June 7, 2002 – The Disney Channel Original Animated Series Kim Possible Premieres
“Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me.”
On June 7, 2002, the Disney Channel Original Animated Series Kim Possible premiered. It was the second animated series branded as a Disney Channel Original Series, and the first to be produced by Walt Disney Television Animation. The first episode, “Crush,” was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, and after its premiere, the show became the most-watched and highest rated television show on Disney Channel. The show ran for five years and three months, with a total of 87 episodes, and won an Emmy during its run. The show was created by Bob Schooley and Mark McCorkle, and stars Christy Carlson Romano as Kim, Will Friedle as Ron, Nancy Cartwright as Rufus, and Tahj Mowry as Wade.
The first episode, “Crush,” introduces Kim Possible and her friend Ron Stoppable, who attend Middleton High School. Ron can’t find his pet naked mole rat, Rufus, and when he finally does, Kim isn’t paying attention, as her crush Josh has appeared in the hallway. She goes up to talk to him, but has a hard time keeping her cool. When she walks with Ron in the hallway, she relays to him her dilemma. Ron is under the impression that he and Kim were going to go together again, but Kim tells him that, while they used to go as friends, they should find other people to bring as dates to the dance. Just then, Wade calls, and Kim is sent on a mission to Japan. Kim and Ron arrive at the most automated video game factory in the world, where Kim’s arch nemesis, Dr. Drakken, has taken over the entire building.
Kim and Ron sit on the roof of the company, trying to determine the situation
Kim and Ron sneak into the building, with Kim questioning why Drakken wants to take over a video game factory. Ron informs her that the factory makes the Z-Boy, the fastest graphics system ever, which makes Kim question Drakken’s motives more. Ron creates a distraction while Kim frees the hostages, but is soon captured by Drakken and his assistant Shego. Drakken is able to flee with the resources to create Z-Boy, leaving Kim and Ron helpless to stop him. The next day, Kim tries to figure out her problems with Drakken and Josh, and resolves to fix both of these, while Ron still can’t find a date. Unfortunately, Kim is unable to strike up the nerve to ask Josh out, and is soon called away for her mission to stop Drakken. They finally arrive at his lair, but accidentally trip the security beams and get captured. Kim battles Shego while Ron takes care of the guards. After Shego is defeated, Ron and Kim discover Drakken’s true plan: to use the factory assembly line and the Z-Boy to create a powerful fighting machine.
Kim and Ron evade Drakken’s attacks, and Wade informs the pair that there is an override module Kim can use to have Wade hack in and destroy. Shego soon comes back to attack Kim, but she and Drakken are once again defeated by Kim. Back at school, Kim still tries to work up the courage to ask Josh to the dance. She finally does, and he accepts.
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