Back to school season can be a bit of a bummer. It marks the end of summer vacation and another 10 months of new lessons, assignments and tests. However, there was always one beacon of light, at least for the millennial generation – the return of your favourite Disney Channel shows.
Starting with “Flash Forward” in 1995, the Disney Channel has become a staple for children everywhere, creating over 50 cartoons (which you can see our rankings of here), game shows, reality series, and of course, live-action sitcoms. These live-action masterpieces have helped launched the careers of some of the biggest stars of our generation including Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Shia LaBeouf just to name a few.
Thankfully, Disney+ has given us the opportunity to rewatch our childhood favourites all over again, and in honour of the new school year, we thought it would be fun to rank the best live-action Disney Channel shows of all-time. These rankings only include Disney Channel originals, so don’t expect to see acquired programming like “Boy Meets World” and “Life with Derek” on the list. Also, this is all based on my own opinion, so don’t be offended if your Disney Channel favourite didn’t make the cut.
So without further ado, let’s toss our backpacks to the side and procrastinate our homework for a little bit longer as we count down the greatest sitcoms on the Disney Channel.
Honourable Mentions
Andi Mack: One of the few Disney Channel shows to tackle serious issues from the get go, “Andi Mack” is groundbreaking in its reflection of young teenagers in today’s world. It also featured the network’s first coming out storyline, taking a much needed huge step forward in representation on children’s television.
The Suite Life on Deck: It may never have reached the same heights as the original, but this Suite Life spinoff does pack a lot of fun adventures onto one cruise ship. It also gave us the chance to see Zack and Cody grow up, the introduction of a great new character in Bailey and was host to the best Disney Channel crossover event ever!
Jessie: This show about an aspiring actress becoming a nanny could get a little wacky at times, but the chemistry between Debbie Ryan and the talented child actors always managed to keep “Jessie” grounded. During a time of transition for the Disney Channel, “Jessie” had the staying power to keep young and older kids invested.
A.N.T. Farm: Perhaps one of the most underrated Disney shows, “A.N.T. Farm” delivers such great comedy with its quirky characters and outlandish power dynamics. Even if you don’t watch the show listen to China Anne McClain’s cover of “Dynamite” and the fantastic Halloween song, “Calling All the Monsters” – you won’t be sorry.
Cory in the House: This spin-off of “That’s So Raven” is delightfully silly. It may have had a short shelf life, but it managed to deliver extremely memorable characters such as Sophie, the spoiled but adorable President’s daughter and Newt, the dim-witted but charming best friend of Cory. It was a show that was ahead of its time.
11. Even Stevens
Alongside “The Famous Jett Jackson”, “Even Stevens” was one of Disney Channel’s first big hits and pioneered what would become the most common Disney Channel story plot points: the wacky family dynamic and high school setting. What makes “Even Stevens” great is that there was a character in the Stevens family that everyone could relate to, whether it was the goofy Louis, dumb jock Donnie or booksmart Ren. The show was also never afraid to get weird and would always go all out for its string of gags and pranks. “Even Stevens” paved the way for every other show on this list and was perfectly wrapped up with “The Even Stevens Movie.”
10. Good Luck Charlie
A family comedy at its core, “Good Luck Charlie” delivered both hilarious and emotional moments, as the second eldest child, Teddy leaves video messages with advice for her baby sister Charlie. Although each episode is centered around the Duncan family, we also see the kids dealing with their own issues like surviving high school and figuring out relationships. Sure, they had their over-the-top, ridiculous moments but somehow the Duncans always managed to make even the most absurd situations feel like they could happen to any family. Most importantly, “Good Luck Charlie” was the hit Disney Channel needed to help usher in a new wave of programming for a new generation.
9. Girl Meets World
This revival of the ABC classic had a lot of expectations to live up to, and while it never managed to reach the success of the original, Riley and friends delivered the same heart and humour we’ve come to expect from her parents. It took a while for “Girl Meets World” to find its own voice, but once it did, the two leading ladies were allowed to deliver powerful performances as the group tackled serious issues like death, bullying and body image. For fans of the original series, “Girl Meets World” also delivered multiple reunions between beloved characters, without taking the focus away from Riley and Maya. It’s just too bad that the series was cancelled as it was reaching its peak.
8. Sonny With A Chance
Following the success of “Camp Rock”, Demi Lovato continued their journey of Disney Channel stardom with “Sonny With A Chance” and it was phenomenal! The show within a show would see a small town girl Sonny Monroe become a cast member of the live comedy program, So Random. Behind the scenes, Sonny must learn to deal with a drama queen co-star and a star-crossed relationship with a boy from the rival show. The laughs were hysterical, the scenarios the cast would find themselves in were next-level insane and the Sonny/Chad relationship was arguably one of Disney Channel’s best. Unfortunately, the show ended abruptly and we never got closure.
7. I Didn’t Do It
People don’t talk about this show enough! At the time of its release, Disney Channel’s most popular new age shows were dwindling down, and “I Didn’t Do It” suffered. Following a group of friends who couldn’t be more different, but yet always manage to cause mischief, the show was physical comedy gold, taking cues from classic sitcoms from the 60s and 70s. The chemistry between the friends is undeniable, especially between Logan and Jasmine, who are definitely a Disney Channel supercouple that deserve more respect. There is a character for everyone to relate to and fall in love with, making “I Didn’t Do It” one of Disney Channel’s greatest lost treasures.
6. Austin & Ally
Taking cues from internet turned pop sensations like Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes, “Austin & Ally” brings Austin, a confident singer with boy band good looks and Ally, a shy but talented songwriter, together in more than one way. It gives a very fictional and exaggerated look into the modern day music industry, while also developing a will they/won’t they romance for the ages. Austin and Ally bring the heart, while their best friends, Dez and Trish bring the laughs. Not only is the show great, but the new music offerings in almost every episode are incredibly catchy. Hands down, it’s the best Disney Channel show to be released in the last 10 years.
5. Lizzie McGuire
“Even Stevens” might have been one of Disney Channel’s first big hits, but it was “Lizzie McGuire” that put Disney Channel on the map. It was so popular that it received a theatrically released movie as its series finale! What made “Lizzie McGuire” wonderful was its accuracy and sincerity in depicting the struggles of middle school. It truly can be some of the worst but also most formative years of your life, and how could you not relate to Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda as they navigated bullies, secret crushes and the embarrassment of growing up. The animated Lizzie that spoke the character’s actual feelings, was truly all of our inner thoughts at 13.
4. The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
In what would be a dream scenario for any kid, Zack and Cody get to grow up and live the Suite Life at the Tipton Hotel where their mom works as a lounge singer. While the twins’ shenanigans are the show’s main focus, it’s the ensemble cast that makes the show so special. From Candy Girl Maddie to Bell Hop Esteban to the heiress herself, London Tipton, every character had their moment to shine in the spotlight and by the series end were fully fleshed out, beloved characters that we couldn’t imagine the Tipton Hotel without. It truly had everything you ever hoped for in a Disney Channel show: memorable characters, wacky scenarios, slapstick jokes and a ton of heart.
3. Hannah Montana
Without a doubt the most successful franchise to come out of the Disney Channel, “Hannah Montana” didn’t just make Miley Cyrus a global superstar, but also made Disney millions of dollars. It’s not hard to see why as the show is a remarkable piece of comedy with legendary music to boot and some tremendously famous guest stars. By day she is normal teenage girl, Miley Stewart, but at night she becomes teen pop sensation, Hannah Montana. Every episode kept viewers on the edge of their seat, wondering whether the secret would be revealed. Miley may have been the star, but it was her family and friends that provided the heart and humour the show needed to keep the wild premise grounded in reality.
2. That’s So Raven
Raven Symone’s comedic skills can never be praised enough. Hilary Duff put Disney Channel on the map, but Raven elevated it to new heights! Being a teenager is difficult enough, but being a psychic is anything but a breeze – Raven Baxter proves that with the hijinks she and her friends Chelsea and Eddie find themselves in, in every episode. “That’s So Raven’s” physical comedy was pure genius, and can only be rivalled by Lucille Ball. While it more often than not leaned into the joke, the show also wasn’t afraid to tackle important issues like racism and the body image issues that young Black teens in particular face. All these years later, and it remains a timeless classic.
1. Wizards of Waverly Place
Selena Gomez isn’t just a pop star folks, she’s also an expert at comedic timing, which she proved as soon as she stepped into the shoes of Alex Russo. Her laziness, but also willingness to do anything for her loved ones makes Alex the most relatable teen character in the world. The rest of the ensemble cast are perfect and their chemistry together is no doubt the reason why “Wizards of Waverly Place” is the only live-action Disney Channel show to win an Emmy. The writing is humourous, but also complex, and the detail that is given to the wizarding world is nothing short of extraordinary. For four seasons and two movies, “Wizards of Waverly Place” delivered endless family fun and is hands down the best Disney Channel show of any generation.
Which Disney Channel live-action show is your absolute favourite? Let us know in the comments below or on one of our social media channels. Also, make sure to follow Frozen Mouse Fever for all your Disney needs.
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