"Joan of Arcadia" (2003) TV series 2003-2005

Creator:

Barbara Hall

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

25 syyskuu 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Millions of people speak to God. What if God spoke back? Life just got a hell of a lot more confusing for teenage Joan Girardi...

Plot Keywords:

God | Assignment | Friendship | Police Chief | Atheist

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 17 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 29	8:00 AM	SYFY	The Book of Questions	#2.10
Tue. Dec. 29	9:00 AM	SYFY	Dive	#2.11

Cast

Joe Mantegna	...	Will Girardi (45 episodes, 2003-2005)
Mary Steenburgen	...	Helen Girardi (45 episodes, 2003-2005)
Amber Tamblyn	...	Joan Girardi (45 episodes, 2003-2005)
Jason Ritter	...	Kevin Girardi (45 episodes, 2003-2005)
Michael Welch	...	Luke Girardi (45 episodes, 2003-2005)
Becky Wahlstrom	...	Grace Polk (44 episodes, 2003-2005)
Chris Marquette	...	Adam Rove (44 episodes, 2003-2005)
Aaron Himelstein	...	Friedman (33 episodes, 2003-2005)
Mageina Tovah	...	Glynis Figliola (23 episodes, 2003-2005)

Runtime:

USA:60 min (including commercials) | 45 min (45 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

El Segundo High School - 640 Main Street, El Segundo, California, USA

Company:

Sony Pictures Television

Trivia:

Will Girardi always drinks from a cup with a picture of Joan, Luke and Kevin on it.

Quotes:

Luke: Are you out of your mind?
Friedman: What?
Luke: This totally hot girl is doing everything but immolating herself for you. Friedman, the odds of that happening again can only be calculated by a mainframe.
Friedman: Hey, she's not my type.
Luke: You don't have a type. You have magazines. Look, you're freaking because you're so used to being the guy that goes chasing after the girl. You can't handle it being the other way around. You think she's either setting you up or there's something wrong with her.
Friedman: Thank you, Dr. Freud.
Luke: Please, please just consider the other possible explanation for her interest.
Friedman: What?
Luke: Dude, don't - don't make me go there.
Friedman: What? What?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Greek: Isn't It Bro-mantic? (#2.20)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

One of Us

Excellent, high quality program

Television itself is a barren wasteland of programming upon the ushering in of each new fall season. So many choices, each one with less and less quality to them. Hence, there is one show that pushed past this.

"Joan of Arcadia" is about 16-year old Joan Girardi (20-year old Amber Tamblyn), who is visited by beautiful stranger who calls himself "God." He tells her that because he let her wheelchair-bound brother Kevin (hottie Jason Ritter) survive a car crash that paralyzed him, Joan has to listen to him. Each week, he has her do something new (hold a yard sale, get a job, try out for cheerleading, take AP Chem). It's a weird world out there, and Joan's just got a little weirder.

I remember CBS rolling out the commercials for this program in July, and I was fascinated immediately. I knew I was compelled to watch this show, since I wanted to try to get into shows geared toward my age brackett (the elusive 18-25 group--I'm 21). Joan herself is completely relatable to myself (I wrote an essay on her for a college course 1 1/2 months ago--I got an A). I see that sarcastic personality in her that I had in high school. She's just trying to survive there--that's what I did.

My favorite episode was when Joan was told by God to try out for cheerleading. That cheer at the end was priceless. I was laughing and clapping. Jason Ritter (the son of late legendary John Ritter) is great as Kevin. I really think he's hot, and he reminds me so much of his dad. Thankfully, Jason will carry on the name. As Joan's parents, Joe Montenga and Mary Steenburgen are wonderful--they're like everyone's parents, and aren't most just slightly neurotic??? Absolutely. Michael Welch, as Luke Girardi, reminds me of a young Anthony Michael Hall that I came to know in the Brat Pack movies I fell in love with in the late '90s when I was a love-struck teenager in high school. I know, it wasn't THAT long ago, but still...

All in all, this is quality programming. If CBS knows what they're doing (and what's good for them) they'll keep this show on the air. This is good for whether you're religious or non-religious (I'm non-religious). I'm so glad a program this high-caliber came along. People need shows with a little faith. This is the one!