Carpoolers
Encyclopedia
Carpoolers is an American single-camera
comedy series
, which ran on ABC
from October 2, 2007 to March 4, 2008. The show was created by Bruce McCulloch
, who also executive produced alongside Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, David Miner
, Marsh McCall, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo (formerly of Arrested Development). Joe and Anthony Russo also directed the pilot
. The series focused on the everyday lives of four male suburbanites with different occupations, who took their private lives and issues along for the ride during their daily commute to and from work.
Produced by DreamWorks Television
, ABC Studios and 3 Arts Entertainment, the series was given a thirteen-episode order on May 11, 2007. and originally aired Tuesdays at 8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central following Cavemen
. After a brief hiatus, the show returned to ABC's schedule on January 8, 2008 at 9:30PM Eastern/8:30PM Central, following According to Jim
.
After the writers strike
ended, ABC
declined to order any additional episodes of Carpoolers. It has aired in Australia on the Seven Network
in the timeslot of 11:30pm Tuesdays, first after Eli Stone
, then after Lipstick Jungle
.
:
+ Information is current as of March 7, 2008.
Single-camera setup
The single-camera setup, or single-camera mode of production, is a method of filmmaking and video production. A single camera—either motion picture camera or professional video camera—is employed on the set and each shot to make up a scene is taken individually...
comedy series
Television comedy
Television comedy had a presence from the earliest days of broadcasting. Among the earliest BBC television programmes in the 1930s was Starlight, which offered a series of guests from the music hall era — singers and comedians amongst them...
, which ran on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from October 2, 2007 to March 4, 2008. The show was created by Bruce McCulloch
Bruce McCulloch
Bruce Ian McCulloch is a Canadian actor, writer, comedian, and film director. McCulloch is best known for his work as a member of The Kids in the Hall, a popular Canadian comedy troupe, and as a writer for Saturday Night Live. McCulloch has also appeared on series such as Twitch City and Gilmore...
, who also executive produced alongside Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank, David Miner
David Miner (television producer)
David Miner is an Emmy Award-winning American film and television producer who is best known for his work as an executive producer on NBC's 30 Rock and MTV's Human Giant. Miner is the manager of Tina Fey, 30 Rock's star and creator.-External links:...
, Marsh McCall, Joe Russo and Anthony Russo (formerly of Arrested Development). Joe and Anthony Russo also directed the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
. The series focused on the everyday lives of four male suburbanites with different occupations, who took their private lives and issues along for the ride during their daily commute to and from work.
Produced by DreamWorks Television
DreamWorks Television
DreamWorks Television is a television distribution and production company that is a division of DreamWorks SKG, a former subsidiary of Viacom-owned Paramount Pictures. The syndication rights to DreamWorks' live-action TV series were held by CBS Television Distribution until fall 2008, the successor...
, ABC Studios and 3 Arts Entertainment, the series was given a thirteen-episode order on May 11, 2007. and originally aired Tuesdays at 8:30PM Eastern/7:30PM Central following Cavemen
Cavemen (TV series)
Cavemen is an American comedy-drama show which ran on ABC from October 2, 2007 to November 13, 2007. The show was created by Joe Lawson and set in San Diego, California...
. After a brief hiatus, the show returned to ABC's schedule on January 8, 2008 at 9:30PM Eastern/8:30PM Central, following According to Jim
According to Jim
According to Jim is an American sitcom television series starring Jim Belushi in the title role as a suburban father of three children. It originally ran on ABC from October 3, 2001 to June 2, 2009.-Synopsis:Jim is an abrasive but lovable suburban father...
.
After the writers strike
2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, more commonly referred to as simply the Writers' Strike, was a strike by the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West ....
ended, ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
declined to order any additional episodes of Carpoolers. It has aired in Australia on the Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
in the timeslot of 11:30pm Tuesdays, first after Eli Stone
Eli Stone
Eli Stone is an American TV series, and also the name of the title character.San Francisco lawyer Eli Stone begins to see things, which leads him to discover a brain aneurysm...
, then after Lipstick Jungle
Lipstick Jungle (TV series)
Lipstick Jungle is an American comedy-drama television series created by DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler for NBC Universal Television Studio . The hour-long series was based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Candace Bushnell, who also served as executive producer alongside...
.
Plot
Carpoolers is the story of four very different men- Aubrey, the (usually) stressed family man, Laird, the most masculine of the group who has lost almost everything in a divorce, Gracen, the uptight mediator who is commonly the calm one of the group, and Dougie, a young member of the carpool whose marriage is often mocked by the others. At the beginning, the four carpool together and (other than Laird and Gracen) usually have no other contact. But in "The Recital," the four realize they are friends, and become closer.Cast
- Fred GossFred GossFred Goss is an American TV actor, director, writer, producer and comedian.-As writer:Goss began writing and staging his own plays in his twenties. He wrote sketch comedy during his thirties, primarily at the Los Angeles based, ACME Comedy Theater. More recently, Fred wrote many of the episodes...
- Gracen Brooker: A mediator who is married and whose adult son, Marmaduke usually spends his entire day at home in his briefs. He and Laird Holcomb are friends as well as neighbors. - Jerry O'ConnellJerry O'ConnellJeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...
- Laird Holcomb: A recently divorced dentist whose ex-wife has taken almost everything he owned (except his absercisor and otherwise empty house); he sleeps with as many women as he can. - Jerry MinorJerry MinorJerry C. Minor is an American actor, comedian and writer known for his comedic roles in numerous television programs such as Mr. Show, Saturday Night Live, Delocated, Crossballs, Carpoolers and Lucky Louie....
- Aubrey Williber: A man who looks after his rambunctious seven kids in addition to working while his lazy wife, who is never seen, but only depicted as a pair of feet, sits in her recliner. His signature catch phrase is "Gentlemen ... let's carpool", usually uttered immediately prior to beginning their journey to work. - Tim PeperTim PeperTimothy W. "Tim" Peper is an American film, television and stage actor.-Career:Peper is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts...
- Dougie: As the new carpooler, he tries to gain acceptance into the group of men while frequently committing major carpooling faux pasFaux pasA faux pas is a violation of accepted social norms . Faux pas vary widely from culture to culture, and what is considered good manners in one culture can be considered a faux pas in another...
. He is a newlywed who likes to tell the others about the joy of marriage and love. - Faith FordFaith FordFaith Ford is an American television and film actress, known for having played the roles of Corky Sherwood on Murphy Brown and Hope Fairfield-Shanowski on Hope & Faith.-Early life:...
- Leila Brooker: Gracen's sensible wife and successful real estate "flipper". - T. J. MillerT. J. MillerTodd Joseph Miller , better known as T. J. Miller, is an American actor and stand-up comedian.-Life and career:Miller was born in Denver, Colorado. He attended East High School. Miller then attended the George Washington University in Washington, D.C...
- Marmaduke Brooker: The emotionally stunted, hyper-articulate, hulking adult son of the Brookers (who towers over his parents by over a foot). - Allison MunnAllison MunnAllison Munn is an American actress, perhaps best known for her roles as Caroline from That '70s Show and as Tina Haven in The WB sitcom What I Like About You and Lauren in One Tree Hill.-Early life:...
- Cindy: Dougie's young, dewy wife; they have a saccharine sweet relationship. When she sends Dougie off to work with his lunch she tells him that she "is in every bite".
Weekly Ratings
| Episode # | Title | Air Date | Rating | Share | 18-49 | Viewers | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Dougie's First Day" | October 2, 2007 | 5.9 | 9 | 3.4/9 | 9.02 | #37 |
| 2 | "Laird of the Rings" | October 9, 2007 | 4.9 | 8 | 2.8/8 | 7.36 | #53 |
| 3 | "Who Would You Do?" | October 16, 2007 | 4.6 | 7 | 2.7/7 | 6.96 | #62 |
| 4 | "Down for the Count" | October 23, 2007 | 4.8 | 7 | 2.4/6 | 7.13 | #65 |
| 5 | "A Divorce to Remember" | November 6, 2007 | 3.7 | 6 | 1.9/5 | 5.51 | #78 |
| 6 | "The Code" | November 13, 2007 | 3.6 | 6 | 1.9/5 | 5.22 | #79 |
| 7 | "The Seminar" | January 8, 2008 | 2.5 | 4 | 1.1/3 | 3.54 | #78 |
| 8 | "First Fight" | January 22, 2008 | 3.2 | 5 | 1.7/4 | 4.89 | TBA |
| 9 | "The Handsomest Man" | January 29, 2008 | 2.6 | 4 | 1.3/3 | 3.84 | #68 |
| 10 | "Wheel of Fortune" | February 12, 2008 | 2.6 | 4 | 1.3/3 | 3.85 | #76 |
| 11 | "The Recital" | February 19, 2008 | 2.6 | 4 | 1.4/3 | 3.95 | N/A |
| 12 | "Lost in America" | February 26, 2008 | 2.3 | 4 | 1.2/3 | 3.46 | N/A |
| 13 | "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" | March 4, 2008 | 2.7 | 4 | 1.5/4 | 3.99 | #79 |
Seasonal Ratings
Seasonal ratings based on average total viewers per episode of Carpoolers on ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
:
| Season | Timeslot (EDT) | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuesday 8:30 P.M. (October 2, 2007 - November 13, 2007) Tuesday 9:30 P.M. (January 8, 2008 - March 4, 2008) |
October 2, 2007 | March 4, 2008 | 2007-2008 | #134 | 5.3 |
+ Information is current as of March 7, 2008.