The Truth About Kids Incorporated

Kids Incorporated was a Disney Channel TV show (after syndication) that spanned from 1984 to 1994. It was the start of so many artists' careers and the start of so many kids' passions. Kids Incorporated walked so that so many other shows could run. Kids Incorporated was the 80's and 90's Glee, basically (but so much cooler).

After growing up with the show through pre-recorded VHS tapes, I set out on a mission to find information about the show online to compile it all in one video. This is that video.

Video breakdown:
00:00 - 02:19 Topic Intro
02:19 - 06:03 Show Format
09:27 - 11:46 Production
11:46 - 13:25 Mickey Mouse Club Rivalry
13:25 - 19:14 The Main Cast Evolution
19:14 - 20:02 Life Lessons on Kids Inc.
20:02 - 20:53 Kids Inc. on Disney+
21:00 - 23:00 Conclusion & Thank You

A HUGE THANK YOU TO

The actors, the cast, the dancers, the producers, the writers.... everyone involved in this incredible show. Your work has transcended generations, and it will continue to do so.
@fergie @MarioLopez @RahsaanPattersonVEVO

All the Kids Inc resources out there, like:

Fan accounts dedicated to keeping the Kids Inc magic alive:
Note: This account has done an incredible job remastering old performances. You can also follow them on Instagram @KidsIncDOTus


Want more?
Follow me on Instagram @CrayCristy

[CrayCristy]

I'm seeing a couple of new folks joining. Welcome! I made this video over three years ago from my love of Kids Inc and what I knew at the time. Although there's so much I've learned about the show since then, it's one of my favorite videos I've done.

I'm really happy to see people enjoying it, especially those who actually lived through the show. Hope the nostalgia brings some magic to your day 🪄 Thank you so much for watching!

[joeyclemenza]

Big ups to Martika, or Marta Marrero, who played 'Gloria' on the show. She had a huge hit in the 80's with the song Toy Soldier. While widely considered a "one hit wonder, " you couldn't escape this song in the late 80's. She too deserves to be mentioned along side the other success stories of the show.

[reverb]

I was on a business trip in Detroit some years ago. The last night I was there I went for a walk to get some dinner. Came across a free R&B festival in a park and Rahsaan Patterson was performing. He’s such an amazing singer who deserves more success than he’s had.

[kerrischillinger]

Thank you for this! I went to Elementary school with Renee. I met her when I was in the 5th grade and she was in the 4th. She and I had lunch together a few times. I didn’t know she sang until she performed “White Christmas” at our school’s talent show. Then one Sunday morning, I decided to watch this new show, Kids, Inc. I was so surprised when I saw Renee! I had to move and changed schools soon after and never saw Renee again. I have wondered over the years what had happened to her, and I’m so happy to see some updates. The main thing I always remembered about her was how sweet she was. I was considered the geek and had no friends. I had just come out of foster care and was trying to get used to being home with my family and was way too shy and embarrassed about my family life to talk to anyone. I was at the school for less than half the year, and she was the only one who ever ate lunch with me. I would have remembered her fondly, even if she hadn’t become famous.

[barbieca]

Martika was my favorite singer growing up, and to me she just had it all. Gloria was and always will be my fave character. Those first two seasons were gold! Love that someone your age appreciates something that was a huge part of our childhoods.

[LiddlestLady]

i’m so glad you included some of the theme song. it blared in my head as soon saw your video title. haven’t thought abt this show in freakin’ decades!!

I also loved: Hey Dude, Clarissa Explains it All, You Can’t Do That On Television, Fifteen (a show i doubt anybody remembers lol)

[notatechguy]

I honestly think The All-New Mickey Mouse Club pulled from the Kids Incorporated model. I'm the youngest of my parent's kids and one of my older sisters was in choir and watched Kids Incorporated and turned me on to it in 1984. The All New Mickey Mouse Club started in 1989 and was more of a kid's sketch comedy show like Nickelodeon's " All That", which came later. The kids on The Mickey Mouse Club didn't so much as play themselves but performed in comedy sketches and did musical performances of modern songs but they also later formed an actual musical group within the show that would tour and perform in real life. Kids Incorporated on the other hand followed the normal sitcom format of storytelling. But all of the kids on both shows were required to be able to sing, dance, and act.

Both of these shows were iconic and the reason that I later got into the choir and sang in my personal life almost every day. We really do need all of these shows to be on streaming platforms along with shows like PBS's Ghost Writer, Reading Rainbow, Are You Afraid of the Dark, My Brother and Me, and many others.

[Kidsincorporatedfansclub]

Knowing how hard it can be to put a show or post together, your blast to the past piece here was purely enjoyed.
I appreciate how much content and work you did with your scenes.
Thank You for Keeping the Kids Inc Fandom Alive!!!!

[PhillyMikeUSA]

As a person that grew up watching Kids Inc from the very beginning I felt compelled to send a heartfelt thank you to you @CrayCristy. This is one of the best put together music mini docuseries segments I have seen and I'm not say that simply because I loved the show. You were genuine and passionate in your details about the show. Absolutely splendid work. Again thank you. Proud parent and father that still at 50 yrs old will randomly blast Kids Inc tunes.

[julieporter]

Don't forget about Martika. She was probably their first post-Kids Inc success.

[splint]

Kids incorporated did not become a disney channel show till 1986, its started in 1984 on regular tv

[koalasarah]

It wasn't on the Disney channel at first. It was on the regular channels.

[rhyspatterson]

I watched kids inc from the beginning I was just a toddler but I loved it. Had this weird baby man crush on Ryan lambert and then in 87 when he was in monster squad I had to see the movie. My mom drove me two hours to the nearest movie theater that was playing it. We lived in rural Alaska at the time on an army post. We had cable but the post movie theater could really only show a couple movies at a time and monster squad was t one of them. So we drove into Fairbanks I think 2 plus hours just for my to see this movie I was likely to young to see with Ryan lambert. I wanted him to be my big brother lol. It’s weird to remember that far back. Still love that movie and the kids inc theme song always gets me pumped! Thank you!

[Oncearanger]

I was sitting here going “ how does this little girl know about kids Inc.?” But I loved every minute of this video. Thanks for the memories.

[StrikeTheRoot]

as a fan since the 1984 season. I can say, it's great that this show is being discovered by a whole new generation of kids. I've introduced the show to my own kids and they love it. Let's keep Kids Inc alive for generations to come.

[keishg]

I swear growing up I thought I was the only one who loved Kids Inc(I caught the reruns on Disney in the 90s) Loving this content!

[BopBeatles]

Hi Cristy, Just wanted to let you know you did a wonderful job on this! This is the best Kids Inc. documentary on YouTube!!!

[creativewriter]

Wow.. LOVED this video.. I grew up in the 80s and loved the show, but didn't really know the history behind the show. Kudos to your research and your commentary! :)

[racsorhodes]

I was age appropriate when this show was airing, didn't see every episode but I remember liking it a lot. For years I have searched YouTube for a documentary or retrospective on it, and finally I got a hit. You did a great job on it. Really wish they could officially stream shows like "Kids Incorporated" and "You Can't do that on Television" today.

[pershop]

Glee had adults playing teens . When we look at the cast members, we can definitely see the kids in a show called "Kids Inc"