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

Creator:

Barbara Hall

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

25 September 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

WONDERFUL show

This show is nothing like Touched by an Angel or anything insipid delivered on the Pax network. It is instead a deep reflection on how complicated it is to to be human. How do we find moments of consolation in those dark moments of desolation? How do we connect to ourselves and others?

It just so happens, Amber Tamblyn as title character Joan Girardi, (one of my personal favorites since her days as Emily Quartermaine on General Hospital) plays a cynical teenager who sees God. But God doesn't perform miracles. And he/she looks a little different every week. Joan is just trying to figure out who she is, like any of us she's digging around "in the trash trying to find something that matters." Joan's family is going through some real stress in Season 2 with the lawsuit against the oldest son Kevin who was left permanently paralyzed after a drunk driving accident...

Not being particularly religious, I feel incredibly drawn to the questions and issues this show raises every week.

Incisive writing, compelling acting. I can't remember what I was taping Friday nights.