The ratings are in! Starstruck, Disney Channel’s 78th original movie, premiered Sunday with 6 million total viewers, doubling NBC’s Olympic Coverage in the kids demographics. This marks the highest number ever generated by the network in the time period in Tweens 9-14 (2.3 million), and second-highest on record in Total Viewers (6.0 million) and Kids 6-11 (2.4 million).
For those who are not familiar, Starstruck follows the love-struck adventures of Jessica Olson (Danielle Campbell), a down-to-earth girl from the Midwest who literally collides with Hollywood teen pop star Christopher Wilder (Sterling Knight). Though they magically connect in Southern California, their bond is tested when she returns home and he publicly denies their relationship.
Starstruck also features Brandon Mychal Smith (Sonny With A Chance) as Stubby, Christopher’s childhood best friend; Maggie Castle (The Time Traveler’s Wife) as Sara Olson, Jessica’s older, star struck sister; and Dan O’Connor (Malcolm in the Middle) and Beth Littleford (I’m in the Band, Rules of Engagement) as Dean and Barbara Olson, Jessica and Sara’s parents.
The success of Starstruck isn’t really that surprising. Both Knight and Smith are familiar faces to Disney Channel fans because of their roles on Sonny With A Chance, a series that follows the experiences of teenager Sonny Munroe (Demi Lovato), who becomes the new cast member of a live comedy show, So Random. Knight plays teen hearthrob Chad Dylan Cooper while Smith appears as Nico Harris, a teen cast member of So Random.
Since its February 2009 premiere, Sonny With A Chance has been TV’s number 1 program in its Sunday 8:00pm time slot in Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14, and ranks among TV’s Top 5 programs overall in the target demos.
Source: Disney
(Image courtesy of Disney)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
