Movies

There’s Now a 24/7 ’90s and 2000s Disney Nostalgia Channel

BBG News

25 years have passed since the beginning of this new millennium, making it quite old. It’s hard to believe that we’re all this advanced in age. Even the man who drank from the Holy Grail in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” would look at us now and think, “At least I’m not quite as ancient as these folks.

In essence, we’ve reached an age where shows and movies from the ’90s and early 2000s are becoming popular again, serving as a source of nostalgia. The success of recent remakes like Lilo & Stitch is a testament to this trend. Seizing the opportunity to cash in on this wave, Disney has launched a dedicated 24/7 streaming channel on Disney+ that focuses solely on content from those decades.

As stated in the announcement, the Disney+ Throwback channel is centered around reminiscing the ‘90s and 2000s – picture memorable personalities, captivating tales, and pivotal instances from those eras that have left an indelible mark on a generation and still echo strongly today.

The press release doesn’t list every title from the planned releases, but it does highlight these particular films and shows: Gilmore Girls, The Princess Diaries, The Parent Trap, Lizzie McGuire, Recess, Doug, Cadet Kelly, Kim Possible, and High School Musical.

It’s amazing for me to find out that Lizzie McGuire is reaching its 25th anniversary, and it leaves me feeling quite dizzy. Could someone please fetch my blood pressure pills?

Disney Plus is currently streaming a retro selection; you can locate it on the main page under the “Continuous Playlists” section labeled as “Streams.” You may need to scroll down a bit to find it. As we speak, they’re airing an old episode from Kim Possible, which first appeared in 2002 – that’s nearly 23 years ago! It’s hard to believe, isn’t it?

Sign up for Disney+ here.

10 Famous Actors You Forgot Were In Disney Channel Original Movies

1. Kat Dennings in The Scream Team

In recent times, Kat Dennings has been appearing frequently on screen, not just in shows like “2 Broke Girls” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also in independent films such as “Charlie Bartlett” and “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist”. However, her acting career started much earlier, with a role in the Disney Channel Original Movie titled “The Scream Team”. Set in a small New England town, this film revolves around Claire Carlyle, played by Dennings, and her brother as they get entangled with the ghosts haunting their new home. Over time, this movie has become less well-known, but it’s worth remembering for its painfully awkward poster design.

2. Christopher McDonald in Lemonade Mouth

I’ve always admired Christopher McDonald for his dedicated and powerful performances throughout his long-standing career. Whether you recognize him as the villainous golfer Shooter McGavin from ‘Happy Gilmore’, or more recently, his exceptional work in the Emmy Award-winning TV series ‘Hacks’, he truly immerses himself into every character – even extending this commitment to his role as Principal Stanley Brenigan in the 2011 Disney Channel Original Movie ‘Lemonade Mouth’. Based on Mark Peter Hughes’ novel of the same name, ‘Lemonade Mouth’ tells the story of a group of unconventional students who form a band and an extraordinary friendship after an eventful detention. Principal Brenigan, a character who is overly zealous about quashing the high schoolers’ musical rebellion, humorously navigates the school on his Segway. Though he may not appear frequently in the scenes, when he does, he manages to steal the show.

3. Sarah Hyland in Geek Charming

As a huge fan of “Modern Family,” I was thrilled to be part of the talented cast that snagged four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. My character Haley Dunphy on ABC’s sitcom is undeniably my most recognized role, but it wasn’t the only project I tackled – take the 2011 Disney Channel Original Movie “Geek Charming” for instance. In this film, I embodied a slightly over-the-top version of Haley, named Dylan, who was all about high school popularity. Despite the predictable romantic comedy plotline, “Geek Charming” offers a delightful, enjoyable watch with a heartwarming message hidden within.

4. Tyler James Williams in Let It Shine

Tyler James Williams initially gained fame as an actor on the show “Everybody Hates Chris,” but he has since achieved even greater success, winning a Golden Globe for his role in the ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary.” Despite these prominent roles, it’s easy to overlook that Williams was also the lead in a Disney Channel Original Movie, a contemporary adaptation of “Cyrano de Bergerac” with a rap theme. In this film, Williams portrays Cyrus, a skilled rapper who wins a songwriting competition organized by his childhood friend-turned-pop star, Roxy. However, there’s a catch: Roxy believes that Chris, Cyrus’ best friend, wrote the winning song (Cyrus had submitted a photo of them side by side). In truth, “Let It Shine” is one of the more substantial Disney Channel Original Movies, and Williams’ rapping abilities are definitely worth noting.

5. Brie Larson in Right On Track

Brie Larson is not hesitant to remind her followers of her role in the Disney Channel Original movie “Right On Track,” a pride that’s well-deserved. Though she has achieved critical acclaim with “Room” and commercial success with “Captain Marvel,” her performance as Courtney Enders in the 2003 TV movie about real-life drag racing sisters remains close to her heart. At just 14 years old when the film was released, Larson’s appearance is hardly the same, sporting dark hair and bangs. Despite winning an Oscar, “Right on Track” will always hold a special place in Larson’s memories.

6. Kaley Cuoco in Alley Cats Strike

Kaley Cuoco is best known for her role as Penny in the CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory,” but seven years prior to that, she made an appearance in the 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie titled “Alley Cats Strike.” Although Cuoco was a skilled tennis player during her youth, she convincingly portrayed a bowler in this movie. The plot revolves around an underdog high school bowling team preparing for a competition against their rivals from another city. With its catchy swing music soundtrack, “Alley Cats Strike” is one of Disney’s more unusual and lesser-known productions.

7. Adam DiMarco in Radio Rebel

When White Lotus Season 2 debuted, some former Disney Channel enthusiasts found themselves reminiscing about Adam DiMarco from Radio Rebel. In this highly praised HBO series, Di Marco plays Albie, an affluent, Stanford-educated young man who is overly concerned with his interactions with women. Conversely, in Radio Rebel, the popular Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) featuring Debby Ryan, he portrays Gavin, a sensitive and creative character who helps our timid heroine break out of her shell. In both roles, DiMarco is playing the “nice guy,” although his character in Radio Rebel is notably more one-dimensional. If his interest in Ryan’s character was solely due to her being a “wounded bird” type, then these characters would be strikingly similar.

8. America Ferrera in Gotta Kick It Up!

Initially gaining recognition for her roles in the sitcoms “Ugly Betty” and “Superstore”, America Ferrera made her acting debut in the Disney Channel Original Movie, “Gotta Kick It Up!”. This film is a true story about a middle school dance team, with Ferrera playing Yolanda “Yoli” Vargas and Camille Guaty from “Prison Break” portraying Daisy Salinas. In April 2021, Ferrera commemorated the 20th anniversary of her career by sharing a photo from the DCOM on social media, expressing pride in the journey that would bring numerous opportunities to showcase her talent and challenges for personal growth over the next two decades. Her post read, “I wish I could go back and tell this little baby America that the next 20 years of her life will be filled with unbelievable opportunity to express her talent and plenty of challenges that will allow her to grow into a person, actress, producer, director, activist that she is very proud and grateful to be. We did it baby girl. I’m proud of us.

9. Nicholas Braun in Princess Protection Program

Prior to his breakout performance in the hit HBO series “Succession”, Nicholas Braun was already making a name for himself in high school roles. He played the part of the socially awkward teenager in shows such as ABC’s cancelled series “10 Things I Hate About You”, Disney’s films “Sky High” and “PROM”, and the Disney Channel Original Movie “Princess Protection Program”. Given that this movie also starred Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, two of Disney’s top stars at the time, it’s understandable if Braun’s character, Ed, is overlooked. However, his character fits perfectly with Braun’s acting style: gentle, kind-hearted, and a touch nervous. One could argue that his laid-back, clumsy persona bears a resemblance to his “Succession” role, Greg Hirsch.

10. Katherine Heigl in Wish Upon A Star

Prior to gaining fame as Dr. Izzie Stevens on “Grey’s Anatomy”, Katherine Heigl featured in the Disney Channel movie “Wish Upon A Star” alongside future horror icon Danielle Harris. In this film, they play sisters who exchange bodies after making a wish on a shooting star, similar to “Freaky Friday”. Heigl portrays the popular older sister with a jock boyfriend, while Harris takes on the role of the introverted younger sister who excels academically. This movie marked one of Heigl’s early leading roles and served as a stepping stone for her future career in romantic comedies.

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2025-05-29 00:24

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