The original Mickey Mouse Club, back in the 1950s produced Annette Funicello who went on to make plenty of popular summertime beach blanket movies. In the 1970s, the Mickey Mouse Club got a little redhead named Molly Ringwald started in show business. Molly went on to have a string of very popular teen coming of age movies in the 1980s. The 1990s version of the Mickey Mouse Club introduced such luminaries as Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell and Britney Spears.
While reporters and casting agents may be marveling at the massive pool of talent provided by the most recent batch of Mouseketeers, I have serious doubts.
Ryan Gosling has done a string of B movies.
Justin Timberlake indelicately bared Janet Jackson’s breast during a Super Bowl half-time show.
Christina Aguilera has had some considerable success in the music industry.
Keri Russell did well in television and is now doing indie films.
Britney Spears, while having been a very popular pop tart, has made a terrible name for herself by baring her privates for paparazzi on far too many occasions and hopping in and out of rehab facilities.
After screening over 100,000 children in North America, the Mickey Mouse Club casting director chose those kids while rejecting the following: Kirsten Dunst, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Ryan Phillippe, Jessica Simpson, Brittany Murphy, Joey Fatone and Donald Faison.
Kirsten Dunst has starred in blockbusters like Interview with a Vampire and Spider Man.
Ben Affleck broke out with an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting and made some serious blockbusters. Now he is also directing.
Matt Damon also broke out with an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting and made some serious blockbusters to include the Bourne trilogy.
Ryan Phillippe successfully went from daytime television to feature films.
Jessica Simpson began as an all-American-looking pop singer but found herself in the shadows of ex-Mouseketeers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Jessica has successfully shown that good girls can win out in the end.
Brittany Murphy has been successful on television, Broadway and the big screen.
Joey Fatone made it big with ‘N Sync, got into some great movies and is now coming into his own on television.
Donald Faison has been very successful in both television and movies.
While people may rave about the casting for the 1990s Mickey Mouse Club, I really have to question how brilliant it really was. It seems to me that the talent rejected far outweighs the talent hired.