By Maddie Jewett

Every Saturday morning, once my pink alarm clock shaped like a LEGO struck 8 o’clock, I bolted down the stairs, grabbed some sugary cereal, and met my sister on the couch to spend our morning doing what we loved most: watching our favorite Disney shows together. Disney Channel Original TV shows seem to have been a staple in the daily life of almost every kid in my generation. The quick 45-minute shows were filled with drama, heartbreak, and comedy, providing comfort to me.

There are dozens of Disney Channel shows that were produced, but I think that there are some clear victors when it comes to capturing and maintaining an audience’s loyalty. My top three Disney channel shows are Jessie , Good Luck Charlie, and Wizards of Waverly Place. I still love all of these shows.

The Duncan family from Good Luck Charlie.

Good Luck Charlie, which was on the Disney Channel from 2012 to 2019, served as my comfort show for years. From April 4, 2010, to February 16, 2014, it was one of the highest-rated shows on Disney. The crazy Duncan family, with five children, always had something going on. It was a fast-paced, light-hearted, silly show that always ended with a positive message. The show draws humor from standard family fare, like an older sibling’s lukewarm responses to a new baby, middle children being devious, and parents’ difficulties managing the needs of a large family. The show was filled with jokes but also provided a sense of warmth. As I get older, I value the aspect of family more and more, and I think Good Luck Charlie and its messages are a significant part of that, because it taught me the importance of keeping your family close and cherishing the built-in friendships that family provides. 

Wizards of Waverly Places was a favorite of mine because I loved how it was your average family with a twist. The show aired on Disney Channel for four seasons, between October 2007 and January 2012. They looked like the basic mom and dad with three teenage kids, but they were secretly wizards. The Russo family dealt with all normal family issues, like boyfriends, high school dances, fights, and much more, all with the twist of learning to be wizards. The mix of magic, family dynamics, and coming-of-age themes created an engaging and entertaining story that I loved following. The show was hilarious, as it appealed to both sassy teens and parents. The aspect of magic added a layer of complexity and spice to the show that I craved.

The cast of Wizards of Waverly Place.

Of course, the show was successful because the plot was fantastic, but having one of the faces of Disney, Selena Gomez, be the star, was an easy way to get people to watch the show. Katherine Rausch (’26) says she loves the show because “because my sister and I would bond over Selena Gomez’s music and grew to love her movies and shows. We would spend our Saturday mornings watching TV together, it was so fun.”

Jessie is about a nanny who is struggling for a job and a failing actress, played by Debby Ryan. She cannot catch a break until she meets the Ross family; a blended family with four completely different kids with almost no similarities. The show aired from September 30, 2011, to October 16, 2015. With the Ross parents being famous business moguls and movie producers, they need a nanny, and that is where Jessie comes into play. Jessie’s line is “It feels like a party every day.” Stella Williams (’24) says that quote is “perfect for the show, I love it!” Peyton Dunn (24’) says, “Jessie is the best Disney Channel show, because characters such as Ravi are super-fascinating, and I felt a connection with him.” 

Jessie cast.

Jessie was my absolute favorite Disney show because each episode was filled with extremely action-packed adventures that I could only aspire to experience one day. Jessie was a show that was not your traditional family show, but the way Jessie made a family come so close together, and the challenges they overcame together were reassuring. To this day, as a 17-year-old, it is my comfort show and will always be near to me. 

Disney Channel will always be something I am so glad I got to have while growing up. The world is fast-paced and filled with darkness, but the second I turn on any Disney show, I am taken back to a simpler time.

All photos courtesy of Disney.