Good News: Zac Efron is getting set to host SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on April 11. Bad News: Vanessa Hudgens is still waiting on that callback for an Arby’s commercial. Awkward. [Source]

Good News: It’s official! Rob Thomas will pitch Warner Bros. Studio on the highly anticipated VERONICA MARS movie next week. Bad News: For actor Michael Muhney. RIP Sherrif Lamb. [Source]

With HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 making the jump to the big screen today, this morning’s question of the day should come as no surprise. Simply put, will you be braving the hordes of screaming tweens to watch Zac, Vanessa, Ashley and Corbin graduate in style? Or will you sheepishly wait until the movie is released on DVD as to not have to face the humiliation and awkward looks of being the only twenty-something male in a movie theater comprised of eight year old girls? Ummm… not that this TV Addict was planning on seeing HSM 3 today. Because really, I’m so stoked for SAW V! I swear… I don’t know how I accidently walked into this theater…

If you in any way closely related to a tween, you not only know about HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3, you probably have already promised yourself to take them to see it in theatres. If you’re anything like me, you actually won’t mind taking them because it provides a great excuse for you to see it without any embarrassment. Even if the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL series is a bit silly and obviously aimed at a demographic more than a decade younger than myself, the musical fan in me can’t help but appreciate how infectiously fun the films are and how they signal a moderate return of the musical into popular culture. Needless to say, come October 24th I’ll be there opening night with niece, probably with a stupid grin of anticipation in my face. Till then, feel free to check out my review of the first two films over at MONDOmagazine.

In case you missed it, check out Zac Efron promoting HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 and HAIRSPRAY on Tuesday’s episode of THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO. OMG! HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 premieres in one week on Friday August 17… ummm… we think

Ready to hear the song that will be stuck in your head for the rest of the summer? If so, click above to check out the inevitable first smash from Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 “You Are the Music in Me.” Not surprisingly, it’s catchy.

Oh, and don’t even begin to pretend you have no idea what this HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is all about. Whether you’re in High School, University, or like this TV Addict — simply far too old to be watching the Disney channel. We know you know all the words to ‘Breaking Free’ as well as the choreography to ‘Stick to the Status Quo.’ As the song goes, ‘We’re All in This Together.’ So we won’t tell if you don’t!

theTHEATREaddict here with some TV related scoop.

Gossip, rivalry, young Hollywood, jealousy, short skirts, tension, love lost…no this is not something by way of Perez Hilton but the New York Times!

The NYT published a great story this weekend on the start of rehearsals for HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2. Titled “Back To School” reporter Jacques Steinberg reveals some details about the upcoming film and perhaps some of the cracks beginning to form. Gossip aside it is a fascinating insight into the phenomenon known as HSM. From the story, the crystallization of the idea:

“It’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ meets ‘Grease’ ” is how Bill Borden, the movie’s executive producer, pitched the original idea to Gary Marsh, a senior Disney Channel executive who, as luck would have it, was searching for just such a project.

“Instead of warring families,” Mr. Marsh, the president of entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide, recalled Mr. Borden saying, “you have warring social factions. I got it immediately.”

It always goes back to the classics.

Zac Efron confirms that he will sing all the vocals, but with technology he states, “Once it’s edited, the people in this cast sound like Mariah Carey. There’s skill involved,” he allowed, though “with computers these days, you never know what you’re hearing.” On the issue of friendly rivalry between the cast, this smack down from the star of the upcoming Hairspray film, “A lot of them are doing teen music things, and tours, various TV deals and other Disney TV movies and Disney albums. That’s the last thing I want to be doing at the moment. I’m setting my sights a little bit higher,” he added. “I don’t have an album coming out.” Looks like this really is the start of something new.