Class of '96
Encyclopedia
Class of '96 is an American drama series
that aired on Fox
from January to May 1993. The series was created by John Romano and filmed mostly at the University of Toronto
.
. Although the seven come from different backgrounds, circumstance led them to become friends. The series dealt with the differences, both in personality and social status, of the group of friends, the challenges they faced in their first year of college, and social issues such as racism
and sexism
.
, John Cameron Mitchell
, Matt LeBlanc
, Julie Bowen
, Robin Tunney
, Dylan Neal
, Elizabeth Dennehy
, James LeGros
, Fritz Weaver
, Reed Diamond
, Karyn Dwyer
, and Mason Adams
.
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
that aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
from January to May 1993. The series was created by John Romano and filmed mostly at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Synopsis
The series focused on seven students at Havenhurst College in New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Although the seven come from different backgrounds, circumstance led them to become friends. The series dealt with the differences, both in personality and social status, of the group of friends, the challenges they faced in their first year of college, and social issues such as racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
.
Main cast
- Jason GedrickJason GedrickJason Gedrick is an American actor best known for his work on the television series Murder One and Boomtown and the motion picture Iron Eagle....
as David Morrissey, a passionate writer from New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. - Lisa Dean RyanLisa Dean RyanLisa Dean Ryan is an American actress.Ryan played Wanda Plenn, the girlfriend of the titular character in the series Doogie Howser, M.D. Shortly afterwards she played Jessica Cohen on the short lived series Class of '96...
as Jessica Cohen, a wealthWealthWealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
y Jewish student who falls for David. - Megan WardMegan WardMegan Marie Ward is an American actress best known for her numerous credits in science fiction and horror movies and television series...
as Patty Horvath, Jessica's roommate, the daughter of a famous actressActingActing is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
. - Brandon DouglasBrandon DouglasBrandon Douglas is an American actor. He first came to prominence in the television series Falcon Crest, in which he played Ben Agretti during the 1988-1989 season. He is well known for playing Dr. Andrew Cook in the popular CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman...
as Whitney Reed, a rich kid who is being trained to follow in his fathers' footsteps, including living in his father's old college room. - Perry Moore as Antonio Hopkins, Whitney's roommate, an African-American star basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player from the inner city. - Kari WührerKari WührerKari Samantha Wührer is an American actress and singer, mostly credited as Kari Wuhrer, sometimes as Kari Salin.-Early life:...
as Robin Farr, Jessica and Patty's roommate, an attractivePhysical attractivenessPhysical attractiveness refers to a person's physical traits which are perceived to be aesthetically pleasing or beautiful. The term often implies sexual attractiveness or desirability, but can also be distinct from the two; for example, humans may regard the young as attractive for various...
girl from FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. - Gale HansenGale HansenGale Hansen is an American film and television actor best known for playing Charlie Dalton in Dead Poets Society.-Filmography:*Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction .... Security Guard...
as Samuel "Stroke" Dexter, David's roommate, an entrepreneurEntrepreneurAn entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
.
Guest cast
Guest stars throughout the series run include Gillian AndersonGillian Anderson
Gillian Leigh Anderson is an American actress.After beginning her career in theatre, Anderson achieved international recognition for her role as Special Agent Dana Scully on the American television series The X-Files. During the show's nine seasons, Anderson won Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen...
, John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell is an American writer, actor, and director. He is best known for his motion pictures Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus and Rabbit Hole.- Early life:...
, Matt LeBlanc
Matt LeBlanc
Matthew Steven "Matt" LeBlanc is an American actor, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcoms Friends and its spin-off Joey....
, Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen is an American film and television actress. She played Carol Vessey on Ed and Denise Bauer on Boston Legal. She is best known for playing Claire Dunphy on the sitcom Modern Family, for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011...
, Robin Tunney
Robin Tunney
Robin Jessica Tunney is an American actress. She is best known for her lead roles in the movie The Craft and the television series Prison Break and The Mentalist.-Early life:...
, Dylan Neal
Dylan Neal
Dylan J. Neal is a Canadian actor who has appeared in a large number of television shows and in feature films. He is best known for role as Dylan Shaw on The Bold and The Beautiful from 1994 to 1997 and his supporting role as Pacey Witter's older brother, Doug on the American television drama...
, Elizabeth Dennehy
Elizabeth Dennehy
Elizabeth Hannah Dennehy is an American actress. She is the daughter of Brian Dennehy and sister of Kathleen Dennehy. She is married to actor James Lancaster. She is a graduate of Hofstra University. Her work involves mainly television and some film...
, James LeGros
James LeGros
James LeGros is an American film and television actor. He is known as a star of independent films with a diversified body of work in the early to mid 1990s.-Personal life:...
, Fritz Weaver
Fritz Weaver
Fritz William Weaver is an American actor and voice actor.-Life and career:Weaver was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Elsa W. and John Carson Weaver. His mother was of Italian descent and his father was a social worker from Pittsburgh. Weaver attended Peabody High School...
, Reed Diamond
Reed Diamond
Reed Edward Diamond is an American actor. He is best known for the role of Det. Mike Kellerman on Homicide: Life on the Street and the role of recurring character Laurence Dominic on Dollhouse...
, Karyn Dwyer
Karyn Dwyer
Karyn Elizabeth Dwyer, also known as Karen Dwyer or Karyn O'Dwyer, is a Canadian actress. Her best known role is Maggie in the 1999 film Better Than Chocolate.- Early life :...
, and Mason Adams
Mason Adams
Mason Adams was an American character actor and voice-over artist.-Early life:Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York. He earned an MA degree from the University of Michigan in Theatre Arts and Speech and also attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying theater arts...
.
Reception and cancellation
The pilot episode aired on January 19, 1993 with ratings falling steadily after the premiere. The series was cancelled and finished airing its 17 episode order on May 25.Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | Pilot | January 19, 1993 |
| 1-2 | "They Shoot Baskets, Don't They?" | January 26, 1993 |
| 1-3 | "Breaking up is Hard to Overdue" | February 2, 1993 |
| 1-4 | "Midterm Madness" | February 9, 1993 |
| 1-5 | "Look Homeward Angela" | February 16, 1993 |
| 1-6 | "The Adventures of Pat's Man and Robin" | February 23, 1993 |
| 1-7 | "David is Authorized" | March 2, 1993 |
| 1-8 | "The Accused" | March 9, 1993 |
| 1-9 | "When Whitney Met Linda" | March 16, 1993 |
| 1-10 | "Parents Weekend" | March 23, 1993 |
| 1-11 | "The Best Little Frat House at Havenhurst" | March 30, 1993 |
| 1-12 | "Bright Smoke, Cold Fire" | April 6, 1993 |
| 1-13 | "Greenwich Mean Time" | April 20, 1993 |
| 1-14 | "Educating David" | April 27, 1993 |
| 1-15 | "Howie Farr is Too Far" | May 4, 1993 |
| 1-16 | "The Jessica File" | May 11, 1993 |
| 1-17 | "See You in September" | May 25, 1993 |