Austin & Ally: Disney Series Creators and Star Talk Ending the Show; Get Finale Photos

Last night, the Disney Channel aired the two-part Austin & Ally TV series finale. Unlike too many cancelled or finished series, after running 87 episodes over the course of four seasons, this kids’s sitcom gave its audience what every audience deserves: closure. [Spoilers below!]

In the last episode of Austin & Ally, “Musicals & Moving On,” Austin Moon (Ross Lynch) marries Ally Dawson (Laura Marano). That’s not the only happy ending, though. Carrie (Hannah Kat Jones) and Dez (Calum Worthy) tie the knot. Meanwhile, Dez’s nemesis, Chuck McCoy (John Paul Green) weds Trish De la Rosa (Raini Rodriguez).

Variety talked to series creators, Kevin Kopelow and Heath Seifert, about ending Austin & Ally:

Why is it the right time to end the show?

We would have loved to continue the show forever. Our dream when we started the show was to hit a hundred episodes and we came pretty close. We still had a lot of stories we wanted to tell, but the average Disney show usually only goes three or four seasons. In fact, our show was as good as done after season three, but we worked really hard to get those last episodes. It was interesting because we had to write the end of season three as if it was going to be the last. When we did the season four finale, we knew we were done.

There have been some rumors about an “Austin & Ally” movie — any truth to that?

We will never say never. We have lots of ideas for one, and we’d love nothing more than to work with the cast again, either as their “Austin & Ally” characters, or otherwise.

What will you miss most about the show?

The cast and crew. It was a very special set. Anytime anyone would visit, they would marvel at what a harmonious and positive environment we’d created. It was truly a family. We still talk to the cast all the time, and our greatest takeaway from the whole experience is the lifelong friendships we gained.

What was the last day on set like?

Very emotional. The whole season was very emotional because we knew the show was ending. The last few weeks, everybody was constantly crying and hugging. Every day there was a “last” something — “Oh, this is the last time Ross and Laura will be sitting at a piano together,” “this is the last performance,” “this is the last time we’ll be in the practice room,” etc. By the time we finished shooting on the last day, nobody wanted to leave. We hung out for hours afterwards.

Here is more on the end of Austin & Ally, from star Laura Marano, at TVLine:

Marano knows a thing or two about finales. In fact, there’s one season-ender that still haunts her:

“When we ended our third season, and we didn’t know if we were going to have a fourth season, I was really mad that Austin wasn’t singing anymore,” she admits. “I was like, ‘We cannot end the show this way! No!’”
Fortunately, they did get a fourth season, allowing fans to witness the titular couple’s ultimate — and as Marano says, “complete” — ending.

“I think everyone loves opposites, and it’s been clear since the pilot that Austin and Ally are so different,” she adds. “None of us, including the producers, expected Austin and Ally to get together so soon. I didn’t even think it would happen in the second season, but the script came in, and Ross [Lynch] and I were like, ‘Well, this is happening.’”

Check out these photos from the Austin & Ally series finale, “Musicals & Moving On.”

(Disney Channel/Eric McCandless)

AUSTIN &; ALLY – “Musicals & Moving On” – As the rest of the group prepares for the next phase of their lives, Trish is still determining what her next steps will be. (Disney Channel/Eric McCandless)
LAURA MARANO, CALUM WORTHY, ROSS LYNCH

What do you think? Did the Austin & Ally TV show end at the right time? Would you have tuned in for a fifth season? What would you like to see in an Austin & Ally TV movie sequel?