Disney has been a leader in children's entertainment for decades, providing viewers with some of the best animated and musical movies of all time. After establishing its television network in the early 1980s, the House of Mouse began producing exclusive content for the small screen that has become iconic and attracted generations of fans.

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The success of the Disney Channel's first original series, Flash Forward, kickstarted an array of live-action sitcoms starting in the late 1990s. Since then, Disney has premiered over twenty comedies, each with a different concept that appeals to its broad demographic.

Updated by Alexandra Locke on January 21, 2023: Over the years, the Disney Channel has been the home to many beloved sitcoms. The channel has become synonymous with its particular brand of humorous live-action shows that never fail to charm audiences. With so many great sitcoms to Disney Channel's name, this article has been updated to include even more fan-favorite shows.

15 Liv And Maddie

4 Seasons, 80 Episodes

Liv and Maddie is a 2013 sitcom about twin sisters who could not be more different. Maddie is studious and athletic, while Liv is a famous star who just returned from her show. Shenanigans ensue as the girls try to navigate high school and family with differing opinions on each.

Liv and Maddie’s humor mostly comes from the juxtaposition of the two characters. Liv often tries to insert herself into Maddie’s life, while Maddie just wants to be seen for her accomplishments as much as Liv is seen for hers. Despite their differences, the two have an unbreakable bond that always wins out.

14 Kickin' It

4 Seasons, 84 Episodes

Kickin’ It is an action sitcom about a boy named Jack who stumbles upon some students of a down-on-it’s luck karate dojo. He does not initially plan on joining any karate club until his incredible skills are brought to light. Though another, more ruthless dojo tries to scoop him up, Jack ultimately attends the Johnny Wasabi dojo and makes lasting friends along the way.

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Kickin’ It is a smart, action-packed show that, while silly at times, is a great reminder of the importance of friendship and commitment. The hilarious situations that the members of the Johnny Wasabi dojo find themselves in are outlandish. Still, the show has a lot of heart as Jack meshes into his new group of friends.

13 Austin & Ally

4 Seasons, 87 Episodes

After their success with musical sitcoms, Disney Channel premiered Austin & Ally, a series about the relationship between two teenage musicians who join forces to produce their own music. Ross Lynch and Laura Marano star as Austin and Ally, respectively, with Raini Rodriguez and Calum Worthy completing the main cast as the pair's best friends.

Austin & Ally ran for eighty-six episodes and an hour-long crossover with Jessie, ending in early 2016 after four seasons. Walt Disney Records released three soundtrack albums compiling all the songs in the show, including Lynch's "Can't Do It Without You," which serves as Austin & Ally's theme song.

12 Phil Of The Future

2 Seasons, 43 Episodes

In 2004, Disney mixed sci-fi with comedy to produce Phil of the Future. The series follows a family from the future that ends up stranded in the early 21st century after their time machine stops working. It stars Ricky Ullman as the main character, Phil Diffy, and Alyson Michalka as his best friend, Keely.

Phil of the Future only ran for forty-three episodes (divided into two seasons), but it remains one of Disney Channel's most original sitcoms. Watching the Diffy family struggle to adjust to the 21st century made for one of the channel's best comedies. Future Disney stars like Brenda Song and Kay Panabaker also made their first appearance in this show.

11 Girl Meets World

3 Seasons, 72 Episodes

A spin-off of the 1993 ABC sitcom Boy Meets World, the appropriately named Girl Meets World follows Cory and Topanga's daughter, Riley (played by Rowan Blanchard), during her time in middle school. Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel return to play their Boy Meets World characters, with singer Sabrina Carpenter joining as Riley's best friend, Maya.

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The series was incredibly popular during its broadcast and received over five million viewers for its first season. It ran for seventy-two episodes and a special situated between seasons one and two. Girl Meets World continues some of its predecessor's best elements, including its subtler, well-intentioned comedy and exploration of more mature themes.

10 Shake It Up

3 Seasons, 75 Episodes

Shake It Up is a dance comedy about two girls trying to make it big on a dance show. Rocky Blue - played by Zendaya - and Cece Jones - played by Bella Thorne - are two best friends hoping to get spots on the local dance show, “Shake It Up, Chicago.” The girls face many obstacles and setbacks, but nothing can take away how they feel when they are out on the dance floor having fun.

Rocky and Cece are a dynamic best-friend duo who help each other achieve their goals. Though they have to deal with the likes of Gunther and Trinka, the girls make their mark on the Chicago dance scene to achieve their dreams of stardom.

9 Jessie

4 Seasons, 98 Episodes

After her breakout role as Bailey on The Suite Life on Deck, Debby Ryan went on to star in her own sitcom, Jessie. The ninety-eight-episode show centers on Jessie and her adventures as a nanny for a wealthy family in New York City. It also stars Peyton List, Cameron Boyce, Karan Brar, and Skai Jackson as the Ross children.

Jessie was one of Disney Channel's highest-rated series from its premiere in 2011 until its finale in 2015. It is known for its many crossovers with shows like Austin & Ally and Good Luck Charlie, and for the many guest stars that appeared during its run, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, and basketball player Chris Paul.

8 Good Luck Charlie

4 Seasons, 97 Episodes

In Good Luck Charlie, singer-actress Bridgit Mendler plays Teddy Duncan – a high school girl who films video diaries for her youngest sister, the months-old Charlie, to watch in the future. Unlike other similar Disney sitcoms, Good Luck Charlie also focuses on the adult characters in the series and explores different family dynamics.

The show premiered in early 2010 and ran for ninety-seven episodes until 2014. Aside from multiple crossovers and specials, it also had a 2011 movie, Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!, which was a road trip movie set during the holiday season. Good Luck Charlie's success led Disney Channel India to produce a local adaptation named Best of Luck, Nikki.

7 Even Stevens

3 Seasons, 65 Episodes

Even Stevens is a perennial classic Disney Channel show about a brother and sister who are constantly at odds. Starring Shia LaBeouf and Christy Carlson Romano, Even Stevens is a ridiculous and funny comedy highlighting the lengths a younger brother will go to antagonize his older, overachieving sister.

The show was much beloved in its time, and still has fans that support it. Though Louis Stevens’s shenanigans could get outlandish, they never failed to make audiences laugh. Even Ren had some memorable moments that audiences will not soon forget.

6 Sonny With A Chance

2 Seasons, 47 Episodes

Sonny with a Chance stars Demi Lovato as a hopeful TV star and comedian as she lands the role of a lifetime on her favorite sketch show, “So Random.” Though she does not fit in initially, she eventually finds her groove and takes her place center stage.

While trying to make her mark, Sonny runs into the hit teen drama star Chad Dylan Cooper. Though they have different personalities and approaches to fame, Sonny and Chad develop a friendship (and even more) along the way. Sonny with a Chance is both hilarious and heartfelt as Sonny finally fulfills her dreams of being a star.

5 Wizards Of Waverly Place

4 Seasons, 106 Episodes

Selena Gomez had various minor roles in Disney Channel sitcoms before landing the leading role in Wizards of Waverly Place, where she plays Alex Russo, a teenage wizard-in-training who resides in Manhattan. David Henrie and Jake T. Austin co-star as her brothers, Justin and Max, respectively.

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Wizards of Waverly Place won various fan-voted awards and even received a Primetime Emmy in 2009. Critics praised it for its writing and ensemble cast, emphasizing Selena Gomez's delivery and comedic timing. After a hundred and six episodes, a film, and a special, the show ended in 2012.

4 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody

3 Seasons, 87 Episodes

In 2005, the Sprouse brothers starred as a pair of mischievous twins in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Set in the fictional Tipton Hotel, the series follows Zack and Cody and their friends and family as they embark on multiple adventures. It was nominated three times at the Emmys and ran for three seasons.

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody had several notable cameos from popular Disney and Nick stars, including Victoria Justice, Daniella Monet, and pre-High School Musical Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. The show's popularity led to an equally successful spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck, which followed the ensemble cast's life on a cruise.

3 Lizzie McGuire

2 Seasons, 65 episodes

Hilary Duff officially gained stardom when she played the titular character in Lizzie McGuire – a two-time Emmy-nominated series about a teenager whose inner feelings are expressed by an animated version of herself. The show premiered in early 2001 and ran for sixty-five episodes, becoming the first Disney Channel Original to do so.

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Critics and fans loved Lizzie McGuire for its realistic take on friendships and clever comedy. Given the show's massive popularity, Disney also produced the 2003 feature film, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which served as the series finale despite debuting while the show was still on the air.

2 Hannah Montana

4 Seasons, 98 Episodes

The world of Disney Channel changed forever when Hannah Montana graced the small screen in 2006. Miley Cyrus plays Miley Stewart, a high schooler who leads a secret double-life as teen pop star Hannah Montana and often struggles to reconcile the two. It ran for ninety-eight episodes divided into four seasons, ending in early 2011.

The series was a cultural phenomenon and, along with High School Musical, contributed to the increase of musical comedies in children's television. Two years after Hannah Montana's debut, Disney released the Best of Both Worlds concert film. A theatrical film, Hannah Montana: The Movie, was released a year later.

1 That's So Raven

4 Seasons, 100 Episodes

That's So Raven follows a psychic teenager, Raven Baxter, who gets random visions of the future that lead her into all kinds of comedic situations. Raven-Symoné had various television and film roles before landing the leading spot in That's So Raven, but her character in the sitcom turned her into a Disney icon.

That's So Raven was the highest-rated show of its time and the first Disney Channel live-action series to reach a hundred episodes. Its four seasons were critically-acclaimed and received multiple prominent accolades, including a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Children's Program.

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