I was born in 1999 and therefore I am technically a "90s kid" so I reserve my right to declare that growing up in the early 2000s I have witnessed the peak of Disney Channel entertainment.
Disney Channel helped us to bond together and enjoy our time together as kids, growing up to take on the world. The shows and movies had a common goal to teach life lessons with a bit of a comedic twist. I feel as if myself and most of my peers feel those values have changed within the last few years.
Back then, dysfunctional families that somehow made it work like the Baxter family in "That's So Raven" and the Stevens family from "Even Stevens" both of which taught us that even though things might not be so good right now, everything will be okay in the end.
Shows and movies with strong leading roles played by women like Kim Possible and Wendy Woo from "Wenndy Woo Homecoming Warrior" taught us that girls can be tough and powerful too. I wouldn't dare mess with Mulan; she's out to save the entire country of China.
Nowadays the shows are filled with fake jokes and contrived situations that no one can believe or relate to. The kids in the shows wear tons of makeup and layers upon layers of fancy clothes. Miley Stewart only wore lots of makeup when she was performing as Hannah Montana. Even Sharpay Evans of East High had all the glitz and glam, but she wasn't over the top with makeup and her clothes.
Why are the kids in shows like "Liv and Maddie" and "Austin and Ally" dressing like adults and acting like they have real world adult problems; it seems like they've just skipped over their innocent childhood years.
Only a few "classic shows" still play in the middle of the night on Disney Channel. Children growing up today are subjected to watching these fabricated shows and movies.
I've babysat kids who don't even know who Hannah Montana is and it breaks my (achy breaky) heart. They'll never know lines like "sweet niblets" or "Hey yooo its Riiiico". They'll never be as confused as we were when in the "Hannah Montana Movie" she revealed her secret in that little town in Tennessee, and it somehow didn't spread to the rest of the world that international pop sensation Hannah Montana is the really awkward Miley Stewart of Malibu.
I tried to watch one of the new Disney Channel shows called "Dog With a Blog" but I soon realized the star golden retriever of the show is just a wanna be Air Bud.
I will admit we can't live in the past and most good things must to come to an end; Disney Channel couldn't possibly continue these shows forever. London Tipton can only buy so many shoes. Troy and Gabriella can only sing so many duets together. We're just living the best of both worlds I guess.
