Sweet Valley High (TV series)
Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley High is an American comedy-drama series very loosely based on Francine Pascal's book series of the same name.[1][2] The program ran from September 5, 1994, to October 14, 1997, and was produced and distributed by Teen Dream Productions in association with Saban Entertainment in the United States of America and its international sister company, Saban International N.V. in Holland, the Netherlands.
Sweet Valley High | |
---|---|
Genre | Comedy-drama |
Based on | Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal |
Developed by | Josh Goldstein Jonathan Prince |
Starring | Brittany Daniel Cynthia Daniel Ryan Bittle Amy Danles Bridget Flanery Shirlee Elliot Jeremy Vincent Garrett Andrea Savage Michael Perl Harley Rodriguez |
Theme music composer | Ron Wasserman |
Opening theme | "Sweet Valley High" performed by Kathy Fisher |
Composers | Shuki Levy Kussa Mahchi Yuval Ron |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 88 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Francine Pascal Haim Saban Lance H. Robbins Josh Goldstein |
Production locations | Alexander Hamilton High School, Los Angeles, California |
Cinematography | Russ Brandt David E. West |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 21-23 minutes. |
Production companies | Teen Dream Productions, Inc. Saban Entertainment Saban International N.V Holland |
Distributor | Saban International |
Release | |
Original network | Broadcast Syndication (1994–1996) UPN (1997) |
Original release | September 5, 1994 – October 14, 1997 |
After three seasons in syndication (mostly on Fox stations),[3] the show moved to UPN for its fourth and final season in September 1997, where it was canceled the following month of October, due to low ratings. The show was also broadcast internationally, outside of the United States on BBC One in the UK.
Synopsis
The series revolves around the lives of Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, beautiful blonde twins who live in the fictitious Sweet Valley, California, and their gang of friends. Elizabeth is warm, friendly and sincere, while her twin sister Jessica is flirty, mischievous, and irresponsible.
Episodes
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | ||||
1 | 22 | September 5, 1994 | February 20, 1995 | ||
2 | 22 | September 11, 1995 | March 25, 1996 | ||
3 | 22 | August 26, 1996 | February 10, 1997 | ||
4 | 22 | September 15, 1997 | October 14, 1997 |
Cast and characters
- Brittany Daniel as Jessica "Jess" Wakefield, the outgoing, party loving, fashionable, and wilder Wakefield twin
- Cynthia Daniel as Elizabeth "Liz" Wakefield, the quieter, more sensible and down to earth Wakefield twin
- Amarilis (season 1) as Patty Gilbert, Jessica's cheerleader friend
- Ryan James Bittle (seasons 1–2) and Jeremy Vincent Garrett (seasons 3–4) as Todd Wilkins, Elizabeth's boyfriend
- Brock Burnett (season 1) and Christopher Jackson (season 2) as Bruce Patman, Todd and Winston's rival, and enemy of Jessica's
- Amy Danles as Enid Rollins, Elizabeth's best friend
- Bridget Flanery (seasons 1 and 2) and Shirlee Elliot (seasons 3–4) as Lila Fowler, Jessica's best friend
- Michael Perl as Winston Egbert, Todd's best friend
- Harley Rodriguez as Manny Lopez, Todd's and Winston's friend, and early on the right-hand man to Bruce Patman, Enid's eventual boyfriend
- Tyffany Hayes (seasons 2–4) as Cheryl "Tatyana" Thomas, supermodel friend of Elizabeth, Jessica and Todd
- John Jocelyn (season 3) as Reginald "Shred" Patman, Bruce's cousin and Winston's friend
- Manley Pope (season 4) as Devon Whitelaw, boyfriend to Elizabeth and Jessica
- Andrea Savage (season 4) as Renata Vargas, Jessica's and Lila's friend, and briefly Todd's girlfriend
Home media
In 1996, two Sweet Valley High VHS tapes were released by Warner Home Video: 'Kidnapped'[4] and 'Dangerous Love',[5] which featured exclusive music videos based on the songs featured in the TV series.
However, to date, Buena Vista Home Entertainment has only released the first season of Sweet Valley High on DVD in Region 1.
DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
---|---|---|
The Complete First Season | 22 | March 8, 2005 |
A DVD release of Season two was also planned, with an old promotional trailer being posted online in 2013; however, this release was canceled due to unknown reasons.[6]
Soundtrack
In 1995, a soundtrack album was released featuring original songs that were in the series along with a longer version of the show's theme song (sung by Kathy Fisher).
Track listing
- "Sweet Valley High Theme" (Long version)
- "Lotion" (Jessica's Theme)
- "Rose Colored Glasses"
- "She's Got the Answers"
- "Not Myself Today"
- "Alive"
- "Rest of My Life"
- "My Jessica"
- "All to Myself"
- "Secrets"
- "My World"
- "On Our Own"
- "She Walks in Roses"
- "Sweet Valley High Theme" (TV version)
References
- "Double The Action At 'Sweet Valley High'". Chicago Tribune. 1994-06-21. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
- "It's Bubblegum Tv". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
- Ultimatedisney.com, Sweet Valley High DVD review
- Sweet Valley High:Kidnapped. ASIN 6304124961.
- Sweet Valley High:Dangerous Love. ASIN 6304124953.
- Justin Gross (12 August 2013). "Sweet Valley High Trailer: VO by Justin Gross" – via YouTube.