So, I'm sure we have all been through this: our parents tell us about old TV shows, movies, toys, and fads back when they were growing up. And we tell them we don;t care about the good ol' days.Except, now, I actually understand where they are coming from! I couldn't convince a current 10-year old that Disney channel was better when we were growing up -- late 90s to early 2000s -- if my life depended on it. You can't really explain why it was so much more compelling than it is, now; it just was.
Disney wasn't just a channel with TV shows that we would watch to pass time. We learned something from the characters. Whether the plot of an episode revolved around school, family, or friend advice, there was always a lesson and a lot of entertainment. There was just something about plopping down on the couch with a bag of Doritos after a long day of second grade and turning on the TV only to see Louis and Ren fighting on Even Stevens.
Here is a list of programs that melted our little 10-year old hearts.
1. Lizzie McGuire. I'm pretty sure this clumsy, humble, yet completely cool and eccentric teenager was the most wondrous human on planet Earth when Lizzie McGuire was still airing. I looked up to Lizzie McGuire with her funky hairstyles, mismatched clothing, and quirky family like she was a real person, not just a character. Even though she couldn't be confident around Ethan Craft to save her life and incessantly fought with her grimy little brother, Matt, she was incredibly passionate about always going down the right path and she stayed true to herself no matter what. I don't know about you guys, but I couldn't have been more ecstatic when Gordo finally laid a big smooch on Lizzie in The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
2. Boy Meets World.
Why, oh, why did Cory and Topanga have to be so perfect together? This couple stayed incredibly strong from middle school all the way to college. We watched these characters grow up as if we were their mothers, and I loved every minute of it. Boy Meets World was about Cory and the lessons he learned growing up and, sometimes, the simplest of plots contained the most depth and emotion. Cory fought battles with his best friend Shawn, his brother Eric, his family, and Topanga -- and even Mr. Feeny! Boy, do we miss it.3.Even Stevens. I don't think I ever got through one episode of Even Stevens without dying laughing. There was just an air about him that made you extremely annoyed with him, especially for Ren's sake, yet absolutely adore his irresponsible ways. You never knew what Louis and his "dude" best friend, Twitty, were scheming next. We cannot forget about Beans with his passionate love for bacon.
4. That's So Raven. This supernatural TV series featured Raven, who fought battles with Chelsea and Eddie -- her best friends, her parents, Cory -- her jokester of a little brother, and her extremely revealing visions. There was always something that Raven saw in the future that caused excitement and hope, or some last minute scrambling to prevent the events seen from happening. On the side, we let out laughs at Chelsea's aloof and dimwitted personality and Raven's comical catch phrases such as, "Oh, snap!" The theme song was super catchy, too.
5. The Proud Family. I don't know which character caused me to giggle more: Oscar or Suga Momma. Also, what was with Penny's friends' names, such as Dijonay? LaCienega? Because this show is animated, it is hard to grasp the lessons taught in the show, but Penny's life as a 14 year-old is just the same as any other teen her age. Penny tended to occasionally disobey her parents with some pressure from her friends, but everything always turned out okay. Along with the dramatics in the show, there are lots of laughs, especially at Oscar's failed "proud snacks," Suga Momma's sassiness, and Dijonay's everlasting love for Sticky -- even though she never receives any back.
6. Hannah Montana. After watching this, getting "The Best of Both Worlds" out of my head was utterly impossible. Although Hannah Montana was a teen sensation, she was also able to live her live as Miley Stewart, an average teenage girl who makes it through with the help of Lily, Oliver and, most of all, her father. I still don't know how Lily and Oliver didn't recognize that their best friend was Hannah Montana. Come on, she only added a wig.
7. The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody. Ahh, the Tipton Hotel! You never knew what these two boys were planning next. From Zack consistently fighting with Maddie, the candy counter girl, to London's air-headed ways, there was always something to be chuckling about in this show. Even though Zack and Cody broke some rules, they were always innocent and meant well. Anyone who says they didn't find this pair of twins absolutely adorable has got to be lying.
Of course, there are many, many more shows that we miss dearly. Whether Disney Channel was recreated to suit a new type of audience or the shows just got old, these throwbacks are a distant memory. Don't even get me started on the Disney Channel movies from back then.
