Television & Reality TV - The Best Years #1

*Stacy* · 06-27-2007, 11:37 AM

Has anyone seen or heard of this show? I just saw a sneak of the premiere on Comcast OnDemand and it rocked! It's going to be a great show!!

IMDB Page

The N's Official Site Page

Quote:

Global Television Series Premiere
THE BEST YEARS

All-new original series
From acclaimed Writer/Producer, Aaron Martin

Debuts May 22 - 10PM ET/PT (60 mins.)

Toronto, April 26, 2007 - The choices you make now could last a lifetime…The Best Years, this season's all-new original drama captures the highs and lows of campus life through the eyes of six college freshmen.

From Global Television and Aaron Martin (writer/executive roducer, Degrassi: The Next Generation), this 13-part series makes its world television debut Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT beginning May 22nd.

“We’re thrilled to bring this smart, sexy new series to Global,” said Christine Shipton, Vice President of Original Programming for CanWest MediaWorks Inc. “The Best Years delivers top-notch writing, compelling storylines and a talented young cast – a combination we know our audiences will love.”

Audiences nationwide can live The Best Years along with central character, Samantha Best (Charity Shea, “Alpha Dog”) as she begins her freshman year at prestigious Charles University in Boston , MA . Orphaned at a young age, Samantha is leaving her foster-home past behind - full scholarship in hand - to take on the future, and the hallowed halls of the Ivy League.

Along the way she meets her new, occasionally dysfunctional surrogate family, including socialite roommate Kathryn Klarner (Jennifer Miller, “Instant Star”); fellow scholarship recipient, star basketball player and potential crush, Devon Sylver (Brandon Jay McLaren, “She’s The Man”); Dawn Vargas (Athena Karkanis, “Kevin Hill”), a former child star who trades in Hollywood for university; Trent Hamilton (Niall Matter, “Heaven Or Something Like It”), part-time student and full-time bartender; and Noah Jensen (Randal Edwards,“Smallville”), Devon’s room-mate, a business major with a future planned in Hollywood.

“As a first time television series creator, it’s an adrenaline rush seeing the show come to fruition on the small screen. I am extremely grateful to Global Television for their continued support throughout the process,” said creator and executive producer Aaron Martin.

“Global is a great supporter of Canadian talent, and in Aaron, they have a creator who has delivered in spades – this is a series that promises to be a hit at home and around the world”, said executive producer Noreen Hal pern.

The Best Years is also slated to premiere this summer on The N, a programming arm of MTV Networks in the US , and is distributed internationally by FremantleMedia Enterprises, the commercial arm of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world.

Produced by BLUEPRINT ENTERTAINMENT in association with CanWest MediaWorks Inc. and The N with the participation of The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit; and The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit. BLUEPRINT ENTERTAINMENT’s Noreen Hal pern and John Morayniss also serve as executive producers. Karen King-Chigbo is Production Executive and Christine Shipton is Vice President, Original Programming for Global Television.

So it seems it has aired already in Canada. Has anyone been watching?

A couple pics.

smoothaise · 06-27-2007, 03:13 PM

I used to be a The-N addict. I think I might TiVo the premiere and see if it's worth sticking with.

Added to thread list.

shellyw9 · 06-27-2007, 03:48 PM

I want to see this show too, it makes me more excited if it had a good premiere

*Stacy* · 06-27-2007, 08:39 PM

I really loved it. It's not brilliant tv, but what is.

It was very enjoyable, kept me really interested, surprised me in certain events and definitely made me want to know what was going to happen next.

smoothaise · 06-27-2007, 08:44 PM

Can I ask, is there over-arching mystery element to the show? If so, that would turn me off.

*Stacy* · 06-28-2007, 05:06 PM

Ken, what do you mean by that.

Just realized you can order the pilot free if you have Itunes!!

smoothaise · 06-28-2007, 06:55 PM

It just seems like alot of shows bring that gimmick into the show when starting out. They are doing that with HP and it just turns me away.

*Stacy* · 06-29-2007, 03:03 AM

Well by mystery, there are a few things that are interesting and you definitely want to find out what happens next, but it's not like the mystery of HP. It's more like these are new characters and of course we don't know everything about their past, so that's a mystery, but then again, i'm still not real sure what you mean. Am I sorta on the right path?

*Stacy* · 06-29-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

'The Best Years' has the smarts for college
By ROBERT PHILPOT
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

With Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls no longer doing first-run episodes, there's a dearth of series about college. The Best Years, the first series on The N to move into higher education, tries to change that. It doesn't have Veronica's smarts or Gilmore's wit, but it's a watchable genre entry nonetheless.

The Best Years is about the adventures of Samantha Best (get it?), played by Alpha Dog's Charity Shea. Samantha is an orphan who was raised in a series of foster homes, and she's made it into an upscale Boston university on a full-ride scholarship. Samantha clicks with her roommate Kathryn (Jennifer Miller), whose Martha Stewart decorating sense hides a mercenary streak. She also hits it off with cocky basketball jock Devon (Brandon Jay McLaren, who gives the opener's best performance).

That trio figures into an event that's sure to have an effect on the rest of the 13-episode season, and makes the opener switch gears from lighthearted bonding to pure melodrama. A couple of other characters figure in, including a nerdy sort (Siu Ta) and a former teen-soap star (Athena Karkanis) who gives the series a touch of O.C.-style self-reflexiveness.

The series was created by Aaron Martin, who was the head writer on The N's hit Degrassi: The Next Generation, and the opener was directed by Whistler vet Grant Harvey, who does a good job of juggling the cast and getting the young actors to slowly reveal layers of their characters' personalities. I'd like to see the series punch up the humor and repartee a bit, but it's got a handle on the soapy and social-politics aspects of the world it portrays.

The Best Years *** of 5

7:30 tonight, The N

Does that help a bit?

Ruby_Slippers · 06-29-2007, 10:28 AM

I'll check it out. I hope it isn't a knock off of Felicity though, aruguablly the best series about college life--ever.

*Stacy* · 06-29-2007, 10:44 AM

I thought about that too, wondering if it would be the same, but it's a bit different than Felicity. Glad you're going to check it out.

smoothaise · 06-29-2007, 06:33 PM

Enjoyed the premiere. And it definetly was alot edgier then Degrassi. The twist was awesome...but, I think the bigger twist was why the woman didn't want Sam to be expelled. Umm, that seemed a bit obvious.

And I enjoy the characters, alot. I'm rooting for the bartender/teen-soap star.

*Stacy* · 06-29-2007, 06:38 PM

YAY! I'm glad you liked it. At least I won't be here alone.

Yep, that woman has some investment in Sam. I have my theories, but i'm going to wait for a few more eps to see what happens.

smoothaise · 06-29-2007, 06:43 PM

Spoiler:

I felt like the show went from Felicity to I Know What You Did Last Summer.

But, it was fun. I want to see what happens with Sam and her roommate, ice cold tension there.

The club scenes were fun. I'm not really into the Devon/Sam relationship, to be honest.

Khleoswife · 06-29-2007, 10:51 PM

^ I agree with that spoiler. You would think they would try to hide it a little better.

I liked the premeire. I didn't see that twist coming at all. I actually sort of like tehe guy.

Seems like there's going to be a whole lot of drama stirred up. And I can't wait to see what happens between Sam and her roommate.

Forum Affiliates
Television Fan Forum Twitter, Agents of GUARD, Quantico Suspects, Teen Wolf Online, F Yeah Harvey and Scottie, The Big Bang Theory & Young Sheldon Fan, Shameless News, Good Trouble Daily, FYeah Twilight Zone, BBC The Last Kingdom, The Bold Type Gifs, Sidney Prescottz, The Haunting Source, Live Laugh DWTS
Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page


Fan Forum > General Discussion > Television & Reality TV > The Best Years #1