Fans take to Twitter to ask Disney Junior to renew ‘Doc McStuffins’

A popular Disney Junior television show has not yet been renewed, and fans are so concerned they have taken to social media to tell the Disney Channel network how they feel. Comedian W. Kamau Bell made a call to action and even celebrities have joined the #RenewDocMcStuffins movement.

“Doc McStuffins” is a show that stars Dottie “Doc” McStuffins, a 6-year-old African American girl who cares for her stuffed animals, dolls and toys at her home clinic. But when she puts on her stethoscope, they come to life and she can talk with them. She and her friends Hallie, Lambie, Chilly and Stuffy work together to solve their patients’ problems.

Season 4 of “Doc McStuffins” will begin airing on July 30.

But the network has not announced whether the series will be picked up for a fifth season, and that has fans upset because other Disney Channel renewals have been publicized and it’s well-known that many Disney shows end after four seasons.

In addition to a love of the show itself at issue is the fact that the lead character is a female of color, a category of protagonist that is still under-represented on television, especially in roles that model success in science and technology.

“Doc McStuffins” was created by Peabody and Emmy award-winning Executive Producer Chris Nee, who told The New York Times, “The kids who are of color see her as an African-American girl, and that’s really big for them. And I think a lot of other kids don’t see her color, and that’s wonderful as well.”

Powerful tweets in support of the show have included these sentiments:

My daughter doesn’t need to watch ANOTHER princess. We need the entrepreneurial, medically savvy #DocMcStuffins #renewdocmcstuffins

#RenewDocMcStuffins @DisneyJunior the little child who will one day cure cancer is watching Doc in her/his PJs right now.

Doc appeals to kids of all backgrounds. She is clever and kind. Teaches them about compassion #RenewDocMcStuffins

I’ve played a patient 100 times in need of a check up because my preschoolers love this show! #RenewDocMcStuffins

Why on EARTH would @DisneyJunior drop Doc McStuffins?! I don’t even HAVE kids and know how impactful that show is. #RenewDocMcStuffins

Disney Junior responded with a nebulous tweet:

Wow – thanks for all the love and cuddles! As long as there are toys to fix, the Doc will be in! — #DocMcStuffins

Clearly, the response was meant to soothe Twitter users’ upset feelings, but it’s still not clear if “Doc McStuffins” will return for a fifth season.

Follow @Kristin_B_Ford