WEEKEND REWIND: American Dreams

AMERICAN DREAMS

Aired: September 29, 2002 - March 30, 2005
61 episodes
Starring: Gail O'Gray, Tom Verica, Brittany Snow, Will Estes, Sarah Ramos, Ethan Dampf, Jonathan Adams, Vanessa Lengies, Arlen Escapeta, Rachel Boston

American Dreams was a critically acclaimed show that ran on NBC in the beginning of this past decade. Set in 1960s Philadelphia, it was unlike anything else on the air. Its gimmick of using modern-day music artists to play artists from the 1960s on American Bandstand garnered people's attention but its storylines, actors, and high production value made it an excellent drama that was cancelled far too soon. After The Wonder Years but before Mad Men, this show captured the turbulant decade of the 1960s in a dramatic and touching way. It focused on a suburban white family and struggling black family whose lives often crossed with the many events that made that decade memorable.

At the center of the show was the Pryor family. As mother Helen, Gail O'Grady gave a nuanced performance as a woman who struggled with just being a housewife but didn't know what else she could do. Father Jack (Tom Verica) was a proud and traditional man who had some reservations about the world that was changing around him. Oldest child JJ (Will Estes) went from a high school football star to injured college football player to Vietnam soldier to a young father and husband throughout the show's run. The show's protagonist was teen daughter Meg played by Brittany Snow, who is returning to NBC tomorrow in the new Kathy Bates show Harry's Law. She was without question the center of the show and Snow gave a magnificent performance as Meg changed from a wide eyed girl whose only wish was to dance on American Bandstand to a socially conscious young woman who left for California with her rebel boyfriend on a cliffhanger series finale. Younger children Patty (Sarah Ramos) and Will (Ethan Dampf) rounded out the Pryor family.

Another powerful storyline was the black family the Walkers led by Jonathan Adams as father Henry, who worked for Jack Pryor at his TV & Radio store. His son Sam (Arlen Escarpeta) went to the same nearly-all-white Catholic school that JJ attended. They were both excellent in the roles, even though their storylines were often heartbreaking. Other major characters including Meg's best friend Roxanne (Vanessa Lengies). Lengies also guided her character through many changes as she went from being Meg's boy crazy (and far more experienced) friend to an anti-war modern 1960s girl living with an ex-boyfriend of Meg's. There was also Beth (Sarah Ramos), the love of JJ's life, and his eventual wife. Many other characters came and went, with some standouts being American Bandstand producer Michael Brooks (Joseph Lawrence), Sam's troubled cousin Nathan (Keith Robinson), and Jack's immature but well-intentioned brother Pete (Matthew John Armstrong).

The show was also very notable for its use of modern music artists portraying 1960s artists on American Bandstand and re-recording their songs. With Dick Clark as an executive producer, the show blended old clips of Bandstand with new clips on a reconstructed set. It was originally seen as the show's gimmick and hook but it was done so effectively that it was very fun to watch. Among the many musical artists that appeared as 1960s artists were Usher, Michelle Branch, LeAnn Rimes, Kelly Clarkson, Third Eye Blind, Alicia Keys, and Jason Mraz.

American Dreams had a very loyal and devoted audience but unfortunately that audience was rather small and it was cancelled by NBC after three seasons. Due to the extensive use of 1960s music and copyright issues, only the first season has been released on DVD but many fans (myself included) are waiting for the day that the remaining seasons will be released. American Dreams was a family drama that touched on so many important issues of the 1960s and today without being cliche. It was an underrated TV masterpiece.

THE 5 BEST EPISODES OF "AMERICAN DREAMS"
As always, this is solely based on personal opinion
Due to it having been so long since I've seen season 2 & 3, I am only counting down episodes from Season 1.

5. #6 "Soldier Boy" (first aired November 3, 2002)
There are so many storylines in each episode that its hard to recap but the important ones in this episode deal with Jack reuniting with old army buddies and Helen finding out stories about Jack's heroics she never knew. Also, Meg plans a party when she meets Jay of Jay and the Americans (played by Nick Carter). She allows Patty to invite a boy she likes to the party but ends up dancing with Jay and the Americans in the parking lot of the diner and they never come back to the house leaving Patty in an awkward position. This episode is great for the dancing scene in the parking lot and new layers seen by Patty and Jack's characters.

4. #14 "Heartache" (first aired February 9, 2003)
Meg and Luke (Jamie Elman) break up at a Valentine's Day dance as she wants him to stop making fun of everything that's important to her (even if they are somewhat superficial things). Sam brings a girl to the dance but the stares they get as the only blacks there makes her feel uncomfortable. As with almost every episode of this show, it's a sad yet sweet storyline.

3. #23 "Down the Shore" (first aired May 4, 2003)
The Pryors go on their annual vacation to the Jersey Shore (long before the guidos took it over!) but Roxanne and Meg are still fighting from an incident surrounding new girls Meg has become friends with. JJ and Beth also take their relationship to the next level and Bandstand comes down to air from the Jersey Shore. It's a very fun episode set against a backdrop not regularly seen on this show.

2. #10 "Silent Night" (first aired December 15, 2002)
The Christmas episode is a very memorable one as Meg doesn't want her first kiss to be under the mistletoe on TV with her Bandstand dance partner. Tension is also mounting in the Pryor family that isn't relieved until Helen starts a snowball fight on their way to Midnight Mass. The powerful ending with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" playing in the background makes this a classic.

1. #25 "City on Fire" (first aired May 18, 2003)
The best episode though was the heartbreaking season finale set against the backdrops of the 1964 Philadelphia Race Riots. The mounting tension catches Meg and Sam in the middle of it as they end up in North Philly at the new Pryor's TV & Radio store when the fighting breaks out. The saddest part though is watching the new Pryor store (that Henry was slated to run) burn. It's a powerful and sad ending to a brilliant season.