Disney Channel's Even Stevens was one of the most popular series airing in the early 2000s. Despite a loyal fan following, Even Stevens only lasted three seasons. Here's why a controversial rule brought the family comedy to an end.
Even Stevens followed the suburban Sacramento-based Stevens family - more specifically, the overachiever Ren (Christy Carlson Romano) and her troublemaker younger brother, Louis (Shia LaBeouf). The series, created by Matt Dearborn, was a must-watch for the 2000s era of TV. The personalities of Ren and Louis were complete opposites, making for a lot of sibling clashes. Even with the hijinks that Louis played on his sister, and entire family, the Stevens household was still presented as a loving unit. The series also featured a number of fan-favorite characters such as Alan (A.J. Trauth), Tawny (Margo Harshman), and of course, Beans (Steven Anthony Lawrence).
The Disney Channel comedy made its debut in June 2000. The series aired 65 episodes before coming to an end three years later. Rather than conclude the show with a typical episode, an Even Stevens movie served as the series finale. The Even Stevens Movie aired in June 2003 and drew in record-breaking viewership numbers. Over five million viewers watched as the Stevens family won an all-expenses-paid trip to an island, only to find out they were unknowingly on a reality show. The feature-length installment was the last hurrah for fans of the Stevens family and it was all because of Disney Channel's arbitrary 65-episode max limit rule.
Disney Channel's 65-Episode Rule Explained
Even Stevens was still a mega-hit when it came to an end in 2003 so viewership was not to blame for its cancellation. The series fell victim to Disney Channel's 65-episode limit. The rule was put in place for all of Disney's TV shows and went on to affect beloved series from the late '90s and early '00s. The rule essentially limited original programming to about two or three seasons, which was not nearly enough in the eyes of viewers. The programming schedule may have been the reasoning behind the rule but by the time the public started to catch on to the pattern, the network started to move away from the limit. After shows like Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire were cancelled due to the rule, That's So Raven and Kim Possible managed to beat it with season 4 renewals.
For those still not over the Even Stevens cancellation, the series and the film are now available on Disney+. The title is among dozens of Disney Channel Original programming which should greatly excite subscribers looking for nostalgia. Some have wondered whether Even Stevens will be targeted for a reboot on the streaming service, considering Lizzie McGuire is getting the revival treatment. At this point, it doesn't seem likely, especially with LaBeouf's busy career. That said, never say never when it comes to the power within the House of Mouse.