Bludgeoned by Raven

I like to think that “High School Musical” evolved naturally into the hit it’s become – especially compared to the hitting over the head Disney Channel is doing to have its captive tween audiences swallow the generally wan “Cheetah Girls 2” movie this weekend.

Following a Friday premiere, and a Saturday show that was supposed to tie-into events at YWCAs nationally and then a sing-along version Sunday, it seems like it’s going through the cycle it took “High School Musical” months to get through.

Actually, though, “High School Musical” became a hit in part because of the same bludgeoning promotion, with full scale musical numbers cut out and becoming music “videos” on a station that doesn’t otherwise air videos – repeated with the kind of synergistic zeal usually reserved for Radio Disney (which plugs the songs as well).

Then there’s all kind of cross promotion with shows that are hits. This one culminated in a Thursday re-airing of “High School Musical” had a countdown clock ticking the seconds until the next night’s “Cheetah Girls 2” premiere amid the usual pile-up of promos, videos and plugs.

It’s true I’m not the target audience for “Cheetah Girls” fare, and tend to think that star and now executive producer Raven is a little too mature to play her high school roles. But Disney has made sure there’s no way that her new movie can’t become a hit.