Hannahholics Anonymous

[Deco Bryl]

My name is Deco Bryl, and I'm addicted to Hannah Montana. I can't get enough. Her show makes me laugh. I lined up for over a half-hour on opening day to watch her movie. I bought the first-season DVD set right after. And even though I know full well her songs are heavily manufactured pop, I can't help but enjoy them. And I don't ever wanna break free.

I'm not the only one. Fellow Hannahholic Dave Days wrote a song about his obsession. It really speaks to me.

[Zangief]

That was WONDERFUL, LOL! Feeling strange now because I own a stand-up cardboard figure just like that but of Elvis from "Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite".

Last year I attended the memorial of the man who created the Hannah Montana character. His name is Irwin Gonshack and he created a host of memorable characters along with Hannah, my favorite being Johnny Nickel, Private Eye on the Environment. Disney ran off with Hannah without his permission but he continued to write her adventures for radio (he's the creator; what are they gonna do, sue him?) and I think the final script he wrote before his passing featured Hannah.

Radio Disney (which I really happen to like) probably knows they should rerun some of her adventures but I can see why they can't because that would mean acknowledging Irwin and then they'd have to finally start paying his estate for the rights and so forth.

But I think Hannah's got a new movie in the works. Is that true? You know that would mean another concert tour or, at least, a televised concert special.

[Deco Bryl]

So Mr. Gonshack got ripped off? (Sigh.) Typical corporate behavior. He should, at the very least, be part of the creator credits during the show's opening, even something like "Based on a character created by Irwin Gonshack."

I didn't know he wrote radio shows featuring Hannah. I'd love to hear some. Do you know where I can find them?

A Google search reveals neither Miley Cyrus nor Hannah movie director Peter Chelsom is interested in a Hannah Montana movie sequel . However, earlier this week, I read the TV show has been renewed for a fourth season. Yeah!

P.S. How's your cardboard Elvis HOLDING UP, Zangief? *rimshot*

P.P.S. I searched the Net with the keywords "Irwin Gonshack" and "Hannah." There was only one result, and it was irrelevant. You'd think there'd be more people writing about his being Hannah's real creator. :/

[Zangief]

A few of my colleagues and I know the feeling. For instance, I was the copy editor and first proofreader of scripts for both "Department Store" (stolen and later released as first "Hawks", then "Nighthawks") and "Cryon" (also stolen from the writers but released otherwise fully intact as "Demolition Man"). You won't find the creators' credits anywhere online. I was also the organizer of New York City's PrideFest but, again, after it was stolen by H.O.P., my name quickly disappeared.

The originator and organizer of God's Love We Deliver" was a man named Jay Cancel but a co-worker at New York Presbyterian Hospital took the idea and ran with it, taking all the credit for himself.

My associate producer, Jose Lara, created "Living with Stacy" for television. It was taken from him, reworked and released as "Living with Fran" after successfully cutting him out (he was told that they had to make so many changes to his script that, legally speaking, it really wasn't his anymore so there was no longer any need to credit or pay him).

So many more stories like that one and probably some from people you know who've tried to get their foot in the door.

As for the Hannah broadcasts, it's possible that they still belong to WNYE in New York but I took the name of one of Irwin's writing proteges and, once I find it again, I'll see if he's kept in contact with his family. Maybe I can obtain a copy or two of one of the shows for you.

Still got cardboard Presley, by the way.