C.J. and Friends

CJ and Friends is a counterpart of the 1997 TV series Recess.

The series focuses on six elementary school students and their interactions with other students and teachers. One of the many features of the show is how the children form their own society, complete with government and class structure, set against a backdrop of a regular school, giving the show a unique feel.

Premise
The show portrays the life of six elementary school students: popular and confident C.J. Rotweiler, athletic Vance MacLondon, tough girl Aubree Rigalli, gentle giant Mickey Beaver, smart Greta Grobler, and a shy new kid Rus Rimple. The students of Third Street School set up a microcosm of traditional human society complete with its own government, class system, and a set of unwritten laws. They are ruled by a monarch, who has various enforcers to make sure his decrees are carried out. The little society has a long list of rigid values and social that impose a high expectation of conformity among the students.

Most episodes involve one or more of the main six characters seeking a rational balance between individuality and social order. They are often defending their freedom against perceived threats by adults or social norms. The gang's leader, C.J. Rotweiler, tends to have the most complete vision of this struggle, though even she has times when he inadvertently leads the group too far toward an extreme of conformity or nonconformity.

References to other Disney media

 * The gang frequently refer to C.J. as "Ceej", similar to how Max refers to P.J. as "Peej" in Goof Troop and A Goofy Movie and to how the Third Street School's gang refer to T.J. as "Teej" in "Recess."
 * During C.J.'s nightmare about the never-ending rain causing a flood in "Rainy Days", Pluto (from Mickey Mouse) makes a cameo appearance.
 * In "One Stayed Clean", Greta's outfit for her school picture is similar to one of the most famous outfits worn by Minnie Mouse: a large pink hair bow and a light blue dress with a pink sash.
 * In "Bachelor Rus", Owl from the Winnie the Pooh media makes a cameo appearance when Rus is all alone in the playground at night.
 * In "Marsh the Not So Bad", Mickey and Marsh are shown eating from the same spaghetti strand similar to the famous Bella Notte scene in Lady and the Tramp.
 * In "Big Brother Vlad", Vance's transformation during the full moon is similar to Max's transformation from A Goofy Movie.