Disney is known for its excellent selection of family content that has really defined many people’s childhoods throughout the years. However, even though some shows seem to resonate with audiences really well, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are always going to be critically acclaimed.
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All this being said, Disney has created many TV shows in the past that have all made their mark in some way or another, but some of its most iconic shows are the ones that were extremely popular while simultaneously being critically panned.
The Proud Family (2001 – 2005)
The Proud Family tells the story of Penny Proud as she tries to navigate the tween world and her family that is very involved in her life. This was one of the few Disney shows that had representation, which is incredibly important for kids.
This show definitely made its mark, but one of the biggest remarks from critics is that it gives into too many stereotypes and exaggerates all the characters in the show to a point that it becomes difficult to watch. The good news is that there are new shows like The Proud Family that are even better to watch now.
Cory In The House (2007-2008)
Cory in the House is the spinoff of That’s So Raven, which follows Raven’s younger brother Cory and their father, who has become the White House chef. This show was ingenious, and fans of the series have nothing but kind things to say about a series that has a healthy family dynamic and some great characters.
Critics found, however, that Cory in the House often was too predictable and some of the friendships between Cory and his female friends felt really forced or awkward. Fans also still have burning questions that Cory in the House left unanswered.
A.N.T. Farm (2011-2014)
A.N.T. Farm follows musical prodigy, Chyna Parks, as she gets accepted into the Advanced Natural Talents program at her school, which is for gifted students. China Anne McClain brought everything to this role and sang so many songs that many young adults today will recognize.
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With this in mind, the series is a title with side characters that all get outshined by Chyna in every scene. It has its goofy and fun moments, but it lacks the kind of nuance that more sophisticated audiences want.
Dog With A Blog (2012-2015)
Dog with a Blog follows a family and their lovable pup who they quickly realize has the ability to read and write. The dog starts his own blog and chronicles his adventures with his new caring family.
The main complaint from critics of this show is that this talking dog trope is way overdone and that this show doesn’t add enough to make it interesting enough to stick around for more than just the pilot.
So Random! (2011-2012)
So Random! succeed for a while because it was the show that Sonny with a Chance was based around. It’s basically a kids comedy sketch show that is full of silly songs, skits, and usually some kind of overarching message.
With that being said, the show doesn’t feature Demi Lovato as a main cast member, and it tries way too hard to be as great as The Amanda Show was. It was popular, but it just didn’t have that extra layer of critical appeal.
Jonas (2009-2010)
Jonas follows Nick, Joe, and Kevin, the famous boy band of brothers, as they handle teen life and stardom. When it came out, it gave audiences more insight into their personalities and revealed some secrets about the Jonas brothers.
The main complaint about this show is that it can be a little too cliched even though it does have some cute comedy. The one female side character in the show also lacks some of the depth that the stars have.
Hannah Montana (2006-2010)
Hannah Montana, although it didn’t age well, was one of the most memorable shows from Disney’s 2000s selection. It follows a teenage girl who is secretly a pop star, who is constantly trying to grow up and hide her true identity from her classmates.
The main problem with this show is that because it ran much longer than most Disney shows, it became really repetitive. Not to mention, while the singing chops of Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus were great, their acting isn’t as good.
Bizaardvark (2016-2019)
Bizaardvark, which features the now extremely popular Olivia Rodrigo, follows friends Frankie and Paige, who make music videos on their blog that show their personalities and skills with creative expression.
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The biggest issue with this show is that its premise is too similar to Nickelodeon’s iCarly. One of the other big problems is that it tends to lean really heavily towards influencer culture, which, in turn, makes Bizaardvark appear to be heavily pandering.
Shake It Up (2010 – 2013)
Shake It Up follows dancers Rocky and CeCe as they deal with the challenges of balancing school and dancing on TV in their spare time. Though this show had an interesting concept and great stars that are still wildly popular today, it wasn’t elevated enough for critics.
This show is all about dancing and friendship, but it mostly contained awkward acting, clothing choices that clash, and one-liners that need a laugh track. All in all, it was still iconic, and it helped to make Zendaya a big star.
Fish Hooks (2010 – 2014)
Fish Hooks was a great show about high school students going to school and living it up in a fish tank. They take on the stress of growing up and have some good fun. As a kid, this show stood out because it was full of vibrant different characters.
While this was very true for fans of the show, critics didn’t feel the same way because many of the episodes just followed the generic formula that goes along with this kind of content. This show is a new concept for the age range that it’s meant for, but after watching a few more similar shows, it’s pretty lackluster to critics.
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