- California Dreams
Infobox Television
show_name = California Dreams
caption = The "California Dreams" logo.
format =Sitcom
runtime = 30 mins.
creator =Brett Dewey Ronald B. Solomon
executive_producer = Peter Engel
starring =Brent Gore
Kelly Packard Jay Anthony Franke Heidi Noelle Lenhart Michael Cade William James Jones Aaron Jackson Jennie Kwan Diana Uribe
narrated =
opentheme = California Dreamin'
endtheme = California Dreamin'
(instrumental)
country = USA
network =NBC
first_aired =September 12 , 1992
last_aired =December 14 , 1996
num_seasons = 5
num_episodes = 78
imdb_id = 0103380
tv_com_id = 2805"California Dreams" is an American TV series that aired from 1992 to 1996. The teen-oriented program aired on Saturday mornings on
NBC . It was created by writers Brett Dewey and Ronald B. Solomon and executive produced by Peter Engel, all known more for their work on "Saved by the Bell ". "California Dreams" was about a multiethnic group of teens and their band. The show's plots combined real-life issues with zany adventures. It covered a range of topics such as fear, using drugs for a competitive edge, falling for scams, letting greed overtake friendship, accepting a divorced parent dating, forgiving others for past wrongs, and dealing with general teen social problems.To date, the only member of the cast to continue a steady acting career is
Kelly Packard , who was cast in "Baywatch " and as a co-host of "Ripley's Believe it or Not! ".Original format and character history
"California Dreams" was originally intended to be a family sitcom, mainly centering on the Garrison family. In the first season, the main characters of the show were Matt Garrison (the teenage son and leader of the band) and Jenny Garrison (the vocalist/pianist in the band who was also Matt's younger sister) along with the rest of the Garrison family, Richard (the dad), Melody (the mom), and Dennis (the eight year old younger brother).
The other three main characters would be the only three characters to have appeared throughout the show's entirety. They are Tiffani Smith (the bass player), Tony Wicks (the drummer) and Sly Winkle (the teenage manager of the band).
eason 2
NBC executives, however, did not like the show's original format. By Season 2, the focus of the show changed from the Garrison family, to the teens who formed the California Dreams band.
In Season 2, a fifth member of the California Dreams band was introduced. Jake Sommers became the band's second guitarist. Jenny's character was the first to leave the show very early into Season 2 (for a music school opportunity in
Italy ). In the following episode, the show brought in its first replacement character, Samantha Woo, a foreign exchange student from Hong Kong whom the Garrisons take into their home. When Sam's singing voice is noticed by the band she becomes the band's new vocalist in Jenny's old place.eason 3
By Season 3, the band (and the show's) original premise ended when Matt left the show (signaling the idea that the entire Garrison family left the show). In Matt's place in the band was Mark Winkle, Sly's shy cousin from New York. Another character added to the cast was Lorena Costa, a band groupie from a rich family who takes Sam into their home after the Garrisons' departure.
Cast
*
Brent Gore .... Matt Garrison (1992-1993)
*Kelly Packard .... Tiffani Smith
*William James Jones .... Tony Wicks
*Michael Cade .... Sylvester 'Sly' Winkle
*Burke Bryant .... Keith Del (1996)
*Michael Cutt .... Richard Garrison (1992-1993)
*Jay Anthony Franke .... Jake Sommers (1993-1996)
*Aaron Jackson .... Mark Winkle (1994-1996)
*Jennie Kwan .... Samantha 'Sam' Woo (1993-1996)
*Heidi Noelle Lenhart.... Jenny Garrison (1992-1993)
*Ryan O'Neill .... Dennis Garrison (1992-1993)
*Gail Ramsey .... Melody Garrison (1992-1993)
*Diana Uribe .... Lorena Costa (1994-1996)Character pairings
When Jake is first introduced at the beginning of Season 2, it seemed that he and Jenny would be paired up, but that had to die in episode three when Jenny's character left the show. Later into that season Jake and Tiffani become a couple. In the season finale however, Jake refuses to attend the prom with Tiffani so she goes with someone else as friends. When Jake changes his mind and goes to the prom in search of Tiffani, he finds her kissing the guy she took to the prom (but it was an unintentional kiss on Tiffany's part) and Jake breaks off the relationship.
With Lorena introduced in Season 3, the pairings and romantic situations become more complex. It begins with Sly's attempts to win Lorena's affections (though it arguable whether or not if was due to her family's wealth). A few episodes later, Sam and Tony became a pair. They remain a pair throughout the show's entirety. For a time, they were even briefly engaged. Late into this season Jake and Lorena become a pair.
In the Season 4 premiere, Jake and Lorena break up and then it is discovered that both Lorena and Tiffani still had feelings for Jake (creating the first love triangle). Jake chooses to get back with Tiffani for the rest of the series.
During Season 4 onward, Sly tries to go after Lorena again. And near the end of the series they become a pair at last.
eries finale
The series finale found the band on the verge on embarking on new crossroads in life. Tiffani is planning on attending school in Hawaii to study marine biology, Sam is moving to England to study physics, Tony is off to study acting at an undisclosed location, Mark is moving to New York to study at
Juilliard , while Sly and Lorena are to attendPacific University . All of the members are excited and looking forward to starting the new stages with their lives, except for Jake, who wants to keep the band together. When a music producer offers Jake a record contract, he initially refuses, because the rest of the band aren't given one themselves. Luckily, Tiffani convinces Jake that she and the rest of the band have moved past the Dreams and want to discover the new phase of their lives, rather than continue on as a band. Jake realizes this and signs the contract. The episode ends with the California Dreams playing one last gig, and their tearful goodbyes to one another.Ties to "
Saved by the Bell "*Actor
Jake Grace played a 'hippie surfer' character named Stingray on both "California Dreams" and "Saved by the Bell: The College Years".
*A cozy, romantic beach hangout called "Paradise Cove" exists on both "California Dreams" and "Saved by the Bell". It is first mentioned on the "SBTB" episode "My Boyfriends Back" when Zack asks Staci on a date to Paradise Cove. On "California Dreams" episode "Heal the Bay", Tony Wicks mentions Paradise Cove as a spot he likes to take dates. In that same episode, Paradise Cove gets temporarily closed down due to pollution.
*The schools on "California Dreams" and "Saved by the Bell" are both coastal schools as insinuated by their names, Pacific Coast High ("California Dreams") and Bayside High ("Saved by the Bell"). The shows do exist in the same continuity as proven in an episode of "Saved by the Bell: The New Class" titled "Belding's Baby" where Scott Erikson dates a girl from Pacific Coast High named Ashley.
*Both shows are set in Los Angeles suburbs right outside of Los Angeles with "California Dreams" taking place inRedondo Beach and "Saved by the Bell" set in the fictional city of Bayside.
*Pacific Coast High is mentioned by Screech as one of Bayside's rival schools in an episode of "Saved by the Bell: The New Class".
*The character Gem Diamond, played byGary Beach , appeared in both shows. On "Saved by the Bell", he sold shoddy class rings. On "California Dreams", he was a used car salesman.Very special episodes *An old friend of Tony's is severely beaten by a couple of guys, and another friend wants to get revenge. Tony wants to get revenge using a bat, but also convinces his friend that using a gun isn't the way to go.
*Tiffani starts takingsteroids when she wants to make the national volleyball team.
*Jake begins a job as a mechanic, and starts smoking in order to impress his uncle (Eddie Mekka ). At the end of the episode Jake's uncle reveals he haslung cancer .
*Mark drives drunk, which results in him getting into an accident, injuring his date, and getting arrested.
*Jake's father takes a job as a janitor at the school and is embarrassed when Sly and various other students make fun of him. Jake goes so far as to punch Sly, but later realizes that there is nothing wrong with an honest day's work.ee also
* "The Heights" - A short-lived FOX TV series similar to "California Dreams".
External links
* [http://epguides.com/CaliforniaDreams/ "California Dream" episode guide]
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