Miley's Photos Too Sexy for My Budget

Hudgens apologized. The storm blew over, and millions of parents -- myself included -- continued to purchase High School Musical CDs, DVDs and other merchandise.

In hindsight, Disney could have easily replaced Hudgens with someone who wasn't overtly shacking up or parading around naked -- even privately before a camera in her own hotel room.

In another case, Nickelodeon(TWX Quote) says it hasn't made any changes to its schedule, even after Jamie-Lynn Spears, star of its show Zoey 101, announced that she was pregnant at age 16.

Brat-pack actresses are a dime a dozen, and our kids wouldn't be too traumatized if one or two disappeared.

Teenage stars, it seems, can't escape heading down the path of success that comes with trying to look like a sexy adult. But parents help the trend along when they buy licensed merchandise that celebrates these stars, a practice reaffirming the adage that sex sells.

Unfortunately, the target crowd is getting much younger.