Disney’s decision to let season 4 of High School Musical happen will probably go down as one of the network’s smarter moves in TV history. The show was a huge hit, and its following proved that season 4 was in high demand. Additionally, not extending the storyline further and closing out the related script arc was a bit of genius on the part of the show’s producer, Tim Federle. His initial pitch was a freak risk decision that Disney decided to invest in, and it paid off. Four strong seasons of audience following and expectations for more made High School Musical probably one of the best TV successes of a musical since Glee first came on the scene.
A Critical Formula
Every episode and show of High School Musical worked on a key formula that combined high school drama people could relate to from their own years in school, humor and vivid emotion. It’s essentially the building blocks of good storytelling and something people tap into repeatedly. The vision and consistency of the show proved to be correct; audiences kept coming back for more, even rooting for specific characters and getting caught up in their changes as the seasons moved the story arc from one phase to the next.
Interestingly, the show had a high probability of not happening in the first place. High School Musical was pitched without any previous TV production and on an idea that was deemed “crazy” by Disney executives. However, it was crazy enough that it had a good chance of working, so the bet was made. The first season was, not surprisingly, a make-or-break run, but once the audience reaction started coming in, the show was set for at least a second season afterward.
Looking Back & Hitting Jackpot
Everyone involved with High School Musical knows it’s been a great run and an amazing chance of good luck that everything fell in place to make it happen. Disney could have easily passed on the pitch with everything else it usually sees on a given day and thousands of other proposals. However, this one time, High School Musical was the one that got the attention. While calling the TV show, “epic,” might be a bit of a stretch, High School Musical definitely will go down in TV history as a solid success, especially for the actors involved who also get to claim it on their resumes. In fact, the show was so popular, media magazines were scrambling over each other to get the scoop on the launch of the final season, with the winning article going to People Magazine at the end of 2022.
And now, it’s over.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.