First
Ever ABC Primetime Preview Weekend
August
24, 2002
On August 24, 2002 Disney's California Adventure
played host to the first ever "ABC Primetime Preview Weekend." The
2-day event inaugurated the new ABC-TV fall line-up. This brand new event
featured the shows and stars of ABC. Lucky
Disney California Adventure guests were invited to screen episodes of then
upcoming ABC Primetime series including “8 Simple Rules for Dating My
Teenage Daughter”, “Less Than Perfect” among others. One of the
many highlights for guests was "announced" as part of a mock red
carpet arrival complete with camera flash bulbs as they entered the Golden
Dreams Theater, which now houses The
Little Mermaid- Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.
In the Pacific
Wharf guests were invited to watch a brief promotional video about ABC and
answers some questions. Following the survey's completion, they were given a
special entrance pass into selected attractions. Also located at this station
were postcards featuring the various ABC shows which could be sent to family
and friends for no additional cost .The Pacific Wharf Stage was host to the
"Happy Hour" Trivia Challenge where participants competed for a prize
given out by surprise celebrity visitors.
Actors from each of the ABC-TV Fall shows were available to
the media for a very brief question and answer session by the Golden
Vine Winery. They also participated in a question and answer session for
the public in the Golden State Amphitheater which lasted about 30 minutes. The Parade
of Stars motorcade gave excited fans a chance to see their favorites as it
journeyed from the Hollywood
Pictures Backlot, now Hollywood Land, and traveled along the Disney
California Adventure Park Performance Corridor. Each segment of the route had a
separate ABC affiliate hosting. Celebrities were equipped with a microphone and
were able to speak briefly as they passed each area.
The most popular element of the first ABC Primetime Preview
Weekend was the then popular show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” held in the Hyperion
Theater, home of the Aladdin – a
musical spectacular. Many guests waited
from park open or even earlier to secure seats for this event which performed
once each day of the weekend to a packed theater.
The weekend events were concluded each night with a
performance by stand-up comedian George Lopez and a Blues concert by Jim
Belushi and the Sacred Hearts. Be sure
to check out this year’s ABC Fall TV
lineup which broadcasts into homes beginning September 21. And that’s what
happened today in Disneyland history.
