Al and Val got stuck in a ring of endless horniness in this somehow also religious Disney Channel classic

Ring of Endless Light (August 23rd, 2002)

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Directed by Greg Beeman (Under Wraps, Brink, Horse Sense, Miracle in Lane 2, Ultimate Christmas Present)

Written by Madeleine L’Engle (novel - Also wrote A Wrinkle in Time), Marita Giovanni (nothing else really), Bruce Graham (Right on Track, Tiger Cruise, Dunston Checks In, Anastasia)

Starring: 

Mischa Barton as Vicky Austin (Kablam, The Sixth Sense, The OC)

Ryan Merriman as Adam Eddington (Smart House, Luck of the Irish, Pretty Little Liars, 42)

Jared Padalecki as Zachary Gray (Gilmore Girls, Supernatural)

Scarlett Pomers as Suzy Austin (Erin Brokovich, Star Trek: Voyager, Reba - stopped in 2007)

Soren Fulton as Rob Austin (character actor til 2014)

James Whitmore as Grandfather (started acting in 1949 - Kiss Me Kate, Planet of the Apes, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Where the Red Fern Grows, The Shawshank Redemption, The Majestic)

Theresa Wong as Dr. Zand (Home and Away, took a break and then resurgence in 2021/22)

Christopher Kirby as Harbor Master Dan (Flipper, Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions, Revenge of the Sith, The Saddle Club)

Synopsis: During the summer as her grandfather is dying of leukemia and death seems all around, 15-year-old Vicky finds comfort with the pod of dolphins with which she has been doing research.

Fun Facts:

Based on a novel

Kirsten Storms was originally cast as Vicky Austin as they had commercials with her in it but changed it at the last minute.

Next Movie: The Scream Team

Al and Val take on the HERCULEAN effort (get it?) of dissecting Disney Channel's Gotta Kick it Up. Will they join America Ferrara on the dance team? Listen to find out.

Gotta Kick it Up (July 26th, 2002)

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Directed by Ramon Menendez (wrote & directed Stand and Deliver, wrote Tortilla Soup)

Written by Meghan Cole (only credit), Nancy Des Los Santos-Reza (producer on Selena), Ramon Menendez

Starring: 

Camille Guaty as Daisy Salinas (Prison Break, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Family Guy, Scorpion, The Rookie)

America Ferrera as Yolanda "Yoli" Vargas (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Real Women Have Curves, Ugly Betty, How to Train Your Dragon, The Good Wife)

Jhoanna Flores as Alyssa Cortez (Young and the Restless - stopped acting in 2013)

Suilma Rodriguez as Marisol 

Sabrina Wiener as Esmeralda Reyna (this was her last credit)

Miguel Sandoval as Principal Zavala (Howard the Duck, Do the Right Thing, Law & Order, ER, West Wing, Jackie Chan Adventures, Bottle Shock, Medium, Entourage, Station 19, Barry)

Erik Alexander Gavica as "Chuy" 

Susan Egan as Heather Bartlett (Meg in Hercules, Nikki, 13 Going on 30, Steven Universe)

Elizabeth Sung as Ms. Kim (Young and the Restless, Memoirs of a Geisha)

Gina Gallego as Mrs. Cortez (Bold & Beautiful, Erin Brockovich, Mr. Deeds, Days of Our Lives, Crazy Ex Girlfriend)

Gerry Del Sol as Mr. Cortez

Valente Rodriguez as Mr. Reyna (Erin Brockovich, George Lopez, McFarland USA, HSM The Musical The Series)

Anita Ortega as Mrs. Reyna

Yvonne Farrow as Lynell Elliott (Alias, stopped acting in 2012)

Ulises Cuadra as Segura (Tortilla Soup, Rocket Power, Clifford, stopped acting in 2012)

Ahmad Stoner as Gomez (Hook, The Color of Friendship - this was his last film)

James DuMont as Alex (Treme, Law & Order True Crime, Righteous Gemstones)

Synopsis: At a Southern California middle school with a largely Latin-American student population, Yolanda (America Ferrera) and Daisy (Camille Guaty) convince new biology teacher Ms. Bartlett (Susan Egan) to become the coach of their dance team. After some early setbacks, the girls rebel against their Juilliard-trained coach's discipline and old-fashioned ideas. But after the girls sneak off and perform in an intramural competition without their coach's knowledge, the two sides must find middle ground.

Fun Facts:

Based on a true story

Next Movie: A Ring of Endless Light

Get a Clue (June 28th, 2002)

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Directed by Maggie Greenwald (Pete & Pete, Backyardigans, Madame Secretary)

Written by Alana Sanko (Dragon Tales, Just for Kicks)

Starring: 

Lindsay Lohan as Alexandra "Lexy" Gold (Parent Trap, Mean Girls, Freaky Friday, Herbie Fully Loaded, Music Videos)

Brenda Song as Jenn (Ultimate Christmas Present, Stuck in the Suburbs, Phil of the Future, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, Suite Life, Station 19)

Bug Hall as Jack Downey (Little Rascals, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, Criminal Minds)

Ian Gomez as Nicholas Petrossian / Mr. Orlando Walker (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Felicity, Drew Carey, Cougar Town, Supergirl, The Morning Show, Physical)

Ali Mukaddam as Gabe (Angela Anaconda, Redwall, Anne of Green Gables animated, Rolie Polie Olie, Franklin, Radio Free Roscoe, Miss Sloane, Spun Out)

Dan Lett as Frank Gold (Babar, X Men Apocalypse, Molly’s Game, 

Amanda Plummer as Miss Gertrude Dawson (LA Law, The Fisher King, Pulp Fiction, Hercules, Phineas & Ferb, Ratched)

Charles Shaughnessy as Detective Charles Meany / Falco Grandville (Mom’s on a Date with a Vampire, The Nanny, Mad Men, Days of Our Lives)

Kim Roberts as Mrs. Stern (Cheetah Girls, Jump In, Degrassi: The Next Gen, Z-O-M-B-I-E-S, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Paw Patrol) 

Eric Fink as Mr. Goldblum (character actor)

Jennifer Pisana as Taylor Gold (Flash Forward, stopped in 2007)

Keenan MacWilliam as Karen (The Saddle Club, stopped in 2008)

Synopsis: Lexy is a spoilt rich kid who loves to get the best stories for her school's gossip column, but a pic she publishes of her teachers triggers a strange course of events, and one of the teachers goes missing. With her friend Jack, she decides to investigate, and finds herself caught in a web of intrigue. It's an explosive parcel of action and adventure.

Fun Facts:

This is the last film that Lindsay Lohan stars in under her original Disney contract that required her to do three movies, the other two being The Parent Trap and Life-Size.

At the beginning of the movie when Lexy and Jen are showing each other their outfit choices, the song playing was later used in Hannah Montana as being the song that Mikayla (Selena Gomez) sings.

A song by the band Prozzak, "Get a Clue," appeared in the film and the music video was shown on Disney Channel at the time of its release. The name of the band was changed to Simon and Milo, named after the characters depicted in the music video, so their band name would not be associated with the drugs.

A well-concealed reshoot took place in late 2001 to film a different ending concluding that the villain in the film was Meany. In the original ending, the villain turned out to be Mrs. Stern, a teacher at Lexy's school who had known Mr. Walker while he was living in Arizona.

Next Movie: Gotta Kick It Up!

Al & Val grapple with some deeper themes and ideas in Shia LeBouf's Tru Confessions

Tru Confessions (April 5th, 2002)

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Directed by Paul Hoen (Luck of the Irish, You Wish!, Eddie’s Million Dollar Cookoff, Jump In, Cheetah Girls, Dadnapped, Camp Rock 2, How to Build a Better Boy, ZOMBIES 1-3)

Written by Janet Tashjian (only credit - wrote novel) & Stu Krieger (also wrote Zenon & all Zequals, Smart House, Phantom of the Megaplex, Poof Point, Gotta Kick it Up, Going to the Mat, Cow Belles - AND wrote The Land Before Time)

Starring: 

Clara Bryant as Trudy Elizabeth "Tru" Walker (Under Wraps, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Shia LaBeouf as Eddie Walker (Hounded, Even Stevens, Lawless, Transformers, Fury)

Mare Winningham as Ginny Walker (St. Elmo’s Fire, Turner & Hooch, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, American Horror Story, The Affair, The Outsider, Dopesick)

William Francis McGuire as Dr. Bob Walker (character actor)

Nicole Dicker as Denise Palumbo (nothing past 2009)

Kevin Duhaney as Jake (Angela Anaconda, Total Drama, 

Yani Gellman as Billy Meyer (Lizzie McGuire Movie, Young & the Restless, Pretty Little Liars)

Craig Eldridge as Mr. Taylor (Queer as Folk, Covert Affairs, Murdoch Mysteries)

Jennifer Foster as Judy "Deedee" Walker (Murdoch Mysteries, Schitt’s Creek)

Rahnuma Panthaky as Ms. Hinchey (Modern Family, Murdoch Mysteries)

Colm Magner as Coach Rice

Arnold Pinnock as Dr. Dean Cutler

Synopsis: When a local TV station launches a filmmaking contest, teenager Tru Walker (Clara Bryant) enters in a heartbeat. Her life seems full of drama to document -- including a surgeon father who's never there and a mother, Ginny (Mare Winningham), who seems as if she isn't there even when she is. In the end, Tru chooses to make a film about her mentally impaired twin brother, Eddie (Shia LaBeouf). But as airtime nears, Tru fears how others will react to her rather personal story.

CORRECTION: In the episode it was said a few times that Mare Winningham won an Oscar, when she was actually just nominated. We apologize for the error.

Next Movie: Get a Clue

Al & Val go to military school with Hillary Duff, Christy Carlson Romano, and the unparalleled GARY COLE in this week's episode. Will they be able to take the drill team to the championship?!

Everytown for Gun Safety

Cadet Kelly (March 8th, 2002)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Larry Shaw (1 ep of Lizzie McGuire & 50 of Desperate Housewives)

Written by Gail Parent (Carol Burnett Show, Golden Girls, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen) and Michael Walsh (Doc on Placido Domingo, Joseph & Technicolor Coat Vid, & Cadet Kelly)

Starring: 

Hilary Duff as Kelly Joselyn Collins (Lizzie McGuire, Younger, How I Met Your Father)

Christy Carlson Romano as Cadet Captain Jennifer Oriana "Jenny" Stone (Even Stevens, Kim Possible, Kingdom Hearts (voice), Final Fantasy (voice), Big Hero 6 show)

Gary Cole as General Joe "Sir" Maxwell (Office Space, Dodgeball, West Wing, Kim Possible, Desperate Housewives, Entourage, The Good Wife, Veep, Chicago Fire, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, NCIS)

Andrea Lewis as Carla (Degrassi: The Next Gen) 

Shawn Ashmore as Cadet Major Brad Rigby (Animorphs, X Mens, The Following, The Rookie) 

Aimee Garcia as Gloria Ramos (All About the Andersons, George Lopez Show, Dexter, MODOK, Lucifer, 

Sarah Gadon as Amanda (The Other Me, Phantom of the Megaplex, Murdoch Mysteries, Amazing Spiderman 2, 11/22/63, Alias Grace, True Detective)

Linda Kash as Samantha (SC Toronto! Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, Cinderella Man, Angela Anaconda (v), Fargo) 

Nigel Hamer as Adam Collins (Murdoch Mysteries)

Synopsis: At the behest of her new stepfather, Joe (Gary Cole), a straight-laced ex-military man hellbent on teaching her discipline, easy-going teenager Kelly Collins (Hilary Duff) enrolls in the George Washington Military School. Kelly struggles to adjust to the demands of her new environment while facing the abuse of her commanding officer, Jennifer Stone (Christy Carlson Romano). Kelly almost drops out -- until she falls for a hunky classmate (Shawn Ashmore) and decides to join the drill team.

Fun Fact: This was the first movie to simulcast on ABC & CBC as well as Disney Channel

Next Movie: Tru Confessions

Double Teamed (January 18th, 2002)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Duwayne Dunham (Little Giants, Halloweentown, The Thirteenth Year, Ready to Run, Right on Track, Tiger Cruise, Now You See It, Clone Wars + Edited Return of the Jedi)

Written by Douglas Penn & John Wierick (Ready to Run, Step by Step)

Starring: 

Poppi Monroe as Heather Burge (Tiger Cruise, nothing past 2006)

Annie McElwain as Heidi Burge (also stopped in 2006)

Teal Redmann as Nicky Williams (Gilmore Girls, CSI)

Nick Searcy as Larry Burge (Fried Green Tomatoes, Justified, 11.22.63, The Shape of Water)

Tanya Goott as Madison Stricklin

Joey Miyashima as Wendall Yoshida (HSMs)

Mackenzie Phillips as Mary Burge (So Weird, both One Day at a Time, Orange is the new Black)

Chris Olivero as Galen Alderman (Kyle XY)

Synopsis: In this fact-based film, twins Heidi (Annie McElwain) and Heather Burge (Poppi Monroe) take an unusual route to becoming WNBA stars. As teens, the girls enroll in a large high school in hopes of being noticed by college talent scouts. Before long, the school's basketball coach enlists the Burge sisters to play for his team. They begin to shine on the court, but before they succeed, they must learn to accept one another's differences and deal with their overbearing dad (Nick Searcy).

Next Movie: Cadet Kelly

Twas the night before Christmas and the gals had to endure
The worst holiday flick Disney Channel ever made, for sure

Twas the Night (December 7th, 2001)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Nick Castle (Wrote Hook & August Rush, Directed Major Payne)

Written by Jim Lincoln (Honey I Shrunk the Kids & Weird Science TV Shows), Dan Studney (Genius, Honey I Shrunk the Kids & Weird Science TV Shows), Jenny Trip (basically nothing else)

Starring: 

Josh Zuckerman as Danny Wrigley (Kyle XY, Desparate Housewives)

Brenda Grate as Kaitlin Wrigley (stopped acting in 2010)

Bryan Cranston as Nick Wrigley (Malcom in the Middle, Breaking Bad)

Jefferson Mappin as Santa Claus (character actor)

Rhys Williams as Peter Wrigley (only credit)

Barclay Hope as John Wrigley (The Killing, UnREAL, Riverdale)

Torri Higginson as Abby Wrigley (Stargate Atlantis, Dark Matter, Transplant)

Jeff Geddis as Bill

Sandy Robson as Harry (Virgin River)

Jung-Yul Kim as Eliot

Synopsis: A 14-year-old boy (Josh Zuckerman) and his uncle (Bryan Cranston) jeopardize Christmas when they take Santa's sleigh for a joy ride.

Next Movie: Double Teamed

Al & Val are joined by Al's (former) roommate, Ryan to discuss the second installment in the Halloweentown Cinematic Universe and to theorize about if Calabar and Kalabar are the same warlock

Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge (October 12th, 2001)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Mary Lambert (a lot of music videos & horror movies)

Written by Jon Cooksey & Ali Marie Matheson (Rugrats)

Starring: 

Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie Piper (Halloweentown, Quints, a lot of soaps)

Debbie Reynolds as Agatha "Aggie" Cromwell (Singing in the Rain, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, The Debbie Reynolds Show, Rugrats, Will & Grace)

Judith Hoag as Gwen Piper (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Armageddon, Big Love, Nashville, The Magicians)

Joey Zimmerman as Dylan Piper (mostly stopped acting)

Emily Roeske as Sophie Piper (doesn’t act)

Phillip Van Dyke as Luke (voice on Hey Arnold - stopped acting in 2003)

Robin Thomas as Kalabar (Who’s the Boss, Matlock, Crazy Ex Girlfriend)

Daniel Kountz as Kal

Peter Wingfield as Alex

Blu Mankuma as Gort (mostly a voice actor

Richard Side as Benny (improviser)

Jessica Lucas as Cindy (Melrose Place, Gracepoint, Gotham, The Resident)

Synopsis: An angry warlock has stolen a magic spell book and plans to turn everyone into whatever costume they're wearing at midnight on Halloween. It's a race against time to get the book back and save the humans from permanent horror.

Next Movie: ‘Twas the Night

Can Al and Val get through this movie before they poof out of existence? Only Tahj Mowry knows!

The Poof Point (September 14th, 2001)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Neal Israel (Hounded, Clueless Show, Wrote all the Police Academy movies & two Adventures of Mary Kate & Ashley) 

Written by Ellen Weiss & Mel Friedman (novel) & Stu Krieger (teleplay) (also wrote Zenon & all Zequals, Smart House, Phantom of the Megaplex, Tru Confessions, Gotta Kick it Up, Going to the Mat, Cow Belles - AND wrote The Land Before Time)

Starring: 

Tahj Mowry as Edison Newton "Eddie" Ballard (Hounded,, Kim Possible, Smart Guy, Full House, Baby Daddy)

Raquel Lee as Marie Curie Ballard (The Amanda Show, The Proud Family, Real Husbands of Hollywood, 

Mark Curry as Norton Ballard (Motocrossed, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper)

Dawnn Lewis as Marigold Ballard (Live - A Different World, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Dreamgirls, iZombie, Veronica Mars)(Voice - Spiderman, World of Warcraft, Futurama, Doc McStuffins, The Simpsons)

Jan Felt as Corky (Book of Mormon videos)

Haley McCormick as Lizzie (Everwood)

Bruce Newbold as Chick (Book of Mormon videos)

Olesya Rulin as Annie (Hounded, HSM 1-3, Greek, NCIS LA)

Synopsis: Two inventors enlist the help of their children (Tahj Mowry, Raquel Lee) after a bad experiment makes them younger and younger.

Next Movie: Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge

Val & Al are joined by very special guest, Kerry Frances, for a very special episode. The gals dive in to Disney Channel's Jumping Ship and what the Lawrence brothers are like in real life!

Jumping Ship (August 17th, 2001)

IMDB Wikipedia

Directed by Michael Lange (X-Files, Buffy, 90210, Dawson’s Creek, The OC, Greek, Criminal Minds, Switched at Birth, Bones, 

Written by Chad Hayes & Carey W. Hayes (Horse Sense, The Conjuring)

Starring: 

Joey Lawrence as Michael Woods (Blossom, Brotherly Love, Melissa & Joey, Hawaii 5-0)

Matthew Lawrence as Jake Hunter (Mrs. Doubtfire, Brotherly Love, Boy Meets World

Andrew Lawrence as Tommy Biggs (The Other Me, Brotherly Love, Recess, Hawaii 5-0)

Anthony Wong as Frakes (Home & Away)

Jaime Passier-Armstrong as Jonas (Shortland Street)

Martin Dingle-Wall as Dante (Home & Away)

Susan Walters as Jules Biggs (Melrose Place, Point Pleasant, Vampire Diaries, The Young & the Restless)

Stephen Burleigh as Glen Woods (JS was one of his last gigs)

Synopsis: Michael has big plans to show his cousin Tommy a good time aboard a luxury yacht until he discovers that the yacht he's chartered is actually an old rusted fishing boat. But when modern-day pirates chase the fishing boat, the boys are forced to jump ship, leaving them stranded on a desert island with the boat's captain, Jake Hunter.

Next Movie: The Poof Point