Al & Val travel to Auradon to visit the children of their favorite Disney heroes & villains. And there's SINGING!

Descendants (July 31, 2015)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Kenny Ortega (started as a music video director, Newsies, Hocus Pocus, Cheetah Girls 2, HSM 2&3, Descendants 1-3)

Written by Josann McGibbon & Sara Parriott (Runaway Bride, Descendents 1-5)

Starring: 

Dove Cameron as Mal (Cloud 9, Descendants 1-3, Liv & Maddie, Dumplin, Schmigadoon, Big Nate, music videos)

Cameron Boyce as Carlos (Grown Ups, Jessie, Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything, Descendants 1-3, Mrs. Fletcher, Paradise City)

Booboo Stewart as Jay (Twilight, Descendants 1-3, Good Trouble)

Sofia Carson as Evie (Descendants 1-3, Pretty Little Liars: Perfectionists)

Mitchell Hope as Ben (Descendants 1-3)

Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother (Happy Family, Notes from the Underbelly, Saving Mr. Banks, Descendants 1-5)

Brenna D'Amico as Jane (Descendants 1-3)

Sarah Jeffery as Audrey (Descendants 1-3, Wayward Pines, Rogue, Shades of Blue, Charmed, LEGO Dreamzzzz)

Zachary Gibson as Doug (Zapped, Descendants 1-3)

Jedidiah Goodacre as Chad Charming (Zapped, Descendants 1-4, The Originals, The Order, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Marry F*ck Kill, F*ck Marry Kill)

Dianne Doan as Lonnie (Descendants 1-2, Vikings, Agents of Shield, Warrior, Grey’s Anatomy)

Dan Payne as King Beast (character actor - Stargate SG-1, R.L. Stine’s Haunting Hour, Descendants 1-3, Good Witch, Crank Yankers, Hallmark Christmas Movies)

Keegan Connor Tracy as Queen Belle (character actor - Final Destination 2, 40 Days & 40 Nights, Once Upon a Time, Descendants 1-3, The Magicians)

Wendy Raquel Robinson as Cruella de Vil (character actor - The Steve Harvey Show, The Game)

Maz Jobrani as Jafar (character actor - Superior Donuts, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me)

Kathy Najimy as Evil Queen (Scream Team, Sister Act, Hocus Pocus, Pepper Ann, Veronica’s Closet, Numb3rs, WALL-E, King of the Hill, Veep, Younger)

Kristin Chenoweth as Maleficent (Kristin, The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, Schmigadoon!, Wicked)

Synopsis: In present-day Auradon, Ben, the benevolent teenage son of King Adam and Queen Belle, offers a chance of redemption for the troublemaking offspring of Disney's classic villains: Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, the Evil Queen and Jafar.

Fun Fact: Initially, this was not going to be a musical until Kenny Ortega came on board to direct.

Next Movie: Invisible Sister

Al & Val return to the most musical meta beach universe for Teen Beach 2. Will they fix the story before they disappear?! 

Teen Beach 2 (June 27, 2015)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Jeffrey Hornaday (Geek Charming, Teen Beach 1&2 - no credits past 2015)

Written by Billy Eddy & Matt Eddy (Zapped, Bad Hair Day, Monster High 1 & 2, Eureka), Dan Berendsen (Up Up and Away, Scream Team, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Stuck in the Suburbs, Halloweentown High, Twitches, Twitches Two, Hannah Montana movie, Wizards of Waverly Place the movie, Cheetah Girls: One World, Camp Rock 2, Sabrina the Teenage Witch)

Starring: 

Ross Lynch as Brady (Teen Beach 1&2, Austin & Ally, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, music videos)

Maia Mitchell as McKenzie (Mack) (Mortified, Trapped, Teen Beach 1&2, The Fosters, Good Trouble)

Grace Phipps Gillam as Lela (Teen Beach 1&2, Z Nation)

Garrett Clayton as Tanner (Teen Beach 1&2, character actor)

John DeLuca as Butchy (Teen Beach 1&2, character actor)

Chrissie Fit as Cheechee (Teen Beach 1&2, General Hospital, Pitch Perfect 2&3, voice & character actor)

Piper Curda as Alyssa (Rule the Mix, A.N.T. Farm, Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, I Didn’t Do It, Legacies, Matlock)

Beth Lacke as Brady's mother (character actor - Happy Hour, Work It, Frequency, HSMTMTS, Chicago Med)

Jordan Fisher as Seacat (voice actor, Archibald’s Next Big Thing, HSMTMTS, Turning Red, The Flash)

Raymond Cham Jr. as Devon (Mech-X4, Five Points, The Big Leap, Sort Of)

Ross Butler as Spencer (K.C. Undercover, Shazam! 1&2, 13 Reasons Why, To All The Boys 2 & 3, Raya and the Last Dragon, Riverdale)

Synopsis: Months after surfer sweethearts McKenzie and Brady return from a summer adventure, that transported them into Brady's favourite 1960s beach party movie, `Wet Side Story', they receive a surprise visit from their newfound surfer and biker buddies.

Fun Facts: Ross Lynch's band, R5, wrote a song for the movie.

Next Movie: Descendents

Al and Val have to get to prom but they are on the run from a diamond thief! OH NO! Help us out by giving us a listen. And vote for us for Prom Queen! 

Bad Hair Day (February 13, 2015)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Erik Canuel (Big Wolf on Campus, Flashpoint, 19-2)

Written by Billy Eddy & Matt Eddy (Zapped, Teen Beach 2, Monster High 1 & 2, Eureka), Eric M. Gardner (only 1 other credit)

Starring: 

Laura Marano as Monica Reeves (Without a Trace, Austin & Ally, Ladybird, music videos)

Leigh-Allyn Baker as Liz (character & voice actor - Mass Effect, Back at the Barnyard, Good Luck Charlie, Will & Grace)

Christian Campbell as Pierce (character & voice actor - Max Steel, Big Love, Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes)

Alain Goulem as Monica's Dad (character & voice actor - Bob Moraine, 18 to Life, Assassins Creed, My Old Ass)

Christian Paul as Ed (character & voice actor - Wicker Park, Assassins Creed)

Kiana Madeira as Sierra (Really Me, Trinkets, Fear Street, My Adventures with Superman)

Jake Manley as Kyle Timmons (Heroes Reborn, iZombie, Midway, The Order)

Zoé De Grand Maison as Ashley (Orphan Black, Riverdale)

Synopsis: A high school student is desperate to be prom queen, but on the big night her hair is an uncontrollably bad mess. Meanwhile, a lady FBI agent is on the hunt for a jewel thief who is looking for a stolen necklace, which the messy haired girl has in her possession. Soon, she and the agent chase the jewel thief, and she's whizzed on a wild adventure in the city.

Fun Facts: 

The executive producer is Leigh-Allyn Baker, who plays Liz in the film.

Laura Marano (Monica) didn't have a stunt double for the driving scenes

The movie was filmed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Next Movie: Teen Beach 2

We're back with part two of our episode with special guests Mallory & Evan from Pop Capsule Podcast! Enjoy their incredible synopsis and maayybee we get a Bingo or two!

How to Build a Better Boy (August 15, 2014)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, Tru Confessions, You Wish!, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Read it and Weep, Jump In!, CGOW, Dadnapped, Camp Rock 2, Let it Shine, Cloud 9, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Jason Mayland (Space Chimps, Eureka)

Starring: 

China Anne McClain as Gabby Harrison (A.N.T. Farm, Descendants-verse, Black Lightening, House of Payne)

Kelli Berglund as Mae Hartley (Lab Rats, The Goldbergs, Heels)

Marshall Williams as Albert Banks / X-17 (Glee, When Hope Calls, Hallmark Christmas movies)

Matt Shively as Bart Hartley (True Jackson: VP, Winx Club, The Real O’Neals, The Purge, American Housewife, Total Badass Wrestling, Players, Lopez vs. Lopez)

Ashley Argota Torres as Nevaeh Barnes (True Jackson: VP, Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures, Lab Rats, The Fosters)

Noah Centineo as Jaden Stark (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Fosters, T@gged, Black Adam, The Recruit)

Ron Lea as General McFee (character actor - Street Legal, Wind at My Back, Doc, Orphan Black, Murdoch Mysteries)

Roger Bart as Dr. James Hartley (Bram & Alice, Singing voice of Hercules, The Producers, American Gangster, The Event, Desperate Housewives, Political Animals, Easy to Assemble, Revenge, Trumbo, Episodes, Graves, Good Trouble)

Synopsis: Two tech-savvy teenagers unknowingly use military software to program robotic boyfriends with ideal qualities when they grow tired of the high school boys around them.

Fun Facts: 

Ashley Argota Torres and Matt Shively previously co-starred in the series True Jackson, VP (2008), which aired on Disney Channel's rival network, Nickelodeon.

Next Movie:  Bad Hair Day

We had so much fun with our special guests, Mallory & Evan from Pop Capsule Podcast that we had to split the episode into two parts! Part 2 will be out in two weeks!

How to Build a Better Boy (August 15, 2014)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, Tru Confessions, You Wish!, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Read it and Weep, Jump In!, CGOW, Dadnapped, Camp Rock 2, Let it Shine, Cloud 9, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Jason Mayland (Space Chimps, Eureka)

Starring: 

China Anne McClain as Gabby Harrison (A.N.T. Farm, Descendants-verse, Black Lightening, House of Payne)

Kelli Berglund as Mae Hartley (Lab Rats, The Goldbergs, Heels)

Marshall Williams as Albert Banks / X-17 (Glee, When Hope Calls, Hallmark Christmas movies)

Matt Shively as Bart Hartley (True Jackson: VP, Winx Club, The Real O’Neals, The Purge, American Housewife, Total Badass Wrestling, Players, Lopez vs. Lopez)

Ashley Argota Torres as Nevaeh Barnes (True Jackson: VP, Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures, Lab Rats, The Fosters)

Noah Centineo as Jaden Stark (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Fosters, T@gged, Black Adam, The Recruit)

Ron Lea as General McFee (character actor - Street Legal, Wind at My Back, Doc, Orphan Black, Murdoch Mysteries)

Roger Bart as Dr. James Hartley (Bram & Alice, Singing voice of Hercules, The Producers, American Gangster, The Event, Desperate Housewives, Political Animals, Easy to Assemble, Revenge, Trumbo, Episodes, Graves, Good Trouble)

Synopsis: Two tech-savvy teenagers unknowingly use military software to program robotic boyfriends with ideal qualities when they grow tired of the high school boys around them.

Fun Facts: 

Ashley Argota Torres and Matt Shively previously co-starred in the series True Jackson, VP (2008), which aired on Disney Channel's rival network, Nickelodeon.

Al & Val Zapped you all to listen to this one! You must obey! (Lol jk)

Zapped (June 27, 2014)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Peter DeLuise (Stargate: SG1, RL Stine’s Haunting Hour, Parked, Garage Sale Mystery, Hallmark movies, When Calls the Heart)

Written by Leslie Margolis (only credit), Billy Eddy & Matt Eddy (Bad Hair Day, Teen Beach 2, Monster High 1 & 2, Eureka)

Starring: 

Zendaya as Zoey Stevens (Frenemies, Shake it Up, Spider Man, KC Undercover, The Greatest Showman, Dune, Euphoria, Challengers, music videos)

Chanelle Harquail-Ivsak as Rachel (Radio Rebel, RL Stine’s Haunting Hour, Incredible Crew, The Blechley Circle: San Francisco)

Spencer Boldman as Jackson (Lab Rats, Welcome to Chippendales)

Emilia McCarthy as Taylor (Max & Shred, Zombies 1-3, Skymed)

Adam DiMarco as Adam Thompson (Radio Rebel, Arctic Air, The Magicians, The Order, The White Lotus)

William Ainscough as Ben Thompson (Seed, Ready Jet Go!)

Aleks Paunovic as Ted Thompson (character actor - iZombie, Van Helsing, Hawkeye, Snowpiercer)

Lucia Walters as Jeannie Stevens (character actor - Life Unexpected, Ties That Bind, Christmas Hallmark movies, Hailey Dean Mysteries, Virgin River, Goosebumps)

Jedidiah Goodacre as Tripp (Descendants, The Originals, The Order, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Marry F*ck Kill, F*ck Marry Kill)

Louriza Tronco as Yuki (Make it Pop, The Order)

Samuel Patrick Chu as Charlie (Radio Rebel, Level Up, RL Stine’s Haunting Hour, iZombie - stopped in 2019)

Synopsis: A bright student and talented dancer struggling with changes in life, including a new family and school, finds a phone app that magically allows her to control boys.

Fun Facts:  Based on novel "Boys are Dogs" by Leslie Margolis.

Next Movie: How to Build a Better Boy

Al & Val are on Cloud 9 after this super sporty movie!

Cloud 9 (January 17, 2014)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, Tru Confessions, You Wish!, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Read it and Weep, CGOW, Dadnapped, Camp Rock 2, Let it Shine, How to Build a Better Boy, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Justin Ware (The Pool Boys, Bloodsucking Bastards, Hell Den)

Starring: 

Dove Cameron as Kayla Morgan (Descendants 1-3, Liv & Maddie, Dumplin, Schmigadoon, Big Nate, music videos)

Luke Benward as Will Cloud (Minutemen, Girl Vs. Monster, We Were Soldiers, Because of Winn Dixie, Dear John, Good Luck Charlie, Girl Meets World, Criminal Minds)

Mike C. Manning as Nick Swift (Youthful Daze, Money Heist, Days of Our Lives, The Bay)

Kiersey Clemons as Skye Saylor (Austin & Ally, Dope, Extant, Transparent, Neighbors 2, Hearts Beat Loud, Angie Tribeca, Easy, Lady and the Tramp, Antebellum, Zach Snyder’s Justice League, Fairfax, The Flash, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters)

Amy Farrington as Andrea (Hatching Pete, SWAT, character actor)

Patrick Fabian as Richard Morgan (Twitches, Twitches Too, Joan of Arcadia, Better Call Saul)

Andrew Caldwell as Sam (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, iZombie, Henry Danger, The Matrix: Resurrections)

Dillon Lane as Burke (Bucket and Skinner's Epic Adventures, I Think You Should Leave)

Victoria Moroles as Pia (Teen Wolf, Liv & Maddie, Plan B, Never Have I Ever)

Jeffrey Nordling as Sebastian Swift (Working Girl, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Quiz Show, D3: The Mighty Ducks, Melrose Place, Once and Again, Providence, Flight 93, Flicka, Dirt, 24, Desperate Housewives, Sully, Nashville, The Man in the High Castle, Big Little Lies, Walker, So Help Me Todd)

Kenda Benward as Madeline Morgan (Dadnapped, stopped acting in 2018)

Carlon Jeffery as Dink (A.N.T. Farm - stopped acting in 2020)

Synopsis: A girl who frequently snowboards is forced to train with a guy, an ex-champion of the sport, after an unexpected event. However, she has to prove to him that she is a true professional.

Fun Facts: 

Shaun White and Asheley Tisdale are executive producers

Next Movie: Zapped

Al & Val make a splash with Teen Beach Movie! We love a meta musical!

Teen Beach Movie (July 19, 2013)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Jeffrey Hornaday (Geek Charming, Teen Beach 1&2 - no credits past 2015)

Written by Vince Marcello (Teen Beach 1&2, Kissing Booth 1-3, An Unforgettable Year), Mark Landry (Teen Beach 1&2 are basically his only credits), Robert Horn (Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, Suite Life Movie, Teen Beach 1&2, 13: The Musical)

Starring: 

Ross Lynch as Brady (Teen Beach 1&2, Austin & Ally, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, music videos)

Maia Mitchell as McKenzie (Mack) (Mortified, Trapped, Teen Beach 1&2, The Fosters, Good Trouble)

Grace Phipps Gillam as Lela (Teen Beach 1&2, Z Nation)

Garrett Clayton as Tanner (Teen Beach 1&2, character actor)

John DeLuca as Butchy (Teen Beach 1&2, character actor)

Chrissie Fit as Cheechee (Teen Beach 1&2, General Hospital, Pitch Perfect 2&3, voice & character actor)

Suzanne Cryer as Aunt Antoinette (character actor, Silicon Valley, All Rise)

Barry Bostwick as Big Poppa (character actor, Rocky Horror, Spin City)

Kevin Chamberlin as Dr. Fusion (character actor, Ghostwriter, In & Out, Lucky Number Slevin, Jessie, The Prom)

Steve Valentine as Les Camembert (character actor & voice actor - Don’t Look Under the Bed, Avalon High, Wizards of Waverly Place movie, Crossing Jordan, I’m in the Band)

Jordan Fisher as Seacat (voice actor, Archibald’s Next Big Thing, HSMTMTS, Turning Red, The Flash)

Synopsis: Two young surfers are swept away by a huge wave, finding themselves acting out a real-life version of the 1960s film `Wet Side Story'. When their presence derails the movie's intended plot, they must set things right in order to return home.

Fun Facts: 

Prior to the opening credits, the premiere of the Teen Beach included a dedication to beach party film legend and original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, who passed the same year as Teen Beach Movie's premiere following a long, valiant battle against multiple sclerosis. The dedication read, "In memory of Disney Legend Annette Funicello, the world's most beloved beach movie star.”

This is the only Disney Channel Original Movie that was released in 2013, making it the first time this has happened since 1997 with Under Wraps (1997).

Next Movie: Cloud 9

Creators & Guests

These girls vs this monster of a movie! Whew! But we had fun along the way!

Girl vs. Monster (October 12, 2012)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Stu Gillard (Scream Team, Full Court Miracle, Going to the Mat, Twitches,Twitches Too, Hatching Pete, Charmed, 90210)

Written by Annie DeYoung (Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, Return to Halloweentown, Starstruck), & Ron McGee (Rizzoli & Isles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaii)

Starring: 

Olivia Holt as Skylar Lewis (Kickin’ It, I Didn’t Do It, Cloak & Dagger, Cruel Summer, Laid)

Brendan Meyer as Henry (Dinosapian, Mr. Young, Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462, The OA, Camp)

Kerris Dorsey as Sadie (Walk the Line, Brothers & Sisters, Moneyball, Ray Donovan)

Luke Benward as Ryan Dean (Minutemen, We Were Soldiers, Because of Winn Dixie, Dear John, Good Luck Charlie, Girl Meets World, Criminal Minds)

Katherine McNamara as Myra Santelli (Shadowhunters, Arrow, Walker: Independence)

Tracy Dawson as Deimata (The Gavin Crawford Show, Call Me Fritz - stopped acting in 2013)

Anna Galvin as Theodosia (character actor - Mr. Young, Loudermilk, Van Helsing)

Jennifer Aspen as Julie Lewis (character actor - Party of Five, Rodney)

Brian Palermo as Steve Lewis (character actor - Significant Others, Digimon Data Squad)

Synopsis: A tween discovers on Halloween that she is a 5th generation monster hunter. The monsters are out to stop her before she begins her calling.

Fun Facts: 

Olivia and Luke dated in real life

Only the 10th DCOM to be rated PG

Next Movie: Teen Beach Movie

Al & Val are joined by their pal and former cast member of Improvised DCOM to rap about Let it Shine. The only real question is who is hotter: Tyler James Williams or Courtney B. Vance?

Let it Shine (June 15, 2012)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by  Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, Tru Confessions, You Wish!, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Read it and Weep, CGOW, Dadnapped, Camp Rock 2, How to Build a Better Boy, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Eric Daniel (Back on the Strip) & Don D. Scott (Barbershop 1 & 2 & The Neighborhood showrunner)

Starring: 

Tyler James Williams as Cyrus DeBarge/Truth (Little Bill, Everybody Hates Chris, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Dear White People, Abbott Elementary)

Coco Jones as Roxanne "Roxie" Andrews (Good Luck Charlie, Grandma’s House, Five Points, Bel Air)

Trevor Jackson as Kris McDuffy (Eureka, Grown-ish, music videos)

Brandon Mychal Smith as Lord of da Bling (Starstruck, Sonny with a Chance, So Random!, You’re the Worst, Rise of the TMNT)

Dawnn Lewis as Gail DeBarge (A Different World, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, prolific voice actor)

Nicole Sullivan as Lyla (Buzz Lightyear: Star Command, King of Queens, Kim Possible, MadTV, DC Superhero Girls)

Courtney B. Vance (The Hunt for Red October, Dangerous Minds, The Preacher’s Wife, Space Cowboys, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Photograph, Uncorked, Lovecraft Country, 61st Street)

Algee Smith as Da Boss (Euphoria)

Chloe x Halle Bailey as Choir Members (Halle: Grown-ish, Little Mermaid, The Color Purple - Chloe: Grown-ish)

Synopsis: A teenage boy hides his rapping from his family and friends. When his best friend uses his lyrics to get close to a girl he has feelings for, he must battle to win her affection while struggling against pressure from his father.

Fun Facts: Names all map to Cyrano de Bergerac

Next Movie: Girl vs. Monster