Live-action kids comedy is hot, but gaining real traction is a long shot

There's little doubt that Disney Channel's live-action musical/comedy High School Musical has struck a serious chord with tweens the world over since its U.S. debut a year ago. The made-for-TV movie that mashes Grease and West Side Story with Saved by the Bell has since sold into more than 20 territories and spawned a broad-based consumer products program in its home country. And the House of Mouse continues to mine the live-action comedy/musical vein, following up HSM with Hannah Montana. The half-hour show starring Miley Cyrus and achy-breaky dad Billy Ray debuted last spring and now garners consistently strong ratings in the U.S., at times ranking second only to SpongeBob SquarePants with kids nine to 14. Not surprisingly, one of the refrains overheard repeatedly from broadcasters at MIPCOM this past October was, 'We're looking for the next HSM.'