Disney and Nick, Blasts from the Past
Although I try not to, I find myself watching TV tween soaps with my daughter… and I say it is for our bonding time. But I secretly get a thrill seeing the stars I grew up with now making a second go of things on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon.
Lizzy McGuire’s dad Sam McGuire is Robert Carradine, but I first knew him as Louis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds.
On Even Stephens, with Shia LaBeouf whom I adore, mom is played by Donna Pescow. She started as Annette in Saturday Night Fever. (Was she a nice girl or a tramp? I don’t recall.)
Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide is brimming with excellent blasts from the past. English teacher and later principal Dr. Wright is none other than Anthony from Designing Women, Meshach Taylor. Life Science and Health teacher, Mr. Monroe is Jim. J. Bullock, formerly of Too Close for Comfort where he played Monroe Ficus. Mo Collins plays iTeacher (she teaches via a small television set that students move around) but I loved her in everything she did in MADtv.
And Hannah Montana. Well, what can I say? Of course there is Mr. Achy Breaky Heart himself, Billy Ray Cyrus, who plays Hannah’s dad…and Hannah is played by his real life daughter, Miley Cyrus. Miley’s Grandmother is played by Vicki Lawrence, of fame from the Carol Burnett Show. But don’t forget her one hit wonder, The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. Miley’s aunt is played by Dolly Parton. And Camryn Manheim plays the manger of Miley’s arch rival.
Then there are the Disney movies, but that will have to wait for another post. Until then, I will just thank Disney and Nickelodeon for making my tween soap viewing time so enjoyable. Of course my daughter just thinks I am old.
—–Now and Then—–
Filed under: Media, Television
