Exclusive Interview and Set Visit of Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie
Through the wonderful “magic” of television, we have the ability to enter into the lives of actors and actresses every day.
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Our favorite shows introduce us to characters and storylines that transport us from our own. For me, getting behind the scenes on these shows is truly an incredible experience.
Recently we visited the set of Disney Channel’s Liv and Maddie to watch a bit of rehearsal and talk to the cast.
These 5 cast members of Liv and Maddie made up one of the most believable TV families I have ever met.
Liv and Maddie
Let me explain. From the beginning of our time together to the end, Dove Cameron (Liv/Maddie), Joey Bragg (Joey), Kali Rocha (Karen), Benjamin King (Pete), and Tenzing Norgay Trainor (Parker), were full of energy.
Not only were they excited to talk to us that day, but they genuinely enjoyed being in each other’s company. And one thing I noticed right away was their ability to finish each other’s sentences.
As one would start a story, another would jump in and elaborate. Still, another would chime in and finish. They have such an incredible bond and work so well together. It’s no wonder Liv and Maddie is such a success.
Although, they did tell a story about a time that didn’t exactly go so well. As they began filming season 3, there was an accident involving Dove.
Considering she plays the two main characters, production was pretty much halted as she healed.
Once she was able to come back to work, they worked diligently to catch up, finishing 4 episodes in 2 or 3 weeks. How? Because they work so well together and run like a well-oiled machine.
Kali: We all are amazing.
Benjamin: We are the new thing.
Kali: It’s flawless.
Even Dove, as she transitions from Liv to Maddie and back again, has the system down. She knows exactly which character is which and plays them almost flawlessly… much to the amazement of her fellow cast members.
Not to mention, they know exactly how long she needs for hair and make-up for each character, so they find other things to do/film while they wait.
Fun fact: The original pilot series did not feature twins. It wasn’t until later that they decided Liv and Maddie would be twins… both played by Dove Cameron.
Although Dove may not mix up the characters, her cast members have been known to get a bit confused by who is who.
Benjamin was the first to admit that he can’t make it through a scene without calling them by the wrong name.
Kali and Joey told us how crazy it was to see Dove talking back and forth to herself the first time.
Me, sitting there listening and watching the 5 of them talk, I was blown away by how much like a “real family” they truly are.
“I can’t even think of a favorite moment because there’s so many. And while that’s actually true because we really like each other and we function like a real family. Like, I’ll come to Kali and Ben for parenting advice and we fight all the time.”
— Dove Cameron
Perhaps Joey put it best when he described his time on the set as a “safety zone” and that when he comes back to it he feels like he is at home base. Just has a real sense of security.
It sounds like an amazing place to go to work each day. You really can’t get better than working with a bunch of people that make you feel that way inside.
Who plays Liv and Maddie?
For those who don’t know, Liv and Maddie is a show about identical twin sisters who are total opposites.
Liv is a Hollywood star who has just returned home to Wisconsin, while Maddie is a down-to-earth athlete.
The show follows their lives as they adjust to living under the same roof again and dealing with the everyday struggles of being a teenager.
Dove Cameron plays both Liv and Maddie.
Who is the real twin in Liv and Maddie?
Dove Cameron says that she and her on-screen twin sister, Liv, are actually quite alike.
“Liv is a lot like me. She loves fashion, she loves being in the spotlight, she loves being surrounded by people,” says Cameron. “Maddie is a lot more like my twin brother, Luke. She’s very down-to-earth, she loves sports, and she’s a bit of a tomboy.”
Cameron says that it was actually quite easy for her to play two completely different characters. “I’ve always had two very different sides to my personality,” she says. “It was easy for me to tap into my more outgoing side to play Liv, and to tone it down a bit to play Maddie.”
So, there you have it! Dove Cameron is the real twin in Liv and Maddie.
Who plays Parker on Liv and Maddie?
Parker Rooney is the youngest brother of Liv and Maddie Rooney and is played by Tenzing Norgay Trainor. Parker is known for his annoying — yet lovable — personality.
How old are the cast members of Liv and Maddie?
Dove Cameron was born in Seattle, Washington on January 15, 1996. She began her acting career in local theatre productions before being cast as a main character in the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie.
Joey Bragg was born in San Francisco, California on July 20, 1996. He is best known for his role as Joey Rooney on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie.
Tenzing Norgay Trainor was born in New York City, New York on August 22, 2001. He is best known for his role as Parker Rooney on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie.
Kali Rocha was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on December 5, 1971. She is best known for her role as Karen Rooney on the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie.
Benjamin King was born in Los Angeles, California on November 8, 1971. He played Pete Rooney, the father and school basketball coach on Liv and Maddie.
Is Liv and Maddie on Netflix or Disney Plus?
Although Liv and Maddie is technically a Disney Channel show, it is not currently available on either Disney+ or Netflix. However, all four seasons are available for purchase on Amazon Video.
So, why isn’t Liv and Maddie available on Disney’s new streaming service or on Netflix, one of the most popular streaming services?
According to Disney, “Liv and Maddie is a special case because the series was produced by Warner Horizon Television, not Disney Television Studios.”
This means that Warner Horizon Television owns the distribution rights to Liv and Maddie, not Disney. And since Warner Horizon Television is not owned by Disney, it is not part of the Disney+ library.
The same is true for Netflix. Although Netflix has the streaming rights to many Disney Channel shows, like Andi Mack and Raven’s Home, it does not have the rights to Liv and Maddie because Warner Horizon Television owns those rights.
So, if you want to watch Liv and Maddie, you’ll have to purchase it on Amazon Video or another platform that offers it for sale.
You can also find Liv and Maddie reruns on the Disney Channel app and website, but only if you have a cable or satellite TV subscription.
Why did Disney cancel Liv and Maddie?
When asked why Disney Channel chose to cancel Liv and Maddie after four seasons, a Disney spokesperson said, “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the extraordinarily talented Dove Cameron, Joey Bragg, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Asian American Comedian Show, and the rest of the cast and crew for four seasons of Liv and Maddie. While the decision to cancel the series was difficult, we feel it is best to end the series while it is still beloved and place our focus on other projects.”
Liv and Maddie was a popular show on the Disney Channel, but it was ultimately canceled due to creative differences. The show followed two identical twins, Liv and Maddie Rooney, who were estranged for several years.
When Liv came back to their small town to pursue her acting career, the two reconnected and had to learn how to live together again.
While the show was popular with viewers, the cast and crew were often at odds with each other.
One of the main reasons for the cancellation was the fact that Dove Cameron, who played both Liv and Maddie, was often late to set or failed to show up at all. This caused major problems with filming and resulted in costly delays.
Another reason for the show’s cancellation was the ongoing feud between Joey Bragg and Tenzing Norgay Trainor.
The two actors, who played Liv’s boyfriends on the show, consistently argued with each other both on and off set. Their feud eventually became physical, which led to Disney deciding to cancel the show.
Overall, there were many factors that contributed to the cancellation of Liv and Maddie. While the show was popular with viewers, it was ultimately canceled due to creative differences and cast conflict.
What is the girl from Liv and Maddie doing now?
Since starring in Liv and Maddie, Dove Cameron has gone on to have a successful career in both acting and singing.
She has starred in a number of Disney Channel original movies and series, including Descendants and its sequel Descendants 2.
She has also released several albums, both solo and with her band DC3, and has toured the world with her music.
In addition to her work with Disney, Cameron has also starred in a number of other films and television shows, including the live-action adaptation of Disney’s classic animated film, Pete’s Dragon.
She has also lent her voice to a number of animated projects, including the popular Disney Junior series Sofia the First.
Dove Cameron is currently working on a number of new projects, both in music and film, and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.