What was the Disney Channel 65-episode rule?

"Lizzie McGuire" and "Even Stevens" were taken from us too soon.

If you were a kid in the 1990s or early 2000s, you probably watched the Disney Channel a lot. The variety of original shows it provided, from memorable live-action sitcoms to animated comedies, captivated a generation. Shows like Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, Pepper Ann, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, and The Famous Jett Jackson, all found their place under the Disney banner. But they also shared a common number that made their shows end much earlier than expected: 65.

During the early days of original Disney television programming, every show under the Mouse House was given a 65 episode rule rubric to follow. This applied to shows created for both their ABC One Saturday morning block and the Disney Channel. But what was the 65 episode rule?  Which shows were affected by it and which shows broke the rule? Is it still in effect today?

Here’s everything you need to know about the Disney Channel 65 episode rule.

What was the Disney Channel 65-episode rule?

When a Disney show is greenlit, the show cannot exceed beyond 65 episodes. A show can go up to three seasons, but once the episode count hits 65, that show must wrap up its overarching story. There's no possible renewal opportunity, so consider yourself cancelled by default.

Why were shows cancelled after 65 episodes?

Shows were cancelled after 65 episodes so that four separate Disney Channel shows could be broadcast during the week over the course of a calendar year. Each quarter, four new shows would air new episodes and reruns during a season quarter (13 weeks). By the end of the quarter, 65 episodes would have aired. Through reruns and new episodes, the show would maximize exposure and boost its chances of entering syndication. But even successful series often ended up with limited 65-episode runs on the channel.

What shows were impacted by the 65 episode rule?

Lizzie McGuire and Even Stevens were two of the most notable casualties of the rule. The iconic series Lizzie McGuire, which catapulted Hilary Duff into teen superstardom, ran from 2001-2004 and rounded out its run by its 65th episode. The same also went for the Shia LaBeouf and Christy Carlson Romano buddy comedy Even Stevens, which ran from 2000-2003. At the time, Lizzie McGuire was Disney Channel’s most successful series, but that didn’t make it exempt from the rule and our favorite klutzy middle schooler series came to an end.

While both Lizzie and Stevens had the same fate in 2003, they were also graced with a feature-length movie that served as their series finales. Who can forget the Italian masterpiece that was The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which was released theatrically. Also the should've-gone-to-theaters Even Stevens Movie, which aired on the Disney Channel a few weeks after the final episode.

Several other noteworthy titles didn’t manage to approach the 65 episode range, despite feeling like they ran for much longer. Several shows, such as Phil of the Future, The Proud Family, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, and American Dragon: Jake Long barely lasted two seasons and had a 52 episode count or lower.

Which Disney Channel show broke the 65-episode rule?

In 2003, a certain teen named Raven Baxter arrived on the scene and broke that 65-episode glass ceiling. That's So Raven, starring Disney royalty Raven-Symoné, was such a gangbuster hit, the 65 episodes weren't enough for the superstar psychic. That's So Raven closed out with a whopping 100 episode run, lasting between the ends of Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire’s run and the heydays of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Hannah Montana’s reign. Raven made such a huge impact that she teamed up with the latter two shows in the infamous you-had-to-be-there crossover event That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana. The Raven franchise was so successful that it’s the only Disney Channel series to date to have both a spin-off (Corey in the House) and a sequel series (Raven’s Home, which had 122 episodes). Oh snap, indeed!

Someone else who broke Disney’s improbable rule was none other than Kim Possible. The animated series Kim Possible (Christy Carlson Romano, back again) is about a super spy teen saving the world from colorful bad guys with her nacho-loving best friend Ron Stoppable (Will Friedle). The series was one of the highest rated shows for the channel. After 65 episodes, it was originally cancelled, wrapping up its run with the television movie So the Drama (where were you when Kim and Ron Stoppable first kissed?). So the Drama also took a jab at the rule with an onscreen background gag where Ron’s mirror has a sticker that reads “No on 65”. But after excellent ratings and fan reception, the show was greenlit for a fourth and final season, centering around Ron and Kim as a couple entering their senior year of high school together.

Is the 65 episode rule still in effect today?

Since Raven’s reign, the 65-episode rule has been laid to rest. If a series bodes to be successful, they are free to order as many seasons as warranted. And even if a show is granted a feature film, it doesn’t mean it’s the end. Smash hits like Selena Gomez’s Wizards of Waverly Place and the hilarious Phineas and Ferb had long runs spanning over 100 plus episodes, were granted a TV movie, and are in the process of returning with revival series. Raven walked so everyone can run – and on two separate occasions. Who could've seen that coming besides her?

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