This household LOVES Disney Channel. With a 2, 5 and 9 year old, there are shows galore on Disney Channel for my crew. I like Disney Channel because it is typically a safe station for my kids, and the shows and movies tend to be pretty family friendly. Bad Hair Day, a Disney Channel Original Movie fits within these classifications very well. It is a funny, family friendly show I can’t wait for my kids to see!
Usually there are several things you can expect with Disney Channel (even according to Leigh-Allyn Baker, Executive Producer and Actress in the film) over the top cheesy acting and cheesy jokes. Bad Hair Day seems to break the mold, and throws out the cheese. This is a feel-good film with lots of great comedy but also warm fuzzy moments where you are taught some valuable life lessons.
After we watched Bad Hair Day, Leigh-Allyn Baker sat down and answered some questions for us. She started at the beginning where we learned there was a previous script for Bad Hair Day but it got tossed and a new set of writers wrote a new script.
Baker said
We wanted to make people laugh but really, secondly it was really important to us to grab people’s heartstrings and give a really good, unique and powering message.
The message was girl power, believing in yourself and making the best choices for YOU. Fitting since this was Baker’s first time being Executive Producer and being involved in a project from the ground up. She definitely showed herself she could create something out of nothing and make it great. She said that in the future she doesn’t see how she could do one without the other (referring to acting and producing) which is why she is currently working on a series of her own.
Photo Credit: Disney Channel
Bad Hair Day was filmed very quickly – in only 22 days! This required getting things done quickly- including a legit car chase. But she was up to the task. Being an executive producer meant she had a hand in all the moving parts from the jokes to what costumes and props looked like and even editing. When the movie was about to begin she joked that she might be in and out of the room since she had seen the movie a thousand times, but I’m glad she stayed in with us the whole time.
We were the first live audience she had viewed the film with so she enjoyed hearing our reactions and laughter. She said that our reactions validated how she edited the film. It was also really fun to watch a movie that included some computer lingo like Search Engine Optimization and others terms that we bloggers use on a daily basis.
Working with Disney Channel has changed Leigh-Allyn. She said that she has turned down other roles because they don’t really mesh with her roles on Disney Channel. She joked about becoming a prude since starting with Disney Channel, but as a Mom who wants to shield my kids from all the crap on TV, I appreciate that she wants to keep her image clean. My kids will always associate her with Disney and I’m glad she takes that responsibility.
My favorite part of the interview was when someone asked how she balances work and home life. She told a story about how when her first child was born she missed him so much when she was at work, but when she got home and would be rocking him to sleep she would think about the things she didn’t do or missed at work because she wasn’t totally focused. Lesson learned:
When you’re at work, you’re at work. When you’re home, you’re home and that’s how you do it.
After we were done with the formal interview, Leigh-Allyn was kind enough to take pictures with each of us. It was such a fun night. She is hilarious and so kind. Definitely one of my favorite moments of all time!
Bad Hair Day premieres on the Disney Channel on Friday, February 13 at 8/7 pm central.
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