After a surprise fan uprising that hit twitter last week with the #RenewDocMcStuffins hashtag, Disney Junior just hit THE ROCK FATHER with news on the long-awaited season four premiere for DOC McSTUFFINS, dubbed DOC McSTUFFINS: TOY HOSPITAL for the new season. Doc and her friends are back with new stories, new characters and notable guest stars set in a magical, new world — McStuffins Toy Hospital — premiering FRIDAY, JULY 29, on Disney Junior (9:00-10:00 a.m. EDT) and Friday, July 22, on the Disney Junior App. Additionally, there’s some other big DOC news, with the first-ever museum exhibit dedicated to “Doc McStuffins” set to open at the world’s largest children’s museum, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Saturday, August 6. The interactive experience, inviting kids and families to explore and learn about healthy habits, compassion and nurturing care, will travel to other venues across the country beginning in 2017.
Anthony Anderson (ABC’s “black-ish”) and Dawnn Lewis (“A Different World”) guest star in the season premiere, “Welcome to McStuffinsville,” in which Doc’s grandmother transports Doc to the magical world of McStuffinsville where she will carry on a family tradition by expanding her practice to the McStuffins Toy Hospital. There, on her first day as chief resident, Doc must tend to Stanley, a lonely, brokenhearted toy.
Actress and recording artist Amber Riley (“Glee”) performs the new theme song, “Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital,” in an episode debuting Friday, August 5 (9:30-10:00 a.m. EDT).
Additional guest stars in season four include: Robin Roberts (ABC’s “Good Morning America”), Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges (“The Fast and the Furious”), Molly Ringwald (“Sixteen Candles”), Ellen Pompeo (ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Gabourey Sidibe (“Empire”) and Vanessa Williams (“The Good Wife”).
The series, which debuted in 2012, was honored with a prestigious Peabody Award (2015) recognizing outstanding storytelling in electronic media, and NAACP Image Awards (2016, 2015) for Outstanding Children’s Program.
Created and executive-produced by Humanitas Prize and Emmy Award-winning Chris Nee and directed by Emmy-winning Norton Virgien, “Doc McStuffins” follows the story of six-year-old Doc who can talk to and heal stuffed animals and toys. Through Doc and her toys, the series models good health practices, while imparting to young viewers the importance of taking care of oneself and others.
“Doc McStuffins” is a production of Dublin, Ireland’s Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Channel. The Hollywood Health & Society division of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center serves as its health and medical consultants, advising on basic health issues that are relevant to young kids and families. The series airs daily on Disney Channel and Disney Junior.
As previewed here on THE ROCK FATHER Magazine back in February, this Fall will also see the release of a full line of DOC McSTUFFINS: TOY HOSPITAL toys from Just Play Toys. As for the #RenewDocMcStuffins campaign, no word yet on when/if DOC McSTUFFINS will officially be renewed for a fifth season. In the meantime, Doc creator Chris Nee has a new show coming to Disney Junior in 2017, VAMPIRINA. Stay tuned…
