Brothers & Sisters (2006 TV series) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For the 1979 television series of the same name, see Brothers and Sisters (1979 TV series). Brothers & Sisters Format Family Drama - Soap Opera Created by Jon Robin Baitz Starring Season 3 cast: Dave Annable Sally Field Calista Flockhart Balthazar Getty Rachel Griffiths Rob Lowe Luke MacFarlane Sarah Jane Morris Ron Rifkin Matthew Rhys Emily VanCamp Patricia Wettig Maxwell Perry Cotton Kerris Lilla Dorsey Country of origin United States No. of seasons 3 No. of episodes 59 (List of episodes) Production Executive producer(s) Jon Robin Baitz, Greg Berlanti, Ken Olin, Mark Perry (2007), Monica Owusu-Breen, Alison Schapker & Molly Newman (2008-) Running time 43 minutes Broadcast Original channel ABC Picture format 480i (SDTV), 720p (HDTV), 1080i (HDTV) (7HD) Original run September 24, 2006 – present External links Official website Brothers & Sisters is an American dramatic television series which centers on the upper class Walker family and their lives in Los Angeles, California. It premiered on ABC on September 24, 2006 after Desperate Housewives and airs Sundays. The acting ensemble includes Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe, Matthew Rhys, and Rachel Griffiths. Sally Field won the 2007 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Nora Walker. Rachel Griffiths was also nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category. Contents [hide] 1 Overview 1.1 Premise 1.2 Plot points 2 Characters 2.1 The Walker family 2.2 Other family and friends 2.3 Recurring and former characters 3 Cast Members 3.1 Cast 3.2 Recurring/Former 3.3 Notable guest stars 4 Episodes 5 DVD releases 6 Production notes 7 Ratings 7.1 USA TV Ratings 7.2 UK TV Ratings 8 Awards 9 References 10 External links [edit] Overview [edit] Premise The show is centered on the Walker family, an American family of Irish and Jewish heritages. Some of the family members are involved in the family owned business running Ojai Food Co, a produce distributor. Most of the action is set in the Greater Los Angeles area. The family home is located in Pasadena, California. The main branches of the Walker family tree included father William (deceased) (Tom Skerritt), mother Nora (Sally Field), and their five grown children - Sarah, Kitty, Tommy, Kevin, and Justin. Nora's brother, Saul Holden (Ron Rifkin) helps run the Walker family business and is involved in most of the family's affairs. [edit] Plot points The show's narrative launched with the death of William Walker at Kitty's birthday party. His death causes a number of secrets from his life to be revealed - secrets that impact the remainder of his family. On the business side, Sarah, Tommy, and Saul, who are the most involved people with the family business, learn that William embezzled the company funds. The business revelation pales, however, to two major revelations on the personal front: William had a mistress, Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig) that he kept for decades, and the couple were believed to have had a child, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp). They later find out that Rebecca was not William's biological child but that he fathered another child Ryan by a second mistress Connie (deceased). Ryan will be portrayed by Luke Grimes.[1] After Tommy finds out that his dad was going to open a winery for Tommy to run, he joins Holly in opening Walker Landing Winery, and later took over Ojai Foods, to help bring them out of a financial crisis, making Holly and Tommy Co-CEO's. War veteran Justin struggled with drug addiction but eventually recovered and was deployed to Iraq, was injured and relapsed and is now beginning a relationship with non-sister Rebecca. Sarah divorces, and Kitty marries and begins the adoption process with one time Presidential hopeful and Republican senator Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe). Middle brother Kevin, a lawyer, marries on and off again partner Scotty and takes over for Kitty as his brother-in-law's Director of Communications while she publishes her book. [edit] Characters [edit] The Walker family Nora Walker is considered the matriarch of the Walker Family; stay-at-home mom Sarah Walker a working mom and President of Ojai Foods Kitty McCallister writer and former communications director for her husband, United States Senator Robert McCallister Tommy Walker, a husband, father, Former President of Ojai Foods Kevin Walker is the communications director for Senator McCallister and is married to Scotty Wandell. Justin Walker is a veteran of the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and recovering drug addict. Ryan Lafferty, the Walkers' newly discovered half-brother. [edit] Other family and friends Saul Holden, Former CFO at Ojai Foods; brother of Nora Walker. Julia Walker, a teacher, married to Tommy Walker, with one daughter, Elizabeth (whose twin brother, William, died shortly after birth). Rebecca Harper, daughter of Holly Harper; currently working at Ojai foods as their advertising executive, in a relationship with Justin Walker. Robert McCallister, a United States Senator, married to Kitty Walker. Scotty Wandell, a Head Chef; married to Kevin Walker Holly Harper, is Chairwoman and CEO of Ojai Foods; ex-lover of William Walker; mother of Rebecca Harper. [edit] Recurring and former characters William Walker, deceased, founder and owner of Ojai Foods, was husband to Nora Walker and father to Sarah, Kitty, Tommy, Kevin, and Justin Walker, and Ryan Lafferty. The actor, Tom Skerritt has reprised his role in several flashbacks related to events after 9/11/01 and to the mother of his son, Ryan. Joseph "Joe" Whedon, a music teacher. He is the ex-husband of Sarah Walker. He and Sarah have two children, Paige and Cooper. Jason McCallister, a gay minister and brother of Robert McCallister; former boyfriend of Kevin Walker. [edit] Cast Members [edit] Cast Actor Role Duration Dave Annable Justin Walker Season 1 - Sally Field Nora Walker Season 1 - Calista Flockhart Katherine "Kitty" Walker McCallister Season 1 - Balthazar Getty Thomas "Tommy" Walker Season 1 - Rachel Griffiths Sarah Walker Season 1 - Rob Lowe Robert McCallister Season 2 - (Season 1; recurring) Luke Macfarlane Scotty Wandell Season 3 - (Season 1-2; recurring) Sarah Jane Morris Julia Walker Season 1 - Ron Rifkin Saul Holden Season 1 - Matthew Rhys Kevin Walker Season 1 - Emily VanCamp Rebecca Harper Season 1 - Patricia Wettig Holly Harper Season 1 - Maxwell Perry Cotton Cooper Whedon Season 2 - (Season 1; recurring) Kerris Lilla Dorsey Paige Whedon Season 1 - [edit] Recurring/Former Actor Role Duration Luke Grimes Ryan Lafferty Season 3 John Glover Henry Season 3 Will McCormack Ethan Tavis Season 3 Eric Christian Olsen Kyle DeWitt Season 3 John Pyper-Ferguson Joseph "Joe" Whedon Season 2 (Season 1; starring) Tom Skerritt William Walker Season 1, 2 Eric Winter Jason McCallister Season 1, 2 Justine Dorsey Sophie McCallister Season 1, 2, 3 Max Burkholder Jack McCallister Season 1, 2, 3 [edit] Notable guest stars Danny Glover Chevy Chase Lyle Lovett Steven Weber Treat Williams Jason Lewis Marion Ross Susan Sullivan Jenna Elfman Margot Kidder Peter Coyote Megan Follows Kim Kardashian [edit] Episodes Main article: List of Brothers & Sisters episodes [edit] DVD releases Name Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 Season One September 4, 2007 February 25, 2008 November 28, 2007 Season Two September 18, 2008 March 13, 2009 (Ireland) March 16, 2009 (UK) October 29, 2008 Season Three September 1, 2009 [2] TBA TBA [edit] Production notes This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references (ideally, using inline citations). Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008) The series is from producer Ken Olin (thirtysomething and Alias) and Jon Robin Baitz, one of Broadway's most prominent playwrights (The Substance of Fire). Noted producer Greg Berlanti was also an executive producer and "show-runner" during season one. Berlanti continues to serve on the series as executive producer. Mark B. Perry, (The Wonder Years and One Tree Hill) served as the showrunner for twelve episodes before departing the show in the aftermath of the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The current showrunners are Monica Owusu-Breen and Alison Schapker. After the series pilot was shot, and the show was picked up by ABC, the series underwent some moderate changes. Most notably, three of the roles were recast: The Walker family had originally been the March family, and the original matriarch of the show was Iva March, who'd been cast with veteran theater actress Betty Buckley. The role was ultimately renamed Nora and cast with Sally Field. The character of Kevin had originally been named Bryan, and had been cast with actor Jonathan LaPaglia. Like the current Kevin character, the Bryan version of the character was also gay, but had been married, and was going through a divorce. The Bryan incarnation of the character also had a child, and he and his ex-wife were going through a custody battle. Bryan's child later reappeared during the first season as the show, where he was recast as "Gabe," Joe's child from his first marriage. The show has subsequently received positive press attention for its depiction of Kevin Walker, who came to be seen as a breakthrough in the depiction of gay men on television: he has had several love interests, has kissed his boyfriends on-screen, and had a commitment ceremony with his partner Scotty in the second season finale — the first such ceremony ever shown on American network television between series regulars rather than minor recurring or guest characters.[3] The character of Jonathan, the man with whom Kitty was involved as the show began had originally been cast with writer and actor Dan Futterman. They had previously acted alongside each other as lovers in the film The Birdcage. The role was ultimately recast with actor Matthew Settle. The more minor role of Cooper, Sarah and Joe's younger child, was also recast after the pilot episode. Robert McCallister was the name of a character on a previous Greg Berlanti production, Jack & Bobby, about a boy who grew up to be the President of the United States. As with the Robert McCallister on Brothers & Sisters, the character on Jack & Bobby was a Republican who had a wife named Courtney and a son named Jack. Brothers & Sisters is produced by Berlanti Television, After Portsmouth, and Touchstone Television (Fall 2006-Spring 2007), which is now ABC Studios (Fall 2007-present). [edit] Ratings [edit] USA TV Ratings Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Brothers & Sisters on ABC: Season Timeslot (EDT) Season Premiere Season Finale TV Season Rank Viewers (in millions) 1 Sunday 10:00PM September 24, 2006 May 20, 2007 2006-2007 #37 12.2[4] 2 Sunday 10:00PM September 30, 2007 May 11, 2008 2007-2008 #38 11.5[5] 3 Sunday 10:00PM September 28, 2008 May 10, 2009 2008-2009 #33 10.9 [edit] UK TV Ratings In the UK, the show fared well at the start for Channel 4 and started on the same viewing figures that Desperate Housewives's third season was for the channel, with around 2.4 million[6]. The show aired in the timeslot previously occupied by Desperate Housewives and was promoted heavily on magazine covers. The series debuted on Channel 4 on June 20, 2007 at 20:30 with an audience of 2.221m, the second episode was screened the same evening at 22:00 with an audience of 1.443m[7] The series then settled down to a regular audience of around 600,000, quite low for a primetime show, and Channel 4 started airing the remainder of the series in double bills from September 2007.[8] The second season was shown on E4 starting on March 30th at 11pm, after the first run episode of Desperate Housewives. Season 2 ended on E4 in July 2008. From October 11, 2008, Channel 4 looked set to air Season 2 in a varying afternoon slot on Saturdays around 4.30pm. The channel did these for a couple of weeks using double bills but afterwards began airing the episode, still in double bills, in a un-specified time slot after midnight on Sunday night. On the countdown to the Season Three premiere on More4, More4 began airing repeats of Season Two on weekday afternoons in double bills from 3pm-5pm. The third season premiered on More4 on January 8th and has a regular slot of 10pm on Thursdays after ER. [edit] Awards Main article: List of Brothers & Sisters (2006 TV series) awards and nominations Emmy Awards 2007 Nominated - Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series (Jeanie Bacharach & Gillian O'Neill (casting directors) Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Rachel Griffiths) 2008 Nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Sally Field) Nominated - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Rachel Griffiths) Golden Globe 2008 Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series Drama (Sally Field) Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Rachel Griffiths) SAG award 2008 Won - Best Actress in a Drama Series (Sally Field) [edit] References [9] ^ Ryan Game Over: Brothers & Sisters Casts New Offspring" TV Guide. October 20, 2008. Retrieved on October 24, 2008. ^ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Brothers-Sisters-Season-3/11491 US DVD S3 Release) ^ "Top This: A Gay Ceremony on ABC's Brothers & Sisters, USA Today, May 11, 2008. ^ "Hollywood Reporter: 2006-07 primetime wrap". May 25, 2007. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f. ^ Televisionista: TV Ratings: 2007-2008 Season Top-200 ^ BARB ^ CHANNEL4SALES : AUDIENCE DATA : OVERNIGHTS ^ CHANNEL4SALES : AUDIENCE DATA : OVERNIGHTS ^ Joint Press Release for 2nd Seasons of Ugly Betty & Brothers & Sisters, 4th Season of Desperate Housewives TVOnMedia.com - Jeff Hodges (04/28/2008) [edit] External links Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Brothers & Sisters Official Site Brothers & Sisters at the Internet Movie Database Brothers & Sisters at TV.com [hide]v • d • eBrothers & Sisters Awards and nominations · Episodes Main characters Nora Walker · Sarah Walker · Kitty Walker Tommy Walker · Kevin Walker · Justin Walker · Rebecca Harper · Saul Holden · Holly Harper · Julia Walker · Robert McCallister · Scotty Wandell Supporting characters Joe Whedon · Ryan Lafferty · Paige Whedon · Cooper Whedon Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brothers_%26_Sisters_(2006_TV_series)" Categories: American Broadcasting Company network shows | 2006 television series debuts | 2000s American television series | Television series by Buena Vista Television | LGBT-related television programs | Irish-American culture | Comedy-drama television series | Serial drama television series | Television shows set in Los Angeles, California