California Dreams
Encyclopedia
California Dreams is an American teen-oriented sitcom
that aired from 1992 to 1996 on Saturday mornings during NBC
's TNBC programming block. It was created by writers Brett Dewey and Ronald B. Solomon and executive produced by Peter Engel
, all known for their work on Saved by the Bell
.
) and the vocalist/pianist in the band who was also Matt's younger sister Jenny Garrison (Heidi Lenhart
). The rest of the Garrison family included dad Richard (Michael Cutt), mom Melody (Gail Ramsey), and the youngest son, Dennis (Ryan O'Neill).
The other three main characters would be the only three characters to have appeared throughout the show's entirety. They are bass player Tiffani Smith (Kelly Packard
), drummer Tony Wicks (William James Jones
) and the teen manager of the band, Sly Winkle (Michael Cade
).
In Season 2, a fifth member of the California Dreams band was introduced. Jake Sommers (Jay Anthony Franke
) 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 "Sam" Woo (Jennie Kwan
), 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.
), Sly's shy cousin from New York. Another character added to the cast was Lorena Costa (Diana Uribe
), a band groupie from a rich family who takes Sam into their home after the Garrisons' departure.
. 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. 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. The episode ends with the California Dreams playing one last gig, and their tearful goodbyes to one another.
on March 4, 2010, where they performed the theme song from the show after being briefly interviewed by host Jimmy Fallon
. This segment of the show also featured actor Dennis Haskins
, who had attempted to help Fallon organize a reunion for his similar teen comedy, Saved by the Bell
, in 2009.
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. A few episodes later, Sam and Tony became a couple and remained together throughout the show's entirety. Late into this season, Jake and Lorena begin dating. 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 couple.
has released the first four seasons of California Dreams on DVD in Region 1. Season 4 was released on January 18, 2011 as a Shout! Factory select title, available exclusively through their online store.
♦ - Shout! Factory select title, sold exclusively through Shout's online store
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that aired from 1992 to 1996 on Saturday mornings during NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's TNBC programming block. It was created by writers Brett Dewey and Ronald B. Solomon and executive produced by Peter Engel
Peter Engel (TV producer)
Peter Engel is a television producer who is best known for his teenage sitcoms which appeared on TNBC, a former Saturday morning block on NBC which featured all teenage-oriented programs for educational purposes...
, all known for their work on Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series is a retooled version of the 1988 series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was itself later folded into the history of Saved by the Bell...
.
Synopsis
California Dreams is about a multi-ethnic 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.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 the teenage son and leader of the band, Matt Garrison (Brent GoreBrent Gore
Brentley Gore is an American singer/songwriter and actor. He is best known for his role as 'Matt Garrison' on NBC’s California Dreams, syndicated in over 48 countries...
) and the vocalist/pianist in the band who was also Matt's younger sister Jenny Garrison (Heidi Lenhart
Heidi Lenhart
Heidi Noelle Lenhart is an American actress, best known for her role as Jenny Garrison in the American TV series California Dreams and Jenny Caldwell in the Au Pair films....
). The rest of the Garrison family included dad Richard (Michael Cutt), mom Melody (Gail Ramsey), and the youngest son, Dennis (Ryan O'Neill).
The other three main characters would be the only three characters to have appeared throughout the show's entirety. They are bass player Tiffani Smith (Kelly Packard
Kelly Packard
Kelly Chemane Packard is an American actress who has starred in TV shows such as Baywatch and California Dreams and has also hosted shows such as Ripley's Believe It or Not!....
), drummer Tony Wicks (William James Jones
William James Jones
William James Jones is an American actor who played Tony Wicks on the TV show California Dreams. Since then he has guest starred in a number of other shows including Living Single, The West Wing, The District and The Pretender.Jones was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Lori Jones, a hospital...
) and the teen manager of the band, Sly Winkle (Michael Cade
Michael Cade
Michael Cade is an actor best known for his work on the 1990s television series California Dreams where he played the band's manager, Sylvester "Sly" Winkle. Michael has made appearances on many popular TV shows...
).
Season 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 (Jay Anthony Franke
Jay Anthony Franke
Jay Anthony Franke is an actor and voice actor, best known for voicing JC Denton and Paul Denton from the video game Deus Ex...
) 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 "Sam" Woo (Jennie Kwan
Jennie Kwan
Jennie Kwan is a Filipino-American actress and singer from Los Angeles, California. She is best known for her roles as Samantha "Sam" Woo on California Dreams and as Suki on Avatar: The Last Airbender.-Career:Jennie began acting at age 11, when she started performing with the touring company,...
), a foreign exchange student from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
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.
Season 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 (Aaron JacksonAaron Jackson
Aaron Jackson is an American actor. He is most noted for his role as Mark Winkle in the NBC series California Dreams, between 1994 and 1996.-Filmography:-External links:...
), Sly's shy cousin from New York. Another character added to the cast was Lorena Costa (Diana Uribe
Diana Uribe
Diana Uribe is a television and film actress, best known for her work as "Lorena Costa" on the television series California Dreams, on which she appeared from 1994 to 1996...
), a band groupie from a rich family who takes Sam into their home after the Garrisons' departure.
Series finale
The series finale found the band on the verge on embarking on new crossroads in life. As high school ends, 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 back home to New York where he originally lives to study at Juilliard, while Sly and Lorena are to attend Pacific UniversityPacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
. 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. 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. The episode ends with the California Dreams playing one last gig, and their tearful goodbyes to one another.
Cast reunited
Seven members of the cast (Brent Gore, William James Jones, Jennie Kwan, Jay Anthony Franke, Kelly Packard, Michael Cade, and Heidi Noelle Lenhart) were reunited on Late Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
on March 4, 2010, where they performed the theme song from the show after being briefly interviewed by host Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
. This segment of the show also featured actor Dennis Haskins
Dennis Haskins
Dennis Haskins is an American actor known for his role as principal Richard Belding in the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell, which ran from 1989 to 1993 on NBC. He then went on to star in Saved by the Bell: The New Class, which aired from 1993 to 2000...
, who had attempted to help Fallon organize a reunion for his similar teen comedy, Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series is a retooled version of the 1988 series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was itself later folded into the history of Saved by the Bell...
, in 2009.
Cast
- Brent GoreBrent GoreBrentley Gore is an American singer/songwriter and actor. He is best known for his role as 'Matt Garrison' on NBC’s California Dreams, syndicated in over 48 countries...
.... Matt Garrison (1992–1994) - Heidi Noelle LenhartHeidi LenhartHeidi Noelle Lenhart is an American actress, best known for her role as Jenny Garrison in the American TV series California Dreams and Jenny Caldwell in the Au Pair films....
.... Jenny Garrison (1992–1993) - Kelly PackardKelly PackardKelly Chemane Packard is an American actress who has starred in TV shows such as Baywatch and California Dreams and has also hosted shows such as Ripley's Believe It or Not!....
.... Tiffani Smith - William James JonesWilliam James JonesWilliam James Jones is an American actor who played Tony Wicks on the TV show California Dreams. Since then he has guest starred in a number of other shows including Living Single, The West Wing, The District and The Pretender.Jones was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Lori Jones, a hospital...
.... Antoine "Tony" Wicks - Michael CadeMichael CadeMichael Cade is an actor best known for his work on the 1990s television series California Dreams where he played the band's manager, Sylvester "Sly" Winkle. Michael has made appearances on many popular TV shows...
.... Sylvester "Sly" Winkle - Jay Anthony FrankeJay Anthony FrankeJay Anthony Franke is an actor and voice actor, best known for voicing JC Denton and Paul Denton from the video game Deus Ex...
.... Jake Sommers (1993–1996) - Jennie KwanJennie KwanJennie Kwan is a Filipino-American actress and singer from Los Angeles, California. She is best known for her roles as Samantha "Sam" Woo on California Dreams and as Suki on Avatar: The Last Airbender.-Career:Jennie began acting at age 11, when she started performing with the touring company,...
.... Samantha "Sam" Woo (1993–1996) - Aaron JacksonAaron JacksonAaron Jackson is an American actor. He is most noted for his role as Mark Winkle in the NBC series California Dreams, between 1994 and 1996.-Filmography:-External links:...
.... Mark Winkle (1994–1996) - Diana UribeDiana UribeDiana Uribe is a television and film actress, best known for her work as "Lorena Costa" on the television series California Dreams, on which she appeared from 1994 to 1996...
.... Lorena Costa (1994–1996) - Burke Bryant .... Keith Del (1996)
- Michael Cutt .... Richard Garrison (1992–1993)
- Gail Ramsey .... Melody Garrison (1992–1993)
- Ryan O'Neill .... Dennis Garrison (1992–1993)
Character pairings
When Jake is first introduced at the beginning of Season 2, there was a mild flirtation between him and Jenny. The romance never came to fruition because Jenny was written out of the series soon after. Later into Season 2, Jake and Tiffani began dating. In the Season 2 season finale however, Jake refuses to attend the prom with Tiffani and after a misunderstanding, 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. A few episodes later, Sam and Tony became a couple and remained together throughout the show's entirety. Late into this season, Jake and Lorena begin dating. 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 couple.
Seasons
| Season | Number of Episodes | Season Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | September 12, 1992 – December 5, 1992 |
| 2 | 18 | September 11, 1993 – February 5, 1994 |
| 3 | 17 | September 10, 1994 – January 7, 1995 |
| 4 | 15 | September 9, 1995 – April 16, 1996 |
| 5 | 15 | September 7, 1996 – December 14, 1996 |
DVD releases
Shout! FactoryShout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
has released the first four seasons of California Dreams on DVD in Region 1. Season 4 was released on January 18, 2011 as a Shout! Factory select title, available exclusively through their online store.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Seasons 1 & 2 | 31 | March 31, 2009 |
| Season 3♦ | 17 | May 18, 2010 |
| Season 4♦ | 15 | January 18, 2011 |
♦ - Shout! Factory select title, sold exclusively through Shout's online store
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | NCLR Bravo Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Program for Children or Youth | |
| 1993 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Youth Series or Variety Show | Michael Cade, Brent Gore, William James Jones, Heidi Lenhart and Kelly Packard |
| Best Young Actress in a New Television Series | Heidi Lenhart | |||
| Best Young Actor in an Off-Primetime Series | Ryan O'Neill | |||
| 1994 | Nominated | Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Cable or Off Primetime Series | Michael Cade, Jay Anthony Franke, Brent Gore, William James Jones, Kelly Packard, and Ryan O'Neill | |