Providence (TV series)

Infobox television
show_name = Providence


caption = "The Providence Collection" DVD box set. Clockwise from top left: Tomei, Peterson, Farrell, Kanakaredes, and Cale.
format = Drama
runtime = 60 minutes
creator = John Masius
starring = Melina Kanakaredes
Paula Cale
Seth Peterson
Mike Farrell
Concetta Tomei
Leslie Silva
opentheme = "In My Life" by
Chantal Kreviazuk
country = United States
network = NBC
first_aired = January 8, 1999
last_aired = December 20, 2002
num_seasons = 5
num_episodes = 96

"Providence" is an American drama series that aired on NBC starring Melina Kanakaredes. The show ran from January 8, 1999, until December 20, 2002, for five seasons.

ynopsis

The show revolved around Dr. Sydney Hansen (played by Kanakaredes), who wished to leave her glamorous job in Beverly Hills as a plastic surgeon for the rich, so she could return to her hometown of Providence, Rhode Island, and be with her family. Sydney lived with her father, brother, sister and sister's baby in a large home in suburban Providence that was also her father's veterinary clinic. Sydney's mother died in the first episode but continued to appear to Sydney as a spirit, and to offer advice.

The show ended rather abruptly, with a two-parter wedding episode. NBC called this "Providence"'s "winter finale," fully expecting to bring it back in the spring or autumn of 2003, but these plans were eventually scrapped when some cast members, including Kanakaredes, opted out of producing a sixth season. Reruns of the show are now shown on Lifetime Real Women.

Characters

*Dr. Sydney "Syd" Hansen (Melina Kanakaredes) - A high-profile plastic surgeon who returned home for her sister's wedding. Unfortunately, her mother died before the ceremony started. She returned to Los Angeles, only to find her boyfriend cheating on her with another man. In the end, she decided to move back home to Providence to help her family, and took a job at a free clinic that she'd later end up running. While struggling with her new specialty of family medicine and helping her family, she also tried to rebuild her love life, without much luck until season 5.
*Joan "Joanie" Hansen (Paula Cale) - Sydney's younger sister and single mother of young Hannah. Her mother's death interrupted her wedding and, after giving birth to Hannah, she decides to not marry Hannah's father Richie. An optimistic woman, she assisted her father in the clinic until she found out her cooking, while unpalatable for humans, was a delicacy for dogs, and she opened a delicatessen bakery for dogs. Her love life, however, was as complicated as her older sister's. Though mostly loyal to her family, Joanie often feels overshadowed by the accomplishments of her older sister, Syd, and has been known to squabble with her much of the time. Feeling that her parents, especially her father, tend to favor Syd, Joanie decides to take over as her father's caregiver after he survives a near-fatal gunshot to the head. Joanie often makes Syd feel guilty about having her own life and priorities, but as is later learned it's mainly due to extreme jealousy. Joanie admires her sister at times, but mostly finds herself resenting her.
*Robert "Robbie" Hansen (Seth Peterson) - Sydney's younger brother. A charming bad boy who managed a pub and was addicted to betting. After much trouble, he finally settled down when he married Tina, a divorced mother of one son, Pete.
*Lynda Hansen (Concetta Tomei) - Sydney, Joanie and Robbie's overbearing mother. She dies before her pregnant daughter's wedding started, and afterwards appeared only to Sydney in dreams, giving her (often unsolicited) advice.
*Dr. Jim Hansen (Mike Farrell) - Sydney, Joanie and Robbie's father. A warm-hearted veterinarian who ran a clinic in his house's basement and who sometimes related better to animals than to people.
*Dr. Helen Reynolds (Leslie Silva) - Sydney's friend and head of the free clinic in the first season. Afterwards, she returned to her hometown, leaving the clinic in Sydney's hands.

Theme song

In the United States, the theme song was "In My Life", a cover of the Beatles song performed by Chantal Kreviazuk. Internationally, the theme song was "You Make Me Home", composed by Tim Truman and performed by Angelica Hayden.

International

Providence has been broadcast internationally by the following stations:
* Australia: Seven Network and W. Channel
* Belgium: Vijftv ("Dutch television")
* Brazil: SBT
* Bulgaria: Kanal 1 and Diema
* Canada: Global, W Network
* Denmark: Kanal 5, TV2
* France: TF1
* Germany: VOX
* Hungary: TV2
* Iceland: Skjár 1
* Italy: Canale 5
* Japan: NHK-BS2
* Montenegro: RTCG
* Mexico Warner Channel
* Netherlands: Net 5
* New Zealand: TV3
* Norway [http://www.tvnorge.no/ TVNorge]
* Poland: TVP 2, Fox Life
* Portugal: RTP 2, People+Arts
* Slovakia: STV 1
* Slovenia: POP TV
* South Africa: Sony Entertainment Television on DSTV
* Sweden: Kanal 5 (Sweden)
* Spain: People+Arts, Sony Entertainment Television on VEO
* Spain (Catalonia): TV3
* Turkey: CNBC-e
* United Kingdom: ITV

DVD release

To date, the only DVD release of the series is "The Providence Collection" (released 2004 by Lions Gate), a collection of the series best episodes from the show's 5 year run featuring 12 episodes on four discs:

*Pilot, Home Again, Tying the Not, The Letter, Don't Go Changin', The Thanksgiving Story, Falling, Best Man, Act Naturally, A New Beginning, Eye of the Storm, The Eleventh Hour
*Written introduction by creator John Masius
*Commentaries by Melina Kanakaredes, Paula Cale, Mike Farrell, Michael Fresco, Seth Peterson, Concetta Tomei, Monica Wyatt, and creator John Masius on selected episodes
*Gag reel with outtakes and bloopers
*Retrospective documentary featuring new interviews with the cast, creators, and special guests

External links

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* [http://welcometoprovidence.tripod.com/ Welcome to Providence fan site]