
Disney High
The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire
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Narrated by:
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Lalaine
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By:
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Ashley Spencer
About this listen
Long-listed, Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, 2024
This program is read by actor Lalaine, known for her roles in Disney’s Lizzie McGuire, The Disney Channel original movie You Wish, and her role as Kate in the 1999 remake of Annie. It features a foreword and an epilogue read by the author.
The first unauthorized look at the inner workings—and ultimate breakdown—of the Disney Channel machine
For many kids growing up in the 2000s, there was no cultural touchstone more powerful than Disney Channel, the most-watched cable channel in primetime at its peak. Today, it might best be known for introducing the world to talents like Hilary Duff, Raven-Symoné, Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, and Zendaya.
It wasn't always destined for greatness: when The Disney Channel launched in 1983, it was a forgotten stepchild within the Walt Disney Company, forever in the shadow of Disney’s more profitable movies and theme parks. But after letting the stars of their Mickey Mouse Club revival—among them Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling—slip through their fingers, Disney Channel reinvented itself as a powerhouse tween network. In the new millennium, it churned out billions of dollars in original content and triple-threat stars whose careers were almost entirely controlled by the corporation. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of the pie—and there were constant clashes between the studio, network, labels, and creatives as Disney Channel became a pressure cooker of perfection for its stars.
From private feuds and on-set disasters, to fanfare that swept the nation and the realities of child stardom, culture journalist Ashley Spencer offers the inside story of the heyday of TV’s House of Mouse, featuring hundreds of exclusive new interviews with former Disney executives, creatives, and celebrities to explore the highs, lows, and everything in between.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
©2024 Ashley Spencer (P)2024 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
“If you can scrupulously recite the lyrics to ‘Best of Both Worlds’, then this book is for you. Equal parts sentiment and scoop, Disney High is chock full of details about the child stars of Disney's once-prized asset, and the journey to questioning whether wearing those mouse ears was ever really worth it.”–Lynette Rice, bestselling author of How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy
“An unprecedented level of dish and detail! Spencer pulls back the curtain on one of modern pop culture’s most important (and drama-filled) eras.”—Omid Scobie, bestselling author of Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family
"An obsessive, loving deep dive into the 2000s-era Disney Channel that launched Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Hilary Duff, the Jonas Brothers, and many other icons. This is the book millennials have been waiting to read since childhood." —Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s
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Excellent, detailed and SO engaging.
- By J Bomb on 12-01-24
By: Jim Fredrick
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Disney's Land
- Walt Disney and the Invention of the Amusement Park That Changed the World
- By: Richard Snow
- Narrated by: Jacques Roy
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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This is a spectacular story of error and innovation, a wild ride from a vision to the realization of an iconic cultural landscape. It reflects the park’s uniqueness, but just as strongly that of the man who built it with a watchmaker’s precision, an artist’s conviction, and the desperate, high-hearted recklessness of a riverboat gambler.
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Okay, but better books on the subject
- By J.D. on 12-07-19
By: Richard Snow
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The Future Was Now
- Madmen, Mavericks, and the Epic Sci-Fi Summer of 1982
- By: Chris Nashawaty
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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In the summer of 1982, eight science fiction films were released within six weeks of one another. E.T., Tron, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, Conan the Barbarian, Blade Runner, Poltergeist, The Thing, and Mad Max: The Road Warrior changed the careers of some of Hollywood's now biggest names―altering the art of movie-making to this day.
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Great story about an incredible year in sci fi film making.
- By Jesse Poole Van Swol on 10-04-24
By: Chris Nashawaty
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Box Office Poison
- Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops
- By: Tim Robey
- Narrated by: Tim Robey
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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From grand follies to misunderstood masterpieces, disastrous sequels to catastrophic literary adaptations, Box Office Poison tells a hugely entertaining alternative history of Hollywood, through a century of its most notable flops. What can these films tell us about the Hollywood system, the public’s appetite–or lack of it–and the circumstances that saw such flops actually made? Away from the canon, this is the definitive take on these ill-fated, but essential celluloid failures.
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The ending
- By Anonymous User on 03-13-25
By: Tim Robey
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The Disney Story
- Chronicling the Man, the Mouse and the Parks
- By: Aaron H Goldberg
- Narrated by: Susan L. Crawford
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Attention, all Disney Fans! Do you enjoy learning about the Disney theme parks? Perhaps you're enamored with the man who was Walt Disney? Maybe you're just plain crazy for Mickey Mouse and the Disney big-screen features? No need to order your serving of Disney history and knowledge a la carte anymore.
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It's basically a direct read from Wikipedia
- By Kris Siegel on 07-08-19
By: Aaron H Goldberg
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The Story of Walt Disney
- By: Diane Disney Miller, Pete Martin
- Narrated by: Karen Commins
- Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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As you'll hear in this audiobook, Walt found resourceful ways to earn money even in his youth. The warm reminiscences present Walt as a creative and energetic business person and loving family man. His story includes fascinating details about animation, his cartoon characters and films, the movie and TV industries, and technological processes he invented.
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The way Walt Disney daughter caught his essence
- By Thomas Brides on 06-12-24
By: Diane Disney Miller, and others
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A Disturbance in the Force
- How and Why the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened
- By: Steve Kozak
- Narrated by: Kirby Heyborne
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Even by the standards of the 1970s, even compared to Jar-Jar Binks, the legendary 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special is a peerlessly cringeworthy pop-culture artifact.
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Padded with Information Unrelated to the Special
- By Alan on 12-28-23
By: Steve Kozak
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The Bookshop
- A History of the American Bookstore
- By: Evan Friss
- Narrated by: Jay Myers
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Bookstores have always been unlike any other kind of store, shaping readers and writers, and influencing our tastes, thoughts, and politics. They nurture local communities while creating new ones of their own. Bookshops are powerful spaces, but they are also endangered ones. In The Bookshop, we see the stakes: what has been, and what might be lost. Evan Friss’s history of the bookshop draws on oral histories, archival collections, municipal records, diaries, letters, and interviews with leading booksellers to offer a fascinating look at this institution beloved by so many.
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Fun if you like book stuff
- By Customer - Reader on 02-22-25
By: Evan Friss
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Growing Up Urkel
- By: Jaleel White
- Narrated by: Jaleel White
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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At the tender age of twelve, Jaleel White auditioned for the role of Steve Urkel, the socially inept genius, who was in love with his next-door neighbor, Laura. Though Steve Urkel was intended to be in only one episode, Jaleel’s indelible performance catapulted Urkel into the pantheon of American pop culture. But success can cost as much as it pays. After nine years on the popular sitcom Family Matters, Jaleel is twenty-one, a UCLA undergrad, and adjusting to a world and industry that sees him as the nasally nerd in high water pants, suspenders, and coke bottle glasses.
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Jaleel’s Truth
- By David Ortiz on 11-22-24
By: Jaleel White
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The Best Man's Ghostwriter
- By: Matthew Starr
- Narrated by: Glen Powell, Nicholas Braun, Ashley Park, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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A bad best man’s speech can ruin a wedding. Why do we plan every detail of a perfect day and then give the groom’s idiot best friend five minutes of total power? Enter Nate (Glen Powell), a speechwriter-for-hire who helps people write incredible best man speeches. To keep the best man from embarrassing himself (and the newlyweds), Nate uses his list of don’ts: Don’t mention the exes, don’t be rated R, and don’t bum everyone out. Nate’s system never fails. That is, until he meets Dan (Nicholas Braun).
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SO GOOD
- By Csutty on 09-23-24
By: Matthew Starr
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The Third Gilmore Girl
- A Memoir
- By: Kelly Bishop, Amy Sherman-Palladino - foreword
- Narrated by: Kelly Bishop
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy. Now, Bishop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl. She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she’s learned on her journey.
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Now that’s a life
- By Stephen Gonzalez on 09-23-24
By: Kelly Bishop, and others
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Over the Influence
- A Memoir
- By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Narrated by: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and the appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder: What happened to JoJo?
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Deeply Moving and Relatable in Ways You Might Not Expect
- By rosey on 09-25-24
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Taking Manhattan
- The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America
- By: Russell Shorto
- Narrated by: Russell Shorto
- Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1664, England decided to invade the Dutch-controlled city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan Island. Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, had dreams of empire, and their archrivals, the Dutch, were in the way. But Richard Nicolls, the military officer who led the English flotilla bent on destruction, changed his strategy once he encountered Peter Stuyvesant, New Netherland’s canny director general.
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I really appreciated how the author continually related the past to what we see today.
- By Jaelyn Dean on 05-22-25
By: Russell Shorto
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Dinner for Vampires
- By: Bethany Joy Lenz
- Narrated by: Bethany Joy Lenz
- Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show’s millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult. An only child who always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she’d been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister.
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Cult behavior
- By Elizabeth A. Pierce on 10-23-24
By: Bethany Joy Lenz
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Live from New York
- The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests
- By: James Andrew Miller, Tom Shales
- Narrated by: Christina Delaine, Paul Woodson
- Length: 28 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Live from New York was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary late-night show. In their own words, unfiltered and uncensored, a dazzling galaxy of trail-blazing talents recalled three turbulent decades of on-camera antics and off-camera escapades.
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The First Forty Years ... and Counting
- By Dubi on 10-21-18
By: James Andrew Miller, and others
Interesting but not as juicy as I’d hoped
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Missing a conclusion
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However, I found that it ended abruptly and each section, or star, also ended abruptly. I wish there had been smoother transitions between the sections and especially at the end. Going straight from the cancellation of Sonny With a Chance to an epilogue was jarring and I felt that there was a missed opportunity to properly conclude that section before the epilogue.
In-Depth and Educational, Yet Abrupt
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For all who wished for a Wand ID
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Except what Ashley Spencer does is create one of the most informative understandings of not only how Disney Channel works/worked, not only how the lives of the stars from its peak era were lived, but it details how modern Disney was a machine decades in the making.
I wasn't expecting to hear how Disney shirked the home market in the 70s or how Jett Jackson's success as a minority led drama was also the reason it was pushed on its own sword by the decision makers of the day. I didn't expect how candid it would be about things like Christy Roman's boob job, and this book delivers candid while never crossing into tabloid sensationalism.
Lalaine does a beautiful job in narration. Listening to her the last ten hours has been a welcome decision by all parties involved, and I'd be happy to hear her read my tax return filings if it meant more opportunities for her as a narrator.
Ashley Spencer is a journalist, so I was ready for her to put feet on ground to do the work, but I wasn't ready to absolutely run the ground like it was her killing field. Modern journalism is mostly bloggers telling the reader how to feel or think, but Ashley is a real journalist who tells it how it is instead, and that's so refreshing in 2024.
Inside the Machine
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Reads like fiction!
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Interview excerpts from producers, directors, costume designers, Radio Disney Djs!
I also enjoyed Lalaine's narration for the most part. You could tell she wasn't the most experienced, but her voice had that optimistic but cool, perhaps world-weary quality that only a former Disney Channel actor would possess.
Sold by Lalaine's narration, stayed for the tons of uncovered production info
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The equivalent of meeting an old friend and coming away with a deeper understanding of who they are as a person.
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Educational Nostalgia
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A delight for this elder millennial
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