A Good Tween Star Is Hard to Find

“[T]he manufacture of child stars is not as easy as it used to be. There was a time when all it took was a perky personality, a little talent and a slot on the Mickey Mouse Club. Now child stars have to anchor TV series and movie spinoffs, churn out hit songs, write books and headline global concert tours — when they’re not introducing their signature line of clothing at Wal-Mart.”
 — Oh brother. Disney’s Tween Machine is whirring away, frantically trying to mold new stars to replace aging models like Miley Cyrus.