LOS ANGELES — The cast and crew of “Good Luck Charlie” are at a standstill on the stage of the Disney Channel TV show as they all patiently wait for star Mia Talerico.

She arrives late, leaves early and if she’s not in the mood to put on a fancy pair of shoes, then everyone else adjusts. No one complains, though. Mia’s only 2.

She’s the latest young actor to star on a television series. Unlike other shows where toddlers make only brief appearances, Mia is the center of attention as the title character in the cable comedy about an average family recording life so when Charlie gets older she’ll be able to see what it was like.

The second season will look at all the trials and tribulations of Charlie turning 2.

The first part of a scene in the family kitchen has been filmed. All that’s needed is to get a shot of Mia standing in a pair of her dad’s boots. (Most of “Good Luck Charlie” is shot in front of a studio audience, but scenes with Mia are filmed in advance.)

Mia’s none too excited about the footwear, despite encouragement from her on-screen mom, Leigh Allyn Baker, or TV sis, Bridget Mendler. Even a rousing round of “Wheels on the Bus,” usually a sure winner, isn’t enough to get Mia to stand in the shoes.

“Fortunately, we learned early on that when working with very young children, it’s important to have a Plan B. For example, if we want Mia/Charlie to say a word or two, and she — as is her right as a 2-year-old — doesn’t feel like saying it, we’ll have another line ready for one of the other actors to say. Or we’ll replace Charlie’s line with a physical bit,” said co-creator and executive producer Phil Baker. “The great thing about Mia is that we rarely have to use our Plan B. She’s such a wonderful kid and so darn cute that everyone on our stage is crazy about her.”

Today’s one of those days when director Bob Koherr must go to plan B: They move to another scene for now. Mia and her mom, Claire Talerico, head up to the dressing rooms for some play time or a nap.

Claire and Chris Talerico hadn’t planned on their daughter becoming a TV star, but they were told by people that Mia should be in commercials. They got an agent when she was 7 months old. “Good Luck Charlie” was her third audition.

Casting a toddler is a little different than casting adults. It starts with pictures sent to a casting agent. The key is how well a child acts around strangers.

“The child can’t be so attached to you that they can’t leave you for a few minutes,” Claire said. “When we met the writers and producers, I think she charmed them because she was having fun.”

She was so charming, the producers went against the usual practice of casting twins or triplets. That practice gives the production crew multiple options. They looked at more than 50 sets of twins and several triplets before choosing Mia.

“She was only 6 months old, yet Mia stood out from all the others because she was so electric. She came to her audition already wearing her signature ponytail and she literally lit up the room with her smiles,” said co-creator and executive producer Drew Vaupen. “She trusted others to hold her and talk to her, a rare thing among newborns.”

Mia and Clair travel from their home in Santa Barbara, Calif., every Thursday and Friday for workdays, which by law can only be a total of 6 1/2 hours long each day, including mandatory rests.

Normally, Mia handles all of the demands of a 2-year-old actor without problem. Claire says she eventually will do the scene with the shoes; if not today, it can be filmed next week and inserted into the show.

Claire’s not certain how long Mia will stay in acting. No matter how long the show lasts, there’s one additional benefit of being on the TV show: great home movies.