This article is about the television series. For the 2006 film, see
American Dreamz.
American Dreamz is a 2006 comedy / parody film that satirizes both American Politics and Popular entertainment
| American Dreams |
| Format |
Serial dramedy |
| Created by |
Jonathan Prince |
| Starring |
see below |
| Country of origin |
United States |
| No. Serials in Television and Radio are series often in a weekly Prime time slot that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a serial fashion Comedy-drama, also called dramedy and dramatic-comedy, is a style of Television and movies in which there is an equal or nearly equal balance Jonathan Alexander Prince (born August 16, 1958) is an American actor director screenwriter and movie producer The United States of America —commonly referred to as the of episodes |
61 |
| Production |
| Running time |
approx. 43 min. |
| Broadcast |
| Original channel |
NBC |
| Original run |
September 29, 2002 – March 30, 2005 |
| External links |
| IMDb profile |
| TV.com summary |
American Dreams is an American television drama program broadcast on the NBC television network. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Drama is the specific mode of Fiction represented in Performance. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's A television network is a distribution network for Television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many Television stations It debuted on September 29, 2002. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The show is set in in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and parts at Lehigh University. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Lehigh University is a private, co-educational University located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of It initially aired on Sundays at 8:00pm, but moved to the same time on Wednesdays from March 9, 2005 to the third season finale (March 30, 2005). Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The show tells the story of the Pryor family of Philadelphia during the 1960s. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Season one takes place in 1963-64, season two in 1964-65, and season three in 1965-66. The show was known as "Our Generation" when it debuted in Australia, however it was changed back to "American Dreams" when it returned for the second season. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.
The theme song "Generation" was written and performed by Emerson Hart, lead singer of the band Tonic. Emerson Hart (born July 21 1969 in Washington PA) is a Songwriter, Vocalist, Guitarist and producer. Tonic is a Grammy -nominated American Post-grunge rock band formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart, Jeff Russo, Dan Rothchild The song earned Hart an ASCAP award for Best Theme Song of Television in 2003. The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers ( ASCAP) is a non-profit Performance rights organization that protects its Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
Characters
Major characters
- Helen Pryor (Gail O'Grady) - Jack's wife, also employed at the Pine Street Travel Agency. Gail O'Grady (born 23 January, 1963 in Detroit Michigan) is an American television actress
- John J. "Jack" Pryor (Tom Verica) - head of the Catholic household, Jack is a tough-but-loving husband, father, and owner of Pryor's TV and Radio Store. Tom Verica (born May 13, 1964) is an American Actor and director known for his role of Jack Pryor on the NBC drama Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". American Dreams is an American Television Drama program broadcast on the NBC Television network. Also later represented his district in the Philadelphia City Council. A city council is a form of Local government, usually covering a City or other Urban area, such as a Town.
- Margaret "Meg" Pryor (Brittany Snow) - the show's protagonist. Brittany Anne Snow (born March 9, 1986) is an American television and film actress most known for The Pacifier, John A dreamer and a romantic, Meg often makes rash decisions without thinking. In her spare time, she dances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (born November 30, 1929) is an American Television, Radio personality, Game show host American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark
- John J. "JJ" Pryor Jr. (Will Estes) - the oldest Pryor child. Will Estes (born William Estes Nipper, October 21, 1978, Los Angeles California) is an American Actor best known A talented football player. He enlists in the Marines and fights in the Vietnam War.
- Patricia "Patty" Pryor (Sarah Ramos) - Meg's intelligent and often annoying little sister. Sarah Ramos may also refer to the 34-year-old Babysitter, who was a victim of the Beltway sniper attacks.
- William "Will" Pryor (Ethan Dampf) - an elementary school student whose leg was crippled with polio, a source of parental guilt as they had refused to allow him to have the Salk vaccine, but he underwent an operation to repair it in the show's second season. See also Primary education An elementary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of Compulsory education known as elementary Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral Infectious disease spread from person to person primarily via Jonas Edward Salk ( October 28 1914 &ndash June 23, 1995) was an American Biologist and Physician best
- Henry Walker (Jonathan Adams) - an African American employee in Jack's store who later became a partner/owner in the store, who also heads a family. Jonathan Adams (b July 16, 1967) is an American Actor, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa
- Sam Walker (Arlen Escarpeta) - Henry's son and Meg's friend, a bright college student and track star at University of Pennsylvania. The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In season 1, he went to East Catholic High. He and Meg bond over their love of music.
- Elizabeth "Beth" (Mason) Pryor (Rachel Boston) - JJ's girlfriend, whom he marries in the third season shortly after returning from Vietnam. Rachel Elizabeth Boston (born May 9, 1982 in Chattanooga Tennessee) is an American actress They have an infant son "Trip".
- Roxanne Bojarski (Vanessa Lengies) - Meg's best friend who has a knack for getting herself into trouble. Vanessa Lynne-Marie Lengies (born July 21, 1985 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian actress best known for starring in the She dances on American Bandstand with Meg.
Minor characters
Pryor Family
- Pete Pryor (Matthew John Armstrong) - Jack's younger brother, an officer with the Philadelphia Police Department. Matthew John Armstrong (born August 28, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, U He is addicted to alcohol and gambling. Almost married in Season 2 to Nancy (Helen's coworker and friend), but got cold feet at the last minute.
- Ted Pryor (Christopher Cousins)- Jack and Pete's older brother, a successful businessman who has a strained and distant relationship from the rest of the family. He is only seen in a couple of episodes, but dies from a car accident late in Season 3.
- Melissa Pryor (Natalie Marston) - Ted's 18 year old daughter, niece of Jack and Helen. She entered Vassar College in the fall of 1966. Vassar College is a private Coeducational, liberal arts college situated in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, USA.
- John J. "Trip" Pryor III - JJ and Beth's son, born in Season 3.
Walker Family
- Gwen Walker (Adina Porter) - Henry's wife and a housekeeper, who died in Season 2 of cancer. Adina Porter is an American actress She played Letecia Barris on the show Prison Break and also appeared in Lackawana Blues. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled
- Angela Walker (Aysia Polk) - Henry and Gwen's daughter, roughly Patty's age. Aysia Polk (born August 10 1990) is a young American actress Background Polk had a recurring role on American Dreams playing
- Nathan Walker (Keith Robinson) - Henry's outspoken nephew. Keith Robinson is an American Actor and R&B singer Biography Early life Robinson was born in Kentucky, grew up in Spent some time in jail; eventually rehabilitated himself and now operates a delivery service.
Meg and Roxanne's friends
- Luke Foley (Jamie Elman) - a record store clerk with an affinity for all things Dylan. Originally Meg's boyfriend in the first season, after they broke up Luke and Roxanne developed a relationship and began living together in the third season.
- Jimmy Riley (Jesse Hutch) - an American Bandstand dance partner of Meg's who eventually leaves to fight in Vietnam (he would later return to American Dreams in the second season, in a wheelchair). Jesse Hutch (born 1981 is a Canadian -born film and television Actor.
- Drew Mandel (Samuel Page) - A college student at the University of Pennsylvania; he and Meg date during the show, despite both her brother J. Samuel Page aka Sam Page (born Samuel L Elliott on November 5 1976) is an American Actor. J. and her father's dislike for Drew. It ends when she catches him cheating on her.
- Lenny Beeber (Johnny Lewis) - Roxanne's second season boyfriend with whom she goes on tour. Jonathan Kendrick Lewis (born 1983 also credited as Johnny K Lewis, is an American Film Actor. Head of the band Lenny and the Pilgrims.
- Chris Pierce (Milo Ventimiglia) - Shelly Pierce's son, who becomes Meg's new love interest in the third season. Milo Anthony Ventimiglia (ˈmaɪ̪loʊ̪ ˌvɛntɨˈmiljə born July 8 1977 is an American television actor best known for his role as Peter Petrelli on the NBC series
JJ's friends
- Danny O'Connor (Rodney Scott) - Quarterback of the East Catholic football team in the first season, and who has a short-lived relationship with Meg in season two. Rodney Scott (born February 17, 1978 in Washington DC, US) is an Actor best known for playing David Cassidy/Keith Partridge in His older brother was declared missing in action in Vietnam. In Season three, we learn that Danny's brother's body was found in Vietnam.
- Tommy DeFelice (Paul Wasilewski) - JJ's macho friend and former football teammate. Paul Wesley (born July 23, 1982) also credited as Paul Wasilewski, is an American actor JJ later ends the friendship when he notices a strong racist side to him when Sam enrolls at East Catholic.
- Kenny Keegan (Kevin Sheridan) - JJ's East Catholic friend and teammate; a mediocre athlete.
Bandstand characters
- Michael Brooks (Joseph Lawrence) - the original floor producer of American Bandstand. Joseph Lawrence may refer to Joseph Lawrence (Pennsylvania (1786 - 1842 US Congressman Joey Lawrence, American actor American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark His character left after the show's first season.
- Colin (Michael E. Rodgers) - Floor producer of Bandstand who took over after Michael Brooks' departure. Michael E Rodgers (born May 8, 1969 in Scotland) is a film television and theater actor
- Gus (Peter Spellos) - witty production assistant of American Bandstand. Peter Spellos is a voice actor who is also known as G Gordon Baer, Gordon Baer, G
- Teresa McManus (Michelle Morgan) - A regular dancer on Bandstand who does not like Meg.
Other minor characters
- Willie Johnson (Nigel Thatch) - Charismatic neighborhood agitator in North Philadelphia who played a major role in instigating the (1964 Philadelphia race riot). Nigel Thatch (born 1976) is an amateur baseball player and aspiring actor
- Rebecca Sandstrom (Virginia Madsen) - Helen's friend from a book club. Virginia Madsen (born September 11, 1961) is an American actress. Her character was dropped after the first season.
- Nancy (Alicia Coppola) - After meeting Helen while working at the same travel agency, she became one of Helen's confidantes. Alicia Coppola (born April 12, 1968) is an American Television actress. Nancy dated and then became engaged to Pete Pryor, only to be left standing at the altar.
- Donald Norville (Hank Stratton) - Helen's colleague at the travel agency. He is later fired for being a homosexual.
- Father Conti (Steve Ryan) - The Pryor family's strict Catholic priest who also serves as the headmaster of East Catholic high school. Steve Ryan ( 19 June 1952 &ndash 3 September 2007) was an American actor
- Mr. and Mrs. George Mason (James Read and Barbara Alyn Woods) - Beth's well-to-do parents. James Christopher Read (born July 31, 1953) is an American Actor. Barbara Alyn Woods (born March 11, 1962 in Chicago Illinois) is an American Actress Estranged from Beth after she became pregnant with JJ Pryor's child, although some reconciliation was attempted in the show's third season.
- Mr. Greenwood (Art Garfunkel) - The bohemian owner of the Vinyl Crocodile record store. Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5, 1941) is an American Singer-songwriter and Actor of Romanian Jewish ancestry Bohemians are the people of Bohemia, in the Czech Republic, inhabitants of the former Kingdom of Bohemia located in the modern day Czech Republic Appeared sporadically during the first season; in the second season he is said to have gone "on a worldwide tour with his friend", an allusion to Art Garfunkel's singing partnership with Paul Simon. Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13 1941 is an American Songwriter, Musician, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Shelly Pierce (Daphne Zuniga), a single mom who works at a nearby Playboy Club and is the Pryors' next door neighbor (starting at the beginning of Season 3). Daphne Eurydice Zuniga (born October 28, 1962) is an American Actress. A Playboy Club was originally one of a chain of nightclubs owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises until 1991 with the first club opening at 116 E
- Murray (Murray Rubenstein) - Barber shop owner whose business is next to Pryor's TV and Radio. A frequent visitor to the store, though he rarely buys anything.
Ratings
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of American Dreams on NBC. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's
| Season |
Timeslot |
Number of Episodes |
Season premiere |
Season finale |
TV season |
Rank |
Viewers
(in millions) |
| 1 |
Sunday 8/7c |
25 |
September 29, 2002 |
May 18, 2003 |
2002-2003 |
#56 |
9. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. 98 [1] |
| 2 |
Sunday 8/7c |
19 |
September 28, 2003 |
April 4, 2004 |
2004-2005 |
#67 |
8. Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " 75 [2] |
| 3 |
Sunday 8/7c (September 26-March 2) Wednesday 8/7c (March 9-March 30) |
17 |
September 26, 2004 |
March 30, 2005 |
2005-2006 |
#79 |
7. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 20 [3] |
Episode List
Season 1 (2002-2003)
- Pilot
- The End of the Innocence
- New Frontier
- Pryor Knowledge
- The Fighting Irish
- Soldier Boy
- Cold Snap
- Black and White
- The Home Front
- Silent Night
- I Wanna Hold Your Hand
- Great Expectations
- The Pursuit of Happiness
- Heartache
- False Start
- Act of Contrition
- Past Imperfect
- The One
- Where the Boys Are
- The Carpetbaggers
- Fear Itself
- Secrets and Lies
- Down the Shore
- High Hopes
- City on Fire
Season 2 (2003-2004)
- And Promises to Keep
- R-E-S-P-E-C-T
- Another Saturday Night
- Crossing the Line
- Life's Illusions
- Rescue Me
- Ticket to Ride
- Change a Comin'
- The Long Goodbye
- The 7-10 Split
- Beyond the Wire
- Real-to-Reel
- To Tell the Truth
- Old Enough to Fight
- Shoot the Moon
- Can't Hold On
- Chasing the Past
- Stewart's Charge
- No Way Out
Season 3 (2004-2005)
- Long Shots and Short Skirts
- Charade
- Leaders of the Pack
- Surround Me
- So Long, Farewell
- Clear and Present Danager
- What Dreams May Come
- One in a Million
- Tidings of Comfort and Joy
- Home Again
- Truth Be Told
- For Richer, For Poorer
- Starting Over
- The Commencement
- California Dreamin'
- No Satisfaction
- It's My Life
Synopsis
Season 1 (2002-2003)
In the pilot episode, set in November 1963, Meg and Roxanne win the opportunity to join the dancers on the TV show American Bandstand, filmed in Philadelphia. A television pilot is a test episode of an intended Television series. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark Passing note is made of the JFK assassination and funeral. Bandstand immediately becomes the principal creative pillar of American Dreams, with each episode featuring recreated versions of several musical acts that originally appeared on the real Bandstand, often rendered by modern singers.
JJ Pryor, a running back for the East Catholic Fighting Crusaders football team, tries to earn a full athletic scholarship to play at the University of Notre Dame, but can only earn a partial scholarship. The University of Notre Dame du Lac (or simply Notre Dame) (ˌnoʊtɚˈdeɪm is a private Roman Catholic Research university located in He later applies for and is accepted to Lehigh University, but a nagging ankle injury curtails his football career - and thus he enlists in the United States Marine Corps to pay for school. Lehigh University is a private, co-educational University located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Meanwhile, JJ's on-again, off-again girlfriend Beth chooses to attend the University of Pennsylvania in order to be near JJ. The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn) is a private University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
In the early part of the season, Meg develops a crush on Bandstand dancer and they go on a couple of public appearance dates. While never becoming romantic, they remained good friends. Meg later developed a romance with Luke Foley, the bespectacled record store clerk and fellow East Catholic student.
Sam Walker wins a track scholarship to East Catholic. A scholarship is an award of access to an institution or a financial aid award for an individual student scholar for the purpose of furthering their Education Some in the majority-white student body resent Sam's presence, especially Tommy DeFelice, who is later expelled after a football betting scandal. Sam and Meg develop a friendship, even creating a record-swapping club while meeting at the Vinyl Crocodile record store.
In the season finale on May 18, 2003, JJ departs for boot camp at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, while Meg and Sam are caught in the riots that shook Philadelphia in the summer of 1964. Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is near Jacksonville North Carolina, on the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States The Philadelphia race riot took place in the predominantly black neighborhoods of North Philadelphia from August 28 to August 30, 1964 Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
Season 2 (2003-2004)
Meg and Sam survive the riots unharmed, but the branch of Jack's store under Henry's management is destroyed. Gwen dies from cancer. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled JJ excels at boot camp and arrives in Vietnam. Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially While on leave, he and Beth are reunited in Hawaii; they break up, but Beth soon learns she is pregnant with JJ's child, and she moves in with the Pryors. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the
Helen discovers that there might be a possible surgical treatment for Will's paralysis, and the early part of the season deals with Will's medical treatment. By the end of the season, Will's leg braces have been removed and he is able to walk normally.
Roxanne exchanges promise rings with boyfriend Lenny, and goes on tour with him before returning home. Later on, she dates Meg's ex-boyfriend, Luke. Meg dates a college boy, Drew, despite JJ and her father's strong dislike for him, but breaks it off when he ends up cheating on her,
Sam wins a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania. Jack decides to run for the City Council. The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large In the season finale on April 4, 2004, Sam's cousin Nathan is drafted and opts to go to jail rather than serve in Vietnam. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Also in that episode, JJ is caught in a fierce firefight, while Meg and Sam are arrested at a campus rally protesting the Vietnam war.
Season 3 (2004-2005)
The arrests widen the communications gap between parents and children, and inspire Meg to lead additional protests. A strict new headmaster also fires Meg up. An injured JJ wakes up in an American military hospital, and learns of his forthcoming child; Beth refuses to accept JJ's offer of marriage. Roxanne, estranged from her mother, moves in with the Pryors. JJ gets recruited for special, somewhat mysterious duty for the US government. Jack wins an upset victory for the City Council.
As Thanksgiving nears closer, JJ is captured by the Viet Cong. He and his sergeant escape, but are presumed missing in action (the sergeant is later found buried in a shallow grave). The Pryors learn of JJ's "Missing In Action" status just before Thanksgiving.
Luke Foley returns to Philadelphia, and Roxanne, who moves out on her remarrying mother, moves in with him in a loft above the Vinyl Crocodile record store.
On a commercial-free special episode (sponsored by Ford) that aired November 21, 2004, JJ returns home. Events 164 BC - Judas Maccabaeus, son of Mattathias of the Hasmonean family restores the Temple in Jerusalem. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " At episode's end JJ glares harshly at his mother. It could be a sign of things to come. In the next original episode, JJ becomes a Marine recruiter and suffers from post-traumatic flashbacks. He proposes to Beth. Beth and JJ are married on the January 23, 2005 episode. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Helen becomes involved with a Catholic peace group.
As the show enters 1966, JJ marries Beth at a church ceremony. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Jack Pryor, newly elected to the Philadelphia City Council, is forced to take a bribe, with the money going to help JJ repay some gambling debts. Eventually Jack votes to elect a local activist in his district. Reverend Davis, to the Police Review Board; essentially voting against the Council. For this act of disloyalty, several members of the police force beat up JJ after a traffic stop. Pete soon finds the culprits who attacked JJ and roughs them up, but Jack decides to resign from the Council.
Chris and Meg's relationship becomes more intimate, but Meg is troubled by reports that Chris helped set fire to a recruitment center. Despite this, Meg and Chris eventually have sex - with Chris revealing afterward that he did indeed lie to Meg about the recruitment center. Meg and Chris eventually break up, and Chris leaves Philadelphia.
Meg and Sam consider the possibility of a romantic relationship, but JJ and Nathan discourage the idea. Meanwhile, Jack and Pete's older brother Ted gets into a serious car accident, putting him on a respirator. After much soul searching, the Pryors decide to disconnect the machine. After returning home from a Rolling Stones concert, Meg finds her ex-boyfriend Chris standing in front of her home. He's just been drafted.
In the season/series finale, Meg and Chris both leave Philadelphia on Chris' motorcycle, with plans for them to live in Berkeley, California and campaign against the war. Berkeley is a city on the east shore of San Francisco Bay in Northern California, in the United States. JJ Pryor applies for and receives a job in aeronautics, assisting in space suit design for future NASA missions to the moon. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program
Timeline of events in the series
"Past" events
- c. 1925 - Jack Pryor is born. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- c. 1926 - Helen Dolan is born. Year 1926 ( MCMXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- c. September 1945 - Jack Pryor, presumably returning from fighting in World War II, conceives a child with Helen Dolan. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
- c. December 1945 - Jack Pryor and Helen Dolan are married. Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar
- c. June 1946 - JJ Pryor is born. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- c. 1946 Beth Mason is born. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- c. 1947 Sam Walker is born. Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- c. March 1948 - Roxanne Bojarski is born. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- c. August 1948 - Meg Pryor is born. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- c. 1951 - Angela Walker is born. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January
- c. April 1951 - Patty Pryor is born. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January
- c. Spring, 1956 - Will Pryor is born. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Events depicted on screen
- November 1963 - Meg and Roxanne become regular dancers on American Bandstand. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- June 1964 - JJ and Beth graduate from high school. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
- August 1964 - The Philadelphia riots take place. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
- November 1964- 1964 US Presidential Election between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Please DO NOT flip the colors -->The United States presidential election of 1964 was one of the most lopsided presidential elections in the history of the United States (It's mentioned that Ted supported Goldwater. )
- 1965 - Gwen Walker dies. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.
- June 1965 - Sam graduates from high school. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.
- November 1965 - Northeast Blackout of 1965
- November 1965 - Beth Mason gives birth to John Pryor III. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The Northeast Blackout of 1965 was a significant disruption in the supply of electricity on November 9, 1965, affecting Ontario, Canada Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.
- January 1966- JJ returns home from Vietnam. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.
- April 23, 1966 - JJ Pryor and Beth Mason are married. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.
- June 1966 - Meg and Roxanne graduate from high school. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.
- July 1966 - Ted Pryor dies. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.
"Future" events
- June 1968 - Patty's graduation from high school is estimated to take place at this time. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- July 1969 - Meg returns to Philadelphia after spending three years in Berkeley with her boyfriend Chris. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- June 1974 - Will's graduation from high school is estimated to take place at this time. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar.
- June 1984 - John Pryor III's graduation from high school is estimated to take place at this time. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar)
Cancellation
On May 16, 2005, NBC announced their fall schedule for the 2005-06 season. Events 1204 - Baldwin IX Count of Flanders is crowned as the first Emperor of the Latin Empire. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [4] Confirming months of speculation (and an unofficial confirmation article on May 1 by Reuters), American Dreams was formally canceled, a victim of low ratings. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor.
Never a strong performer in its Sunday 8:00 p. m. timeslot, the show's third-season ratings dropped 33% from its first season and 13% from its second season. In the third season, the show was regularly beaten in the Sunday night ratings by ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and CBS's Cold Case. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Extreme Makeover Home Edition, sometimes shortened EMHE, is an Emmy Award -winning Reality television series providing Home renovations CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Cold Case is an American Police procedural Television series revolving around a fictionalized Philadelphia Police Department division On February 2, 2005, NBC reduced the number of third season episodes of American Dreams from 19 to 17. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The network also moved the program away from its original Sunday night timeslot to Wednesday nights, airing before The West Wing. This put the show up against CBS's Survivor: Palau and ABC's Lost, and American Dreams could not compete against these popular programs. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Survivor Palau is the tenth installment of the Reality television show Survivor. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Lost is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American serial drama television series.
As the third season wound down, actors on the show apparently saw the writing on the wall and filmed pilots for new shows to possibly air in the 2005-06 television season. Fans of American Dreams organized a postcard writing campaign to save the show. Fans sent over 5000 supportive e-mails to NBC after the season finale and sent several thousand postcards to the network as well. On May 4, 2005, fans flew an aerial banner over NBC's Burbank studios in support of the show, even as the show's sets were being dismantled at Sunset-Gower Studios, where it was filmed. Events 1256 - The Augustinian monastic order is constituted at the Lecceto Monastery when Pope Alexander IV Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
It had been reported that American Dreams may have been canceled as early as December 2004, primarily because of the interracial dating issue between Meg and Sam; Jonathan Prince mentioned in a Miami Herald article that he was able to get four additional episodes made by having companies such as Kraft and Nabisco pay for additional episodes in exchange for product placement (Campbell's Soups and Ford also participated in product placement episodes). December 2004: ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September
Series epilogue
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on April 12, 2005 that in late February, NBC ordered two endings filmed for the season finale. The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily Newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's [5] The un-aired ending was a 12 minute segment set on July 20, 1969 (the day Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon), with Meg returning home to face her family after a three year absence. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Neil Alden Armstrong (born August 5 1930 is a former American Astronaut, Test pilot, University Professor, and United States NBC opted not to air the 12 minute epilogue when the third season finale aired on March 30, 2005, a month and a half before the official cancellation of the series. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. TV Guide reported on July 26, 2005 that this epilogue was likely to air in a rerun of the third season finale in August or September, but the airing never materialized. TV Guide is the name of a North American weekly magazine about television programming Events 657 - Battle of Siffin. 811 - Battle of Pliska; Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. NBC was unable to attract sponsorship for the segment, which reportedly contained many rock and roll oldies, resulting in expensive music licensing fees for the network. [6]
Fourth season plotlines
In interviews, Jonathan Prince revealed that if American Dreams had been renewed for a fourth season, the following plotlines would have been included. [7][8][9]
- The fourth season would have picked up in January 1967. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.
- Meg would have returned to Philadelphia six episodes into the season after JJ goes to California with intentions to take her home.
- Roxanne would have taken a job as the hairdresser for American Bandstand.
- Jack would become angry after discovering that Helen had been using her job as a travel agent to help young men dodge the draft and flee to Canada.
- There would be tension in JJ and Beth's marriage, after Beth reluctantly agreed to JJ's wishes to postpone going back to college.
- Henry would re-marry and accept a new, deaf stepson into his home.
- JJ would continue working for the company designing spacesuits for the manned mission to the moon.
- The Apollo 1 fire would somehow figure into the fourth season plotline.
- Patty would serve as the Team Manager for the East Catholic football team.
Accuracy
Despite its popularity as a family drama, American Dreams was heavily criticized for its various levels of historical inaccuracy. Several historic events were restaged earlier or later in the show's timeline to fit a plotline, and some of the music and pop culture references do not match up with either historic fact or the show's current timeline. Several arguments between the show's loyal fanbase can be traced to whether the show should be viewed as a chronologically accurate representation of life in 1960s Philadelphia, or is instead an idealized combination of mnemonic images and pop culture references from points throughout the 1960s, much as the film The Wedding Singer was for the 1980s. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 The Wedding Singer is a 1998 Film written by Tim Herlihy and directed by Frank Coraci that stars Adam Sandler as Robbie The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989.
Some examples of these disputes include:
- On American Dreams, a running plotline is the appearance of Meg and Roxanne as dancers on American Bandstand, which still tapes a daily after-school show in Philadelphia; where in real life the show moved to Los Angeles in February 1964 and was only broadcast once a week, on Saturday afternoons (in real life, the studio used for Bandstand was later appropriated by Philadelphia public radio station WHYY). American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. WHYY-FM is a National Public Radio member on 909 MHz, and serves the Delaware Valley area which is the metro area of Philadelphia
- In the pilot episode, Jack makes a reference to Ara Parseghian and Notre Dame. The pilot was set in November of 1963 while Parseghian was hired by Notre Dame in December.
- In the first year, JJ Pryor Jr supposedly attended Lehigh University on a football scholarship in 1963 but joined the Marines when injured to pay for college. Lehigh University is a private, co-educational University located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. As is common at elite academic institutions, Lehigh doesn't have athletic scholarships but gives financial grants in aid instead. Thus he would have still had financial aid even if injured.
- The Philadelphia 1964 race riot depicted in the first season finale started at night, not in the daytime, as depicted in the show. The Philadelphia race riot took place in the predominantly black neighborhoods of North Philadelphia from August 28 to August 30, 1964 Television footage of the riots shown on the episode actually came from the Watts riots of 1965 Los Angeles. The term Watts Riots refers to a large-scale Race riot which lasted six days in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles California, in August Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West
- During the show's first season, the music of several artists, such as the Kinks, Dusty Springfield and Manfred Mann, are heard and referenced in 1963, months before the Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (February 1964) that triggered the musical British Invasion. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
- When the Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, the scene is set up so that the first song the Beatles play is "I Want to Hold Your Hand", which although it was the Beatles' first American hit, it was not the first song played on Ed Sullivan (that honor goes to "All My Loving"). " I Want to Hold Your Hand " is a song by the English pop and rock band The Beatles. " All My Loving " is a song by The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney, but credited to Lennon/McCartney, from the 1963 album
- In one episode in the show's third season, set in late November 1965, the East Coast Blackout and the Leonid meteor shower were both "rescheduled" so that they would fall on the same day that Beth Mason gave birth to JJ Pryor's son. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The Northeast Blackout of 1965 was a significant disruption in the supply of electricity on November 9, 1965, affecting Ontario, Canada For a list of famous people named Leonid please see Leonid (a disambiguation page
- In a first-season episode, Meg and Roxanne gush over meeting the group Jay and the Americans, and Roxanne is especially enamored with "Carl, the drummer" (the group neither had a member named Carl, nor a drummer, in real life). Jay and the Americans were a Pop music group popular in the 1960s Also in real life, there were two lead singers known as "Jay" - Jay Traynor, who sang on their hit "She Cried", and Jay Black, who replaced Traynor for the group's other hits - yet on the episode, it is assumed that there was only one "Jay" who sang all the hits without interruption.
- In the show's first season, set in November 1963, Meg Pryor and Luke Foley argue over the merits of Bob Dylan, and Luke hands Meg a 45 of Dylan singing "Mr. Tambourine Man. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major For The Byrds ' album of the same name see Mr Tambourine Man (album. " In fact, Dylan did not write or perform the song until 1964, and he never released it on a commercial 45 (it appeared on his "Bringing It All Back Home" album released in early 1965), although the Byrds' rendition of it was a hit single. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
- References are made in the show's second season to I Dream of Jeannie, which was still a year away from premiering. I Dream of Jeannie is a 1960s American sitcom with a Fantasy premise On top of that, "the big band theme song" heard, is the one introduced at the beginning of the show's second season (which was a re-creation of the original theme). It was performed & produced by LA guitarist Rick Fleishman, and it also featured LA session drummer Paul Goldberg. Paul Goldberg (born 25 April 1959) is an American Jazz / rock / R&B Drummer. (It's the one most viewers were familiar with in 1966).
- The Monkees perform on the Bandstand stage in January 1966, despite their television series not even premiering until September 1966, or the four actors playing the Monkees even performing a live concert until a year later. For the group's self-titled album see The Monkees (album. For the TV series see The Monkees (TV series. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.
- In an episode set in January/February 1965, Nancy Sinatra (Jennifer Love Hewitt) appears on American Bandstand to sing "These Boots are Made for Walking" despite the fact the song was not released until 1966.
- While working at the space suit company, JJ Pryor meets Gus Grissom, and they discuss the Apollo 1 mission. Virgil Ivan Grissom, more widely known as Gus Grissom, ( 3 April 1926 – 27 January 1967) was one of the original NASA Grissom later says, "Get me back to Cape Canaveral. " In reality, the Apollo 1 mission was not designated by that number or name until after the accident that claimed the lives of Grissom and two other astronauts (at the time the mission was known as Apollo/Saturn 204), and the reference to Cape Canaveral would have been wrong, as the area where the space center was located had been renamed "Cape Kennedy" during the 1960s. Cape Canaveral from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County Florida, United States, near the center of that While the town was officially renamed back to Cape Canaveral in 1973, the space center was (and still is) known as the Kennedy Space Center, and at least three years had passed since the town was renamed from Cape Canaveral to Cape Kennedy; so although it is not impossible that in a casual conversation Grissom would have used the traditional name, it is still unlikely that this would happen. Cape Canaveral from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County Florida, United States, near the center of that Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar.
- Artists such as Blake Shelton, John Ondrasik and Joss Stone are allowed to perform their current pop hits, which in real time would have been 40 years away from ever existing. Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18 1976 in Ada Oklahoma) is an American Country music artist Five for Fighting is the Stage name of American Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. Joss Stone (born Jocelyn Eve Stoker on 11 April 1987 is an English soul and R&B Singer-songwriter and actress.
- Neither The Who nor Ricky Nelson ever performed on the Bandstand stage in real life (Nelson's father Ozzie refused to allow his performing son to appear on anybody else's TV series, even if such appearance might help increase record sales); but that didn't stop the producers from staging performances by those artists in this series.
- In an episode that is supposedly taking place in the spring of 1965, two customers at the TV store, played by Days of our Lives actors John Aniston and Frances Reid, were watching an episode of Days of our Lives on a TV (Frances was watching herself on an early episode). Days of Our Lives is an American Soap opera, which has aired nearly every weekday since November 8 1965 on the NBC network in the United John Aniston (born Yannis Anastassakis; July 24, 1933) is a Greek-American Actor and the father of Actress Jennifer Frances Reid (born December 9, 1914 in Wichita Falls Texas) is an American actress. Days of Our Lives is an American Soap opera, which has aired nearly every weekday since November 8 1965 on the NBC network in the United Days of our Lives did not premiere until November 8, 1965. Days of Our Lives is an American Soap opera, which has aired nearly every weekday since November 8 1965 on the NBC network in the United Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.
- In an episode purporting to take place in the summer of 1966, a character on "American Bandstand" is asked to rate the Rolling Stones' song "I Can't Get No Satisfaction", despite the song being over a year old. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.
- In a late third-season episode, Meg, Roxanne and Luke sit outside Connie Mack Stadium with lawn chairs, listening for free to the Rolling Stones, who are playing a live concert at the stadium. Luke makes a reference that he heard a Bob Dylan concert at Connie Mack Stadium for free this way. Bob Dylan did not play Connie Mack Stadium as an outdoor venue in 1966 or earlier.
- In another third season episode that takes place in June 1966, the Mamas and Papas appear on American Bandstand to perform "California Dreamin'". However, the Mamas and Papas actual appearance on the show was in February 1966, they did not appear again in June of that year. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.
Special guests
During the show's run, several contemporary artists recreated performances of artists from the 1960s. These recreations were often performed on the American Bandstand stage, although several performances took place at a performing area adjacent to the Vinyl Crocodile record store. American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark In the second and third seasons, several of the recreations took place at The Lair, a coffee house/student union facility on the University of Pennsylvania campus.
The contemporary artists, along with the songs they performed and the artist they "interpreted", are listed below.
Performances on Bandstand
- Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, as "Jay" of Jay and the Americans, performing "Come A Little Bit Closer"
- Ric Felix (aka Ricky Godinez and later billed as Ricky G) of No Authority, as one of the members of Jay and the Americans, performing "Come A Little Bit Closer"
- 112, as The Four Tops, performing "Reach Out I'll Be There"
- Fantasia Barrino, as Aretha Franklin, singing "Respect"
- Kelly Clarkson, as Brenda Lee, singing "Sweet Nothing" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
- JoJo, as Linda Ronstadt, auditioning for Bandstand with "That'll Be The Day"
- Jennifer Love Hewitt, as Nancy Sinatra, performing "These Boots Are Made For Walking"
- Chris Isaak, as Roy Orbison, performing "Pretty Woman"
- Michelle Branch, as Lesley Gore performing "You Don't Own Me"
- Monica, as Mary Wells, performing "My Guy"
- Lil' Kim, as Shirley Ellis, performing "The Clapping Song"
- Third Eye Blind, as The Kinks, performing "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night"
- Kelly Rowland, as Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, performing "Dancing in the Streets" and "No Where To Run"
- Alicia Keys, as Fontella Bass, performing "Rescue Me"
- Steadman, as the Dave Clark Five, performing "Do You Love Me"
- Hilary Duff and Haylie Duff, as The Shangri-Las, performing "Leader of the Pack"
- Richie Sambora, as Eric Clapton of the Yardbirds, performing "For Your Love"
- Brad Paisley, as Ricky Nelson, performing "Dream Lover"
- Macy Gray, as Carla Thomas, performing "B. Nick Carter may refer to Nick Carter (musician, a member of the band The Backstreet Boys Nick Carter (cyclist (1924–2003 a cyclist Backstreet Boys are a Grammy -nominated American pop group They were the first group launched by fallen Boy band mogul Lou Pearlman. Jay Black (b David Blatt 2 November 1938, New York is a singer also known as "The Voice" whose height of fame came in the 1960s when he was the lead Jay and the Americans were a Pop music group popular in the 1960s No Authority was a four part American Boy band of the late 1990s and early 2000s from California. Jay and the Americans were a Pop music group popular in the 1960s The Four Tops are an American vocal Quartet, whose repertoire has included Doo-wop, Jazz, Soul music, R&B, Disco " Reach Out I'll Be There " (also formatted as " Reach Out (I'll Be There " is a 1966 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown Fantasia Monique Barrino (born June 30, 1984) or simply Fantasia, is an American R&B / soul singer and Broadway Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25 1942 Franklin has had a total of twenty number-one singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart, two of which became #1 hits on the " Respect " is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965 Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24 1982 is an American Pop rock singer songwriter and occasional actress. Brenda Lee (born December 11, 1944) is an American country - pop Singer, who was popular during the 1950s and 1960s " Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree " is a Christmas song, written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca 9-30776 Joanna Noëlle Blagden Levesque (born December 20 1990 professionaly known as JoJo, is an American pop and R&B Singer-songwriter, Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15 1946 in Tucson Arizona) is an American popular vocalist and Entertainer whose vocal styles in a variety " That'll Be The Day " is a song written by Garth Salisbury and Buddy Holly and performed by various artists including Buddy Holly and The Jennifer Love Hewitt (born February 21, 1979) is an American Actress and Singer-songwriter. Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940, in Jersey City New Jersey) is an American Singer and actress. " These Boots Are Made for Walkin' " is a pop song composed by Lee Hazlewood and first recorded by Nancy Sinatra. Christopher Joseph Isaak (born June 26, 1956) is an American rock Musician and occasional Actor. Roy Kelton Orbison ( April 23 1936 &ndash December 6 1988) nicknamed "The Big O" was an influential Grammy Award -winning Pretty Woman is a 1990 Romantic comedy film. The film centers around the titular character down-on-her-luck Prostitute Vivian Ward ( Michelle Jacquet Branch-Landau (born July 2, 1983) is an American Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist She made her Lesley Gore (born May 2, 1946 as Lesley Sue Goldstein) is an American Singer-songwriter of the " Girl group era" Lesley Gore (born May 2, 1946 as Lesley Sue Goldstein) is an American Singer-songwriter of the " Girl group era" Monica Denise Arnold (born October 24 1980) professionally known as Monica, is an American R&B Singer, Songwriter Mary Esther Wells ( May 13, 1943 &ndash July 26, 1992) was an American singer who sung a repertoire that included R&B " My Guy " is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label Shirley Ellis (born Shirley Marie Elliston circa 1941 The Bronx, New York) is a Soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian origin and "The Clapping Song" is an American song originally recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965 Third Eye Blind (sometimes abbreviated 3eb) is an American Alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The Kinks were an English pop and rock group formed in 1963 and categorised in the US as a British Invasion band Kelendria "Kelly" Trene Rowland (born February 11 1981 is an American R&B Singer-songwriter, Dancer, and actress, Martha Rose Reeves (born July 18, 1941) is an American R&B and soul singer and was the lead singer of the Motown Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were among the most successful groups in the Motown Alicia J Augello-Cook (born January 25 1981 professionally known as Alicia Keys, is an American R&B, soul, and Neo soul Fontella Bass (born July 3 1940, St Louis, Missouri) is an American soul Singer, who is best known for Steadman is a British Indie rock band formed in Hastings in 1998. The Dave Clark Five (also known as "The DC5" were an English Beat group, one of the few presenting something of a commercial threat to The Beatles Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28 1987 is an American Actress, pop Singer-songwriter Haylie Katherine Duff (born February 19, 1985) is an American actress and Singer songwriter. The Shangri-Las were a Girl group, an American pop group of the 1960s Richard "Richie" Steven Sambora (born on July 11 1959 is an American rock Guitarist, producer musician singer and songwriter who is Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE (born 30 March 1945 is an English Blues-rock Guitarist, singer Songwriter and Composer The Yardbirds are an English rock band noted for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous Guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck Brad Douglas Paisley (born October 28, 1972) is a Grammy Award -winning American Country music Singer-songwriter and guitarist Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson, later known as Rick Nelson ( May 8, 1940 &ndash December 31, 1985) was an Macy Gray (born Natalie Renee McIntyre on September 6 1967; also credited as Natalie Hinds in her music is an American Carla Thomas (born December 21 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee) is often referred to as the Queen of Memphis Soul. A. B. Y"
- Nick Lachey, as Tom Jones, performing "It's Not Unusual"
- Liz Phair, as Jackie DeShannon, performing "When You Walk in the Room"
- Evan & Jaron, as The Everly Brothers, performing "Wake Up Little Susie"
- Fefe Dobson, as Tina Turner, performing "River Deep - Mountain High"
- Wyclef Jean, as Curtis Mayfield, performing "Woman's Got Soul"
- B2K & Marques Houston, as The Temptations, performing "My Girl"
- Hawk Nelson, as The Who, performing "My Generation"
- Phantom Planet, as The Zombies, performing "Tell Her No"
- Usher, as Marvin Gaye, performing "Can I Get a Witness"
- Brandy Norwood, as Gladys Knight, performing "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" ;
- Nicole Richie, as the lead singer of The Exciters, performing "Tell Him"
- Duncan Sheik, as Bobby Darin, performing "Beyond the Sea"
- LeAnn Rimes, as Connie Francis, performing "Where the Boys Are"
- Vanessa Carlton, as Dusty Springfield, performing "Wishin' and Hopin'"
- Ashanti, as Dionne Warwick, performing "Walk on By"
- Fountains of Wayne, as The Hollies, performing "Bus Stop"
- John Legend, as Stevie Wonder, performing "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
- Van Hunt, as Jimmy Ruffin, performing "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted"
- Jason Mraz, as Dion DiMucci, performing "Ruby Baby"
- Stacie Orrico, as the lead singer of The Angels, performing "My Boyfriend's Back" (Brittany Snow and Vanessa Lengies were the backup singers on Orrico's cover of the song)
- Vivian Green, as Brenda Holloway, performing "Every Little Bit Hurts"
- Wayne Brady, as Jackie Wilson, performing "Baby Workout"
- Ashley Williams, as Sandie Shaw, performing "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me"
Performances at the Vinyl Crocodile
Performances at the Lair
- John Ondrasik from the band Five for Fighting, performing a folk arrangement of his 2004 recording "If God Made You"
- Art Alexakis, as Country Joe McDonald, performing "I Feel Like I'm-a Fixin' To Die Rag"
- Joss Stone, performing a folk arrangement of her 2005 hit "Right to Be Wrong"
- Alanis Morissette, as a folk singer performing her original composition "Offer"
- Bonnie McKee, as Janis Joplin, performing "Summertime"
- Hayley Westenra performed "Who Painted the Moon Black?" from her album Pure on episode 46. Nicholas Scott Lachey (ləˈʃeɪ phonetically "la-SHAY" (born November 9 1973 is an American pop Singer and Actor who rose to Sir Thomas John Woodward, (born 7 June 1940 known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh pop music singer particularly noted for his powerful voice Liz Phair (born Elizabeth Clark Phair on April 17, 1967 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA) is an American Jackie DeShannon (born Sharon Lee Myers, August 21 1944, Hazel, Kentucky) is an American Singer-songwriter Evan and Jaron Lowenstein (born March 18, 1974) are Jewish American brothers who perform as Evan and Jaron. The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Felicia "Fefe" Dobson (born February 28 1985 is a Canadian Pop rock singer and songwriter Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an eight time Grammy Award -winning American " River Deep - Mountain High " is a 1966 single by Ike & Tina Turner. Wyclef Jean (ˈwajklɛf ˈʒɑn born Nelust Wyclef Jean on October 17, 1972) is a Haitian American Musician, Actor Curtis Lee Mayfield ( June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American soul, R&B, and Funk B2K, meaning Boys of the New Millennium (Y2K is an American R&B Music group. Marques Barrett Houston (born August 4 1981 is an American R&B Singer and Actor. The Temptations (sometimes abbreviated as The Temps or The Tempts) are a Grammy -winning vocal group that achieved fame as one of the most successful " My Girl " released December 21 1964, is a 1965 number-one single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy ( Motown) label Hawk Nelson is a Christian band hailing from Peterborough Ontario. The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964. The primary lineup consisted of guitarist Pete Townshend Phantom Planet is an Alternative rock band from Southern California. For the Undead creature of Vodou lore see Zombie. For other meanings see Zombie (disambiguation. Usher Raymond IV (born October 14 1978 known simply by his first name Usher, is an American R&B and pop Singer - Songwriter Marvin Pentz Gay Jr, known as Marvin Gaye ( April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Singer-songwriter " Can I Get a Witness? " was a 1963 hit song by Marvin Gaye on the Tamla ( Motown) label Gladys Maria Knight, "The Empress of Soul" (born May 28, 1944) is a seven-time Grammy Award -winning American " I Heard It Through the Grapevine " is a R&B / soul song written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong Nicole Camille Richie (born September 21, 1981) is an American Actress, Author, Celebutante, and an aspiring Singer The Exciters were an American Pop music group of the 1960s They were originally a Girl group, although a male member (Herb Rooney was added later Early life Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik's upbringing was split between his grandparents' home in South Carolina and that of his parents Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert "Bobby" Cassotto, May 14 1936 &ndash December 20, 1973) was one of the most popular LeAnn Rimes (born Margaret LeAnn Rimes August 28, 1982 in Pearl Mississippi) is an American Country pop Singer Connie Francis (born December 12, 1938 in Newark New Jersey) is an American Pop singer best known for international hit songs Vanessa Lee Carlton (born August 16 1980 is an American Soft rock / Piano pop Singer, Songwriter, and Pianist best Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien OBE ( 16 April, 1939 &ndash 2 March, 1999) professionally known as Dusty Springfield " Wishin' and Hopin' " is a song written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13 1980 is an American Singer-songwriter, Record producer, actress, Dancer and Dionne Warwick (born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12, 1940) is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award -winning singer actress activist Fountains of Wayne is an American Power pop rock band formed in 1996 and known for such singles as "Radiation Vibe" and " Stacy's Mom The Hollies are an English Rock and roll band formed in the early 1960s. John Stephens (born December 28, 1978) better known by his Stage name John Legend, is a Grammy Award winning American soul Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13 1950 name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris) is an " Uptight (Everything's Alright " is a 1965 hit single recorded by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla ( Motown) label Van Hunt (born March 8, 1977) is an American Singer, Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist and Record producer. Jimmy Ruffin (born May 7, 1939 in Collinsville Mississippi) is an American soul Singer and older brother of Jason Mraz ( IPA: /ˈdʒeɪsʌn mɜrˈæz/ born June 23, 1977) is a Singer-songwriter, born and raised in Mechanicsville Virginia Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18 1939) better known as Dion, is an American Singer-songwriter who blended elements of Stacie Joy Orrico (born March 3, 1986) is a Grammy -nominated and Dove Award -winning pop Singer - Lyricist Vivian Green (born 1980 is an American R&B Singer, Songwriter, and Pianist. Brenda Holloway (born June 21, 1946) is an African-American Singer and Songwriter best known for her period as a recording artist " Every Little Bit Hurts " was originally a 1964 hit single for Motown soul Singer Brenda Holloway, written Wayne Alphonso Brady (born June 2, 1972) is an Emmy -winning American Comedian, Singer and Television personality Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson Jr ( June 9, 1934 &ndash January 21, 1984) was an American singer " Baby Workout " is an R&B song by Jackie Wilson from the album of the same name Ashley Williams (born 12 November 1978 in Westchester County, New York, U Sandie Shaw (born Sandra Ann Goodrich on 26 February 1947) was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s IndiaArie (born India Arie Simpson on October 3 1975) is an American soul, R&B, and Neo soul Singer-songwriter Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known by her Stage name Nina Simone ( IPA: ninɐ sʌmɞnɑ (February 21 1933 – April 21 2003 was a fifteen-time Five for Fighting is the Stage name of American Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. Five for Fighting is the Stage name of American Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. Arthur Paul Alexakis (born on April 12, 1962) is the Singer, Lead guitarist and Songwriter of the rock band Everclear Joseph Allen McDonald (born January 1, 1942 in Washington DC) was the leader and lead Singer of the 1960s Psychedelic rock group Joss Stone (born Jocelyn Eve Stoker on 11 April 1987 is an English soul and R&B Singer-songwriter and actress. " Right to Be Wrong " is a soul – Soft rock song written by English singer-songwriter Joss Stone, Desmond Child, and Alanis Nadine Morissette (born June 1 1974 is a Canadian-born Singer-songwriter, Record producer, and Actress. Bonnie Leigh McKee (born January 20, 1984) is an American Singer - Songwriter, formerly signed to Reprise Records. Janis Lyn Joplin ( January 19, 1943  – October 4, 1970) was an American singer songwriter and music arranger from Hayley Dee Westenra (born 10 April 1987 in Christchurch, New Zealand is a New Zealand Soprano of Irish heritage Pure is the first internationally published album by Hayley Westenra.
- Blake Shelton, performing his song "Playboys of the Southwestern World" from his 2003 CD "The Dreamer". Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18 1976 in Ada Oklahoma) is an American Country music artist Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
- Ben Taylor
- Gavin DeGraw, performing "The Tracks of My Tears"
Other guest star appearances
DVD Releases
The first season of American Dreams was released on DVD in September of 2004. The name Ben Taylor can refer to Ben Taylor (musician, son of James Taylor and Carly Simon Ben Taylor (American football Gavin DeGraw (born February 4, 1977) is an American Singer-songwriter and Musician. Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead on August 23, 1934) is an American film and television actress and Singer who is best I Dream of Jeannie is a 1960s American sitcom with a Fantasy premise Tavis Smiley (born September 13, 1964) is an author journalist political commentator and Talk show host Thurgood Marshall ( July 2, 1908 – January 24, 1993) was an American Jurist and the first African American Brian McKnight (born June 5 1969) is a Grammy-nominated American Singer, Songwriter, arranger producer, pop Stokely Standiford Churchill Carmichael ( June 29, 1941 November 15, 1998) also known as Kwame Ture, was a Trinidadian Virgil Ivan Grissom, more widely known as Gus Grissom, ( 3 April 1926 – 27 January 1967) was one of the original NASA Rich Ira Vos (born June 30 1957) is a Jewish - American Comedian. Lenny Bruce (October 13 1925 &ndash August 3 1966 born Leonard Alfred Schneider, was an American Stand-up comedian, Writer, social Eric Lynch (born March 11, 1975) better known as Eric the Midget is a member of The Howard Stern Show's Wack Pack. Kristen Anne Bell (born July 18 1980 is an American actress She has received a Satellite Award and Saturn Award, and has been nominated for a Television Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson (born June 23 1956 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is best known as a judge on American Idol; he is Fans are clamoring for the release of the remaining two seasons, and despite some reports and promises that plans are in the works, as of early 2007, no release dates have been announced. Prince has promised that the series epilogue will appear in the third season DVD release. However, it is widely believed that the huge number of licensed songs on the series make future dvd releases cost prohibitive. [10]. Currently, there is a fan campaign, organized by the now extinct American Dreams fanclub, to get Season 2 and 3 on DVD which can be found [1]here. [11].
| American Dreams - Season One (Extended Music Edition) |
|
Set Details |
Special Features |
- 25 Episodes
- 7-Disc Set
- 1. 33:1 Aspect Ratio
- English (Dolby 5. 1 Surround)
|
- Audio Commentaries
- 250 Rock 'n' Roll Hits
- Promo Spots
- Music Video with Stacie Orrico and the Cast
|
| Release Date |
United States |
September 7, 2004 |
Soundtrack
On May 6, 2003, Hip-O Records released a soundtrack for the first season of American Dreams. Stacie Joy Orrico (born March 3, 1986) is a Grammy -nominated and Dove Award -winning pop Singer - Lyricist The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The songs on the CD are as follows
- "Generation", performed by Emerson Hart
- "Heatwave", performed by Martha and the Vandellas
- "She’s Not There", performed by The Zombies
- "Don’t Worry Baby", performed by The Beach Boys
- "My Girl", performed by B2K and Marques Houston
- "People Get Ready", performed by The Impressions
- "Come Ye", performed by India.Arie
- "Gone Gone Gone", performed by The Everly Brothers
- "My Boyfriend’s Back", performed by Stacie Orrico, Brittany Snow, and Vanessa Lengies
- "Wishin’ and Hopin’", performed by Vanessa Carlton
- "Beyond The Sea", performed by Duncan Sheik
- "That’s How Strong My Love Is", performed by Otis Redding
- "You Really Got Me", performed by The Kinks
- "Every Little Bit Hurts", performed by Vivian Green
- "Sounds of Silence", performed by Simon and Garfunkel
Trivia
- Dick Clark is a co-producer of American Dreams. Emerson Hart (born July 21 1969 in Washington PA) is a Songwriter, Vocalist, Guitarist and producer. Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were among the most successful groups in the Motown For the Undead creature of Vodou lore see Zombie. For other meanings see Zombie (disambiguation. The Beach Boys is an American rock band Formed in 1961 the group gained popularity for its close vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a California Youth culture B2K, meaning Boys of the New Millennium (Y2K is an American R&B Music group. Marques Barrett Houston (born August 4 1981 is an American R&B Singer and Actor. The Impressions are an American Music group from Chicago, originally formed in 1958 IndiaArie (born India Arie Simpson on October 3 1975) is an American soul, R&B, and Neo soul Singer-songwriter The Everly Brothers ( Don Everly, born Isaac Donald Everly February 1 1937 Brownie Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Stacie Joy Orrico (born March 3, 1986) is a Grammy -nominated and Dove Award -winning pop Singer - Lyricist Brittany Anne Snow (born March 9, 1986) is an American television and film actress most known for The Pacifier, John Vanessa Lynne-Marie Lengies (born July 21, 1985 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian actress best known for starring in the Vanessa Lee Carlton (born August 16 1980 is an American Soft rock / Piano pop Singer, Songwriter, and Pianist best Early life Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik's upbringing was split between his grandparents' home in South Carolina and that of his parents Otis Ray Redding Jr ( September 9, 1941 December 10, 1967) was an American soul singer The Kinks were an English pop and rock group formed in 1963 and categorised in the US as a British Invasion band Vivian Green (born 1980 is an American R&B Singer, Songwriter, and Pianist. Simon & Garfunkel are an American Singer-songwriter duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (born November 30, 1929) is an American Television, Radio personality, Game show host Clark, who hosted and produced American Bandstand, can also be seen in archival footage whenever the Bandstand scenes are filmed. American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark
- American Bandstand announcer Charlie O'Donnell was portrayed by numerous actors, but never was identified as him in the series; instead identified only as the Bandstand Announcer. American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark Charlie O'Donnell (born August 12, 1932 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is an American television Announcer best known for his work on
- According to a Star Magazine issue, Meg Pryor's character was loosely based on actual American Bandstand regular Fran Giordano. American Bandstand was a Television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark
- The closing song of the series is "Bookends Theme" by Simon and Garfunkel
- The role of Beth was originally offered to Christy Carlson Romano
- East Catholic High School is presumed to be based on Philadelphia's West Catholic, which won the 1965 Catholic League football championship. Simon & Garfunkel are an American Singer-songwriter duo of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Christy Carlson Romano (born Christy Michelle Romano March 20 1984 is an American actress, Author and Singer. West Philadelphia Catholic High School is a Co-educational Catholic High school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
- 2003 TV Land Awards "Future Classic" winner. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The TV Land Awards are American television awards that generally commemorate shows now off the air rather than in current production as with awards such as the Emmys
Broadcasts
American Dreams was shown for 3 years on NBC from 2002 to 2005.
Footnotes
External links
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