I’ve struggled to catch Saturday Night Live’s 40th season because I’m either out and about or asleep on the couch (usually the latter). But there’s a variety show that’s made for me—particularly due to its time slot and content—and it’s also celebrating an anniversary this year. The Mickey Mouse Club is turning 60.
Walt Disney intended his first foray into television, the Disneyland anthology series, to help fund and market his new theme park. Disneyland’s Davy Crockett miniseries (ABC, 1954–1955) enjoyed such popularity that millions of official coonskin caps sold in the first few months. On the heels of this success Disney developed The Mickey Mouse Club (ABC, 1955–1959), and those Mouse ears gave the coonskin caps a run for their money. Young audiences regarded the talented, magnetic, wholesome child stars as something between old friends and heroes. And as the Mouseketeers’ chipper performances alternated with newsreels, serials, and cartoons, the hour melted away.
The New Mickey Mouse Club (CBS, 1977) reincarnated the program for children of the original show’s viewers. The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (Disney Channel, 1989–1995) modernized the concept, incorporating SNL-style sketch comedy and performances of popular (read: less cheesy) songs. I memorized and dutifully recited the roll call from the opening credits. And when Mouseketeers Albert Fields, Tiffini Hale, Chase Hampton, Deedee Magno, and Damon Pampolina formed a band, I played The Party’s tape with my boombox speakers facing an open window so the whole neighborhood would learn about good music. (MMC also helped launch the careers of Annette Funicello, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, and Ryan Gosling.)
Variety and sketch comedy shows’ lineage goes way back. George Burns and Gracie Allen perfected the vaudeville and radio formats before producing their eponymous comedy television series (CBS, 1950–1958). Burns, delightfully self-aware, continually broke the fourth wall to comment on the program as himself. SNL (NBC, 1975–present) honors this device when actors break character during the cold open to announce, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” and when hosts deliver opening monologues to the audience from downstage.
SNL, The Carol Burnett Show (CBS, 1967–1978), Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (NBC, 1968–1973), Monty Python’s Flying Circus (BBC, 1969–1974), and The Kids in the Hall (CBC, 1988–1994) are worthy of their own histories. But The Mickey Mouse Club is groundbreaking for its magical ability to offer entertainment delivered by children, for children. It set the stage for youth-centric shows like You Can’t Do That on Television (CTV/Nickelodeon, 1979–1990), Roundhouse (Nickelodeon, 1992–1996), All That (Nickelodeon, 1994–2005), So Random! (Disney Channel, 2011–2012), and Incredible Crew (Cartoon Network, 2013). I guffawed at my desk while “researching” Incredible Crew for this post—too bad the network won’t keep it around for 40 or even four seasons. Because when a well-made series transcends generations, it becomes uniquely embedded in our cultural fabric. I’m all ears for the next hit.
This post is Part Eight in Lauren Sodano’s Screen-Play series.