Fifteen (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Hillside is a Canadian-American teen drama
that aired on YTV in Canada and Nickelodeon
in the United States from 1991 to 1993. Created and produced by John T. Binkley
, the series was Nickelodeon's only teenage soap opera
.
The series was first conceived as Fifteen in an improvised form for The Disney Channel, where a 13-episode pilot series was produced and tested in the US. After Disney decided not to proceed with the project, Nickelodeon and Canadian partners joined Binkley in producing the series which was known in its first and second seasons as Hillside in Canada, and throughout the 65-episode run as Fifteen in the U.S. The show was subsequently syndicated around the world, with runs in Germany, the Children's Channel in Europe, and Israel, among others.
, alcohol abuse
, and friendship. The show played heavily into stereotype
s, including two characters named Dylan and Chris, who wore leather jackets to show off their toughness, but which could not completely disguise their inner selves.
The series features a large ensemble cast
which underwent several changes over the show's four-season run. Notable cast members include Laura Harris
, Enuka Okuma
, Lisa Ortiz
, and Ryan Reynolds
.
The entire first season is available for download from iTunes.
The first season of the show was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the second season was recorded at the studios of CJOH-TV
in Ottawa, Ontario, and the third and fourth seasons were videotaped at Nickelodeon Studios
at Universal Studios
in Orlando, Florida
.
Teen drama
A teen drama is a dramatic television series with a major focus on teenage characters. The genre was relatively non-existent for the first 45 years of television; it came into prominence in the early 1990s...
that aired on YTV in Canada and Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
in the United States from 1991 to 1993. Created and produced by John T. Binkley
John T. Binkley
John T. Binkley is an American writer-director-producer of theatre and television.BiographyPlays and TelevisionReviewsReferencesExternal links-Biography:...
, the series was Nickelodeon's only teenage soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
.
The series was first conceived as Fifteen in an improvised form for The Disney Channel, where a 13-episode pilot series was produced and tested in the US. After Disney decided not to proceed with the project, Nickelodeon and Canadian partners joined Binkley in producing the series which was known in its first and second seasons as Hillside in Canada, and throughout the 65-episode run as Fifteen in the U.S. The show was subsequently syndicated around the world, with runs in Germany, the Children's Channel in Europe, and Israel, among others.
Overview
Hillside followed the students of fictional Hillside School and dealt with a variety of issues including dating, divorceDivorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse eventually progresses to alcoholism, a condition in which an individual becomes dependent on alcoholic beverages in order to avoid...
, and friendship. The show played heavily into stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s, including two characters named Dylan and Chris, who wore leather jackets to show off their toughness, but which could not completely disguise their inner selves.
The series features a large ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
which underwent several changes over the show's four-season run. Notable cast members include Laura Harris
Laura Harris
Laura Elizabeth Harris is a Canadian actress.-Early life:Harris was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the daughter of school teachers. She began acting in radio dramas and animation series when she was five years old. As a child Harris was educated at Crofton House School and attended college...
, Enuka Okuma
Enuka Okuma
Enuka Vanessa Okuma is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her work on the TV series Madison, on the TV series Sue Thomas F.B. Eye, and the Nickelodeon teen drama Fifteen...
, Lisa Ortiz
Lisa Ortiz
Lisa Ortiz is an American theatre and voice actress, best known for her roles in English anime adaptations. She is perhaps best known for the roles of the high-elf Deedlit in Record of Lodoss War, Lina Inverse in Slayers, and Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece...
, and Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Rodney Reynolds is a Canadian film and television actor, best known for his roles in such films as National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Waiting..., The Amityville Horror, Just Friends, Definitely, Maybe, The Proposal, Buried, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Green Lantern.One of his best known...
.
Cast
- Chris William MartinChris William MartinChris William Martin , also known as Corky Martin, is a Gemini Award-nominated Canadian actor...
– Dylan Blackwell (Entire Run) - Laura HarrisLaura HarrisLaura Elizabeth Harris is a Canadian actress.-Early life:Harris was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the daughter of school teachers. She began acting in radio dramas and animation series when she was five years old. As a child Harris was educated at Crofton House School and attended college...
– Ashley Frasier (Entire Run) - Ryan ReynoldsRyan ReynoldsRyan Rodney Reynolds is a Canadian film and television actor, best known for his roles in such films as National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Waiting..., The Amityville Horror, Just Friends, Definitely, Maybe, The Proposal, Buried, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Green Lantern.One of his best known...
– Billy Simpson (Entire run) - Todd Talbot – Matt Walker (Entire Run)
- Roxanne Alexander – Roxanne Lee (Seasons 2-4)
- Jason Angel- (Season 4)
- Ken Angel – Jake Deosdade (Season 1 & 3)
- Andrew Baskin – Chris McDonald (Season 2-3)
- Pepper BinkleyPepper Binkley-Film:Stone * Asylum Seekers as "Maud"*Eavesdrop as "Joceyln"*Let Them Chirp Awhile as "Michelle"also audobook with the last song by nicholas sparks-Television:...
– Pepper O'Brien (Season 4) - Allie Bloom – Jennifer Locke (Season 4)
- Ahnee Boyce - Cindy (Season 1)
- Janine Cox – Theresa Morgan (Season 1)
- Micah Cox – Micah (Season 4)
- Russell Dayvault – Russ Talbot (Season 4)
- Erin Donovan – Brittany Nichols (Season 4)
- Sarah Douglas – Courtney Simpson (Seasons 1-3)
- James Greye – Richard (Season 4)
- Erin Inglis – Erin Walker (Seasons 2-4)
- Minna Koch – Lea (Season 4)
- Claire Langlois – Amanda Morgan (Seasons 2-3)
- Aubrey Nealon – Olaf (Season 1)
- Enuka OkumaEnuka OkumaEnuka Vanessa Okuma is a Canadian actress. She is best known for her work on the TV series Madison, on the TV series Sue Thomas F.B. Eye, and the Nickelodeon teen drama Fifteen...
– Kelly (Season 1) - Lisa OrtizLisa OrtizLisa Ortiz is an American theatre and voice actress, best known for her roles in English anime adaptations. She is perhaps best known for the roles of the high-elf Deedlit in Record of Lodoss War, Lina Inverse in Slayers, and Tony Tony Chopper in One Piece...
– Liz (Season 4) - Loyal Pyczynski – Loyal (Season 4)
- Robyn Ross – Brooke Morgan (Season 1-3)
- Rekha Shah – Janice (Season 2)
- Lisa Warner – Stacy Collins (Season 2)
- David Wight – David O'Brien (Seasons 2-3)
- Arseman Yohannes – Arseman Harrell (Seasons 2-4)
Episodes
| Season | Ep. # | First Airdate | Last Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 13 | February 3, 1991 | April 28, 1991 |
| Season 2 | 13 | August 4, 1991 | October 27, 1991 |
| Season 3 | 13 | February 2, 1992 | April 26, 1992 |
| Season 4 | 26 | November 1, 1992 | April 25, 1993 |
The entire first season is available for download from iTunes.
Production notes
The series' head writer for all 65 episodes was Ian Weir, who wrote all but five episodes. Its director was Michael Berry.The first season of the show was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the second season was recorded at the studios of CJOH-TV
CJOH-TV
CJOH-DT is a television station serving Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and the surrounding region. Owned by Bell Media, it is part of the CTV Television Network....
in Ottawa, Ontario, and the third and fourth seasons were videotaped at Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios was a television taping studio as well as an original attraction at Universal Studios Florida.-History:...
at Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Cable Series | Ryan Reynolds Ryan Reynolds Ryan Rodney Reynolds is a Canadian film and television actor, best known for his roles in such films as National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Waiting..., The Amityville Horror, Just Friends, Definitely, Maybe, The Proposal, Buried, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Green Lantern.One of his best known... |
| Best Young Actor Starring in a Cable Series | Chris William Martin Chris William Martin Chris William Martin , also known as Corky Martin, is a Gemini Award-nominated Canadian actor... |
|||
| Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Cable Series | Arseman Yohannes | |||
| Best Young Actress Starring in a Cable Series | Laura Harris Laura Harris Laura Elizabeth Harris is a Canadian actress.-Early life:Harris was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, the daughter of school teachers. She began acting in radio dramas and animation series when she was five years old. As a child Harris was educated at Crofton House School and attended college... |
|||
| Best Young Actress Starring in a Cable Series | Robyn Ross |