7th Heaven
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- This article is about the TV program. For other uses, see Seventh Heaven (disambiguation)
| 7th Heaven | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Family Drama |
| Creator(s) | Brenda Hampton |
| Starring | See Cast below |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 237 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Brenda Hampton Aaron Spelling E. Duke Vincent |
| Running time | 60 minutes (with commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | The WB (1996-2006)
The CW (2006-) |
| Original run | August 26, 1996 – present |
| Links | |
7th Heaven is an American television series about a Protestant minister's family living in the fictional town of Glen Oak, California. It was created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on Monday August 26, 1996, on the WB Television Network, the first time that the WB aired Monday night programming. The series finale was scheduled for May 8, 2006; however, the show was renewed by the CW Television Network when the intended final episode received high ratings. The 11th season premiered on Monday, September 25, 2006, and the show currently airs Sunday nights at 8:00 ET/PT and at 7:00 CT on The CW.
Contents |
[edit] Episodes
See: List of 7th Heaven episodes
[edit] Cast and characters
Regular cast and characters, as of the show's 11th season:
- Stephen Collins as Eric Camden
- Catherine Hicks as Annie Camden
- Barry Watson as Matt Camden
- David Gallagher as Simon Camden
- Jessica Biel as Mary Camden-Rivera
- Beverley Mitchell as Lucy Camden-Kinkirk
- Mackenzie Rosman as Ruthie Camden
- Nikolas Brino as Sam Camden
- Lorenzo Brino as David Camden
- Happy (dog actor) as Happy
[edit] Recurring cast and characters
- Sarah Thompson (Rose)
- Sarah Danielle Madison (Sarah Glass-Camden)
- Carlos Ponce (Carlos Rivera)
- Alyssa & Hannah Yadrick (Savannah Kinkirk)
- Geoff Stults (Ben Kinkirk)
- Kyle Searles (Mac)
- Colton James (Theodore "T-Bone")
- Sarah Wright (Jane)
- Andrea Morris (Margaret)
[edit] Premise
[edit] Denomination
The central characters are Reverend Eric Camden (Stephen Collins), his wife Annie (Catherine Hicks), and their seven children Matt (Barry Watson), Mary (Jessica Biel), Lucy (Beverley Mitchell), Simon (David Gallagher), Ruthie (Mackenzie Rosman) and the twins David (Lorenzo Brino) and Sam (Nikolas Brino). "Reverend Camden" is the senior pastor of the Glen Oak Community Church, whose Protestant denomination is typically never disclosed (with the exception of an episode that was narrated by Simon in season 8, and in a season 11 episode in which Annie coments on how Protestants can't have a confession and in season 6 episode 15 when Matt tells Sarah Glass that his father is Protestant). In most episodes, any Christian element remains ostentatiously unstated, and indeed the actual word "Jesus" is rarely mentioned. One can, however, rule out some US fundamentalist denominations considering that Lucy has become a clergywoman, given that some American Protestant denominations do not permit women to occupy a clerical position.[citation needed]
In at least one episode, the Disciples of Christ denominational logo (St. Andrew cross and chalice) was displayed prominently on the front of the church's pulpit. Many of the church scenes were filmed at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of south Hollywood (Studio City). Although the logo display was likely unintentional, there appears to be nothing about the Camdens' brand of Christianity that would be negated if they were not a part of the Disciples of Christ.
In an earlier online show guide from Warner Brothers Television, the back story for Eric Camden described him as being an Episcopal priest leading, with his bishop's permission, a non-denominational church. This is particularly interesting in light of Stephen Collins real-life attendance at an Episcopal parish in the Pacific Palisades area.
[edit] Clerical family
The family originally consisted of five children (Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, and Ruthie), but in the third season, Annie gave birth to twins, Sam and David. Three of the children (Matt, Simon, and Mary) moved away from home and thereafter appeared irregularly throughout the rest of the show's run. Mary, the show's "prodigal daughter", moved away to solve problems she was having in Glen Oak more than once, as well as being married and divorced. Unlike the others, which appeared again throughout the show, she was the only Camden who really got "kicked off" the show by the producers (see Jessica Biel's departure). Simon went to college, and Matt married and pursued his career as a doctor. Nevertheless, the house is always full; Lucy, her husband Kevin, and their daughter Savannah all live near the Camdens. Daughter Ruthie and son Simon also are in the final seasons regularly. Frequent house guests also find the Camden house a home of their own. Due to dissatisfaction with the show and her image, Jessica Biel was slowly written out of the show from 2000 and, after an appearance in September 2003, she did not appear again until the tenth season finale on May 8, 2006. On the other hand, Matt and Simon have regularly found themselves involved with the family since they moved out and Simon (David Gallagher) returned regularly in the tenth season.
[edit] Themes
Each episode deals with a moral lesson or controversial theme that the family deals with either directly or indirectly. Some range from the traumatic (e.g., Eric's sister came to visit and the children found out that she had a drinking problem) to the somewhat trivial (e.g., in one episode, every child acquired an addiction, with even Ruthie being addicted to gum. Beyond the moral lesson in each show, there are also longer-running story arcs. In the later seasons, Eric had to deal with his wife entering menopause and his youngest daughter Ruthie needing a training bra. The topics are usually approached from a socially and politically conservative Protestant Christian point of view (devoting almost the whole 9th season to the alleged need not to have pre-marital sex while, however, several pre-marital episodes occur, including a 10th season episode where Eric mentions that his parents had to marry because his mother became pregnant with him and most recently Ruthie disclosing that she lost her virginity while in Europe over the summer, although it was revealed to be a lie. ), supporting the 2003 invasion of Iraq, although the series so far has avoided touching "hot button" issues (i.e. affirmative action, abortion, contraception and homosexuality). A 2004 episode about the importance of voting on election day seemed to suggest that men in the family were voting for incumbent president George W. Bush, while the women were voting for Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, although the script went out of the way to make sure that no mention of either candidate was ever made directly by name, leaving the viewer to decide and the message of the episode simply being "vote, no matter who you vote for". However, in the same episode in which Matt discloses that the family is Protestant, he also discloses to Sarah that his father, the Reverend Camden, is a Democrat. Along with the show's family-oriented storyline, this conservative nature has been responsible, in part, for the show's longevity - appealing to an audience who are rarely targeted. This appears to extend even to the question of the denomination of Mr. Camden's church ("Reverend Camden", in the vocabulary of the program's producers and writers).
The show is reliant on the very special episode concept, attempting to introduce contemporary social issues to lend greater emotional resonance to episodes. These episodes do in fact lead to high ratings for the show. The January 24, 2005 episode, which featured the birth of Lucy's daughter Savannah, garnered 7.99 million viewers - the highest WB rating since 2003. Another example included the would-be series finale, now simply known as the Season 10 finale, which scored 7.56 million viewers on May 8, 2006.
[edit] Changes in the show's tone
Many long-time viewers noticed a gradual change in the tone of the show throughout the years. In the early seasons, Eric and Annie are very strict with their children, often punishing them for minor reasons. The show also had a more dramatic tone in earlier seasons, featuring very serious issues in each episode, such as alcoholism and self-mutilation. In later seasons, however, Eric and Annie are much more laid back, and the show has a lighter, more comic, tone to it.
[edit] Jessica Biel's departure
Jessica Biel played daughter Mary from the show's beginning. However, gradually dissatisfied with her "goody goody" image, Biel eventually posed for semi-nude photographs for Gear magazine of which the producers of the show did not approve. During the fifth (2000-2001) season, her character had gone through a rebellious phase, and this storyline was used to write Biel out of the show, sending Mary to her grandparents' house in Buffalo, New York for some tough love to counter her rebellious behavior. During the sixth season (2001-2002), Mary returned home but the differences between Biel and the producers led to Mary leaving home full time and becoming a flight attendant.
Biel returned for five episodes during the seventh season (2002-2003), including Lucy's wedding episode and the season finale. She then appeared in the second episode of the eighth season, which aired on September 22, 2003, when she revealed to the family that she had married Carlos Rivera (Carlos Ponce) whom the Camdens assisted in returning home to his family in the Christmas episode "Here Comes Santa Claus" of the third season, and was pregnant with his child. Following that appearance, fans hoped for years that she would return at some point. After a nearly three-year absence, it was announced on April 3, 2006 that Jessica would make a triumphant return for the season finale "And Thank You", reuniting all nine Camdens for the first time since the seventh season finale "Life and Death" in April 2003.
While she was away, from 2003-2006, Mary has had major storylines off-camera, including giving birth to son Charles Miguel in 2004, and then subsequently divorcing her husband and signing away custody of her child in the May 2005 ninth season finale "Mi Familia". Her on-screen ex-husband Carlos Ponce, made several appearances during her absence to deliver these stories. Minor stories or tid-bits include Mary taking a political stance in Season 9 by sending her husband to the voting booth and attending rallies, sending Lucy a baby shower gift, going through job training in London, relocating to Chicago following her divorce, and most recently, helping Simon in the 10th season with financial difficulties. However, she has clearly maintained a connection with Carlos and son, and up until the divorce was made known, kept in contact with her siblings semi-regularly at least.
Her appearance in the 10th season finale, though limited, shed light on events taking place during the last few months. Mary graduated college the same weekend as Matt and Sarah, reunited with husband Carlos, and is pregnant with twin girls. Although she was not with the family, her conversation with her husband during the episode revealed that Mary's reunion with the family would take place during Matt and Sarah's graduation ceremony. All of this brought resolution to the estrangement that had been present since the fifth season.
In the 11th season premiere it is revealed that Mary had the twin girls over the summer. She and Carlos also returned to New York for reasons unknown. She got a job teaching and was going to coach basketball for two months. Later on in the season Annie unexpectedly visited Mary to help with the kids while she taught the girls basketball team.
[edit] Ratings
7th Heaven is the most watched TV series ever on the WB. It holds the record for the WB's most watched hour at 12.5 million viewers, on February 8, 1999.
19 of the WB's 20 most watched hours were from 7th Heaven. No other WB series has had as much success as 7th Heaven. On May 8, 2006, it was watched by 7.56 million viewers, the highest rating for the WB since January 2005. However, on the CW, ratings dropped. This is most likely because for 6 months it was advertised, heavily, as the last episode ever. The CW hardly ever advertised for it, with no billboards or bus stops and few commercials. It moved 7th Heaven to Sunday nights, and, as a result, it's season average has been, as of February 18, 2007, 3.67 million. It is now the third most watched scripted show on the CW. Overall, it is the fifth most watched show.
[edit] Production
Although originally produced for Fox in 1996, the show aired on The WB. It was produced by Spelling Television, and distributed for syndication by CBS Paramount Television (the ABC Family network has off-network syndication rights and airs daily reruns of the program). Its producers, including Aaron Spelling, considered it wholesome family viewing, incorporating public service announcements into the show. 7th Heaven is now shown on the CW. The show finished production of its eleventh season on March 8, 2007.
[edit] Product placements
Early on in the series, then Chrysler Corporation had strong ties with the show, in which the Camden family drove a continually updated Dodge Grand Caravan which continued though the 10th season . An episode in the first season featured Simon winning a Dodge Viper. In the 7th episode of the 10th season, "Soup's On", Campbell's Soup received a great deal of obvious product placement, with the words "Campbell's Labels for Education" said aloud multiple times. This product placement actually lasted for a few episodes. In the 4th to last episode of the tenth season, "Secrets", Nabisco Oreo Cookies got a product placement - serving as a major plot device.
[edit] 2006 renewal
After much deliberation within the now-defunct WB network, it was made public in November 2005 that the tenth season would be the program's final because of high costs. Because of this, the program's future was hanging in the balance, and it was entirely in the hands of the newly-established CW network whether to renew it for an eleventh seasonal run. In March 2006, the main cast of characters was approached about the possibility of returning for an eleventh season. [1] [2]
After further consideration by the CW network, it was decided - 3 days after the airing of its "series finale" - that 7th Heaven would be picked up for an eleventh season, which would air on their network, preserving the Monday-night slot that had helped make it famous. [3] In an article elaborating on the decision, John Consoli of Mediaweek said [4]:
| “ | 7th Heaven, the longest-running family drama in television history, in a surprising move, will return for its eleventh season on the new CW network this fall. | ” |
Along with the show's unexpected, and last-minute, renewal came many changes. The show's budget was severely trimmed, forcing salary cuts among the cast and crew and episodes to be filmed in seven work days, rather than eight. Furthermore, David Gallagher, who played second son Simon Camden, opted not to renew his contract and Mackenzie Rosman, who played youngest daughter Ruthie Camden, was not seen in the first six episodes, after appearing in every episode of the series prior to that.
Also, after always airing Monday nights at 8/7c for its entire run, including 2 episodes from its 11th season, The CW unexpectedly moved 7th Heaven to Sunday nights in October 2006. The Sunday/Monday lineup-swap was attributed to mediocre ratings on both nights. [5]
[edit] DVD releases
Paramount Home Entertainment has released the first 4 Seasons of 7th Heaven on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. It is expected that the remaining seasons will be released soon.
| Cover Art | DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
The Complete First Season | 22 | September 14, 2004 |
 |
The Complete Second Season | 22 | February 8, 2005 |
 |
The Complete Third Season | 22 | November 28, 2006 |
 |
The Complete Fourth Season | 22 | March 27, 2007 |
| The Complete Fifth Season | 22 | TBA, 2007 | |
| The Complete Sixth Season | 22 | TBA, 2007 | |
| The Complete Seventh Season | 22 | TBA, 2008 | |
| The Complete Eighth Season | 23 | TBA, 2008 | |
| The Complete Ninth Season | 22 | TBA, 2008 | |
| The Complete Tenth Season | 22 | TBA, 2009 | |
| The Complete Eleventh Season | 22 | TBA, 2009 |
- The DVDs do not contain special features.
On August 31, 2006, TVShowsonDVD.com [6] released the cover art for 7th Heaven Season 3 and mentioned that there would be a change in the packaging for the season 3 DVD as is evident from the cover art issued by CBS/Paramount.
On December 12, 2006, TVShowsonDVD.com [7] has announced Season 4 to be released on March 27, 2007.
On December 20, 2006, TVShowsonDVD.com [8] released the cover art for 7th Heaven Season 4 and that it will be the same packaging as Season 3.
[edit] Trivia
- Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) and Lucy Camden (Beverley Mitchell) are the only characters to appear in every episode of the series. Happy the Dog missed one episode - she did not appear in the 10th season finale - and Annie Camden (Catherine Hicks) missed three episodes in the eleventh season. Additionally, Ruthie Camden (Mackenzie Rosman) has missed only the first six episodes of the eleventh season.
- 7th Heaven also holds the record for the WB's most watched hour - 12.5 million viewers - set on February 8, 1999. [9]
- Despite buzz from critics among sister series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicity, Dawson's Creek, Smallville, Gilmore Girls, and Everwood, no WB show carries anywhere near the amount of success that 7th Heaven has generated over its 11-year run.
- 19 of the WB's 20 top rated hours of prime-time television have been 7th Heaven episodes, with one spot belonging to Dawson's Creek during its first season.
- 7th Heaven is the only returning CW show to finish last season with more viewers than when it began.
- Because of Aaron Spelling's death, this is the last production under the Spelling brand name. It is thought that CBS will retire the Spelling name after 7th Heaven ends its run, out of respect for its namesake.
- Jessica Biel and her on-screen boyfriend, Adam LaVorgna (Robbie), both co-starred in the 1998 film I'll Be Home for Christmas.
[edit] broadcasts
- Australia - FOX8 and Ten.
- Austria - ORF1
- Belgium - Kanaal Twee
- Canada - (First run) Sundays: ASN 6 pm ET (7pm AT), ACCESS 10 pm ET (8pm MT), A-Channel Victoria 8 pm PT, Fox44 (Montreal area), 10 pm ET; Sundays: A-Channel 8 pm E/P. (Syndication) Vision TV Monday - Thursday 6 pm ET/3pm PT, CITS-TV Monday - Friday 4:00 pm ET/1:00pm PT
- hollywood - Nova TV
- Denmark - Kanal 5
- Estonia - TV 3
- Finland - YLE TV2 - Finnish title: "Seitsemäs taivas" ("Seventh Heaven")
- France - TF1 - French title: "Sept à la maison" ("Seven in the House")
- Germany - VOX - German title: "Eine Himmlische Familie" ("A Heavenly Family")
- Greece - Star Channel
- Hungary - TV2 - Hungarian title: "Hetedik mennyország" ("Seventh Heaven")
- Ireland - Channel 6/Hallmark Channel (formerly RTÉ One but since removed from schedule)
- Israel - Hallmark Channel
- Italy - Italia 1/Fox & Hallmark Channel - Italian title: "Settimo Cielo" ("Seventh Heaven")
- Macedonia - Sitel, Kiss
- Malaysia - TV2
- Montenegro - RTCG - Montenegrin title: "Sedmo Nebo" ("Seventh Sky")
- New Zealand-TV3
- Norway - TV2
- Philippines - Studio 23
- Poland - TVP1
- Romania - Acasă TV, Prima TV
- Singapore - MediaCorp TV Channel 5
- Slovakia - Markíza
- Slovenia - POP TV
- South Africa - SABC 2
- Spain - Telecinco / Cuatro
- Sweden - Kanal 5 - Swedish Title: "Sjunde Himlen" ("Seventh Heaven")
- Thailand - UBC Series
- Turkey - TRT 1 - Turkish title: "Kalabalık ve Mutlu" ("Crowded and Happy")
- UK - Hallmark Channel
