"Mickey Mouse Club"

Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me?
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!
Hey, there! Hi, there! Ho, there!
You're as welcome as can be!
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!
Mickey Mouse! Mickey Mouse!
Forever let us hold our banner high!
Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

Genre: Family Show;
Aired: 1989-1994;

Premiere: April 24, 1989;
Last Aired: June 30, 1995;

Seasons: 7;
Episodes: 315;
Episode Runtime: 24 minutes;
Producer: Steve Clements;
Hosts: Mowava Pryor, Terri Misner, Fred Newman;
Broadcasting Channel: Disney;
Filming Location: Florida, USA;

 Full Cast of 1990s Mousketeers

Show Nominations:
Young Artist Awards 1993 - "Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Youth Series";
Young Artist Awards 1992 - "Best Young Actor Co-starring in an Off-Primetime";
Young Artist Awards 1991 - "Best Youth Variety or Game Show Mousketeers";
Young Artist Awards 1990 - "Best Young Actor in an Off-Primetime Family Series."

The History of the Show

America saw its first Mouseketeer on July 17, 1955, when the Walt Disney Company introduced a performing troupe of nine spunky boys and girls on an ABC television special. The troop was put together to celebrate the grand opening of a new theme park - the magical place "Disneyland". Three months later (October 3, 1955), when Disney premiered a new series known as "The Mickey Mouse Club" the Mouseketeers became a regular presence in American homes.
"The Mickey Mouse Club" introduced 24 young people to television audiences. Walt Disney conducted a nationwide search for personable, unknown youth who would come together for an hour each weekday to entertain America's children. The young stars ranged in age from 9 to 14. The cast was told that getting along was more important than talent. Those who could not get along, or whose parents were too aggressive, were quietly replaced. A core group of the most talented and charismatic emerged: Annette Funicello, Sharon Baird, Darlene Gillespie, Karen Pendleton, Sherry Alberoni, Lonnie Burr, Bobby Burgess, Tommy Cole, and Cubby O'Brien. The profanity was forbidden on the lot and respect for adults was promoted by calling them "Uncle" and "Aunt." Uncle Walt was obvious, of course, but the cast carried the command further by labeling the crew by names such as "Aunt Hairdresser" and "Uncle Make-up."
"The Mickey Mouse Club" was aired Monday through Friday between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. and was divided into four ritualistic segments. Each day of the week was devoted to a specific theme: Mondays were "Fun with Music Day"; Tuesdays were "Guest Star Day"; Wednesdays were "Anything Can Happen Day"; Thursdays were "Circus Day"; and Fridays were "Talent Round-Up Day."
People believed the Mouseketeers when they ended each show with the promise to return again and again. It was a constancy in the lives of a generation that would spend the rest of their lives looking to television for answers to society's questions. When the show ended unexpectedly in 1959 (September 25), it was still rated the top children's show of the day.
In 1977, Disney introduced the "New Mickey Mouse Club". Unlike its predecessor, whose cast was made up entirely of white Americans, the "New Mickey Mouse Club" represented Americans from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds. Although the cast had changed, the show's format remained the same. The Mouseketeers still sang the original theme song during each episode. Unfortunately, this version of the show was not nearly as popular as the original, and the "New Mickey Mouse Club" was cancelled after only two seasons.
When Disney established its own cable channel, The "Disney Channel", in the 1980s, company executives once again recreated the "Mickey Mouse Club". This third version began airing episodes on the Disney Channel in 1989 (April 24), and the show's creators updated its content to appeal to a new generation of children. The newest "New Mickey Mouse Club" became known simply as "MMC."
Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, JC Chasez, Ryan Gosling - "MMC" produced more American idols than "American Idol." Each episode still revolved around a different theme for each day of the week, but themes were updated to better suit the tastes of the time. For example, "Circus Day" became "Party Day". Mickey Mouse ears - the original Mouseketeer accessory - were forsaken entirely.
Taped live at the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida, the show featured campy sketches, song-and-dance numbers and "MTV"-style music videos for the "tween" set. Music was sometimes less than age-appropriate.
During its 1989-1994 run, "MMC" was host to a variety of guest performers and actors. Kids auditioned across the country. Even some of those who didn't make the cut still made names for themselves. Notable before-they-were-stars rejects from the MMC auditions include Matt Damon and Jessica Simpson.

"MMC" stopped airing new episodes in 1994 and was canceled.
The Mouseketeers produced three of today's biggest pop stars - Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. Between them, they have sold more than 100 million albums, won 10 Grammy Awards and made a large mark on pop music. Timberlake was the first to forge a singing career after the show ended in 1994, forming boy band 'N Sync with fellow Mouseketeer JC Chasez the following year.  The group's manager, Lou Pearlman, also put together a girl band, Innosense, featuring Spears and Nikki DeLoach. Britney left the band and launched her singing solo career in 1998.

Britney Spears - Mouseketeer

Auditions:
Audition Included: a song, a dance, a speech:
Britney sang "Running Back to You" of Vanessa Williams;
Britney did a monologue "The Tooth Fairy".
Britney got Scores:
Vocals - 8,5;
Acting - 8,5;
Camera Persona - 8,5;
Dance - 8,5;
Personality - 8,5;
Appearance - 8.

Britney's Motto to the "MMC" Viewers: "Life is short, don't waste it."

Britney's Advice to the "MMC" Viewers: "Be kind and respect the feelings of others."

Britney appeared in sketches:

"Note Passing", "The Friday Bunch", "The Little Sisters Talk Show", "Elvis Today", "Bad Breath", "Lurleen's Sleepover", "Wacky Golf," "Parent Alarm," "Movie Master," "Smelle," "Strict Mom".

Britney performed following numbers: 
- "Love Can Move Mountains" (Season 6, Episode 3): Britney, Christina, Tate, Justin, Nikki, Ryan, TJ;
- "Gonna Have A Good Time" (Season 6, Episode 4): Britney, Ricky, Matt, Marc, Ryan, Keri, Lindsey, Nikki;
- "Don’t Walk Away" (Season 6, Episode 5): Britney, Nikki, Ricky, Ilana, Christina, Ryan, Tate;
- "Flava" (Season 6, Episode 6): "MMC" gang;
- "I Feel For You" (Season 6, Episode 7): Britney, Justin, Dale, Matt, Nikki;
- "Real Love" (Season 6, Episode 11): Britney, Christina, Nikki, Ilana, Rhona;
- "I’m Gonna Get You" (Season 6, Episode 12): Britney, Ricky, Josh, Nikki, Ilana;
- "Born To Be Wild" (Season 6, Episode 14): Britney;
- "Here We Go Again" (Season 6, Episode 15): Britney, Justin, Tate, Marc, Ilana, Keri;
- "I Wish the Phone Would Ring" (Season 6, Episode 16): Britney, Lindsey, Nikki, Rhona, Keri;
- "I Have Nothing" (Season 6, Episode 19): Britney, Christina, Lindsey, TJ, Justin, Jennifer;
- "Wake Up Everybody" (Season 6, Episode 21): Britney, Tony, Nita, Christina, Nikki, Keri, Justin, Ryan, TJ;
- "Step to the Rhythm" (Season 6, Episode 23): "MMC" gang;
- "Love U More" (Season 6, Episode 23): Britney, Matt, Josh, Justin, Ilana, Keri, Jennifer;
- "Happy" (Season 6, Episode 32): Britney, TJ, Tate, Dale, Nikki, Keri, Tony, J.C., Matt, Rhona;
- "Funky Big Band" (Season 6, Episode 33): Britney, Ilana, JC, Rhona, Nikki, Matt, Justin;
- "Mislead" (Season 7, Episode 1): Britney, Rhona, Nita, Tony, Matt, Nikki, J.C.;
- "I’ll Take You There" (Season 7, Episode 2): Britney, Justin, Matt, Nita, Dale, Rhona;
- "I Want You" (Season 7, Episode 5): Britney, lana, Nikki;
- "Cantaloupe" (Season 7, Episode 7): Britney, Dale, J.C., Matt, Tiffini, Nita;
- "Can’t Help Falling In Love" (Season 7, Episode 29): Britney, TJ, Christina, Justin, Tate;
- "Right Time" (Season 7, Episode 32): Britney, Nikki, Ricky, Josh;
- "Can We Talk" (Season 7, Episode 33): Britney, Tate, Justin, Ryan, TJ;
- "Caught in the Middle" (Season 7, Episode 33): Britney, Rhona, Nikki, Ilana;
- "Rock Bottom" (Season 7, Episode 36): Britney, Lindsey, Ryan, Justin, Christina;
- "Think" (Season 7, Episode 38): Britney, Christina, Rhona, Nikki, Ilana.

Mickey Mouse Club Cast - Season 6

Mickey Mouse Club Cast - Season 7

Casting director Matt Casella auditioned more than 20000 children for the "All New Mickey Mouse Club" in 1992. He was looking for poster kids, children that could be identified as the ideal American offspring - the child that every parent with a young delinquent wished was theirs. He wanted to find kids whose smile could light up the room. Seven kids had been accepted into the cast and Britney Spears was one of them alongside with Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Nikki DeLoach, Ryan Gosling, Tate Lynche and T.J. Fantini.
The director of "Disney Channel" told why Britney had been chosen: "We required a lot from our cast members: acting, singing, dancing and the indefinable quality of personality. Britney had all of them." This was the 6th season of "All New Mickey Mouse Club" and the 1st season for Britney.
"All New Mickey Mouse Club" (as it was commonly known) was a half-hour variety show filled with music, dancing and sketch comedy. It was designed to appeal to the kids of the time and went for a much cooler approach than the old "Mickey Mouse Club." The young cast members received great training in singing, dancing, acting and making music videos. Christina Aguilera would later say that "MMC' was like "SNL" for kids. Ryan Gosling has cited the show as an amazing opportunity to learn about the work ethic required to be a success in show business. The drive for success was a given among the Mouseketeers. They used to joke around backstage and say, whenever the show ends, they'll go off their separate ways and become stars.

Britney Spears in public just knew how to be professional, but in private was the most wholesome little kid that you'd ever want to see. If anybody had walked into a classroom and seen Britney there they would have said, "What is she doing here, she's just a little kid in school." They would get her to dance in the afternoon and tape it that night. She was very capable.
One of the aspects of the "All New Mickey Mouse Club" that the cast were never shown laudatory letters, but the more the public wrote about Britney's dancing, the more dance numbers she was given. During the whole show Britney sang four solos, but she took part in all of dance numbers.
"Disney" tutor Myles Thoroughgood had a difficult job. He had to install in the cast an awareness of how a particular move might look to the camera. He had to show them not just what they were doing but what the camera was actually seeing. He had to take kids of different dance abilities and rhythm and put them through the most demanding schedule. Britney was particularly malleable, taking direction very well. Myles described Britney as a "dynamic dancer". Every week he had to put together three numbers and a music video. Four hours of rehearsal on each number would culminate in four full takes where the cameras would be set to film different angels to maximize the dynamic effect. Sometimes the cast would work before daybreak.
Mouseketeers' schedule was jam-packed for the entire work week, which was Tuesday through Saturday. They spent the morning, from 9 until 12:30, with tutors, learning whatever they were missing by not being in school. Then they went right into rehearsal and makeup until mid-afternoon and started taping before a live audience at 3:45p.m. They ate dinner at 5 p.m., and then continued taping until 6:30 p.m.
The show always begun with the cast running from backstage while the credits and theme tune rang out. They would high five the audience, do some splits and jumping jacks before striking a pose, when the music would end. Then three cast members introduced the show while the others dashed off for a costume change. "Hi, I'm Britney. Welcome to the Mickey Mouse Club." Every Mouseketeer had to deliver that line at some stage. Then they would run through what was in store that day. At the end of each show the entire cast would perform the Mickey Mouse theme song:

Now it's time to say good-bye to all our company,
M-I-C...
See you real soon!
K-E-Y...
Why? Because we like you!
M-O-U-S-E!
Now it's time to see you later
Never gonna fake ya, though, we wanna leave ya with some flava
Nothing but friends in the club scene here.
Through the years double MC's Giving up cheers.
We're gonna make you move the beat is oh-so-smooth
So keep it up and keep it with the groove
To the music, move to the style
The house is packed, yo!
The club is going wild!
The club's got it going on'
Funky style,
MMC's Got It Goin On,
Funky style.
We've got it going on, with a funky style,
The club scene's goin' up and the house is goin' wild!
Fellows in the house let me here you say,
Boom! Shak-a-lacka-boom!
Boom! Shak-a-lacka-boom!
Boom! Shak-a-lacka-boom!
All the girls in the house let me here you say,
Haaay! (Haay!) Haaay! (Haay!)
Now MMC scream!

In addition to their TV work, the "MMC" members sang in live concerts and cut albums in a fully outfitted recording studio. Each member also received personalized vocal lessons. This was the point at which Britney knew this was what she wanted in her life.
The public perception was a very serious part of Disney, so they had a PR contract to coach the members of the club in interview technique, so the youngsters would never say anything out of place or controversial. The members had to get used to the plethora of fanzine trivia that always follows around celebrity. The first Britney "fact" sheet of favorite things recorded:

Favorite Singer: Whitney Huston;
Favorite Actors: Tom Cruise, Demi Moore;
Favorite Movie: The Hand That Rockets the Cradle;

Favorite Color: Blue;
Favorite TV Show: Home Improvement;
Favorite Food: Pizza;
Favorite Book: Little Women;
Favorite Vacation: Florida;
Favorite Sports Team: Chicago Bulls;

The Best Day of Life: "When I found out I had gotten The Mickey Mouse Club." 

When Disney issued some of the first public relations materials on Britney during the 6th season, they described her as bursting with talent and experience.
Britney and Christina became close friends because they were the smallest of the group. As the two youngest cast members, they really bonded. Chack Yerger, the Mouseketeers tutor, remembers the two young singing divas as exceptionally bright, down-to-earth kids. Their curriculum was simpler than that of the older students because they were in grades 6-8 when he taught them. While the 9th-12th graders were doing algebra, geometry, trigonometry and British Literature - Britney and Christina were still learning spelling rules, basic geography and arithmetic. Chuck describes young Britney and Christina as "earnest young children." Both of those little girls were somewhat awed by it all. The older Mouseketeers were their stars, their idols and their heroes. They also were their friends. Britney and Christina got "adopted" by the bigger kids - taken under their wing.

During the 7th season, an interview appeared in Disney publication featuring Britney and her friend Christina.
Disney: What's your favorite thing about Christina?
Britney: She's very honest, down to earth, and a good friend.
Disney: Describe Christina in three words.
Britney: A beautiful person inside.
Disney: What do you like about Britney?
Christina: She can always make me smile and feel good about myself.
Disney: Describe Britney in three words.
Christina: Cheerful, innocent and cute!
Disney: How are the two of you different?
Britney: She can be hyper at times and I'm more calm.
Disney: How are you different?
Christina: The only thing I can think of is, we look different!
Disney: How are the two of you similar?
Christina: We like to do the same things. We love to shop - both of us! We love to get new clothes, we both kid around a lot, love to go to the movies - we just love doing things together!

As youngsters they naturally looked up to the older kids and wanted to be like them. When Britney, Christina, and Justin came into "The Mickey Mouse Club" the other kids had already been there a few years. Justin was bigger physically, but he, Britney and Christina were innocent little kids. When she was 11, Britney was cute, wholesome, the girl-next-door type. She was an exceptional dancer and singer. She also treasured her friends and teachers back in Louisiana. When doing her schoolwork, Britney was concerned that she did it exactly the way her teachers back home would have wanted her to. Young Britney can be described as sweet, charming, smart and superbly talented.
Britney's role model within "The Mickey Mouse Club" was Keri Russel. She came on to the show as a dancer just like Britney but blossomed within the show's format into a promising actress. Britney, Christina and Nikki DeLoach would try to copy her clothes. They always looked up to Keri because she was 16, she had a car and she had a boyfriend. Britney used to idolize Keri. She wished she had such beautiful curly hair and she wanted really badly to look like her. Kerry Russel said about Britney: "At 12, she had so much promise. She was a great dancer and the most productive of those kids - always placed at the front."
J.C. Chasez was already on the show when Britney arrived; he and Justin Timberlake became friends and members of the group 'N Sync, and Britney's path would across with theirs again at later date.
Justin and Britney met when they were 11 and 12, and instantly had a connection with each other. Both kids were huge fans of "The Mickey Mouse Club" before they made it onto the show, and both kids were so disappointed when the show ended only two seasons after they were cast. Not only did they lose their new jobs, but all their new friends and role models from the show.

By the end of September Britney had survived 6 months of schedule filming 44 episodes. Nobody had any idea that the next season of "The Mickey Mouse Club" would be the last.

The final 7th season officially became "MMC." The name change came as result of a new set and new format. They were not Mouseketeers anymore, just cast members. It seemed like a nice way to end the run - the cast really grew up. They wanted to end on a high note. When it began in 1989, the Disney Channel's "The Mickey Mouse Club" followed in the footsteps of its inspiration, the original show that aired from 1955-1959 on ABC. They weren't trying to reproduce the original show, just the feeling of it. Since the show's debut on the Disney cable channel in 1989, 35 Mouseketeers have graced the screen. The new season offered 21 cast members. They were doing a lot more comedy and a lot more musical numbers this season.
The importance of the "MMC" training in the success of its future stars was not at all a coincidence. It was a daily show and they were essentially paid to take singing, acting and dancing lessons. They were basically the best young talents of that time.
Later Britney said: "The Mickey Mouse Club was a lot of fun because I was like a baby. I was 11 and was the youngest one on the show, so people catered to me. Just being in Disney World was a lot of fun."
The ratings of "MMC" were still respectable but production costs had been creeping up. Two years after Britney joined the show, in 1994, it was cancelled.