Interview with Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle Cast

While I was in Los Angeles for the red carpet premiere of Moana, I also had the opportunity to visit the Disney Channel and interview the cast of the hit show, Stuck in the Middle.

About Stuck in the Middle

Stuck in the Middle is an American single-camera sitcom developed for Disney Channel, written and executive produced by Linda Videtti Figueiredo. The series stars Jenna Ortega, Ronni Hawk, Isaak Presley, Ariana Greenblatt, Kayla Maisonet, Nicolas Bechtel, Malachi Barton, Cerina Vincent, and Joe Nieves. Set in Massachusetts, in the fictional town of Marshport, the series tells the story of the Diaz family, specifically focusing on Harley, the middle of the seven children. Harley makes her way using her creativity to deal with living in a large family.

The entire “Diaz” family came out to chat with us about the show, including how they’ve already bonding as a family and how excited they are for season 2, which debuts early next year. Until then, you can watch the NEW short-form series now on the Disney Channel App, or on air 12/16.

Stuck in the Middle Cast

Here are a few highlights from the interview with Jenna Ortega (“Harley Diaz”), Ronni Hawk (“Rachel Diaz”), Isaak Presley (“Ethan Diaz”), Ariana Greenblatt (“Daphne Diaz”), Kayla Maisonet (“Georgie Diaz”), Malachi Barton (“Beast Diaz”), Nicholas Bechtel (“Lewie Diaz”), Cerina Vincent (“Suzy Diaz”) and Joe Nieves (“Tom Diaz”).

How many of you are from large families?

Jenna: I’m from a large family. I’m one of six kids but if you add one of my nephews there’s seven. But my sister just had another nephew so now there’s eight of us. And they’re always over at the house because we babysit them so there’s eight kids in my family. So it’s pretty big.

Ariana: I have just a little brother.

Kayla:  I have a brother, cousins and three dogs.

Cerina:  Actually, she {Jenna} is stuck in the middle. I thought that Disney created the show for her and the family because there are so many parallels. It was perfectly designed.

Jenna:  I love being stuck in the middle. I like Harley’s storyline because, at first, she’s kind uncertain of where she’s going with her life. She feels very invisible, but later she plays a very important role in her family. I think it’s important to know that for those middle children out there, who feel like they’re not noticed, that they are. And they are very important in the families because they make their families their families.

What’s the chemistry like onset?

Ariana:  Family, just straight up family.

Nicolas:  Siblings.

Ariana:  Off the set we hang out at dinners. And we really love each other.

Jenna:  We see each other Monday through Fridays so it’s like we’re always together. It’s like they’re my second family.

Joe:  And that happened right from day one. It was immediate and fantastic.

Isaak: I know for Malachi and I, we’re only children. So like us walking into this as only children, we’re walking into this big family. It was actually like adopting a family.

Malachi:  It’s really, really fun to have siblings onset.

What has changed for you since being on a Disney channel TV show? 

Ronni:  I think when people come up to you and you see how happy they can get because of you being around them. And I like to go and visit charities and you see how happy they are. To make an impact like that is really cool.

Cerina:  Joe and I have been working for 20 years and doing lots of different things. But we say to each other, like in our dressing rooms, it’s the best job we’ve ever had. It’s really rewarding.

In one word, what does Stuck in the Middle mean to you?

Joe:  It’s special.

Cerina:  Gratitude.

Ronni:  It’s joy.

Kayla:  A gift.

Isaak:  Indescribable.

Jenna:  Relatable.

Nicolas:  Exciting.

Ariana:  Everything.

Malachi:  Amazing.

Special thanks to Disney Channel for hosting me during this event. All opinions are my own.