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The ‘Lizzie McGuire’ Revival Would Only Succeed as a Mature, Authentic Reflection of Adult Life
This is not what dreams are made of.
You’ve probably heard by now that the Lizzie McGuire revival has been officially cancelled after series creator, Terri Minsky, stepped away from her role as show runner.
“I want any reboot of Lizzie to be honest and authentic to who Lizzie would be today. It’s what the character deserves. We can all take a moment to more in the amazing woman she would’ve been in the adventures we would have taken with her,” Hilary Duff announced yesterday.
Since May, Disney+, Disney’s new streaming network, where the show was slated to premiere sometime in 2020, did not disclose too much information about the production halt instead chalking it all up to a difference in “creative direction.”
A spokesperson for the company put their best “everything is fine” face forward and said that, “After filming two episodes, we concluded that we are …. putting a new lens on the show.”
And that’s fine because like they said, fans have a “sentimental attachment” and “high expectations.”
But here’s the thing — one of those expectations was actually getting to see the revival happen.
Another was to see it happen in an authentic way that stays true to the character and her experiences as an adult.
While Disney puts a smile on (they hail from the happiest place on Earth, don’t you know?), Lizzie McGuire star Hilary Duff took to social media to explain to her confused fans what was really affecting the revival: Disney doesn’t want to sign-off on the mature content and insists on keeping things PG.
“Was incredibly excited to launch ‘Lizzie’ on D+ and my passion remains! However, I feel a huge responsibility to honor the fans’ relationship with LIZZIE who, like me, grew up seeing themselves in her,” Duff wrote in an Instagram post.
“I’d be doing a disservice to everyone by limiting the realities of a 30-year-old’s journey to live under the ceiling of a PG rating. It’s important to me that just as her experiences as a preteen / teenager navigating life were authentic, her next chapters are equally as real and relatable,” she added.
Then, she proposed a new idea that fans could all get behind: “It would be a dream if Disney would let us move the show to Hulu, if they were interested, and I could bring this beloved character to life again <3.”
Her suggestion was inspired by recent news that the Love, Simon TV show was moving from Disney+ to Hulu because of “adult themes.”
At the time, Duff commented, “sounds familiar.”
Here’s my question… on what planet did Disney and the people behind the revival think that 2020 Lizzie McGuire would share the same values as pre-teen Lizzie McGuire? Or that her then-to-now fans would want to see that?
While I understand that Disney is a family-friendly company, the series was going to be a mainstay on the streaming service not the kiddo-geared, Disney Channel. If it was going to be on Disney Channel, that might be a different story, but a streaming service is watched by people of all ages.
We also have to take into consideration the age of the Lizzie McGuire fandom. While there may be some younger-skewing fans and Gen-Xer’s who have grown to adore and love Lizzie, the majority of the fanbase vying for the revival is — and say it with me now — millennials.
We were watching 13-year-old Lizzie McGuire when we were 13-years-old. Now, Lizzie McGuire is a 30-something in New York, and we’re all 30-somethings living our best lives and struggling with crippling student debt, unstable job economies, learning how to become bosses, heartbreak, new relationships, dating apps, starting families, friendship drama, reconnecting with old friends, hangovers, brunches with friends… you get the picture.
It would be a shame if the Lizzie McGuire series didn’t reflect that because the show is geared towards an audience that is mature enough for the mature content.
The true fandom shouldn’t be alienated because Disney’s too scared to give us an authentic look at what it’s like to be an adult in this world.
Being an adult and having adult experience is hard, just like being a pre-teen and navigating those experiences was hard, but it was made manageable by our girl Lizzie. Fans are looking for that same level of connection and relatability now in their adult lives.
We never expected a Disney series to have sex scenes a la The Bold Type, but it also doesn’t have to in order to be successful. One great example of allowing a show and its characters to mature while also keeping in-tune with the magic that made them so great in the first place and then adding some kiddo friendly content on top is Netflix’s Fuller House.
The series never watered-down DJ or Stephanie Tanner’s adult experiences, but because of the original vibe, we didn’t expect it to be super risque in the first place.
Lizzie McGuire took plenty of risks in its heyday (what kid had a whole romance in Italy during their 8th-grade trip? We all remember The Lizzie McGuire Movie, right?), and fans expect the adult version of the series to take those same risks and be authentic in its portrayal.
Trying to water-down Lizzie McGuire to make it more PG is not only a disservice to Lizzie but the fans who grew up with her.
If Disney+ can’t get down with that, then it seems only fair that they do the right thing and move it to Hulu or whatever other streaming services will sign off on an authentic revival that stays true to character.
You’d think that Disney would have learned by now that when fans want revivals of earlier shows, we don’t want the cookie-cutter versions of them anymore.
Remember Raven’s Home, the spinoff to That’s So Raven, or Girl Meets World, the Boy Meets World spinoff?
They never touched the level of success that the original shows did because they played it too safe and leaned too hard into being children’s shows and thus, alienating a huge chunk of the fanbase that simply wanted to “catch up with old friends.” The shows also didn’t keep up with our society, where there’s so much programming coming at us from all directions, we’re constantly seeking out relatable (and nostalgic) content, and we have become more mature in the kind of content we consume. Our expectations are higher and we want to be reflected in our characters now more than ever.
Disney only had to options: to give fans the best Lizzie McGuire series, they needed to sign off on that mature content or give it to Hulu. Otherwise, it’s probably best they just nixed it because pushing forward a less-than storyline would have ruined an otherwise trailblazing character.
So, if you really want to see what Lizzie McGuire is up to now as a 30-something adult living in New York City, she goes by the name of Kelsey Peter’s, works in publishing, and is navigating a complex relationship with Zane Anders on Younger.
Hilary Duff on Younger
Valentine’s Day can be celebrated in all sorts of different ways.
Some people bake cookies, others go out for a romantic date, while some do a fun activity with their significant other.
However, this is the first Valentine’s Day under COVID-19 restrictions, which means that you likely don’t have as many fun and romance-filled options as in years prior.
That’s where TV comes in! Regardless if you’re spending February 14 with a significant other or your besties, these are some of the sexiest and steamiest shows to watch on the day that’s all about celebrating L-O-V-E (for friends, family, significant others, and, most importantly, yourself!)
Bridgerton
Romance, scandal, drama… Bridgerton has it all! Dubbed the Regency-era Gossip Girl, Netflix’s smash hit and most-watched series is a brilliant and entertaining period piece with enough sex scenes to make you blush. And Regé-Jean Page isn’t bad on the eyes.
Emily in Paris
Emily in Paris, which was just surprisingly nominated for a Golden Globe, hails from Sex and the City creator Darren Star. It’s an airy flick about a millennial named Emily who travels to Paris for a dream job and becomes enamored with the City of Love and the men that want to show her all that it has to offer.
Modern Love
Falling in love requires you to be open, honest, and vulnerable. The American rom-com anthology web series, based on a weekly column published by the New York Times, explores themes of love (romantic, platonic, friendly) with a star-studded cast. The 30-minute episodes are standalone and easily digestible, which makes them the perfect viewing on a night like Valentine’s Day.
Younger
What happens when Liza, a 40-year-old single mom, decides to be 26-years old in order to re-enter the working world and falls in love with not one but two very different men? An exciting journey through the world of publishing and heartbreak. As Liza tries to find herself, she does everything in her power to hide her true self from those she’s become most intimate with. It’s another whip-smart Darren Star creation!
Good Girls
Two sisters, Beth and Annie, along with best friend Ruby find themselves embroiled in a dangerous life of crime after robbing a grocery store. Beth, specifically, falls victim to a crime of passion with one sexy “gang friend” that pulls her further and further into his world.
Elite
If Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars had a baby, it would be this Spanish-language drama. A private school becomes the scene of a murder after a clash between the rich and poor students. There’s plenty of sexual tension and unexpected turns as detectives try to narrow down the list of suspects.
** Article originally published in February 2021**
How I Met Your Father is back at it for season 2—and the drama picks up right where the first season left off with Sophie (Hilary Duff) dealing with her relationship drama.
By the end of the 20-minute installment, she’s “burned through three guys in 48 hours”–her words–which means that this season will see no shortage of romantic woes.
On the bright side, after dealing with the fallout from her short-lived romance with Jesse (Chris Lowell), her split with Drew (Josh Peck) and his terrible spray tan, and her brief rekindled romance with Ian (Daniel Augustin), who returned from Australia hoping to shoot his shot only to find Sophie’s love life to be a mess, she made the mature decision to work on herself and figure out why she ran away from love the moment it presented itself.
It’s so easy to throw yourself into another relationship that you think will make you happy, especially if it’s with the one that got away, but take real courage to take a step back and really reassess your situation. I know that’s deep for a sitcom comedy, but it’s what aids in character growth—and right now, Sophie needs it.
Jesse was right when he said she was complicated, but isn’t that what makes life exciting?
Of course, the biggest shocker of the episode was a “legen… wait for it… dary!” surprise cameo from How I Met Your Mother actor Neil Patrick Harris, who played the iconic Barney Stinson. The flash-forward was teased by 2050 adult Sophie (played by Kim Cattrall) who was telling her son about hitting “rock bottom.” In the scene, she’s trying to get ahold of her mom because she thinks she might be “dating her dad,” (she has yet to find out the identity of her father), which seems to refer to her upcoming romance with John Corbett’s character. This show just loves its Sex and the City alums. Also, Corbett once played Duff’s teacher in Raise Your Voice—and she addressed the fact that they are now locking lips for the series in a pretty comical interview!
Credit: Hulu
Anyway, as adult Sophie recalls the traumatizing moment, in the scene, her valid mini-freak out about her potential new suitor, ends with her rear-ending a vehicle belonging to none other than Barney… at least, we think it’s Barney based on his mannerisms and attire. As he emerges from the car, he buttons up his jacket, raises his arms, and declares, “Dude.”
However, it has not been announced who Harris is set to play in the show, so we’ll have to stay tuned to see if he reprises his beloved character or if he’ll be tackling a brand-new one. But what is very clear is that his return definitely makes us all more excited about what’s to come from the rest of the season.
If you’re the kind of person who mostly focuses on TV dramas, it might take a moment to shift gears into the cheesy and often times over-acted sitcom comedy with a pretty cringe-y laugh track, but the cast goes above and beyond to ground it as best as they can and offer some sincerity through the shenanigans.
Then again, the best moments arise when you kind of give into the ridiculous nature of the series and go with the flow.
The long-running joke about Ellen’s (Tien Tran) sequin satchel carried the episode (how did she make that?!), Sid’s (Sure Sharma) attempt and giving Hannah (Ashley Reyes) a great wedding party provided us with some true breakout moments, and you can always count on Valentina (Francia Raisa) and Charlie’s (Tom Ainsley’s) sexual chemistry to steal the show.
And who knew that seeing a group of New Yorkers do the electric slide at a dive bar would be that enjoyable? Sid really was onto something.
Jesse and Sophie skirted around their awkwardness as best they could, but eventually, the latter revealed that she was upset because she saw him kissing his ex Meredith after she came back to his apartment to declare her love for him. It was heartbreaking to see these two just accept the breakup rather than fight for something that they obviously both want. I know we can’t make it easy because the chase is what will give us material for future episodes and seasons to come, but it was one of those moments where you just want to shake the character and ask them “what’s wrong with you?!”
Sophie confided in Ian that she actually loved Jesse, while Jesse informed Sid that he didn’t think Sophie’s feelings for him were real, which is why he was going to try to give things with Meredith (Leighton Meester) another shot. Some people deserve second chances, but I’m firm in my stance that if someone walked out of your life, you should probably shut that door and keep it closed. There’s no reason to pry it open or even leave it ajar. Once they go on tour—if they go on tour—they’ll likely see that there was a reason they ended things.
However, if the decision to give it another shot means we get to keep Meester around for a little longer, I’m not complaining.
It really is the star power that keeps this show afloat–and I’m not mad about it.
What did you think of the HIMYF Season 2 premiere?
It’s time to say goodbye to Riverdale. The series that brought to life the Archie Comics—and made Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, and Jughead Jones household names—is embarking on its seventh and final season in 2023.
Below, we’re breaking down some details along with your most-asked questions about season 7!
What Will Riverdale Season 7 Be About?
On Riverdale Season 6, Cheryl managed to successfully save everyone from Bailey’s Comet, but the strange events were far from over as everyone woke up in the ’50s. Archie, Betty, Jughead, and Veronica are all teenagers again living in 1955, though Jughead is the only one who remembers what happened.
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s Instagram also gave us this gem of ’50s Jughead, so do with that what you will.
View this post on Instagram
“Jughead remembers everything that happened. And I think our characters, whether they’re conscious or not, have an emotional memory of what they’ve been through… It is still in continuity,” Aguirre-Sacasa told Decider. He also acknowledged that many of the storylines from season 6 would be addressed, which hopefully means we won’t be spending all of our time in 1955.
He’s been revealing quite a bit about the final season on Instagram, including that there will be a ’50s-themed dance, the sock hop, in the second episode of the season.
Is There a Teaser for Riverdale Season 7?
Kind of. Aguirre-Sacasa’s Instagram is a vault of Riverdale-goodness, so the unofficial teaser was shared on his page and gives fans a look at the first minute or so of the premiere episode. Pop’s customers are dancing in the year 1955 as we’re introduced to the ’50s versions of our favorite characters.
Check it out:
View this post on Instagram
Are There Any Riverdale Season 7 Photos?
Yes! Entertainment Weekly previously revealed the first-look photos at the upcoming season, which included the core cast back in the classroom and in their best ’50s looks. Fangs also took the stage, with the show runner telling the outlet, “Fangs is sort of our greaser rocker. He’s a little bit like a Ritchie Valens character in our universe.”
Aguirre-Sacasa also posted a look at Archie, who is a dreamboat in every single decade he exists in.
View this post on Instagram
Will Riverdale Season 7 Be As Weird As Previous Seasons?
In a surprising twist, Aguirre-Sacasa revealed to Entertainment Weekly that it’s “probably, weirdly, our most grounded season.” Madeline Petsch confirmed this, noting it is “pared down with the craziness” while chatting with Variety, adding that it will focus heavily on the core relationships that made season 1 so special. She did warn, however, that “everyone is dating everyone.”
“Thank god the ’50s were as crazy as they were, because it’s been so fun to be in that world,” Aguirre-Sacasa explained, adding, “Every season we explore the tropes of a specific genre, be it supernatural, be it pulp, be it crime. This year our genre is the 1950s, so we’re in dialogue with the American myth of what the 1950s were versus the reality.”
Will There Be New Faces on Riverdale Season 7?
You bet! Aguirre-Sacasa explained that there will some differences between the characters, so the ’50s Veronica may not have the same background as the present-day Veronica. This will likely make it complicated to keep up for fans, especially since season 6 was so all over the place.
“Archie feels much more innocent than we’ve ever depicted him on Riverdale,” Aguirre-Sacasa explains, adding, “When we meet Archie here, he is a clean cut, 1950s teen. We describe him a little bit as a Richie Cunningham-type from Happy Days and he’s on his own journey. He’s a more innocent, romantic kind of character.”
However, it also provides the opportunity to mix in new characters.
Deadline reported that two new faces were cast for the season as recurring cast members. Nicholas Barasch will play Julian Blossom, a “bully who always gets his way.” He will be Cheryl’s twin brother (yep, not Jason Blossom!), and the “antagonist to all of our teen characters, most especially Archie.” It also seems like Archie and Cheryl might be getting married (or something?) based on this teaser on Instagram. It’s Riverdale… that’s all I have to say.
Karl Walcott, on the other hand, joins as Clay Walker, an Army brat described as “studious, well-read, and well-traveled.” The outlet notes, “He is very open-minded in his art and his sexuality. As he does in the comic books, Clay will have an impactful friendship with fellow queer character Kevin Keller.”
What Will Riverdale Season 7 Episode 1 Be About?
Aguirre-Sacasa told EW that the first episode is Jughead’s story. “It’s him asking, ‘What do I do with the fact that I’m the only one who remembers our lives before the comet hit?’ And that gets resolved at the end of episode 1. But you get to see Cole playing the Jughead we’ve known, and then you get to see Cole putting on a 1950s persona.”
The show runner also teased “something very, very dark happens at the end of episode 2.”
Will There Be a Villain in Riverdale Season 7?
Riverdale is known for its villains—Hiram Lodge, TBK, Gargoyle King, the list goes on—but Aguirre Sacasa notes there won’t be one villain this season, per se. Instead, the decade seems to be the villain as he notes the character must find “their way in the constricting, dark realities of the 1950s, trying to discover themselves in a really repressive, conformist, homophobic, racist world.”
The biggest struggle is our characters trying to live authentic individualistic lives during a time period where that was really hard to do,” he adds.
When Will Riverdale Season 7 Premiere?
The CW announced that Riverdale’s final season will kickoff on Wednesday, March 29 at 9/8c. It will consist of 20 episodes that will conclude on Wednesday, Aug. 23.
Is There a Riverdale Season 7 Synopsis?
Yes!
“Picking up where last season ended, Jughead Jones finds himself trapped in the 1950s. He has no idea how he got there, nor how to get back to the present. His friends are no help, as they are living seemingly authentic lives, similar to their classic Archie Comics counterparts, unaware that they’ve ever been anywhere but the 1950’s.
Archie Andrews is the classic all-American teen, coming of age, getting into trouble, and learning life-lessons; Betty Cooper is the girl next door, starting to question everything about her perfect life — including her controlling mother Alice; Veronica Lodge is a Hollywood starlet who moved to Riverdale under mysterious circumstances; Cheryl Blossom is the Queen Bee with a withering wit and a secret longing; Toni Topaz is an activist fighting for the Black students of recently integrated Riverdale High; Kevin Keller is a ‘square’ crooner wrestling with his sexual identity; Reggie Mantle is a basketball star from farm country; and Fangs Fogarty is a greaser who’s destined to be an Elvis-type star. It isn’t until Jughead is visited by Tabitha Tate — Riverdale’s Guardian Angel — that he learns the cosmic truth about their predicament. Will Jughead and the gang be able to return to the present? Or will our characters be trapped in the 1950’s forever? And, if so…is that such a bad thing?”
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