16 Disney shows from the 2000s you probably forgot about

Shows like “American Dragon: Jake Long,” “Life with Derek,” and “Cory in the House” were Disney staples at their time but have been forgotten by many. Walt Disney Television Animation; Shaftesbury Films; It’s a Laugh Productions The aughts were the golden era for Disney Channel shows, giving us many groundbreaking series. While many come to mind when we get nostalgic, some Disney shows have been forgotten.

Cartoons and spin-offs like “The Legend of Tarzan” and “Cory in the House” may not stick out. “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command” transitioned Buzz from a big-screen action figure to a small-screen superhero. “Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.

“Walt Disney Television AnimationThis series followed the popular action figure from the “Toy Story” franchise in his element as a Space Ranger, beyond the walls of Andy’s bedroom. The cartoon chronicles Buzz, voiced by Patrick Warburton, serving to protect his planet as part of the Galactic Alliance. He takes rookies under his wing to train and defend the galaxy against the villainous Emperor Zurg (voiced by Wayne Knight).

His quirky fleet includes characters like Booster Munchapper, Princess Mira Nova, and XR. The Walt Disney Television series came out after the first two “Toy Story” Pixar movies. Its first and only season first aired on UPN and ABC from 2000 to 2001 on Saturday mornings.

The 62 episodes were then shown as reruns on Disney Channel through 2008. The character will return to the big screen, though, in the 2022 film “Lightyear. ” But it doesn’t seem like “Star Command” will be made canon in any meaningful way.

“In a Heartbeat” was a drama-packed, short-lived series that featured teens who were EMT volunteers. “In a Heartbeat. “AAC KidsThis drama series is often forgotten in the Disney archive.

It told the story of high school students who volunteered as part-time EMTs. It delved into the high stakes of working in an ambulance squad, as well as the drama of being teenagers. “In a Heartbeat” predominantly featured the characters Hank Beecham (Danso Gordon), Val Lanier (Reagan Pasternak), Tyler Connell (Shawn Ashmore), and Jamie Waite (Christopher Ralph), who were part of different cliques at school, but came together through their volunteer work.

The series ran for only one season of 20 episodes from 2000 through 2001. In the US, it aired on Disney Channel and in Canada, it ran on the Family Channel. Goofy characters made “Even Stevens” a lovable family sitcom.

“Even Stevens. “Buena Vista Television/Fireworks EntertainmentThe wildly outlandish and comical life of the Stevens family is on full display in this Disney Channel show. The main characters are siblings Louis (Shia LaBeouf) and Ren (Christy Carlson Romano), who are polar opposites.

They constantly clash with each other, with Ren being the more type-A sibling and Louis falling on the kookier side. “Even Stevens'” cast also includes Beans, the family’s oddball neighbor who’s obsessed with bacon and welcomes himself into their home without permission frequently, Ren and Louis’ jock older brother Donnie, and Louis’ best friend Twitty. The series was popular, lasting for 65 episodes across three seasons from 2000 to 2003, but it sometimes falls through cracks when people get nostalgic and think back to their favorite Disney shows — especially when thinking of LaBeouf’s recent career and legal struggles.

The Disney Channel Original Movie, “The Even Stevens Movie,” served as the story’s finale and farewell in 2003. “The Weekenders” focused on the weekend escapades of a group of friends while they weren’t attending school. “The Weekenders.

“Walt Disney Television AnimationThis animated series showed the adventures of four seventh-grade friends and what they did over the weekend. Each episode spanned from Friday night through Sunday, as the diverse friend group of Tino Tonitini, Lor McQuarrie, Carver Descartes, and Tish Katsufrakis did different activities together and solved problems before school started again on Monday. Tino served as the narrator and frequently broke the fourth wall, talking directly to the audience about the plot.

“The Weekenders” first aired on ABC and lasted for 77 episodes across four seasons from 2000 through 2004. It eventually moved to Toon Disney. “The Legend of Tarzan” continued the 1999 film’s story of Tarzan and Jane living in the jungle and leading the gorillas.

“The Legend of Tarzan. “Walt Disney Television AnimationThe light-hearted Saturday morning cartoon starts off where the 1999 film “Tarzan” left off, with Tarzan becoming leader of the gorillas. It follows Tarzan (Michael T.

Weiss) and his wife Jane’s adventures of living in the jungle, while balancing each other’s different lifestyles. Jane (Olivia d’Abo) wants Tarzan to act more civilized, which creates tension between them and the gorillas who look up to them. “The Legend of Tarzan” includes many characters from the film, including Terk the ape and Tantor the elephant, and uses elements and storylines from the original “Tarzan” books.

 The series aired on UPN (with reruns on ABC and Disney Channel) for 39 episodes and two seasons from 2001 through 2003. “Fillmore!” showed how intense being part of school safety patrol could become. “Fillmore!”Walt Disney Television AnimationThis crime and mystery animated series showed Cornelius Fillmore (voiced by Orlando Brown) joining his middle school’s safety patrol after being deemed a juvenile delinquent.

Given the choice to help solve school crimes or be in detention for the rest of school, Cornelius opted to serve to keep the peace in the halls alongside his friend and partner Ingrid Third (Tara Strong).  “Fillmore!” was a parody of classic cop shows, but instead catered to children by featuring parodies of real crimes — e. g.

, smuggling lunchroom foods and vandalizing bathroom stalls.  The Saturday morning cartoon was the final series produced independently by Disney Television Animation for ABC before the studio started making them exclusively for Disney Channel. It aired for only 26 episodes across two seasons between 2002 and 2004.

“Lilo & Stitch: The Series” showed the adorable duo finding and rescuing other science experiment creatures. “Lilo & Stitch: The Series. “Walt Disney Television AnimationThe highly successful film “Lilo & Stitch” (2002) led to the lesser known small-screen creation of “Lilo & Stitch: The Series.

“The show followed the iconic duo of Lilo Pelekai (voiced by Daveigh Chase) and Experiment 626, aka Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders), as they tried to find the 625 other science experiments created before Stitch that were set loose in Hawaii during the events of the direct-to-video sequel “Stitch! The Movie” (2003). Lilo and Stitch, with the help of their friends and family, aimed to protect the aliens and reform them to be good, before finding them caring homes to live in. The series also had crossover episodes with cartoons like “Kim Possible,” “The Proud Family,” and “Recess.

“The series aired for 67 episodes and two seasons from 2003 to 2006. It concluded with the direct-to-video movie “Leroy & Stitch” (2006). A muscular-yet-cowardly teenager attempts to protect his kingdom in “Dave the Barbarian.

“”Dave the Barbarian. “Walt Disney Television Animation”Dave the Barbarian” is a Disney show that could be easily forgotten, or was altogether not known by many, because it only aired for 21 episodes. The animated series follows Dave (voiced by Danny Cooksey), a strong teenager from the Middle Ages who has to protect the kingdom of Udrogoth with his sisters while their parents are away saving the world.

However, Dave isn’t cut out for this protective role, is often scared of everything, and prefers to enjoy the simpler things in life. The series aired for one season on Disney Channel between 2004 and 2005. “Life with Derek” showcased a blended family filled with drama.

“Life with Derek. “Shaftesbury FilmsThe Canadian sitcom told the story of a blended family consisting of the MacDonalds and the Venturis. The eldest siblings from each side, Casey MacDonald (Ashley Leggat) and Derek Venturi (Michael Seater), were at the center of the show, as both tried to maintain their alpha roles within the family.

Casey is a classic type-A rule-follower, while Derek used his outgoing personality and charm to get whatever he wants at any cost. Over the course of the show, the step-siblings often fought and tried to prove themselves right, but sometimes came together to fight for a common goal.  “Life with Derek” aired for 70 episodes across four seasons from 2005 to 2009 on several channels internationally, including Disney Channel.

The series concluded with the 2010 TV movie “Vacation with Derek. “Now, “Life with Derek’s” main claims to fame are the flirtatious moments between Casey and Derek, which bring the show back into pop culture every so often. A family accidentally travels over 100 years to the past in the family sitcom “Phil of the Future.

“”Phil of the Future. “2121 ProductionsIn “Phil of the Future,” a family from the year 2121 takes a trip on their time machine, which predictably goes wrong: They end up crash-landing in 2004. The Diffys have to hide that they’re from the future and blend into present-day life while they attempt to fix their time machine — and keep their pet caveman Curtis a secret.

Siblings Phil (Raviv Ullman) and Pim (Amy Bruckner) go to an ordinary high school and meet Keely Teslow (Aly Michalka) who becomes Phil’s friend and eventual girlfriend. Keely becomes the only other person who knows they’re from the future. “Phil to the Future” was a beloved series but was only on the air for 43 episodes and two seasons between 2004 and 2006.

The finale shows the family finally going back to the future . . .

though it’s implied they come back. A teenager must secretly train to use his magical dragon abilities in “American Dragon: Jake Long. “”American Dragon: Jake Long.

“Walt Disney Television AnimationJake Long (voiced by Dante Basco) is a seemingly average Chinese-American teenager living in New York City, except for the fact that he lives a secret life as a dragon shape-shifter to fight evil and protect other mythical creatures. This animated series follows Jake hiding his secret identity while being trained by his grandfather and his pet Fu Dog to learn how to use his magical powers and become the American Dragon. He also has to contend with the fact that his longtime crush Rose is descended from a long line of dragon hunters.

Although the show was popular, Disney stopped producing it after 55 episodes across two seasons, which aired between 2005 and 2007. Another quirky thing about “Jake Long,” and why you might be a tad confused, is that the animation style of the show totally changed between seasons one and two to cut costs. “The Emperor’s New School” takes place after the events of “The Emperor’s New Groove” and shows Kuzco’s attempts to complete high school so he can finally become emperor.

“The Emperor’s New School. “Walt Disney Television AnimationAlthough “The Emperor’s New Groove” (2000) isn’t the most notable animated Disney film from the 2000s — though many would call it underrated — it still prompted a direct-to-video sequel, “Kronk’s New Groove,” (2005), and a TV series.  “The Emperor’s New School” shows Kuzco (voiced by J.

P. Manoux, taking over for David Spade), a narcissistic teenaged emperor, as he’s forced to go to high school and get his diploma before becoming emperor of the Kuzconian Empire in Peru. The films’ antagonists Kronk (voiced by Patrick Warburton) and Yzma (voiced by Eartha Kitt), who previously turned Kuzco into a llama, scheme to try to prevent Kuzco from graduating and becoming emperor.

Kuzco is aided by his friend Pacha from the movie, and new character Malina, a fellow student at school. The series aired on Disney Channel for 52 episodes over two seasons between 2006 and 2008. “Cory in the House” was the less popular spin-off of “That’s So Raven.

“”Cory in the House. “It’s a Laugh ProductionsWhile “That’s So Raven” probably comes to mind when thinking back to 2000s Disney Channel shows, you may have forgotten its spin-off “Cory in the House. “”Cory in the House,” which was the first Disney Channel spin-off to be based on another Disney Channel show, followed Raven Baxter’s younger brother Cory, played by Kyle Massey, and father Victor, played by Rondell Sheridan, as they move to Washington, DC, after Victor becomes head chef at the White House.

Cory learns to adjust to his new lifestyle, making friends with Newt Livingston (Jason Dolley), the son of a senator, and Meena Paroom (Maiara Walsh), the daughter of a foreign ambassador, who all form a band together. Cory also becomes friendly with the fictional President Martinez — although he tends to butt heads with the first daughter Sophie and other White House personnel. The series aired on Disney Channel for 40 episodes across two seasons between 2007 and 2008.

“As the Bell Rings” was a short series that was played during commercial breaks on Disney Channel. “As the Bell Rings. “The Walt Disney Company”As the Bell Rings” was a Disney show that was easily forgettable, as episodes were just five minutes long.

It showed the action-packed and comical lives of a group of friends while in school between periods, before the school bell rang. It was based on the Italian Disney Channel show “Quelli dell’intervallo” and the soap opera “As the World Turns. “Thirty-six episodes of the comedy aired between 2007 and 2009 between commercial breaks or when episodes or movies ended early in their time slots.

Its biggest claim to fame now is that it starred a young Demi Lovato. One of the Jonas Brothers’ lesser-known projects was their Disney series “Jonas. “”Jonas.

“It’s a Laugh ProductionsWith all of the outstanding projects Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas have worked on in television, movies, and music, their short-lived Disney TV series “Jonas” is easy to forget about. After the success of Disney Channel Original Movie “Camp Rock” in 2008, the Jonas Brothers got their own TV show where they played fictional versions of themselves. The overly goofy series followed them as they balanced being a successful band while simultaneously attending high school and navigating teenage life.

Their real-life younger brother Frankie Jonas was also featured in the show. “Jonas” was renamed “Jonas L. A.

” for the second season as the characters moved to Los Angeles. It only lasted for 34 episodes and two seasons airing from 2009 to 2010, and was later eclipsed by the success of 2010’s “Camp Rock 2. “In the brothers’ 2019 documentary, “Chasing Happiness,” they discussed the misstep of going through with the series.

“We shouldn’t have done that. It really stunted our growth,” Nick said, according to Teen Vogue. Kevin and Joe also said that the series was too young for them and negatively affected the perception of their band, according to the outlet.

“Sonny with a Chance” followed teens acting in the comedy sketch show “So Random!””Sonny with a Chance. “It’s a Laugh ProductionsThe series had a show within a show format as it followed Sonny Munroe (Demi Lovato), as she pursued her acting dreams and joined the cast of a sketch comedy show “So Random!”The series was on the air for 47 episodes through two seasons from 2009 to 2011. It ended after Lovato left the show and was admitted into a treatment center for substance abuse and other personal issues in 2010.

The actor’s departure to focus on their health and their transition to a music career forced “Sonny with a Chance” to rebrand to be “So Random!” — aka it turned into the sketch show that the characters used to star on — which lasted from 2011 to 2012. “I don’t think going back to ‘Sonny’ would be healthy for my recovery,” Lovato told People in 2011. “Being in front of a camera would make me nervous.

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