Corbin Bleu and Brenda Song bring diversity to The Disney Channel
by guest contributor Karen Gilmore
I find it a little sad that a couple of the most asked questions he gets according to his journal are: 1.) What is your ethnicity? and 2.) How does he get his hair like that? In an interview Bleu was aked what are some of the struggles for him in the entertainment business? His answer:
…A lot of times, they’re not looking for your type, especially because I’m mixed, especially. A lot of times they either want to go full on Caucasian or they want to go full on black. They either want somebody who is really black and from the street, and urban, and a little bit ghetto, or they want a Caucasian. That’s probably one of the hardest struggles for me.
Although it’s nice to see her get a leading role, it would have been better if it wasn’t a martial arts movie. Our minds won’t melt if we don’t see a predominantly Asian cast do backflips.
Since The Disney Channel seems to groom its stars the old Hollywood studio style, we’ll probably be seeing Bleu and Song in various Disney related projects. And if they’re really blessed, they’ll get Hilary Duff type success and hopefully more interesting parts will be developed for them.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
kim wrote:
I don’t know how long this has been posted here, but it is so topical for me.
As regards the young man, Corbin, and the questions about his hair, I was just telling my son last night that if the students at his school were to walk up to him and query him on whether they could balance things on his penis, they way they persistently pester to be allowed to balance things on his “poofy” hair, then I’m sure he would react with the appropriate sense of offense and demand that they back off.
So many people want to pretend that “others” seem otherworldly, and therefore must engage in alien rites when it comes to simple, basic forms of living (i.e., hygiene). This is a willful ignorance, and a diversion from speaking and behaving to the reason for interacting, or even the real issue: being drawn to someone, in an appreciative manner, who is different-looking than onesself.
Of course, I am up to the school today, to speak with the Powers That Be. They really dread seeing me come in the office up there.
As regards Brenda Song, and the Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior Disney movie, I would have to echo the sentiments of the young writer and say that for as full of verve and presence Ms. Song is, it would have been nice to see her in a different venue. The stereotypes in the movie were just dismally appalling, and I ended up yelling at the television screen as my seven year old watched. We had to do a de-briefing when the film was over.
Posted 05 Dec 2006 at 11:06 am ¶
Katie wrote:
I felt the same way about the Wendy Wu movie – watched it while I was babysitting some little girls I know and ended up groaning through the whole thing. Stereotype after stereotype – mystic Asians, intrinsic martial arts ability, jade, unhappy Americanized (but really Asian) families needing to get back to their “roots”…
Pretty much crap.
Posted 05 Dec 2006 at 3:43 pm ¶
justin wrote:
I watch late night repeats of lilo and stich on the disney channel so I’ve seen promos for the Suite life of Zack and Cody with out actually seeing the show. Brenda Song plays a character called London Tilton she’s like a human bratz doll. I can’t stop associating her with that song London Bridge by Fergie. So I’m never going to be able to see anything she’s in with out compulsive vomiting.
Posted 06 Dec 2006 at 11:44 am ¶
kim wrote:
justin-
really. suspend your disbelief for an hour and a half. she’s trying to stretch her chops. when you have a couple of kiddie-o’s and find that the character actors they have grown up watching have actually continued to act, and taken some roles that cause them to stretch, maybe you’ll stretch along with them.
Posted 06 Dec 2006 at 6:59 pm ¶
justin wrote:
Yeah, I had to suspend my disbelief to watch lilo and stitch and that paid off, so your probably right.
Incidentally I am still coming to terms with the sinbad post and a bunch of other earth shattering things around here . . .
Posted 07 Dec 2006 at 1:20 am ¶
Carly wrote:
i love your songs my sister and I dance to it every time its on the tv.Love ya
Posted 08 Dec 2006 at 8:45 pm ¶
SolShine7 wrote:
Thanks for all the comments!
Posted 13 Dec 2006 at 5:20 am ¶
america wrote:
hi corbin how old are you and if 13 and i am 11 we can go out ok cutie pie
Posted 13 Dec 2006 at 6:33 pm ¶
america wrote:
hi corbin how old are you and if 13 and i am 11 we can go out ok cutie pie
Posted 13 Dec 2006 at 6:33 pm ¶
stephanie duran wrote:
hi corbin what arre you doing
Posted 15 Dec 2006 at 9:18 pm ¶
Lisa wrote:
I Love you Corbin and I want to have your babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 17 Dec 2006 at 9:21 am ¶
Anonymous wrote:
a dis dinnes a why are they sending messeges to you boi boi boi!!! you so fine i wona make you mine
Posted 18 Dec 2006 at 1:26 am ¶
Jasmine wrote:
Corbin you are so sexy I know all the words to your song push it oh I wish i had your phone number. There is so many things i want to say to you. you so sexy and when you had your hair pulled back in that pony tail you looked so good. im looking forward to seeing your movie i know im gonna love it because your in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 19 Dec 2006 at 5:57 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
Corbin Bleu rocks my face off! He’s a great dancer!
Posted 20 Dec 2006 at 1:38 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
Little girls listen Corbin Bleu was born on February 21,1989 he will be 18 soon yall 11 year olds are fast! To Corbin: my name is jasmine i am 16. I find you attractive. I signed up on a website to get your address and i will be writing you. I am a down to earth girl that wants to get to know you not that wants you for money or fame. I want you. Not for looks either because i am not all that so i dont like to brag. This is a very sincere note and i hope you get this so i can get to know you not the tv you.
Posted 22 Dec 2006 at 9:31 am ¶
christian wrote:
corbin, you are so friggin sexy! i’m your babies’ mama!!!!!!!! why are you so fine? luv yas! mwah
Posted 25 Dec 2006 at 6:52 pm ¶
christian wrote:
corbin i am not like all those other girls that just want to for your looks i actually look at personality and stuff like that so please don’t judge me based on what i said in my last post. i really want to get to know you and according to me, age doesn’t matter when it comes to love. so even if i was a 7 year old, which i’m not, when you turned 30, i’d be 20 so it doesn’t really matter about the age. anyway, i just wanted to let you know that i am your biggest fan and you are so talented. luv you!
Posted 25 Dec 2006 at 6:57 pm ¶
christian wrote:
i really want to get to know you and i’ll give you my e-mail adress if you actually read this webiste. i’m not going to post it for everyone to see but ummm…i guess i’ll e-mail you on your webiste. i think your a pretty cool guy and happen to have good looks to go along with it. what a coincidence!!!
Posted 25 Dec 2006 at 6:59 pm ¶
Aleticia Glasgow wrote:
Dear Corbin Bleu how are you I want you ro call me thank you.
Posted 26 Dec 2006 at 2:42 am ¶
ZAVIER OWENS wrote:
CORBIN BLEU YOU ARE SO CUTE THAT I WANT TO SUCK YOUR DICK!!!!!!!!
(COME TO 1243 DAISY ST.
I LIKE IT WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HAIR IN A PONY TAIL!!!!!!!!
Posted 26 Dec 2006 at 9:59 pm ¶
Caitlyn wrote:
Corbin, Oh my god u r so cute. I really luv guys who volenteer and do charety work. U see all these guys just go arround smackin’ my a$$ and I dont like those guys who just want sex. thats y i like u because u seem like you like personalit and good looks. Well sorry but my cup size is c36 and Im 17. I realllly want 2 get 2gether and talk with u. By the way ur music video was really good and I loved ur hair pulled back.
Posted 27 Dec 2006 at 12:14 pm ¶
Caitlyn wrote:
Oh corbin i really want ur dick up me right now. Its probably huge and my pussy is large so huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh
Posted 27 Dec 2006 at 12:18 pm ¶
sabrena esterly wrote:
Dear Corbin,
Sorry for my friend caitlyn, she really thinks your cute. Her real age is 12, what she said was all a lie, I think. Knowing her the deskusting part is true, gross!!
Anyway I think your really cute, and that your a sweet guy, I think it would be great to meat you. I am also 12 years of age, It would be so cool to meat you.
Please write back
Posted 27 Dec 2006 at 6:56 pm ¶
christine wrote:
brenda you is hot and sexy
Posted 28 Dec 2006 at 6:06 pm ¶
Lexi L. & Kayla K. wrote:
We think Corbin is cute.
Love, Lexi & Kayla
Posted 29 Dec 2006 at 10:51 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Um, Christmas break is almost over, kids. Don’t you have homework to do? If not, your parents really should consider a better school.
Sheesh.. can’t wait til school starts again.
Posted 29 Dec 2006 at 12:19 pm ¶
kayleigh wrote:
hi brenda
Posted 30 Dec 2006 at 5:52 pm ¶
Tiffy wrote:
Um Peoplez Corbin iz in fact a Christian so I’m pretty sure all those perverted things u r saying are not really working…..
N/E wayz I think Corbin iz soooo kewl and not just becuz ur really hot. i liek ur personality too!
Much love!!!!!!!
Tiffany
Posted 30 Dec 2006 at 11:10 pm ¶
sabrena wrote:
yo miss lyonside i think you better be nice to them kids yall talkin to because yall are being really rude. so we kids have crushes on corbin, big deal. Yes some get out of hand, and then i have to agree with you, but others, like me,are nice and dont say nasty things.
Posted 31 Dec 2006 at 7:58 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
I can’t believe I’m responding, but….
Sabrena: Please – if being “nice” means not being annoyed that the second constant post moderation is paused due to a mod’s much-deserved vacation, the posts immediately degrade into infantile lewd remarks, then no, I really have no incentive to be nice.
Was I responding to you? Nope – it was a comment at large. As a basic public service netiquette announcement at large (that is, not to you): Posting personal info online, even if fake, is not a smart move. Posting sexually explicit leet-speak on a blog to seem grown-up does the exact opposite. And if a blog post happens to be about your idol, that doesn’t mean the idol is reading the post replies.
Doing any of these 3 things will accomplish nothing but make other readers (like me) roll our eyes and fear for the future.
Posted 31 Dec 2006 at 5:33 pm ¶
ZAVIER OWENS wrote:
CORBIN BLEU YOU ARE SO CUTE THAT I WANT TO SUCK YOUR BIG DICK!!!!!
(YES I AM GAY!!!!!)
Posted 05 Jan 2007 at 3:56 am ¶
Rahma wrote:
This comment has been deleted by the moderator. Please do not leave your personal contact information on this blog. Please do not attempt to contact celebrities via this blog because we are not affiliated with them in any shape or form.
Posted 05 Jan 2007 at 12:05 pm ¶
colleen keena wrote:
oh my god im like your biggiest fan!
I LOVE YOU CORBIN!!!
Posted 06 Jan 2007 at 8:27 am ¶
colleen keena wrote:
oh my god im like your biggiest fan!
I LOVE YOU CORBIN!!!
Posted 06 Jan 2007 at 8:28 am ¶
colleen keena wrote:
todays my birthday and i was wondering if you 2 could some how keep the shows that your in on a little latter then they are now so my friends and i could see you 2 longer on my birthday i wish you could sing happy birthday
for me.
(=
Posted 06 Jan 2007 at 8:37 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
My God, Colleen Keena (and anyone else who follows her): READ (I know, it’s a weekend, but try) Post #32 – no celebrity reads this blog, and if they do, they will not respond to you. They have no access to your email, they have no affiliation with this site, and your comments end up reading as spam. This is not a fan site.
This goes for everyone: The post is now a month old. Could we please, LET THE THREAD DIE AND MOVE ON unless, of course, you have something constructive to add? Maybe about the way Disney shows diversity, or merely pays lip service to the same?
Posted 06 Jan 2007 at 10:38 am ¶
Sharmin wrote:
Hey Corbin! i loved your music video” Push It To The Limit “. It was awesome! I loved the rhythm in the song. I hope you good luck in your movie!
Posted 06 Jan 2007 at 3:26 pm ¶
katrin wrote:
hey there!!! corbin i defenetly have to say i enjoy your work both as a singer and as an actor. im 13 turning 14 and ive been trying to find a way to meet the cast of high school musical but i just cant you guys dont do much concerts here in miami and when i went to the parade at disney world i missed it….. also in disney they have the high school musical peperally it really wasnt that good because it didnt have the real stars. well i entered the contest to meet the cast of high school musical i really hope i win to meet you .. and no im not an obsessed fan i just really like you… well anyways gotta go and good luck for everything that is ahead of you.
sincerly,
much love 2,
katrin
Posted 06 Jan 2007 at 4:41 pm ¶
Chantavia wrote:
Hey what up. What are you doing today.Email me back
Posted 08 Jan 2007 at 6:37 pm ¶
jaque wrote:
This comment has been deleted by the moderator. Please do not leave your personal contact information on this blog. Please do not attempt to contact celebrities via this blog because we are not affiliated with them in any shape or form.
Posted 08 Jan 2007 at 7:25 pm ¶
simona wrote:
iloveallofur shows
Posted 10 Jan 2007 at 8:40 pm ¶
pierre wrote:
hey whats good corbin. im curintly tryin 2 find more info on u or kyle 4 the kick it with kyle and corbin sweepstakes. i hope my friend ashley and me will get to c and sing with u. ashley said that you look 2 fine. and brenda i personaly say you is 2 good. i canit wait 2 c u brenda and dependin on how sweepstakes go i will c you corbin.
Posted 10 Jan 2007 at 11:12 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
Corbin you are soo cute;do you have a girlfriend
Posted 11 Jan 2007 at 10:17 am ¶
jamal wrote:
This comment has been deleted by the moderator. Please do not leave your personal contact information on this blog. Please do not attempt to contact celebrities via this blog because we are not affiliated with them in any shape or form.
Posted 12 Jan 2007 at 11:28 am ¶