ABC and Disney Turn Park Into Synergyland

Rosemarie Soltis is terrified of flying. Just the thought of getting on an airplane makes her tremble. But the prospect of spending a few precious moments with John Ritter is giving the 55-year-old Bolingbrook, Ill., resident the fortitude to hop on a plane today for Los Angeles.

Cheryl Free, 43, of Fort Wayne, Ind., is also flying to Los Angeles today to visit Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure for the first time. But that adventure pales next to her hope for a hug and a picture with Jim Belushi.

Holland Lehto of San Antonio is also traveling today to Los Angeles, with her father, for a weekend jaunt at the Magic Kingdom. But the real thrill for the 13-year-old will be meeting comedian Ryan Stiles of the ABC improv series, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” She hopes she doesn’t get tongue-tied.

These three, along with a throng of other fans from near and very far, are expected to make a pilgrimage to Disney’s California Adventure on Saturday and Sunday to rub shoulders and cheer more than 70 ABC stars featured in the network’s current and upcoming prime-time lineup.

The ABC Primetime Preview Weekend represents synergy at its purest--stars of the Disney-owned network promoting their shows at the Disney-owned amusement centers. Those wishing to bathe in the yellow glow of ABC must shell out the $35 to $45 admission price for the theme park.The stars getting up close and personal with fans include Dennis Franz and Mark-Paul Gosselaar of “NYPD Blue,” Damon Wayans of “My Wife and Kids,” Dylan McDermott of “The Practice” and Drew Carey and Stiles of “The Drew Carey Show.” The casts of all the new dramas and comedies such as “8 Simple Rules” with Ritter and Katey Sagal; “Life With Bonnie,” starring Bonnie Hunt; “Less Than Perfect”; and “MDs” will be introduced, and several of the shows will be screened.

Among other highlights are two live performances of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” several ABC Happy Hour Trivia challenges, a daily “parade of stars” and musical performances by Belushi (“According to Jim”) and his Sacred Hearts band.

Even bands marching in the daily parade will have that ABC flavor. The Rubidoux High School Marching Band will perform selections from “The Music Man”--which is one of the original offerings this season on “The Wonderful World of Disney.” The remake stars Matthew Broderick.

The preview marks the first time a network has sent most of its prime-time talent out at one time to meet viewers. ABC, along with Disney World and California Adventure, previously has sponsored highly popular weekends featuring its daytime soap stars. This weekend’s event is primarily designed to hype the new season.

“It’s like a big movie opening,” said Jeff Bader, executive vice president of ABC Entertainment and the overseer of ABC’s synergy initiative with other Disney divisions, including theme parks. “It won’t make an immediate impact on ratings, but with the press interest in the event and the buzz surrounding it, it’s really getting the word out. It’s all about awareness.”

But he admitted that in addition to ABC’s being in an unusual position to host such an event--its parent company owns theme parks--any increase in visibility is a boost for the troubled network.

ABC executives acknowledged that the network needs all the hype--and help--it can get to recover from last year’s dismal showing, when it lost 20% of its prime-time audience and fell to fourth place among viewers 18 to 49, the group advertisers pay the most to reach. Industry insiders have speculated that the fate of embattled Disney chief Michael Eisner may rest on the network’s performance this season.

Said Bader: “Yes, we do need this now more than ever.”

California Adventure could also use the boost. The park next to Disneyland has drawn disappointing crowds since opening in February 2001.

George Lopez, star of “George Lopez,” said he thinks the preview is a great idea. “These kinds of things are what needs to happen for ABC to get back to where it needs to be. ABC needs Disney, and Disney needs ABC. It’s a great time to come together and do this. And all the performers are jazzed about doing this. There seems to be this united togetherness and spirit to lift the network up.”

Still, all of the talk of synergy and corporate concern surrounding the weekend is meaningless to fans such as Free, Soltis, Lehto and others who are spending up to thousands of dollars to make the trek.

“I’m going to do everything on the schedule,” said Free, an office manager in Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne. “I watch ABC all the time, and I’m so totally excited about going to see the stars. I don’t like cable. I always watch network television. Unlike people who say they can’t find anything to watch, I always find something.”

Free said she is particularly excited about seeing Wayans and Belushi: “They really make me laugh. And I’ve always been a fan of Jim Belushi. Now I can see him on TV, not just film.”

An obsessive fan of sweepstakes, Free won an all-expenses-paid trip to the preview in a network-sponsored contest. Her companion on the trip will be a fellow sweepstakes addict, Angela Hresan, 40, a retired probation officer who lives in Powhatan, Va. The two women have corresponded for several years by e-mail but have never met. They plan to hook up in Detroit today and fly to California together.

Hresan said, “I feel like I’ve won twice! I won the opportunity to meet my friend and this trip. And I’ve never been west of Texas, so this is awesome.”

Hresan operates a Web site that teaches people how to save money and “shows them how to live lavishly for less money.” Although excited, she said that she is not nearly as big a TV fan as Free.

“I’m not star-struck,” she said. “Half of those people could probably walk up to me and I wouldn’t know them. But I’ll be a bigger fan of TV after this trip. And it will be great to meet them. After all, they’re just like me. I’ll bring my business card and say, ‘If you need to save money, let me know.’ ”

Soltis, who also won her trip in a sweepstakes, said she didn’t think she had a chance of winning: “I’m still in disbelief.”

She declared that ABC is indeed her favorite network. “I’m not just saying that. It’s our station of choice. I like the way they have all the sporting events. Everything is for the family. I’m not afraid to have my grandchildren watch it.”

And there are a lot of grandchildren. “I have 12, and 13 will come while I’m gone,” she said with a giggle.

Her biggest dream is to meet Belushi. “I want to tell him he’s absolutely great,” Solis said. “I want to tell him I love all his movies and to please give me a hug so I can take a picture.”

Of course, there’s still the matter of getting on that dreaded airplane. “My husband says it’s just a question of mind over matter,” she said. “I’ve got medication.” She quipped, “A friend told my husband he should take a mallet with him if I get too boisterous.”

Other fans are paying their way to the preview. Thirteen-year-old Young bid $1,925 in an online auction for a package that will allow her to meet the “Whose Line” cast and participate in some improv.

Asked who her favorite comedian on the show was, she paused. “I don’t like to choose favorites,” she finally said. “But I think Ryan is the funniest. I hope I don’t get too nervous when I meet him.”

ABC’s Primetime Preview Weekend takes place Saturday and Sunday at Disney’s California Adventure. For information, call (714) 781-7290.