Bug Juice Explained

Creator:Douglas Ross
J. Rupert Thompson
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:3
Num Episodes:60
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes
Executive Producer:Douglas Ross
Greg Stewart
J. Rupert Thompson
Producer:Laura Z. Thompson
Runtime:22 minutes
Company:Evolution Film & Tape
Network:Disney Channel

Bug Juice is a Disney Channel reality television series that premiered on February 28, 1998. The series focuses around 20 kids and their experiences at summer camp. Together, the kids work hard to excel in their activities and become friends.[1] The phrase bug juice is a camping slang term for a very sweet juice drink made from powdered mixes, such as Kool-Aid, which are often served at summer camps.[2]

On August 4, 2017, Disney Channel announced a revival series based on the original, titled , which premiered on July 16, 2018.

Overview

Season 1

The first season takes place in Waterford, Maine, at Camp Waziyatah,[3] which has been in operation since 1922. The camp is broken down into two sessions. Each session is four weeks.[4] [5] Season 1 premiered on February 28, 1998.[6]

Season 2

Season 2 takes place in Horse Shoe, North Carolina, at Camp Highlander.[7] [8] The camp is broken down into three sessions. It premiered on March 5, 2000.

Male counselors for Cabin 28 are Andrew Cohen and Andrew Foti. Female counselors for Cabin 6 are Amanda Peryln, Nikki K, Tiffany Lydon, and Ali Baske.

Female campers in Session A include Libby, Maryanne, Sarah, Jenny, Alex, Simana, Annette, Nikki, Samantha, and Michaela. In Session B, Annette and Samantha are joined by Hilary, Michelle, Kelly, Kim, Jennifer, Michelle, Baylor, and Jessica. In Session C, Kim, Jennifer, Baylor, and Jessica are joined by Jess, Gaby, Dalit, Danielle, Alanna, and Jasmyne.

Male campers in Session A include Steven, Kevin, Sam, Alvan, Jared, Austin, Ricky, Brendan, Alex, Chasen. In Session B, Steven, Alvan, Ricky, and Chasen are joined by Josh, Stefan, Hunter, Farb, Tyler, and Conor. In Session C, Steven, Ricky, Josh, Hunter, and Farb are joined by Michael, Marcellus, Brandon, Brendan, and Kevin.

Season 3

Season three takes place in Tererro, New Mexico, at Brush Ranch Camp.[9] [10] The camp is broken down into two four-week sessions.[11] The season began airing on June 3, 2001.

Male campers in Rustlers include JJ (aka Shade), Lee, Alex Hurlbutt, Brendon, Josh, Bryan, Todd, Houston, Alex J., and Jordan in Session 1. Session 2 includes Jake, Aaron, Brendon, Sam, Bryan, Terrance, Will, Mike, Josh, and Carl.

Female campers in Indian Creek include Eve La Fountain, Jen, Hallie, Reid, Kelly, Amanda Bustamante, Ali C., Kristen, Megan, and Ali B. in Session 1. Session 2 includes Alana, Carrie, Hallie, Alex, Kelly, Amanda Bustamante, Leela, Sarah, Megan, Ellie, and Kiersten.

Development and production

The series' co-creator Douglas Ross thought that summer camp would be the "perfect setting for a reality-based program geared for 9 to 12-year-olds."[12] Ross, a former camper himself, pitched the idea to the Disney Channel and the then head of programming and production Rich Ross. He was given the green light to create the series without a pilot episode. The location, Camp Waziyatah, was decided a few months before the 1997 camp season started. The producers conducted about 100 phone interviews and 60 home visits before selecting 27 campers. Four camp counselors were chosen from both the camp's existing group and 350 members of the public in response to an open call on the Internet. The first season was filmed for 56 days straight by three film crews.[12] [13] The boys' and girls' cabins had all male and all female crews, led by directors Donald Bull and Laura Zucco respectively.[14] [15] Over 1,000 hours was shot by two directors, two cameras, and two sound operators.[16]

On July 15, 1999, Disney ordered a second season;[17] it premiered on March 5, 2000.[18] In June 2000, production began on a third season which was announced on July 12;[19] it began airing on June 3, 2001.[20]

Episodes

Season 1 (1998)

  1. "Camp Waziyatah" (February 28, 1998)
  2. "Getting to Know You" (February 28, 1998)
  3. "To Clique... Or Not to Clique" (March 8, 1998)
  4. "Adventure Bound: Bushwacked" (March 15, 1998)
  5. "Molecules Colliding" (March 22, 1998)
  6. "Boys-to-Men Talent Show" (March 29, 1998)
  7. "Face the Fire: Unity Campfire" (May 3, 1998)
  8. "Aftershocks" (May 3, 1998)
  9. "No Pain, No Gain" (May 3, 1998)
  10. "Nice Guys Finish First" (May 3, 1998)
  11. "Goodbye, Session One" (May 10, 1998)
  12. "Ch, Ch, Changes" (May 31, 1998)
  13. "Turn, Turn, Turn" (June 7, 1998)
  14. "When the Boys Go Away, Girls Will Play" (June 14, 1998)
  15. "We Shall Overcome" (June 21, 1998)
  16. "Tough Love" (June 28, 1998)
  17. "Flirting with Disaster: Co-Ed Canoe Trip" (June 28, 1998)
  18. "So Long, Farewell" (June 28, 1998)
  19. "Goodbye Wazi"
  20. "Waziyatah Scrapbook"

Season 3 (2001)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date

Broadcast

The show premiered on Disney Channel in 1998, and ran for three seasons ending in 2001.[21] Bug Juice was subsequently pulled from the schedule and was not aired again until the summer of 2004, during which episodes from the first season ran nightly in chronological order. The last episode of Bug Juice aired August 20, 2004, and it has not been shown since.

During the summer of 2006, Disney began posting mini episodes on its website, encouraging viewers of the Disney Channel to log on and view 5-minute short clips from episodes of the first season.

Bug Juice was also broadcast in the UK on Channel 4's The Bigger Breakfast.

Revival

See main article: Bug Juice: My Adventures at Camp. On August 4, 2017, Disney Channel announced that they would revive the series. The first season of the revival will take place at Camp Waziyatah, the same location of the first season of the original series.[22] The new series, given the title , premiered on July 16, 2018.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Dawson . Diana . 'Bug Juice' looks at camp life . January 3, 2024 . . March 1, 1998 . 7 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: Rosenburg. Howard. Disney documentary series looks in on teens at camp. March 1, 2018. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 38. March 7, 1998. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: 'Bug Juice' takes up-close look at summer camp . January 2, 2024 . . March 8, 1998 . F6 . Newspapers.com.
  4. Goodbye, Session One. Bug Juice. Disney Channel. 1. 11. The way the summer works, it's broken up into two four-week sessions. Some kids can go to both sessions, stay out eight weeks, some kids just come for the first half..
  5. Web site: Dates & Rates. Camp Waziyatah. March 27, 2017.
  6. News: Disney reveals camp experience. Springfield News-Leader. February 28, 1998. 14B. Newspapers.com. January 16, 2017.
  7. News: Children's Highlights. June 28, 2016. The Free Lance-Star. March 5, 2000.
  8. News: Cabral . Elena . Hollywood student bitten by acting Bug . January 2, 2024 . . April 8, 2000 . 3B . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Chavez . Barbara . Disney Works Magic at N.M. Camp . January 2, 2024 . . June 10, 2001 . A1, A8 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Spreier . Jeanne . Campy humor of teen series works just fine . January 2, 2024 . . July 7, 2001 . 4D . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: Tulsa teen to appear on Disney reality show . January 3, 2024 . . June 1, 2001 . D3.
  12. News: Ellin. Harlene. Disney Drops In On Camp For Teens. March 3, 2015. Chicago Tribune. March 1, 1998.
  13. News: Davis . Pamela . You may crave s'more . January 2, 2024 . . March 23, 1998 . 3D . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: Graeber. Laurel. Tomorrowland Was Never Like This. March 3, 2015. The New York Times. March 1, 1998.
  15. News: Mason. M.S.. 'Bug Juice' Gives Taste of Summer Camp. June 28, 2016. The Christian Science Monitor. February 27, 1998.
  16. News: 'Bug Juice' real world of kids in summer camp . April 8, 2024 . Great Falls Tribune . March 23, 1998 . 11.
  17. News: Back by Popular Demand; Disney Channel Orders Second Seasons of Reality Series "Bug Juice" and "Z Games"; Also Goes to the Big Top with New Reality Series "Circus Kids". March 3, 2015. Business Wire. July 16, 1999. April 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092907/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Back+by+Popular+Demand%3B+Disney+Channel+Orders+Second+Seasons+of...-a055176988. dead.
  18. News: Liebenson. Donald. Wednesday Is a Great Day to Start Hamming It Up. September 13, 2016. Chicago Tribune. February 27, 2000.
  19. News: Disney Channel Brews Up a Third Season of "Bug Juice". March 3, 2015. Business Wire. July 12, 2000. April 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115636/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Disney+Channel+Brews+Up+a+Third+Season+of+%60%60Bug+Juice%27%27.-a063329074. dead.
  20. News: Reality TV show spotlights N.M. summer camp for kids. February 17, 2019. Amarillo Globe-News. Associated Press. June 11, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816032650/http://amarillo.com/stories/2001/06/11/new_eastamarillo.shtml. August 16, 2016.
  21. News: Wagmeister . Elizabeth . Disney Channel Reviving ’90s Camp Series ‘Bug Juice’ . 21 June 2024 . Variety . August 4, 2017.
  22. Web site: Disney Channel Goes Back To Camp With New 'Bug Juice'. August 4, 2017. Evans. Greg. Deadline Hollywood. August 4, 2017.
  23. Web site: Raven's Home, Tangled, BUNK'D, Big Hero 6 The Series: Disney Reveals Summer Programming . TV Series Finale . Pena . Jessica . April 24, 2018 . May 9, 2018.