ABC is set to launch a reality show based on Disney's High School Musical franchise. The competition will involve finalists getting the opportunity to develop their skills at a conservatory, with one eliminated each week until the winner is chosen. There is no word yet on the grand prize or an exact airdate, although the show will debut sometime this summer. We can probably expect some of the movies’ stars to make guest appearances throughout the season.

Any doubt I may have had about the magnitude of the High School Musical phenomenon was dispelled last fall with a trip to Disneyland. Zac Efron's face seemed to be on more merchandise than Mickey's, and the daily parade gathered a large and diverse crowd.

The franchise is expected to gross $650 million this year. Reality TV seems to be the final entertainment format HSM has yet to conquer, with two TV movies, a third slated for theatrical release, soundtrack albums, a successful concert tour showcasing the performers' solo projects, a touring stage version of the musical, and even amateur Internet porn (thanks to Vanessa Hudgens).

Although many adults are big High School Musical fans, I'm not so into it myself. I love most dorky, musical things, and I recently devoured the DVD release of the first season of Fame, not to mention I was a tremendous drama dork in high school. I was actually excited by the idea of the first movie and I ordered it from Netflix as soon as it was available, but I just couldn't really get into it. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to get enough if the movie came out when I was 12, though.

The as yet unnamed High School Musical reality project joins other musical theater reality shows You’re the One That I Want and MTV’s Legally Blonde project, proving that belting out a show tune is the new "it" thing for aspiring reality stars.

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Amy Kane spends as much quality time with her television as possible, when she's not busy at her day job as a cube dweller.

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