| Lizzie McGuire | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Terri Minsky |
| Starring | |
| Theme music composer | Elliot Lurie |
| Opening theme | "Lizzie McGuire Theme"[1] |
| Ending theme | "Lizzie McGuire Theme" (instrumental) |
| Composer | Sam Winans |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 65(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Jill Danton |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company | Stan Rogow Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney Channel |
| Release | January 12, 2001 (2001-01-12) – February 14, 2004 (2004-02-14) |
Lizzie McGuire is an Americancomedy television series created byTerri Minsky that premiered onDisney Channel on January 12, 2001. The series starsHilary Duff as the titular character who learns to navigate the personal and social issues of her teenage years. Duff also voices an animated version of Lizzie that performssoliloquies to express the character's inner thoughts and emotions. The series also starsLalaine,Adam Lamberg,Jake Thomas,Hallie Todd, andRobert Carradine. The series concluded on February 14, 2004, after a total of 65 episodes were produced. Afeature film based on the series,The Lizzie McGuire Movie, was released in 2003.
The series was nominated for twoEmmy Awards in 2003 and 2004 forOutstanding Children's Program. Thepilot received a nomination at theWriters Guild of America Awards for Best Children's Script. The series also received various awards and nominations at theNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards from2002 to2005. Television critics acknowledged the innocent nature of the series, and the appeal of the writing towards adolescents.
A revival series was announced in August 2019 to be entering production forDisney+, with Duff reprising her role and Minsky returning as showrunner, but Minsky later departed from the role. Lamberg, Thomas, Todd and Carradine were also attached to return to the series in their original roles. The series began production in association with Disney Channel, but entered a hiatus after Minsky's departure and did not resume; the revival was officially canceled in December 2020.
The series follows Lizzie McGuire, a 13-year-old girl who faces the personal and social issues of adolescence. She attendsjunior high alongside her best friends Miranda and Gordo. Episodes depict Lizzie's transition into adolescence at home and school, including the friends' rivalry with their classmate Kate, and affections for Ethan. Lizzie tries to develop her own identity, but is also attracted to the idea of popularity at school and longs for social acceptance by her peers. She has a close relationship with her family: her mother, Jo; her father, Sam; and her younger brother, Matt. Lizzie's thoughts and emotions are conveyed sporadically in the episodes through her animated persona, who sometimesspeaks to the audience.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 31 | January 12, 2001 (2001-01-12) | January 18, 2002 (2002-01-18) | |
| 2 | 34 | February 8, 2002 (2002-02-08) | February 14, 2004 (2004-02-14) | |
| Film | May 2, 2003 (2003-05-02) | |||

In 2000, Hilary Duff was asked to audition for a series on Disney Channel.[2] Created byTerri Minsky, the series was known by the working titleWhat's Lizzie Thinking? throughout development.[2][3][4] The series was later retitledLizzie McGuire, and Duff successfully auditioned for the title character of Lizzie, who was described as a regular teenager.[2][3] The premise for the series was based on a script previously written by Minsky, which featured the main character's inner thoughts and emotions as narration.[5] ProducerStan Rogow conceived ahigh-concept version of the script in which an animated version of the character would be featured to convey these thoughts. This concept became known the "animated Lizzie" persona, and was also voiced by Duff.[5] The animation was originally envisioned as a talking head in the corner of the screen.[6] Rogow stated that the visual design of the show was inspired by the filmRun Lola Run.[5]
Independent animatorDebra Solomon designed the animated version of Lizzie, based on Duff's appearance on her audition tape.[6] Rather than drawing a mere caricature of Duff, she tried to capture the actress's essence by giving Lizzie's alter ego a more "hip" look: cropped shirts with trim pants and high flip-flops.[6]New York's Tapehouse Toons produced the animation along with Kratky Studios.[7] The drawings weredigitally inked and painted using theAnimo 3.1 software and then composited into the live-action footage at Disney'sLos Angeles studio.[7] Due to the low budget given by Disney, there are only two minutes of animated Lizzie in each episode.[6]
In July 2001, a second season of 22 episodes were ordered, to begin production in September and air in 2002.[8] Lalaine's character Miranda did not appear in the last 6 episodes filmed for the second season, orThe Lizzie McGuire Movie, due to Lalaine leaving the series early to work on other projects such asYou Wish!.[9] According to Ashley Spencer's 2024 bookDisney High: The Untold Story of the Rise and Fall of Disney Channel's Tween Empire, Lalaine and Duff had a "falling-out (that was) beyond repair" in the final stretch of filming of the television series, which led to her being let go early from her contract.[10] "I don't believe that Hilary wanted her to be part of the movie,"Lizzie McGuire casting director Robin Lippin said. "It probably would have been uncomfortable for both of them."[11]
Filming of the movie and series concluded in December 2002 after 65 episodes were produced, a standard limit for Disney Channel's series.[12][13]
In May 2003, it was revealed thatLizzie McGuire would end production due to contract disagreements between Duff and Disney.[12][14] The company was interested in transitioning the program into a high school-centered series forABC and expanding the franchise with a further film, while Duff was receiving offers for lucrative roles with other studios.[12][14] After the series ended its original run, Disney Channel also considered producing an animated version of the series.[12] In November 2004, a pilot for an intended spin-off was ordered, which was to center on Miranda's younger sister Stevie Sanchez and her Latino family.[13] Lalaine returned to film the pilot, after having been released from herLizzie McGuire contract six episodes early due to feuding with Duff.[15] The new series would follow the 12-year-old central character, who was played in the pilot bySelena Gomez, and would also feature an animated version of the character like Lizzie.[13] It was to star Lalaine, and be produced by Minsky and Rogow.[13] The pilot was produced in 2005, but the series was not picked up in favor ofHannah Montana.[13][16] The pilot was described as a "real downer."[15] The pilot featured the use of the songEverybody Hurts byR.E.M., about fifteen minutes in, "and it fit perfectly," Rogow said.[15]

In December 2018, Duff stated that there had been discussions about reviving the series.[17] On August 23, 2019, it was announced at theD23 Expo thatDisney was developing a revival television series ofLizzie McGuire.[18][19][20] The series was revealed to be in production for exclusive distribution on theDisney+ streaming service, with Duff reprising her role as the title character; the original series creator, Terri Minsky, planned to serve as the revival's showrunner.[18][19][20] Thesequel series would have centered on Lizzie at the age of thirty, navigating life working as an apprentice to aninterior decorator. She would be living in an apartment inBrooklyn,New York City, engaged to a man who owns a restaurant inSoHo, Manhattan.[18][19][21] When Lizzie discovers her fiancé cheating on her, she returns home toLos Angeles.[22][23] The animated alter ego of Lizzie would also have appeared in the series.[19] The series was to be produced by Salty Pictures in association with Disney Channel as part of an overall deal with Minsky.[18][21] Duff was to serve as an executive producer, alongside Rachel Winter, and co-executive producer Ranada Shepard.[21] In October 2019, it was announced that Thomas, Todd and Carradine would also return to the series, reprising their roles as Matt, Jo and Sam McGuire respectively.[24] It was later announced that Lamberg would be reprising his role as Gordo and Federico Dordei would be joining the cast as new character, Dominic Shaw.[21][25] Production on the sequel series began on October 29, 2019, on location inWashington Square Park in New York.[26] Further filming for the series would have taken place inLos Angeles.[25]
Minsky departed as the showrunner of the revival in January 2020 after the first two episodes of the series had been filmed, due to creative differences with Disney.[27][28] Production of the series was placed on a hiatus.[27][29] In February 2020, Duff hinted on social media that production had stopped because the series was not thought "family-friendly" enough by Disney+ executives; Disney reaffirmed that the development of the series was ongoing.[29] Duff later posted a statement publicly pleading for Disney+ to move the series toHulu as had been done withLove, Victor andHigh Fidelity, stating that it would allow the series to fully represent the life of a thirty-year-old without the constraints of a "family friendly" classification.[30] In April 2020, it was reported in that development was still ongoing,[31] however, in December 2020, Duff announced that the revival was officially canceled.[32][33][34] In January 2024, one of the show's writers revealed some of the storylines from the show, and also speculated that Disney had issues with the suggestion that Lizzie had sex with her childhood love interest Ethan.[35][36]
The series premiered on Disney Channel on January 12, 2001, as a special sneak preview, following the premiere of the filmZenon: The Zequel.[37] The series officially premiered on January 19, 2001.[3][4]Lizzie McGuire was scheduled to begin airing in reruns onABC as part ofDisney's One Saturday Morning on September 15, 2001.[8] On September 14, 2002, the series began airing on the rebrandedABC Kids programming block.[38]
In 2006,Superstation WGN acquired the rights toEven Stevens andLizzie McGuire.[39]
Egmont Imagination, who co-financed the production of the series with Disney, handled worldwide distribution of the series outside North America.[40][41] After the division was shuttered by Egmont,Telescreen acquired its catalogue and began to distribute the series themselves.[42]
Walt Disney Pictures released a film based on the series,The Lizzie McGuire Movie, on May 2, 2003, in the United States.[43] Set after the conclusion of the series and her junior high graduation, the film follows Lizzie and her classmates on a school trip toRome, Italy.[44] It earned $42.7 million at the U.S. box office and $12.8 million internationally, for a total of $55.6 million worldwide.[20][45] The film received mixed reviews from critics, who found it superficial, but thought the show's fans would enjoy it.[46]
Throughout the early 2000s, the series' popularity led Disney to release merchandise, includinga series of books and comics, a Lizzie McGuire characterdoll, a bedroom set, and board games.Disney Interactive published three video games for theGame Boy Advance, including:Lizzie McGuire: On the Go! in 2003,Lizzie McGuire 2: Lizzie Diaries in 2004, andLizzie McGuire 3: Homecoming Havoc in 2005.[47][48][49] Toys were also released through a partnership withMcDonald's in 2004.Fortune estimated in 2003 thatLizzie McGuire merchandise had earned nearly $100 million.[50] Two soundtracks for the series were produced,Lizzie McGuire andLizzie McGuire Total Party![51][52]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season ofLizzie McGuire has an approval rating of 80% based on reviews from 5 critics,[53] while the second season has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 5 critics.[54]Common Sense Media claimed that the series was relatable for both boys and girls, and described its representation of friendship as realistic.[55] Reviewing the series premiere in 2001, Laura Fries ofVariety called the program "good-natured", and praised the writers' ability to include adolescent vernacular and pop culture references.[3] A review on theDVDizzy blog called early episodes "clever, funny, and pretty sincere", but suggested that the show later suffered from a creative decline in favor of more celebrity guest appearances.[56] A DVD review byDove.org in 2003 called the series "wholesome", and noted its real-world lessons.[57] Susan Benner ofTV Guide praised the filming style of the show, and explained that the writing and pop-culture references would appeal to children.[58] Katie Minard ofEntertainment Weekly listed "Picture Day" as the best episode of the series in her 2016 ranking, arguing that it has a relatable plot and an important moral.[59]
| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALMA Award | 2002 | Lizzie McGuire | Outstanding Children's Television Programming | Nominated | [60] |
| British Academy Children's Awards | 2002 | Lizzie McGuire | Best International | Nominated | [61] |
| Imagen Awards | 2003 | Lalaine | Best Supporting Actress in Television | Nominated | [62] |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | 2002 | Lizzie McGuire | Favorite Television Show | Won | [63] |
| 2003 | Adam Lamberg | Favorite Television Actor | Nominated | [64][65] | |
| Hilary Duff | Favorite Television Actress | Nominated | |||
| Lizzie McGuire | Favorite Television Show | Won | |||
| 2004 | Hilary Duff | Favorite Television Actress | Nominated | [66] | |
| Lizzie McGuire | Favorite Television Show | Nominated | |||
| 2005 | Hilary Duff | Favorite Television Actress | Nominated | [67] | |
| Lizzie McGuire | Favorite Television Show | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2003 | Lizzie McGuire | Outstanding Children's Program | Nominated | [68] |
| 2004 | Lizzie McGuire | Nominated | [69] | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | 2003 | Lizzie McGuire | Choice TV – Comedy | Nominated | [70] |
| Hilary Duff | Choice TV Actress – Comedy | Nominated | |||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 2002 | Terri Minsky (for "Pool Party"[note 1]) | Children's Script | Nominated | [71] |
| Young Artist Award | 2002 | Hilary Duff, Lalaine, Adam Lamberg, Jake Thomas, Ashlie Brillault | Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Nominated | [72] |
| Hilary Duff | Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Leading Young Actress | Nominated | |||
| Lalaine | Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Supporting Young Actress | Nominated | |||
| 2003 | Hilary Duff, Lalaine, Adam Lamberg, Jake Thomas | Best Ensemble in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) | Nominated | [73] | |
| Lizzie McGuire | Best Family Television Series (Comedy or Drama) | Nominated | |||
| Amy Castle | Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series: Guest Starring Young Actress | Won | |||
| Jake Thomas | Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama): Supporting Young Actor | Nominated | |||
| 2004 | Jake Thomas | Nominated | [74] |