I’ve been disappointed in the past few episodes I’ve seen, though.  Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana seems to be getting more and more bratty and diva-like.  I am only talking about the character on the show; I’ve heard rumors that Miss Miley Cyrus is getting this way too, but don’t know whether that is true or not.

For instance, in the final episode of the second season, Hannah is auctioned off (as a date) to heartthrob Johnny (played by Corbin Bleu of High School Musicals 1, 2, and 3) and to family arch nemesis Rico – at the same time.  She goes on the date with both, and while Rico is obnoxious, ultimately Johnny is disgusted by Hannah’s nasty behavior toward him.  Later, at school, he tells “real girl” Miley that he really likes regular girls, like her.  Even so, I’m not sure she really gets the message – because she goes on to be just as bratty in Season 3.

Episode 1, Season 3 is sort of a throwaway episode, in which Jackson and Lilly seem to really like each other, romantically (I won’t give away the ending).  But Miley continues acting super-bratty, trying to keep Jackson and Lilly apart for her own selfish reasons.  As usually, she supposedly learns her lesson by the end of the episode.

But those lessons learned never seem to last long.  In Episode 2, Miley goes over the top.  She’s now 16, and trying to get her driver’s license.  She has bad luck at the DMV.  The examiner gets into her car with dog poop on his shoe, and then proceeds to blow yellow snot all over the inside of the car as well.  She finally pulls over and tells him to get out, which of course results in her failing the driving test.  She can’t take it again for two weeks, but there’s a party that night, and she can’t be seen getting dropped off by her brother or her dad!  Gasp!

So, she ends up using Hannah and some backstage passes to BRIBE a DMV worker into letting her take a driving test as Hannah Montana, with NO PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION.  She passes, but gets pulled over on her way to the party, and is busted for driving with Hannah’s drivers license while looking like Miley.

Eventually, she convinces the officer and his daughter that she really is Hannah Montana, and then Dad arrives as well.  They don’t say whether she gets any consequences for her actions, other than an hour or two in jail and the shame of having Dad drop her off at the party and announce her arrival with a bullhorn.

Folks, this is fraud.  Miley committed fraud.  According to California DMV regulations (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/driversafety/fraud_guideline.htm), if she were a real person, she could be blocked from obtaining a driver’s license for at least a year.   I’m guessing there might be a problem with the bribery, too.  And in reality, this probably would have resulted in Hannah Montana being reviled like Britney Spears or Lindsey Lohan.  On the show, she gets off with the usual “lesson learned” ending.  I don’t think that’s a good message for kids.

In previous seasons, Miley/Hannah has sometimes been bratty, but more in a normal kid kind of way (spats with brother, thinks dad isn’t fair, etc.).  This season, unless they’re setting her up for a BIG lesson-learned episode, I’m not impressed.  I’m not even sure whether I want my kids to keep watching.

Okay.  Have a look at the photo.  This is the actual Vanity Fair article, with photos.  The behind-the-scenes photos are worth a look, too (for instance, you can see how well-covered she actually was).

The photos are by Annie Freakin’ Leibowitz, and feature Miley in a drape that covers EVERYTHING except her back.  This is NOT the same thing as “OMG, topless photos!”

It. Is. Not. A. Big. Deal.

People.com has the statements from Miley and Disney, if you’re interested.

Okay.  Have a look at the photo.  This is the actual Vanity Fair article, with photos.  The behind-the-scenes photos are worth a look, too (for instance, you can see how well-covered she actually was).

The photos are by Annie Freakin’ Leibowitz, and feature Miley in a drape that covers EVERYTHING except her back.  This is NOT the same thing as “OMG, topless photos!”

It. Is. Not. A. Big. Deal.

People.com has the statements from Miley and Disney, if you’re interested.

This time, she’s shown with a boy, for the most part just acting goofy and cuddly.  However, in one picture she is draped across his lap showing her midriff, and in another she’s lowering the edge of her tank top to show just a bit of lacy green bra and some cleavage.  According to the LA Times, the boy is “the son of two of the songwriters on her album,” and other sources say that he is, in fact, her current boyfriend.

I don’t find any of the pictures particularly disturbing.  She’s a teenage girl, with all of the good judgment of a teenager.  What I do wonder is who is leaking the pictures? Either Miley’s got someone (or more than one someone) close to her who can’t be trusted, or she’s complicit in this and wants the pictures out there.  Which is it?  Either way, it’s odd that this has happened three times now.

This time, she’s shown with a boy, for the most part just acting goofy and cuddly.  However, in one picture she is draped across his lap showing her midriff, and in another she’s lowering the edge of her tank top to show just a bit of lacy green bra and some cleavage.  According to the LA Times, the boy is “the son of two of the songwriters on her album,” and other sources say that he is, in fact, her current boyfriend.

I don’t find any of the pictures particularly disturbing.  She’s a teenage girl, with all of the good judgment of a teenager.  What I do wonder is who is leaking the pictures? Either Miley’s got someone (or more than one someone) close to her who can’t be trusted, or she’s complicit in this and wants the pictures out there.  Which is it?  Either way, it’s odd that this has happened three times now.