‘Even Stevens’ Cast And Crew Spill Surprising Disney Channel On-Set Secrets, And They’re Totally Wild

The show might’ve been scripted—but the drama definitely wasn’t.

Jesse

• Published in Disney
• October 10, 2024

Disney Channel nostalgia hits hard, doesn't it? Growing up, it was the ultimate source of laughter, drama, and all things tween. 

From wacky characters to unforgettable storylines, it seemed like the perfect dreamland for every young star. But behind the curtain, things weren’t always as perfect as they seemed. 

One show in particular that left a lasting mark on our childhoods was Even Stevens. You might remember the goofy antics of Louis Stevens and the ever-sensible Ren, but what you don’t know is that the behind-the-scenes chaos was as wild as the show’s on-screen hijinks.

For years, these secrets were hidden in the magic vault of Disney Channel productions—until now. It’s a far cry from the polished, feel-good episodes we grew up on.

Thanks to Ashley Spencer’s explosive new book titled Disney High:The Untold Story of The Rise and Fall of Disney Channel’s Tween Empire, fans are finally getting the inside scoop. 

The book is packed with confessions from the cast and crew of Disney’s most beloved shows, including Even Stevens.

So, buckle up because things are about to get wild as we dive into ten on-set secrets from the beloved series, which somehow makes it even more unforgettable.

More details below….

1. Shia LaBeouf’s career almost ended at nickelodeon

Believe it or not, Shia LaBeouf's big break could have happened on Hey Arnold! — if he hadn't bombed his audition. At just ten years old, Shia introduced himself by proclaiming he would one day win an Academy Award (spoiler: he wasn’t wrong!). 

While Nickelodeon didn’t bite, casting director Joey Paul Jensen saw something in him. It was her belief in Shia that brought him back into the spotlight when Disney was casting Even Stevens.

2. The show’s name was not always ‘Even Stevens’

The show was originally named Spivey's Kid Brother and later Ren's Brother. It wasn’t until just before the pilot was shot that it became Even Stevens. It’s hard to imagine the show under any other name.

3. Shia was almost replaced

Despite landing the lead role, executives weren’t convinced. Test audiences didn’t warm up to his character, and the powers that be ordered a complete recast. They believed he came across too much like a “depressed loner” rather than the funny, quirky kid they were aiming for.

4. Shia once spiraled into an intense meltdown

After auditioning over 500 more actors, Jensen still had her sights set on Shia, and pushed really hard to get him another chance. However, when Shia was asked to re-audition, the pressure nearly broke him.

At Disney Channel headquarters, he hid between filing cabinets and sobbed, screaming, “What do I have to do to prove myself?” Luckily, he calmed down and nailed the re-audition, landing the role once again.

5. The show’s early episodes were a mess

Even after Shia was re-cast, the show struggled. The tone was off, and the humor didn’t hit right. The first six episodes didn’t capture the right balance of emotional depth and slapstick comedy, leaving creators scrambling to fix the show’s direction.

6. Season 1’s finale snuck in recycled pilot footage

In the Season 1 finale, "A Weak First Week," the flashbacks to Louis's first day at school might have felt a bit… familiar. That’s because the scenes were pulled straight from the original pilot! By recycling old footage, the show cleverly gave us a trip down memory lane.

7. The show underwent a major overhaul

To salvage the show, Disney brought in two former Full House writers, Marc Warren and Dennis Rinsler, to give Even Stevens a total makeover. They revamped the writing, hired new staff, and reshaped the tone, giving the show the mix of family heart and comedic craziness we love.

8. Louis and tawny’s on-screen romance was real

The chemistry between Louis and Tawny? It wasn’t just great acting. In real life, Shia LaBeouf had a genuine crush on Margo, and the writers turned it into a storyline. The two actors even dated for a while off-screen.

9. Hidden adult jokes everywhere

The writers were able to sneak some cheeky humor past Disney’s radar, by naming characters things like Coach Tugnut and Tom Gribalski (“grab-balls-ski”). They pushed the envelope, often laughing at how oblivious the execs were to their wordplay.

10. Shia and Christy Carlson Romano didn’t get along

That sibling rivalry you loved watching between Louis and Ren wasn’t just for the cameras. Shia and Christy Carlson Romano reportedly butted heads off-screen, and the writers made the most of their real-life tension, leaning into their rivalry for the show.

From near-disasters to real-life romances, these behind-the-scenes secrets show that making Even Stevens was just as chaotic, funny, and heartfelt as the show itself — and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jesse