Rivalries, Race and the 'Too Sexual' Jonas Brothers: The Biggest Bombshells FromDisney High

Mar. 15, 2025

Disney High book cover; Disney Channel logo.

Ever wondered what was happening behind the scenes of your beloved Disney Channel shows?

Culture journalist Ashley Spencer’s book,Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire, is here to pull back the curtain onEven Stevens,The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,That’s So RavenandHigh School Musical, just to name a few.

Disney Channel started as just another branch of the Walt Disney Company. After seeing how big theMickey Mouse Clubtalent got after they let them go, however, the television network figured out the best way to create the same level of star power with their shows and movies.

Eventually, it became a powerhouse, creating family-friendly content and turning stars likeMiley Cyrusand theJonas Brothersinto household names. Spencer’s book breaks down the network’s development and rise, along with what was really happening behind closed doors.

Here are the biggest bombshells fromDisney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire.

Henry Winkler Was The Executive Producer on This Disney Channel Original Series

Henry Winkler; the cast of ‘So Weird’.Kevin Mazur/Getty; Disney

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Disney

ActorHenry Winkler, known forHappy DaysandBarryserved as the executive producer on the Disney Channel Original SeriesSo Weird. The show was like a kids' version ofThe X Files, but made sure the program “didn’t talk down” to its younger audience.

After losing — and then finding — his “treasured ID bracelet” in Central Park, Winkler, 78, grew fascinated with the occult, which inspired him to be part of the series. He believed he found his bracelet thanks to a “higher power” and had always “believed since I was that age that I will be in the vicinity when aliens land on the earth, and they will be friendly.”

Shia LaBeouf and Christy Carlson Romano Had a Sibling Rivalry On- and Off-Screen inEven Stevens

Christy Carlson Romano and Shia LaBeouf.George Lange/Disney Channel via Getty

Christy Carlson RomanoandShia LaBeoufhad a “fraught” relationship that lent itself well to their roles as Ren and Louis Stevens onEven Stevens. An early storyline from the show involving Romano, 40, being “pelted with tomatoes” established their off-screen rivalry.

“[LaBeouf] was always giving her a hard time and complaining about her off camera, which she put up with because she felt it made the on-camera rivalry more realistic,” producer Dennis Rinsler said.

Lizzie McGuirestars Hilary Duff and Lalaine Were Real-Life Friends — Until They Weren’t

Hilary Duff and Lalaine in 2001.Collection Christophel/Disney/Alamy

Collection Christophel/Disney/Alamy

Even though they were BFFs onscreen,Hilary DuffandLalainehad a falling out three-quarters of the way throughLizzie McGuirethat never got resolved. While Duff’s music career began to ascend, she never got to sing on the show like Lalaine, 37, did in season 1. Meanwhile, Duff, 36, had more work to do for the show and Lalaine was able to bond with other actors in between takes.

The drama was typical for teenage girls, but their careers and the politics of show business made things more complicated. Lalaine was released from her contract six episodes early, as a result.

That’s So RavenWriters' Room Was Originally “Starkly White”

Raven-Symone.Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett

Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett

DespiteThat’s So Ravenfocusing on a Black family with a principal cast of mostly Black actors, the “showrunners and top-billed creatives remained starkly white,” with no Black writers in the writers' room. However, many Black writers became part of the writers' room in later seasons.

Writer Michael Poryes said he regretted not including Black writers on their roster, in retrospect. “I think that was a mistake on my part,” he said, recalling that “none” of the writing candidates suggested to him were Black.

Zac Efron Cried When His Disney Channel Pilot Wasn’t Picked Up

Zac Efron in 2009.Frazer Harrison/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty

Zac Efronwas supposed to be part of a Disney Channel Original Series calledTriple Playthat focused on identical triplets. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out for the show, and the network went withThe Suite Life of Zack & Codyinstead.Executive producer Dava Savel said Efron, 36, was “crying” after being told the show wouldn’t go ahead, which featured him as the older brother.

“Zac, you are not meant to do television, sweetie. You are a movie star. And that’s what you’re going to do,” Savel told him. Efron would soon land on his feet in a little movie calledHigh School Musical.

Disney Wasn’t Thrilled when Brenda Song Took a Role inThe Social Network

Jesse Eisenberg, Brenda Song, and Andrew Garfield in ‘The Social Network’.Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

Brenda Song, who played the ditzy hotel heiress inThe Suite Life of Zack & Codyauditioned for a role in the PG-13The Social Network, which saw her character hooking up withAndrew Garfieldin a bathroom stall.

Suite Lifecreative consultant Billy Riback said that she wasn’t asking for permission, just for the network’s blessing. Though Disney Channel pushed back, Song, 36, still did the movie.

Jesse McCartney Turned DownHigh School Musical

Jesse McCartney in 2004.Paul Hawthorne/Getty

Paul Hawthorne/Getty

Ahead of the auditions forHigh School Musical, Jesse McCartney had been offered the lead role of Troy Bolton, but he didn’t want to be seen as a “Disney Star,” so he said no. McCartney, 37, had also been offered a role as the lead inCamp Rockbut again declined.

How the Larry David’sHannah MontanaCameo Came To Be

Larry David in ‘Hannah Montana’.Danny Feld/Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett

Danny Feld/Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett

Larry David’sHannah Montanacameo was one of the manystar-studded appearances from the series. David, 77, called up the producers to get him and his daughters Cazzie and Romy audience tickets for an episode’s taping.

The Jonas Brothers' Dad Kevin Sr. Was Worried About The Band Being Perceived As ‘Too Sexual’

Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas in 2006.Scott Gries/Getty

Scott Gries/Getty

Their fitted shirts would become see-through, a tour photographer recalled. “Their team would be like, ‘no you have to crop it. No nipples.’ Anything that was too sexy was out.”

Demi Lovato Was Obsessed With Kelly Clarkson and Made Her Email Address About TheAmerican IdolStar

Demi Lovato; Kelly Clarkson.Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Demi Lovatowas such a big fan ofAmerican IdolalumKelly Clarksonthat she dedicated her email address to her. After watching her win the 2002 season of the singing competition, she made her email “littlekelly” and dreamed about becoming famous like her.

Demi Lovato’s Mental Health Struggles Were Allegedly Made Known To Executives as Early as 2006

Demi Lovato in 2008.Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Before opening up about her eating disorder in 2010, Lovato’s condition was “allegedly made known to at least some network executives” in 2006, according toDisney High. While filmingSonny With A Chance, Lovato, 32, struggled with self-harm and substance abuse along with her eating disorder, along with her “oppressive schedule and imbalance of passion.”

Meanwhile, Lovato’s mother Dianna, had"long avoided confronting"her daughter’s eating disorder.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Disney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empireis available now, wherever books are sold.

source: people.com