7th Heaven

[Cam42]

[quote name='The WB']BURBANK, CA (November 11, 2005) The WB Network and Spelling Television announced today that 7TH HEAVEN, the longest-running family drama in television history, will conclude its historic 10-year run on The WB at the end of this season.

The debut of 7TH HEAVEN launched The WB's first-ever Monday night broadcast on August 26, 1996, at 8:00 p.m. Remarkably, the series has remained in that timeslot ever since, holding its own against the 92 other series that have aired against it over the past 10 seasons. Recently the series celebrated its milestone 200th episode.

"We're announcing this decision now to ensure a monumental send-off for this series which has become one of the most important shows in the network's history," said David Janollari, President of Entertainment for The WB. "Brenda Hampton has already begun work on scripts for the second half of the season. These episodes will be filled with emotion and life-changing events. We owe a compelling and unforgettable final season to the Camden family and to the millions of viewers who helped grow this program into a huge hit. The WB is eternally grateful to Spelling Television, the producers, cast and crew of the little show that could -- and did."

"7TH HEAVEN is as dear to my heart as any series I have ever produced," said Aaron Spelling, legendary executive producer of the series. "Not many shows make it to 10 years and it's even rarer for a series to go out on top after 10 seasons. That result is a huge testament to Brenda Hampton, who created the series, and the phenomenal cast who have made the Camdens America's number one family for a record-breaking decade. I thank all of them and The WB for putting on a family show when it wasn't very cool to do so and then sticking with it in the same time slot for the entire run of the show. When 7TH HEAVEN launched on this new, little network in 1996, we had no inkling that we would one day make history, but we did and for that I am grateful and very, very proud."

"Although we had anticipated this could be the last season, it was difficult breaking the news to the cast and crew," said Brenda Hampton. "At this point, we're all very much a family. However, just like the Camden kids, I think we've all grown up and it's simply time to leave home. We choose to feel happy and blessed to have been part of this series, and we are very grateful to all our fans."

"7TH HEAVEN has been a gift," said Stephen Collins. "Going to work on something every day that means so much to so many people is pure joy. Working with Aaron Spelling, Brenda Hampton and The WB, plus making a bit of TV history while watching our wonderful cast grow up in real time, has been the experience of a lifetime."

7TH HEAVEN stars Stephen Collins as Reverend Eric Camden, Catherine Hicks as Annie Camden, Barry Watson as Matt Camden, David Gallagher as Simon Camden, Beverley Mitchell as Lucy Kinkirk, Mackenzie Rosman as Ruthie Camden, Nikolas and Lorenzo Brino as Sam and David Camden, George Stults as Kevin Kinkirk and Tyler Hoechlin as Martin Brewer. Jessica Biel was also a member of the series' original cast. Both Biel and Barry Watson have gone on to successful film careers, and Biel was recently named "The Sexiest Woman Alive" by Esquire magazine.

7TH HEAVEN achieved 19 of the top 20 all-time episodic deliveries for The WB among total viewers (Persons 2+). Among women 18-49, the family drama scored 17 of the all-time top 20 WB performances. On February 8, 1999, the birth of the Camden twins accomplished the historic feat of ranking #1 in its time slot against all competition among total viewers (12.5 million). That episode, "In Praise of Women," still holds the all-time WB ratings record in adults 18-49 (4.6/12), women 18-49 (6.3/15), and households (7.4/11), along with total viewers (12.5 million).

The series has chronicled the many complex problems of growing up in the world today. The young adults on 7TH HEAVEN have been exposed to issues ranging from teen suicide and sibling rivalry to violence in schools. Storylines have touched on such topics as the Holocaust, hate crimes, prejudice against Muslims, drug use, vandalism, the right to vote, drinking and driving, teen pregnancy and homelessness. Reflecting the headlines of our times, episodes have also focused on the "Lost Boys" of The Sudan, a real-life American serviceman who was killed in Afghanistan and a law allowing teenage mothers to turn their unwanted babies over to hospitals with no questions asked.

The series has received honors from the Parents Television Council, The Media Project's Shine Awards, Entertainment Industries Council's Prism Awards, Viewers Voice, Anti-Defamation League, Film Advisory Board, Academy of Religious Broadcasting, Kids Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, Family Friendly Forum Awards and the TV Guide Awards. In addition, TV Guide named 7TH HEAVEN as "The Best Show You?re Not Watching," in 1996.

Over the past 10 seasons, 7TH HEAVEN has welcomed many legendary film and television stars, including Tim Conway, Ray Walston, Ernest Borgnine, Bo Derek, Richard Lewis, Ed Begley, Jr., Melissa Gilbert, Peter Graves, Deborah Raffin, Phyllis Diller, Wayne Newton, Barbara Rush, Eileen Brennan, Dorian Harewood, Brenda Strong, Martha Plimpton, Laraine Newman, Mackenzie Phillips, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Meredith Baxter, Cindy Williams, Ashley Simpson, Gabrielle Union and Lance Bass, among many others. Additionally, several guest stars went on to star in other series for The WB, including Keri Russell ("Felicity"), Allison Mack ("Smallville"), Matt Czuchry ("Gilmore Girls") and Kaley Cuoco ("Charmed").

7TH HEAVEN was created by Brenda Hampton ("Fat Actress," "Mad About You," "Blossom"), who also serves as executive producer along with Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent. Spelling and Vincent are also executive producers of The WB?s "Charmed," produced by Spelling Television, Inc., a Paramount/Viacom company.[/quote]

What do you all think?

[homeschoolmom]

In the first episode, when I saw the size of that gigantic parsonage that they supposedly lived in, I knew it wasn't going to be very realistic...

[Era Might]

I happened to stop on the show some time ago, while I was flipping channels. Apparantly, one of the daughters is a minister. I was laughing because she was like a teeny bopper minister. I was supposed to take her character seriously as a minister. Not gonna happen.

[Era Might]

btw, the mother on the show is Catholic in real life. She's done some work at a parish here in Dorchester, trying to keep the school open I think.

Edited December 13, 2005 by Era Might

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Dec 12 2005, 09:25 PM']I happened to stop on the show some time ago, while I was flipping channels. Apparantly, one of the daughters is a minister. I was laughing because she was like a teeny bopper minister. I was supposed to take her character seriously as a minister. Not gonna happen.
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You have to watch it from the beginning.

I would have taken it more seriously if they hadn't made out more often later on in the series...

[Colleen]

I never really liked it. I tried to watch it a few times, but I never really got into it. It seemed kinda unrealistic and melodramatic to me at times.

I think there was at least one episode where the mother mentioned that she was or had been on the Pill, and I think one of the daughters was as well.

[Brother Adam]

I enjoyed some of the earlier episodes. my mom is a faithful fan, though she admits the show did go downhill after a while.

[homeschoolmom]

I watched the first season. Then about a month or so ago, I saw the opening and I'm thinking, "Who are all these people??"

[toledo_jesus]

Both Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks were in Star Trek movies. Collins was in the first movie, with V'Ger, and Hicks was in the fourth, with the whales. That makes them totally cool forever throughout all time.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='toledo_jesus' date='Dec 13 2005, 01:55 AM']Both Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks were in Star Trek movies.  Collins was in the first movie, with V'Ger, and Hicks was in the fourth, with the whales.  That makes them totally cool forever throughout all time.
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long live star trek! Trekkies forever!

[homeschoolmom]

Ah, but Catherine Hicks was also in Child's Play which has to decrease her coolness level somewhat...

[Sojourner]

I've watched it from time to time. I'm not going to miss it.

Now, my friends who are PK's say that, while dramatized and exaggerated, the portrayal of PK life isn't all that different from what they've experienced.

[toledo_jesus]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' date='Dec 13 2005, 07:19 AM']Ah, but Catherine Hicks was also in Child's Play which has to decrease her coolness level somewhat...
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The Shatner Effect, first documented in 1979, extends the coolness of a person who appears onscreen with the Shatner for longer than 30 seconds to almost idiotic proportions. Indeed, the Shatner is much like the glue that holds all the universe together. Perhaps we should just start calling it the Shatner-verse like the rest of world. Seriously, we won't go metric and we refuse to adopt Shatnertonian laws of quantum dynamophysics. That's what is wrong with America.

[sweetpea316]

The show is still on? Wow... I thought it had been finished by now. I used to really like it, but then lost interest after a while.

[Cam42]

Considering all that is on tv today, this show should be missed. There are not all that many shows that deal with traditional family values.

While they are not Catholic, they are Christian and for the most part they provide a good Christian message. Sure the issues that they deal with are sometimes not easy to watch and discuss, but for the most part this show has been faithful to Christian values.

Sure, there were sometimes I would think, especially as a theologian, "Whoa, that's totally wrong!!!!" However, it is a tv show and it is intended to be more dramatic than real life. They have to condense an entire issue in 1 or maybe 2 hours. Most families work out these issues over years. They do that too, though. Look at the Mary storyline or lack thereof.

The show is and will continue to promote good family values. While the values are not Catholic, they are Christian. Would I live my life the way they do? Not entirely, but then again, I would not live my life the way that most of you people here do, with the possible exception of hot stuff and HSMom. That is what I think.