Disney Junior Renews ‘Doc McStuffins’

Disney Junior has greenlit a fifth season of its animated series Doc McStuffins, the network said Wednesday.

The series, about a young African-American girl who aspires to be a doctor like her mom, is a top 10-rated preschool show among key demographics and averages 16 million views on the Disney Junior app, VOD and Hulu, said network officials.

The series has won a Peabody Award and inspired the Artemis Medical Society, an organization of 4,700 women physicians of color from around the world that looks to inspire young girls.

"Doc McStuffins is an unmistakable example of our commitment to powerful storytelling that enriches and enlightens kids,” Nancy Kanter, executive vice president and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide said in a statement. “I can think of no other children's television show in recent history that has touched as many lives and made the kind of impact around the world that Doc has. Our viewers have forged a deep connection with this series and are very vocal about how strongly they believe in these characters. We are excited to share with them many more stories about Doc and her toys when season five begins airing in 2018."

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.