Hannah Montana is an American Emmy Award-nominated[1] children’s television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on Disney Channel. The series focuses on Miley Stewart (played by Miley Cyrus), who lives a double life as an average teenage girl at school during the day, and a famous pop singer (Hannah Montana) at night, concealing her real identity from the public, other than her close friends and family.

Contents
1 Production
1.1 Popularity
1.2 Opening sequence
1.3 Lawsuit
2 Cast
2.1 Main
2.2 Recurring
2.3 Minor
2.4 Guest appearances
3 Episodes
4 Films
4.1 Hannah Montana: The Movie
4.2 Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
5 Songs
5.1 Soundtracks
6 Nominations and awards
7 DVD releases
7.1 Volume 1: Living the Rock Star Life
7.2 That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana
7.3 Volume 2: Pop Star Profile
7.4 Volume 3: Life’s What You Make It
7.5 Wish Gone Amiss
7.6 Volume 4: One in a Million
7.7 Volume 5: Behind the Spotlight
8 International release
9 Video games
10 Hannah Montana in pop culture
11 =play on songs
11.1 See also
11.2 References
11.3 External links

Michael Poryes, who is credited as co-creator, also co-created the hit Disney Channel Original Series That’s So Raven. The show is produced by It’s a Laugh Productions, Inc., in association with Disney. It is filmed at Tribune Studios in Hollywood, CA. The series premiere scored record ratings for Disney Channel: 5.4 million viewers, a response “beyond our wildest expectations,” according to the president of Disney Channel Entertainment.[2]

The original idea for this show was based on the That’s So Raven episode “Goin’ Hollywood”, which was supposed to be the pilot episode for a sitcom called Better Days, in which a child star of a popular TV show of the same name was to try her hand at going to a normal school. The episode “New Kid in School” has the basic premise as that aforementioned episode. Other names considered for the title were The Secret Life of Zoe Stewart (discarded as too similar to Zoey 101 on Nickelodeon), The Popstar Life!, and Alexis Texas. Former American Juniors finalist Jordan McCoy and pop and R&B singer JoJo (who rejected the role)[3] were considered for the role of Zoe Stewart. Miley Cyrus originally auditioned for the role of the “best friend”[4] Lilly Romero, later changed to Lilly Truscott, but they thought she would be better for the main character, so she tried out for Zoe Stewart/Hannah Montana. Zoe Stewart was later changed to Chloe Stewart, which was eventually changed to Miley when she got the part. The names of Hannah Montana were changed a few times. Three of the previous names were Anna Cabana, Samantha York, and Alexis Texas.

In December 2006, Disney announced plans to release Hannah Montana products, including: clothing, jewelery, apparel, and dolls, at select stores. [5] Play Along Toys released the Hannah Montana fashion dolls, singing dolls and Miley Stewart doll, and other merchandise in August 2007. More Hannah dolls were released in November, along with Oliver and Lilly dolls. They became one of the most popular Christmas toys in 2007.[6] Hannah Montana is signed for at least one more season according to Disney Channel. Filming for the second season started in December. The new season started in April, 2007, in which she is in high school.[7]As stated by Jason Earles at the launch of the High School Musical 2 Extended Edition DVD, filming of the second season has finished.
Popularity
Main article: Best of Both Worlds Tour
In addition to the high ratings of the TV series, concerts for Hannah Montana have also been exceedingly popular. Tickets for every concert sell out, with some later being scalped for thousands of dollars.[8] The shows attract much attention, with an example being the attendance of Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich who later admitted to having watched every episode.[9]
Opening sequence
The theme song for Hannah Montana is “The Best of Both Worlds” written by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil, produced by Gerrard and performed by Miley Cyrus (as Hannah Montana). John Carta, who also composes the music cues to signify scene changes and commercial breaks, composed the music for the song. The song’s lyrics describe the basic premise of the television series.

The full-length version, which is 2 minutes, 54 seconds in length, was included on the show’s soundtrack, released in October 2006. For the TV version of the theme, which lasts only 50 seconds, only stanzas one and two and stanzas seven and eight were used.

“Just Like You” and “The Other Side of Me” were originally tested for the opening theme song, before “Best of Both Worlds” was chosen as the theme. Stage and features episode clips of each cast member when each cast member’s name appears. Each cast member’s name is “wiped” on the screen in a marquee-light-style. The sequence then switches to full-screen episode clips (most of the clips used in the Season One version of the sequence were of the early produced episodes) with the creator’s names appearing in the second-to-last clip. The show’s title logo design appears at the beginning, and again at the end, of the sequence (the latter portion as with most other portions of the sequence on the “concert stage” feature Cyrus as her character Hannah Montana).
Lawsuit
On 2007-08-23, Buddy Sheffield, a comedy writer who wrote for The Smothers Brothers Show, The Dolly Parton Show and In Living Color, sued Disney over Hannah Montana alleging that he originally came up with the idea for Hannah Montana but was never compensated by Disney. The lawsuit claims breach of contract, breach of confidence, unfair competition and unjust enrichment. In the lawsuit, Sheffield claims that he pitched an idea for a TV series with the name of “Rock and Roland” to Disney Channel in 2001 with the plot of a junior high student who lived a secret double life as a rock star. The lawsuit claims that Disney Channel executives at first liked the idea but passed on the series. Sheffield claims that he deserves a share of the revenue generated by Hannah Montana.[10]
Cast

Main
Miley Cyrus as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana
Emily Osment as Lilly Truscott/Lola
Mitchel Musso as Oliver Oken/Mike Standley III
Jason Earles as Jackson Stewart
Billy Ray Cyrus as Robby Stewart
Moises Arias as Rico (Season 2 onwards)

Recurring
Moises Arias: Rico (Season 1)
Shanica Knowles: Amber Addison
Anna Maria Perez de Tagle: Ashley Dewitt
Dolly Parton: Aunt Dolly
Vicki Lawrence: Mamaw Ruthie
Frances Callier: Roxy
Cody Linley: Jake Ryan
Selena Gomez: Mikayla
Morgan York: Sarah

Minor
Main article: List of Hannah Montana minor characters

Guest appearances
Corbin Bleu: Johnny Collins (2) (Lilly, Do You Want to Know a Secret) (We’re All on This Date Together [Not Yet Aired])
Paul Vogt: Dontzig (3) (Torn Between Two Hannahs, Bad Moose Rising, and The Idol Side of Me)
Ashley Tisdale: Maddie Fitzpatrick (1, On the Open Road)
Lisa Arch: Liza (2, You’re So Vain, You Probably Think This Zit is About You and Smells Like Teen Sellout)
Brooke Shields: Susan Stewart (2, I Am Hannah, Hear Me Croak and The Way We Almost Weren’t)
Larry David: Himself (1, My Best Friend’s Boyfriend)
Madison Pettis: Sophie Martinez (1, Take This Job and Love It!)
John D’Aquino: President Richard Martinez (1, Take This Job and Love It!)
Jesse McCartney: Himself (1, When You Wish You Were the Star)
Selena Gomez: Mikayla (2, I Want You to Want Me to Go to Florida and That’s What Friends Are For)
Jonas Brothers: Themselves (1, Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas)
The Rock: Himself (1, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get the Phone)
Heather Locklear: Heather Truscott (1, Lilly’s Mom Has Got It Going On)
Joey Fatone: Joey Vitolo (1, “Bye Bye Ball”)
Juliette Goglia: Angela Vitolo (1, “Bye Bye Ball”)
Karina Smirnoff: Madame Escajeda (1, “Everybody Was Best-Friend Fighting”)

Episodes
Main article: List of Hannah Montana episodes
Season Ep # First Airdate Last Airdate
Season 1 26 March 24, 2006 March 30, 2007
Season 2 22 (aired), 27 (in total) April 23, 2007 TBA 2008
Films

Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hannah Montana: The Movie has been confirmed by many of the stars from the show. It will not be a Disney Channel Original Movie, but will instead follow in the steps of the Lizzie McGuire series, which is a feature-length film released in cinemas. Filming should take place sometime in spring 2008, and should be released in late 2008 or early 2009.[11] Oprah Winfrey also confirmed on her show on November 21, 2007 that a film was in the works.
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert is an upcoming musical documentary film from Walt Disney Pictures presented in Disney Digital 3-D. The limited release will be for one week, February 1-7, 2008 in the US and Canada with release in other countries later on. Disney recently announced the concert to be filmed in several cities to be theatrically released upon the US in February and internationally throughout the month. The film is to use 3-D glasses. The opening weekend, February, 1 -3, 2008, the movie had gross revenue of $29 million.Ticket prices were as high as $15, at least 50% higher than most regular movie tickets in 2008. It was the number one movie of the weekend, more than doubling the receipts of the number two movie, “The Eye”. Opening in only 642 theaters, it set a record of over $42,000 per theater. It also set a record for the highest revenue for a 3-D movie for one weekend.It also set a record for gross revenue for a Super Bowl weekend.
Songs
Main article: List of Hannah Montana songs

Soundtracks
2006: Hannah Montana Soundtrack
2007: Hannah Montana: Special Edition
2007: Hannah Montana 2 Soundtrack
2007: Hannah Montana 2: Rockstar Edition
2007: Hannah Montana: Disney’s Karaoke Series
2008: Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party
2008: Hannah Montana 2: Disney’s Karaoke Series

Nominations and awards
2007 Creative Arts Emmy - Outstanding Children’s Program (Nominated)
Hannah Montana was up against two other Disney Channel shows, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and That’s So Raven, but lost to a Nick News special, “Private Worlds: Kids and Autism”.
2007 Winner of the “Choice TV Show: Comedy” for the Teen Choice Awards[12]

DVD releases

Volume 1: Living the Rock Star Life
(released October 24, 2006)

“Money for Nothing, Guilt for Free” (never-before-seen episode at time of release)
“Lilly, Do You Want to Know a Secret?” (pilot episode)
“Miley Get Your Gum
“I Can’t Make You Love Hannah If You Don’t
Special Features:

Miley Cyrus Exclusive Interview on Following Your Dreams
Miley’s Audition Tapes
“The Best of Both Worlds” music video
 
Poster for That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana
That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana
(released January 16, 2007)

On the Road Again (Hannah Montana episode)
Special Features:

“Who Said” Music Video (Hannah Montana Bonus)
(This DVD also included another episode from “That’s So Raven” and another from “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”. All three episodes were related and had crossovers amongst each other)
Volume 2: Pop Star Profile
(released June 26, 2007)

This DVD features the first four episodes featuring Jake Ryan.

“New Kid in School”
“More Than a Zombie to Me”
“Good Golly Miss Dolly”
“People Who Use People”
Special features:

“Nobody’s Perfect” music video
A Day with Miley Cyrus and Her Family

Volume 3: Life’s What You Make It
(released October 9, 2007)

“Achy Jakey Heart, Part 1
“Achy Jakey Heart, Part 2
“I Want You to Want Me … To Go to Florida
“I Am Hannah, Hear Me Croak
Special Features:

Hannah Montana Backstage Pass
“Ready, Set, Don’t Go” music video by Billy Ray Cyrus
 
Poster for Wish Gone Amiss
Wish Gone Amiss
(released November 27, 2007)

“When You Wish You Were the Star” (Hannah Montana episode)
Special Features:

“I Wish I May, I Wish I Might: A Guide to Making Wishes” hosted by Jason Earles of Hannah Montana. (Hannah Montana Bonus)
(*This DVD also included episodes from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Cory in the House which also held the theme of “Wishing Upon a Star”)
Volume 4: One in a Million
(released January 29, 2008)

“Lilly’s Mom Has Got It Goin’ On”
“Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas”
“I Will Always Loathe You”
“That’s What Friends Are For?”
Special Features:

That’s So Raven episode “Mother Dearest”
Top 10 Disney Channel Feuds Countdown
“One in a Million” music video
“True Friend” music video

Volume 5: Behind the Spotlight
(will be released April 1, 2008)

“The Test of My Love”
“No Sugar, Sugar”
“Joannie B. Goode”
“Yet Another Side of Me”
Special Features:

Sneak Peek of Hannah Montana: The Movie
I Don’t Think About It music video by Emily Osment