While Nickelodeon seemed to dominate kids game shows, what withLegends of the Hidden TempleandFigure It Out, Disney Channel did have a few game shows of its own. Based on the popular word game,Mad Libshad two teams compete in physical and mental-related challenges.
Starring the lateLee Thompson Youngas the title character, this show followed Jetts exploits as a TV action hero named Silverstone. A spin-off movie, cleverly titledJett Jackson: The Movie, premiered in 2001. Oh, andDestinys ChildandBritney Spearsguest-starred as themselves on the show, because the 90s.
The Mowry sisters little broTahj Mowryalso had his own show on The WB, eventually airing in syndication on Disney Channel. Mowry played 10-year-old wiz kid T.J. Henderson who skipped a bunch of grades to attend high school with his siblings (Jason Weaver and Essence Atkins). As T.J. learned the ins and outs of high school, he did his best to fit in with the older kids, getting himself into trouble every step of the way. And if you dont remember all the words to the catchytheme song, youre simply lying to yourself.
Originally airing on NBC,The TorkelsonsbecameAlmost Homefor its second (and final) season. The show followed a single mother (Connie Ray) as she tried to raise her five rambunctious kids after their father abandons the family. He later returned, but things didnt go too well, naturally.Lee Norris, a.k.a. Stuart Minkus fromBoy Meets World, played Chuckie Lee Torkelson, a bug collector who always wore big glasses.
This super early Disney Channel series read like aGoosebumpsbook. Three kids (Shannon Doherty, Scott Bremner, and Jody Montana) spent a summer vacation searching for buried treasure and Bigfoot. As one does.
Based onAlice in Wonderland, this Disney show allowed Alice (Elisabeth Harnois) to enter and leave Wonderland whenever she pleased, simply by walking through a mirror. Harnois would later go on to star asWill Friedles love interest inMy Date with the Presidents Daughter.
By far the scariest and creepiest Disney show of the decade,So Weirdwas like kids version of shows likeThe X-FilesandSupernatural.Fiona Fi Phillips (Cara DeLizia) traveled with her rockstar mom (Mackenzie Phillips), stumbling upon paranormal and downright spooky things along the way. She shared her experiences on her blog So Weird. The show also reunitedBrink!starsErik von Dettenand Patrick Levis, but they left their (soul)skates at home. The seriesstheme songwas grade-A fire, and dont you tell me otherwise.
A couple of years beforeOmri Katzwould light the black-flame candle inHocus Pocus, he played Marshall Teller, a kid whose family moved to the bizarre town of Eerie, Indiana. Armed with his new friend Simon Holmes (Justin Shenkarow, who would go on to voice Harold onHey Arnold!years later) Marshall dealt with creepy town mysteries and urban legends. LikeThe Torkelsons, the show also originally aired on NBC.
Originally airing on ABC and then The WB,Tia Mowry-HardrictandTamera Mowry-Housleys show eventually found itself in syndication on Disney Channel. Twins in real life, Tia and Tamera played twins separated at birth who learn of each others existence. If you ever hear someone say, Go home, Roger!, you can thank this show.
Yet another attempt at Disney Does Game Shows,Off the Wallinvolved teams competing against each other, but also against random, on-the-street contestants who were pre-taped.
Based on the book seriesThe Monday Night Football Clubby Gordon Korman, the show followed four kids who discovered a magic jersey. When worn, the wearer was transported into the body of a famous athlete. The show featured several familiar faces, including Tony Hawk and Laila Ali. Unfortunately, actor Michael Galeota, who played Nick Lighter,passed awayearlier this year.
Hosted by Jeff Corwin (duh), this nature show followed Corwin as he ventured all around the globe to check out the planets coolest and most exotic animals. Corwin would later travel over to Discovery Kids for his show,Jeff Corwin Unleashed.
Not to be confused with the ABC sci-fi showFlashforward, this series is the first in Disney Channel Original Series, created back in 1995. Starring a BBBen Foster,Flash Forwardfollowed two BFFs as they each narrated their middle school life, comparing it to when they were little kids.
Take a look at these 15 classics, both Disney Channel Original Series and ones aired in syndication on the network throughout the 90s. Oh, but we left offBoy Meets World, because seriously, did youreallyforget about that show? Short answer: No.
This reality show was centered around 20 adolescents experiencing the trials and tribulations of summer camp. The phrase Bug Juice referred to a sweet, Kool-aid-esque drink all the campers seemed to drink out the wazoo.
Time to remember the lost shows of your childhood
When people hearOld Disney, a common tag on Tumblr, they tend to think of early 00s shows, such asEven StevensLizzie McGuire, andThe Suite Life of Zack and Cody. And while these are old, in comparison to Disney shows of today, theyre still newer than all the gems to come out of the 90s. Disney Channel created some seriously iconic series, but they seem to have fallen through the cracks of the Internets memory.
StarringJoeyMatthew, andAndy Lawrence, the series followed Joe Roman as he reconnected with his half-brothers Matt and Andy after their dad died. The show originally aired on NBC, then shifted to The WB (now The CW), and was aired in syndication on Disney Channel.