liv and maddie [2013-2017]

Описание: “Every ending is a new beginning.”

(This was gonna be longer but YouTube descriptions apparently have a character limit now.)

Where do I even begin?

This show came into my life exactly when I needed it to. I had been suffering through emotional abuse and one of the things most near and dear to me I lost as a result of it was Disney Channel. As my passion for it was a lot of the target for my abuse, as well as general bullying, and simply because I had very little emotional energy as a result, it became near impossible for me to keep up with the Channel, even though it was such an important part of who I was. Even when I was well into the recovery process and began to try to return to the Channel, my OCD would get the better of me, rarely letting me have even 22 minutes away a day from my studying. In the summer of 2013, my friend and I were planning on watching Teen Beach Movie, and I noticed that there was a show to premiere after it called Liv and Maddie. I figured I’d give it a try; I’d do anything to get back into the Channel again. We watched it and I really enjoyed it, but I had absolutely no idea the ride it would have me in for.

As the show went on, I continued liking it more and more, but fell behind here and there. But I told myself, “No. I’m not letting this happen again. I’m going to allow myself to enjoy something.” I took two binge nights and never fell behind again after that. My love for it continued to grow, until it became one of the most important things in my life. I began to keep up with other shows on the channel, and eventually was keeping up with the majority of them. And in general, I had forgotten what it had felt like to be as happy as this show made me. I had felt like abuse made me lose who I was, but this show helped me find myself again.

But even that big of an impact was far from the only one.

At D23 Expo 2015, I had the honor of meeting the cast. I fell crying into Dove’s arms and had the honor of saying “Bam, what!?” with the entire cast, donning my semi-homemade Maddie costume. I thought I’d peaked then, but it was only the beginning.

A few weeks later, I moved out to California for good to start film school. It occurred to me not long after that I could now actually go to Liv and Maddie live tapings, so, as I saw tickets available for October 16, I got them and went on that day. The cast remembered me and seemed as excited to see me again as I was to see them again. Not only that, but getting to see the set of my favorite show, even walk on some of it, and watch it happen before my very eyes was a dream come true. I thought THAT was my peak, but it was still far from it.

Around that same time, I started to make friends thanks to Dove. One of them came with me to a cast signing that December 8th. I reunited with some cast members, met some I hadn’t before (and crew members as well), and even had the chance to ice skate with them and go on rides with them. That sounds like a peak? Doesn’t it? Still no.

A few weeks later, we were elated to hear that the show had been renewed for a fourth season. This meant more live tapings! We had the honor of attending four that season, and with each passing one, we grew closer to the cast and crew. Even outside of the tapings, we managed to see and hang out with the cast at other events.

In line for these tapings, I met even more friends. At the end of high school, I only had about 4 friends I’d spend time with outside of school. In just the first year of college, I’d made 7, and 5 of them I’d met because of Dove or Liv and Maddie.

That’s the peak. Isn’t it? Not quite.

Though it hasn’t come yet, there may be a day I’ll be able to say Liv and Maddie got me a JOB. That’s right. My passion for the show has helped me network with people in the industry, and I can’t wait to see the rest of the places it takes me.

To anyone and everyone involved with this show, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for creating something so impactful and joyful. Thank you for accepting me as a part of your family. There are few places I feel as welcome as when I am on that set or with anyone from that cast and crew. Thank you for all your kind words, hugs, and generosity every time I’ve made any of your acquaintances. As a writer, thank you for making what is without a doubt one of the greatest and most well-executed properties Disney Channel has ever seen. And as a fan, thank you for taking me on one hell of a ride.

As Liv and Maddie says goodbye, it leaves me, my friends, Disney Channel, and the lives of all who it has touched better than when it entered them. It is a show I know without a doubt will live on for ages, and I can’t wait to see the great things the cast and crew go on to do. Maybe one day, it’ll be something I’m involved in as well.

“It never ends, just hit replay, so we can always feel this way."