Lizzie McGuire

*Lizzie McGuire*
Lizzie McGuire
	File:Lizziemcguireintro.jpg
Created by	Terri Minsky
Starring	Hilary Duff; Adam Lamberg; Lalaine; Jake Thomas; Hallie Todd; Robert Carradine
Country of origin	USA
No. of episodes	65
Production
Running time	approx. 0:22 (per episode)
Original release
Network	Disney Channel
Release	January 12, 2001 –; February 14, 2004

Lizzie McGuire was a popular Disney Channel live action television show. Its target demographic is preteens and teenagers. The TV show was created by Terri Minsky. The show's creatively offbeat, mixed media format (the show's producer Stan Rogow says the visual look of the show was partly inspired by Run Lola Run) stood out from the rest of the Disney Channel's programming - and in essence, became the channel's flagship show of its time.

The series

The series stars Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire, Lalaine as Miranda Sanchez, Adam Lamberg as David "Gordo" Gordon, and a moody but funny Cartoon Lizzie (also known as Toon Lizzie or Animated Lizzie) as Lizzie's psyche. Robert Carradine of Revenge Of The Nerds fame stars as Lizzie's father; her mother Jo McGuire is played by Hallie Todd (who starred as the recurring Rhoda Markowitz role on Murder, She Wrote). Jake Thomas plays her brother, Matt.

The show depicts Lizzie, a seventh grader (eighth grader in the second season), encountering social problems with her schoolmates, teachers and family. She can always count on Miranda and Gordo's friendships, no matter what. She is a fashion setter and as so has the envy of her school's most popular girl, Kate Sanders, played by Ashlie Brillault. Kate, a former friend of Lizzie's who became an enemy after she became popular, likes trying to make Lizzie's life impossible, but Lizzie always manages to outsmart Kate and always comes out on top.

Cartoon Lizzie

File:Tv lizzie mcguire globe.jpg

Animated Lizzie holding a globe

Cartoon Lizzie is an animated character in the show. Cartoon Lizzie represents the title character's inner thoughts. Addressing the audience directly in the manner of a Greek chorus, she is voiced by series star Hilary Duff.

Synopsis

Lizzie and Gordo have always felt a certain attraction towards each other, but since they have known each other for their entire lives (since Lizzie was one day old, according to her voiceover in the pilot episode), they prefer to keep their relationship at a friendship level.

The show often has a subplot involving Matt, and his friends Lanny Onasis, Christian Copelin, and Melina, Carly Schroeder. Lanny is something of Matt's sidekick, and is never heard to speak as part of a running gag. Melina is less of a friend, and is constantly critical of Matt.

The show has had many special guest appearances, among them Aaron Carter, Frankie Muniz, David Carradine, Steven Tyler and Erik Estrada.

At the end of the show, there is always a bloopers section, where even Cartoon Lizzie's bloopers are shown. (Actually, there are two episodes without a blooper ending: "Pool Party" and "Between a Rock and a Bra Place")

Spin-offs

A movie based on the show, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, was released on May 2, 2003. It was second at the box office in its opening week.

The show was cancelled after only 65 episodes. Disney has a limit to all of its shows, that says only 65 episodes can be filmed. Also, Hilary Duff's people said she wasn't getting paid enough for a proposed spin-off taking Lizzie into High School on ABC.

Filming began in 2005 of a spinoff series, Stevie Sanchez, about the 12-year-old sister of Miranda. This is not entirely consistent with the continuity of Lizzie McGuire, since the only reference to Miranda's sister was as an infant being babysitted by Miranda, which would make her younger than she is in the new series.

The character of Lizzie continues to be merchandised by Disney (see Lizzie McGuire books), especially through a large set of books, which include novelizations of the episodes, original Nancy Drew-style mystery stories in the Lizzie McGuire Mysteries series, and "Cine-manga" pictorial adaptations (published by TOKYOPOP) with still shots from the show presented in manga style.

There have also reportedly been proposed plans to launch a cartoon series based on Lizzie's animated alter ego, but no such thing appears to be under development at the present time.

File:Lizziemcguire.jpg

Lizzie McGuire

Episodes

Season 1

1. Rumors - January 12, 2001
2. Picture Day - January 19, 2001
3. When Moms Attack - January 26, 2001
4. Pool Party (Pilot) - February 2, 2001
5. I've Got Rhythmic - February 9, 2001
6. Jack Of All Trades - February 23, 2001
7. Aaron Carter's Coming to Town - March 23, 2001
8. Misadventures in Babysitting - April 6, 2001
9. Election - April 20, 2001
10. I Do, I Don't - April 27, 2001
11. Bad Girl McGuire - May 4, 2001
12. Between a Rock And A Bra Place - May 11, 2001
13. Come Fly with Me - June 1, 2001
14. Random Acts Of Miranda - June 8, 2001
15. Lizzie's Nightmares - June 22, 2001
16. Obsession - June 29, 2001
17. Sibling Bonds - August 3, 2001

File:Tv lizzie mcguire ashlie green Hair.jpg

Ashlie from Lizzie McGuire, with green hair

18. Rated Aargh - August 10, 2001
19. Gordo and the Girl - August 17, 2001
20. Educating Ethan - August 24, 2001
21. Lizzie Strikes Out - August 31, 2001
22. The Untitled Stan Jansen Project - September 21, 2001
23. Last Year's Model - September 28, 2001
24. Night of The Day of the Dead - October 5, 2001
25. Facts of Life - October 12, 2001
26. Scarlet Larry - November 9, 2001
27. Gordo and the Dwarfs - November 16, 2001
28. Lizzie and Kate's Big Adventure - November 30, 2001
29. The Courtship Of Miranda Sanchez - December 7, 2001
30. Gordo's Video - January 1, 2002
31. Gordo's Bar Mitzvah - January 18, 2002

Season 2

32. First Kiss - February 8, 2002
33. El Oro De Montezuma - February 22, 2002
34. Mom's best Friend - March 8, 2002
35. The Rise and Fall of Kate - March 15, 2002
36. Working Girl - March 29, 2002
37. And The Winner Is - April 26, 2002
38. The Longest Yard - May 17, 2002
39. Just Friends - June 14, 2002
40. Those Freaky McGuires - June 28, 2002
41. In Miranda Lizzie Does Not Trust - July 5, 2002
42. Over The Hill - July 12, 2002
43. Best Dressed For Much Less - July 19, 2002
44. You're A Good Man, Lizzie McGuire - July 26, 2002
45. Just Like Lizzie - August 9, 2002
46. Lizzie in the Middle - August 23, 2002
47. Inner Beauty - August 30, 2002
48. Movin' On Up - September 13, 2002
49. Party Over Here - September 20, 2002
50. She Said, He said, She Said - November 22, 2002
51. Xtreme Xmas - December 6, 2002
52. Lizzie's Eleven - January 1, 2003
53. Dear Lizzie - January 24, 2003
54. Clue-Less - January 31, 2003
55. Bye Bye Hillridge Junior High - February 7, 2003
56. Bunkies - February 21, 2003
57. A Gordo Story - February 28, 2003
58. Grubby Longjohn's Olde Tyme Revue - March 14, 2003
59. The Greatest Crush Of All - March 21, 2003
60. Grand Ole Grandma - April 4, 2003
61. My Fair Larry - May 16, 2003
62. The Gordo Shuffle - June 13, 2003
63. My Dinner With Dig - August 15, 2003
64. Just One Of The Guys - November 21, 2003
65. Magic Train - February 14, 2004

Feature Movie

F-1 (02-May-2003) The Lizzie McGuire Movie (aka Ciao Lizzie!)

External links

Music