.
Oh, well. Here are two news reports on the event that just happened (what a coincidence) to appear on a local news channel owned by Disney…
And here's a non-authorized video someone took of the performance at the Disney Legends ceremony by Kermit and Rowlf — two characters first performed by Jim Henson but now in the capable hands of others. I assume Kermit is performed by Steve Whitmire and Rowlf by Bill Barretta but am not absolutely certain…