"My So-Called Life" (1994) TV series 1994-1995

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Creator:

Winnie Holzman
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

25 August 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

"My So-Called Life" is a realistic mid-nineties teen drama series that takes a look at a 15 year-old girl and her trials and tribulations with being a teenager and dealing with friends, guys, parents and school.

Plot Keywords:

Teenager | Teen | Hidden Character | Gay Teenager | Redhead

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Bess Armstrong	...	Patty Chase (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Wilson Cruz	...	Rickie Vasquez (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Claire Danes	...	Angela Chase (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Devon Gummersall	...	Brian Krakow (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
A.J. Langer	...	Rayanne Graff (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Devon Odessa	...	Sharon Cherski (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Tom Irwin	...	Graham Chase (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jared Leto	...	Jordan Catalano (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Lisa Wilhoit	...	Danielle Chase (18 episodes, 1994-1995)

(more)

Series Directed by
Mark Piznarski		(4 episodes, 1994-1995)
Scott Winant		(3 episodes, 1994)
Todd Holland		(2 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Writing credits
Winnie Holzman		(19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jill Gordon		(3 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jason Katims		(3 episodes, 1994)
Ellen Herman		(2 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Produced by
Marshall Herskovitz	....	executive producer (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Winnie Holzman	....	co-executive producer (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Edward Zwick	....	executive producer (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Scott Winant	....	co-executive producer (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Monica Wyatt	....	co-producer (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jill Gordon	....	consulting producer (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Alan Poul	....	producer (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Brooke Kennedy	....	producer (9 episodes, 1994)
Charles S. Carroll	....	coordinating producer (8 episodes, 1994)
Richard Kramer	....	consulting producer (8 episodes, 1994)

Series Original Music by
W.G. Snuffy Walden		(19 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Cinematography by
Charlie Lieberman		(10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Ernest Holzman		(9 episodes, 1994)

Series Film Editing by
Ron Rosen		(7 episodes, 1994-1995)
Robert Frazen		(5 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Casting by
Jeff Greenberg		(18 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Production Design by
Brandy Alexander		(10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Cate Bangs		(8 episodes, 1994)

Series Set Decoration by
Barbara Cassel		(10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jan K. Bergstrom		(4 episodes, 1994)
Michael W. Foxworthy		(4 episodes, 1994)

Series Costume Design by
Patrick R. Norris		(19 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Makeup Department
Candy L. Walken	....	hair stylist (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Isabel Harkins	....	makeup artist (18 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Production Management
Thomas H. Brodek	....	executive in charge of production (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Deirdre Paulino	....	production supervisor (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Arturs Rusis	....	post-production supervisor (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Ron Mitchell	....	unit production manager (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Charles S. Carroll	....	unit production manager (8 episodes, 1994)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nancy Jacobs	....	first assistant director (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Judith Moore	....	second assistant director (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Wendy Peterson	....	second assistant director (8 episodes, 1994)
Concetta Rinaldo-Williams	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Sara Fischer	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1994)
Danny Irom	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1994)

Series Art Department
Laurie Dalton	....	property master (17 episodes, 1994-1995)
Hugh Conlon	....	construction coordinator (13 episodes, 1994)
Hilda Stark	....	set designer: permanent sets (8 episodes, 1994)
Duke Tomasick	....	construction coordinator (5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Eric A. Holst	....	property master (2 episodes, 1994)
Robert E. Knight	....	paint foreman (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Bo Harwood	....	production sound mixer / sound mixer (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	supervising sound editor (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Chris Hogan	....	supervising sound editor (7 episodes, 1994)
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Sherry Klein	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Mark Lanza	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Robert Nichols II	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Mike Olman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Anthony G. Nakonechnyj	....	chief lighting technician (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Daniel C. Gold	....	camera operator / camera operator: "a" camera (15 episodes, 1994-1995)
Paul Threlkeld	....	key grip (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Thomas Bartolucci-Browne	....	key grip (8 episodes, 1994)
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1994)
Michael Gallart	....	best boy / rigging gaffer (unknown episodes)
Steven R. Monroe	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Mary Goldberg	....	original casting (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Carol Goldwasser	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Aaron Lemos	....	post-production assistant (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Elissa Loparco	....	post-production executive (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Hollyhart Galanoy	....	post-production coordinator (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jim Page	....	assistant editor (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Anthony Scott	....	assistant editor (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jean Crupper	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 1994)
Joanna Cappuccilli	....	supervising editor (6 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Music Department
W.G. Snuffy Walden	....	composer: theme music (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor (11 episodes, 1994-1995)
Patty von Arx	....	music editor (8 episodes, 1994-1995)
Carolyn Bahr	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Bill Myers	....	transportation coordinator (18 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Other crew
Kathie Broyles	....	title design (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Debra Lovatelli	....	assistant to executive producer (19 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jennifer Catalano	....	assistant to co-executive producers (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Terry Edinger	....	production accountant (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jason Katims	....	story editor / executive story editor (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Gary Rieck	....	script coordinator / assistant to co-executive producers (18 episodes, 1994-1995)
Diane Durant	....	script supervisor (16 episodes, 1994-1995)
Jed Blaugrund	....	assistant to executive producer (14 episodes, 1994)
Diane Driscoll	....	assistant to co-executive producers (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Enid L. Kantor	....	production coordinator (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Michael Mann	....	location manager (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
David Clayton Miller	....	assistant to producer (10 episodes, 1994-1995)
Ron Dittman	....	location manager (8 episodes, 1994)
Liberty Godshall	....	executive story editor (8 episodes, 1994)
Mary Helfrich	....	assistant to producer (8 episodes, 1994)
Cheri Jacobs	....	production coordinator (8 episodes, 1994)
Betsy Thomas	....	story editor (8 episodes, 1994)
Robin Budd	....	assistant to executive producer (5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Kristine Greco	....	script supervisor (2 episodes, 1994)
Jack E. Herman	....	extras set coordinator (2 episodes, 1994)
Erin Fiedler	....	production coordinator (1 episode, 1994)
Pam Jackson	....	production coordinator (1 episode, 1994)
Ian Busch	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Josh Gummersall	....	key set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Ed Lippman	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey D. Stevens	....	key medic (unknown episodes)
Korin A. Tarin	....	accounting assistant (unknown episodes)
Paul Wilson	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Jennifer Catalano	....	special thanks (1 episode, 1994)
Mary McMartin	....	special thanks (1 episode, 1994)
Rebecca Smith	....	special thanks (1 episode, 1994)

Production Companies

• ABC Productions (in association with)
• ABC Video Enterprises (in association with) (episode 11)
• Bedford Falls Productions
• Capital Cities Television Productions (in association with) (episode 11)

Distributors

• ABC Distribution Co. (episode 11)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (USA)
• BMG Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International
• Buena Vista Television (1995) (USA) (TV)
• Free Dolphin Entertainment (2008) (France) (DVD)
• Noggin (2005-) (USA) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Children's Television Workshop (CTW)  "Sesame Street" footage provided by (episode "On the Wagon (1994)")
• Clay Digital Sound  sound editing (episodes 9-19)
• Digital Magic Company  digital post-production (pilot episode)
• Encore Video  electronic post-production (episodes 2-19)
• Inner Voices  church choir (episode "So-Called Angels (1994)")
• L.A. Casting Express  extras casting (pilot episode)
• Rainbow Casting Service  extras casting (episodes 2-19)
• Soundelux  sound services (epiosdes 3-8)
• True Sound Inc.  sound post-production (pilot episode)

Also Known As:

Someone Like Me (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (19 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Burlington Arcade - 380 S. Lake Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

ABC Productions

Trivia:

The character 'Graham Chase' was ranked #49 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" (20 June 2004 issue).

Goofs:

Continuity: Many sudden changes of clothes.

Quotes:

Angela: If only there were a button somewhere that I could push. To force me to stop talking.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Fountain and Fairfax

Perfect. Proof a long run does not mean quality.

My So-Called Life is one of those instant classics. A brilliant show, it just came along at the wrong time and was subsequently canned after one season. But that only adds to it's legend and in a small way makes the series even more enjoyable now on DVD. The writing never got a chance to waiver. There was never really a bad episode. The cast never had to grow up and face "the college years" or even prom. Instead we are left with this one season, this one year of high school, with a brilliant group of characters who are locked forever in youth.

The shows are great. Claire Danes took the Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy. And when you compare this one series with two High School dramas it was sandwiched between; the richy richy farce of the early 90s' Beverly Hills 90210 and the glossy junk of the late 90s' Dawson Creek, you see how true, poignant and amazing these 19 hours My So Called Life truly are.

This was a real classic. That it was canceled so quickly only proves Networks know NOTHING about quality.