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.
- Black History
- President's Day
- Galentine's Day
- Love is in the Air: Poems and Stories about Love
- Honoring MLK Jr.
- Long Books for Winter Hibernation
- NYT Best Sellers 2025
- Winter fantasy
- In Memoriam
- Snow is Falling, A Cozy Mystery's Calling
- Books on Ice: Hockey & Winter Sports
- Freedom to Read- Banned Books
- New eBook additions
- See all ebooks collections
- Black History
- President's Day
- Honoring MLK Jr.
- Galentine's Day
- Love is in the Air: Poems and Stories about Love
- Winter fantasy
- Snow is Falling, A Cozy Mystery's Calling
- NYT Best Sellers 2025
- Long Books for Winter Hibernation
- Books on Ice: Hockey & Winter Sports
- Freedom to Read- Banned Books
- Dive In, If You Dare
- Level Up at Your Library!
- See all audiobooks collections
- #ownvoices / Diverse Books
- Antiracism Resources
- Sheet Music & Song Books
- Bücher auf Deutsch / Books in German
- Civil Service Test Prep
- The Great Courses
- QuickReads Collection
- See all featured collections collections