Booboo Stewart, the actor known for his roles in films like Twilight and TV shows like Descendants, made a special guest appearance on the Disney XD show Kickin’ It. Booboo played the role of Phil in the Season 2 episode “Kickin’ It Old School” which aired in 2012.
Kickin’ It is a live-action comedy series that aired on Disney XD from 2011-2015. The show followed a ragtag crew of martial arts students at the Bobby Wasabi Martial Arts Academy. This eclectic group of teenagers trained together under the guidance of their Sensei Rudy and got into all sorts of hijinks along the way.
One of the main cast members on Kickin’ It was Jack, played by Leo Howard. Other main characters included Kim, Jerry, Milton, and Eddie. In addition to the core group, Kickin’ It featured special guest stars from time to time. This included well-known Disney Channel actors making cameo appearances.
Booboo Stewart was one of those familiar Disney faces who made a guest appearance on the show. His episode provided a fun blast from the past for both the characters on the show and the audience watching at home. Let’s take a closer look at Stewart’s role and the details surrounding his guest appearance.
About Booboo Stewart
Booboo Stewart (whose real name is Nils Allen Stewart Jr.) was born in 1994. He is an American actor of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Blackfoot descent. Some of his most famous credits include:
- Seth Clearwater in The Twilight Saga
- Jay in Descendants and Descendants 2
- Tom in X-Men: Days of Future Past
So when Booboo Stewart appeared on Kickin’ It in 2012, he was already a familiar face for fans of films like Twilight and shows like Disney’s Good Luck Charlie. His guest role on Kickin’ It was right around the height of his fame during the Twilight era.
About the Episode “Kickin’ It Old School”
The season 2 episode of Kickin’ It that featured Booboo Stewart was called “Kickin’ It Old School.” It originally aired on April 30, 2012. Here are some key details about the episode:
- Episode Number: Season 2, Episode 10
- Directed by: Shelley Jensen
- Written by: Edward C. Evans and Byron Kavanagh
- Featured guest stars: Booboo Stewart as Phil, Dallas Lovato as Archie
The basic premise of “Kickin’ It Old School” involved Bobby Wasabi Martial Arts Academy participating in a 1980’s-themed movie event. They dressed up in 80’s costumes and made an old school martial arts film. This allowed the show to play with funny 80’s movie tropes and feature 80’s-inspired character dynamics.
Booboo Stewart’s Role as Phil
Within this fun 80’s plot, Booboo Stewart took on the role of Phil. Phil was the rival karate student competing against the Bobby Wasabi team. Here are some key details about Stewart’s character Phil:
- He was the top student at the rival Cobra Kai Dojo
- He was dressed in a quintessential 80’s karate costume
- He trash talked and engaged in a karate fight against Jack
- He lost the fight when Jack did a flip trick to impress Kim
Although Stewart’s role was small, it fit the style of the show and gave viewers a taste of his martial arts skills. The fight scene between Phil and Jack was a highlight of the action in the episode.
Significance of Stewart’s Guest Appearance
Booboo Stewart’s appearance on Kickin’ It held significance in a few key ways:
- It gave the show a boost by featuring a famous guest star
- It capitalized on Stewart’s martial arts skills and onscreen fighting experience
- It made for a fun homage to The Karate Kid style 80’s rivalry
- It fit with Disney’s synergy as Stewart was already a Disney star
Overall, it was great publicity for both Stewart and the show itself. Kickin’ It gained some extra attention and ratings by bringing in a recognizable young actor like Booboo Stewart. Meanwhile, Stewart got a chance to appeal to Kickin’ It’s audience and show off his karate talent in a humorous way.
Other Disney Channel Guest Stars on Kickin’ It
Throughout its four season run, Kickin’ It featured quite a few guest appearances from other Disney Channel stars. Here are some other examples:
| Actor | Played Role | Notable For |
|---|---|---|
| Leo Howard | Jack | Disney’s Leo Little’s Big Show |
| Dylan Riley Snyder | Milton | Disney’s Broadway musical Tarzan |
| Olivia Holt | Kim | Disney’s Kickin’ It, I Didn’t Do It |
| Caroline Sunshine | Claire | Disney’s Shake It Up |
| Roshon Fegan | Sloane Jennings | Disney’s Shake It Up, Camp Rock |
| Peyton List | Cece | Disney’s Jessie |
| Zendaya | Seaford High School Student | Disney’s Shake It Up |
Leveraging these stars from other Disney shows was a clever cross-promotional strategy. It allowed Kickin’ It to feature fun, familiar faces while giving the guest actors an opportunity to connect with a new audience.
Conclusion
Booboo Stewart’s guest appearance as Phil in the season 2 Kickin’ It episode “Kickin’ It Old School” provided a memorable moment for fans. It brought together two Disney worlds by blending Stewart’s martial arts chops with the comedic antics of the Bobby Wasabi crew. This episode gave viewers a chance to see one of their favorite Twilight actors in a new light while also delivering a classic karate movie homage. Kickin’ It gained extra viewer interest by tapping into Stewart’s stardom. At the same time, Stewart got to show off his comedy skills to Kickin’ It’s audience. It was an effective crossover that made for an entertaining episode.