Life with Derek
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Life with Derek | |
|---|---|
 Life with Derek title card |
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| Genre | Children's television series/Sitcom |
| Running time | approx. 0:22 (per episode) |
| Creator(s) | Daphne Ballon |
| Developer(s) | Daphne Ballon Bernice Vanderlaan |
| Starring | Michael Seater Ashley Leggat Daniel Magder Jordan Todosey Ariel Waller Joy Tanner John Ralston |
| Opening theme | Performed by Uncensored |
| Country of origin |  Canada |
| Original channel | The Family Channel Disney Channel |
| Original run | (U.S.) September 18, 2005–Present |
| No. of episodes | 23 (As of November 17, 2006) |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Life with Derek is a Canadian children's television series that is currently being aired on the Family Channel in Canada, Disney Channel in the USA, Germany and Mexico, Toonami in the UK, in Quebec on VRAK.TV and in Australia Nickelodeon.
The series is produced by Shaftesbury Films.
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
A previously divorced man named George Venturi; with custody of his two sons (Derek and Edwin) and daughter (Marti), marries an also divorced woman (Nora) with two daughters, Casey and Lizzie.
Up until that point, Casey MacDonald, was perfectly content with her life. Growing up as the oldest child in a household with only her mother and sister had suited her well and brought her up as a self-sufficient and independent young woman.
With the addition of a step-father, two step-brothers, and a step-sister, Casey struggles to find her place within the new family unit.
Being around the same age as Derek, they struggle over dominance of the new lifestyle the family has to lead, both having become used to how their lives were before their parents' union. The sibling rivalry grows intense at times, and causes them to constantly try to one up the other in order to get their way, even if it involves them getting really sneaky and have to risk being grounded by the adults.
The show includes several cut-scenes, where various members of the family (usually the ones involved in a problem) interact with one another in a way that is symbolic of their current issue, performed in a non-descript setting with no background.
Despite Casey and Derek's constant bickering and disagreements, they have been known to come together to cooperate toward a common goal, or to use one another to further their own selfish agendas.
[edit] Cast
[edit] The MacDonalds
- Joy Tanner as Nora
[edit] The Venturis
[edit] Friends
- Shadia Simmons as Emily Davis, Casey's best friend, has a crush on Derek and kissed him once
- Arnold Pinnock as Paul Creepy, Casey's guidance counselor
- Kit Weyman as Sam, Derek's best friend, also Casey's ex-boyfriend
[edit] Recurring Characters
- William Greenblatt as Sheldon Schlepper
[edit] Relatives of Casey
- Sarah Gadon as Vicki (cousin)
- Tara Manuel Rigal as Fiona (aunt)
[edit] Relatives of Derek
- Abby (former wife of George/Mom)
[edit] Guest Stars
- Ryan Cooley as Frank
- Shane Kippel as Ralph
- Lauren Collins as Kendra
[edit] Episodes
[edit] Trivia
- The series creative consultant during the first season was Mitchell Kriegman, who was the creator of Clarissa Explains It All.
- One episode of Life With Derek, Babe Raider, parodied the video game series "Tomb Raider".
- On Casey's wall in her room, there is a picture of a dancer. It's actually the actress Ashley Leggat, who plays Casey.
- Marti's imaginary friend's name is Daphne which is also the name of Life with Derek creator Daphne Ballon.
- In "The Room," it is first revealed that Abby is the name of George's first wife.
- Michael Seater (Derek), Shadia Simmons (Emily) and John Ralston (George) were all stars of teenage Canadian science series, Strange Days at Blake Holsey High A.K.A. Black Hole High.
- The show is filmed in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and is produced by Pope Productions. Seasons 2, 3, and 4 are being shot in Toronto.
- Kit Weyman, who plays Sam, Ryan Cooley, Shane Kippel, and Lauren Collins who all guest starred in an episode, all came from the Canadian popular TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation.
- Quite a few of the products in the home, especially food products, are from the Canadian brand, "Compliments", made by the Canadian supermarket, Sobey's.
- This show has been compared to an earlier hit Disney Channel series Even Stevens.
