Seeing double

I'm so excited about my most recent TV discovery: a Disney Channel series called "Life with Derek." Sure, like all other Disney Channel shows, it's not exactly highbrow — or even high quality — entertainment. But I'm delighted that I happened upon it because it features a familiar face that I have missed since his other show went off the air: Michael Seater, formerly of "Strange Days at Blake Holsey High."

In case you're unfamiliar with that show, which you are probably are: it's another children's TV show, about a boarding school where all sorts of strange scientific phenomena happen. But most importantly, it's a Canadian children's TV show. Why is that a critical point for me to make? Because apparently there are only so many young actors in Canada, and they're always popping up on every show coming out of that country.

Evidence A: So Michael Seater was on "Strange Days at Blake Holsey High" and then went on to star in "Life with Derek." Big deal. This alone would not make for very convincing evidence. BUT also appearing on "Life with Derek" is Shadia Simmons, who — guess what — also had a starring role on "Strange Days at Blake Holsey High."

Evidence B: Speaking of familiar faces on "Life with Derek," I'd like to draw your attention to Kit Weyman, who plays Derek's best friend, Sam. Previously, you might have seen him on "Degrassi" as Sulley (the guy who Manny dated after her sexy makeover).

Evidence C: While we're on the topic of "Degrassi," allow me to bring up Miriam McDonald, who plays Emma. Recently, I saw her on an episode of "Naturally, Sadie," another recent Disney Channel find of mine.

Evidence D: Adding to the "Degrassi" list, I want to introduce Ali Mukaddam, who made some appearances on the show as Mohammed. (Remember him? He picked on Teri for being, ahem, large-boned.) After that, he went on to star in "Radio Free Roscoe."

Alright, I'll stop there; you get the picture. Although, now that I think about it, American children and teen TV empires are just as guilty of this. I'm talking to you, WB and Disney Channel. You want examples? See: Chad Michael Murry's appearances on the WB's "Gilmore Girls," "Dawson's Creek," and "One Tree Hill." Or Keiko Agena's appearances on "Felicity" and "Gilmore Girls." Or Jared Padalecki's appearances on "Girlmore Girls" and "Supernatural." Or Milo Ventimiglia's appearances on "Gilmore Girls" and "The Bedford Diaries." Or Brenda Song's appearances on the Disney Channel's movies "Stuck in the Suburbs" and "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior" and TV shows "Phil of the Future" and "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." Or Ashley Tisdale's appearances in the Disney Channel movie "High School Musical" and TV show "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." Or Orlando Brown's appearances in the Disney Channel movie "Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off" and TV show "That's So Raven."

And those are just the ones I've personally noticed! I'm sure that if I trolled IMDB, I could find even more connections. Then again, I guess I don't have to because strangely, I spend a lot of time watching shows aimed at people a decade younger than I am. What can I say? I like mindless entertainment. I guess my blog URL says it all.