"7th Heaven" (1996)TV series 1996-2007

Creator:

Brenda Hampton

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Release Date:

26 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

You can relate...

Plot:

This weekly television series follows the Camden family as the minister father and stay-at-home mother deal with the drama of having seven children, ranging from toddlers to adults with families of their own. The friends, neighbors, and love interests of the various members of the family weigh heavily on the plot of the series, which seeks to address a real-life issue with each episode.

Plot Keywords:

Disturbing | Sentimental | Melodrama | Postmarital Sex | Family Conflict

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 20 wins & 55 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Aug. 20	1:00 PM	HALMRK	Say a Little Prayer for Me	#4.16
Wed. Aug. 20	2:00 PM	HALMRK	Twelve Angry People	#4.17

Cast

Happy	...	Happy (243 episodes, 1996-2007)
Beverley Mitchell	...	Lucy Camden / ... (242 episodes, 1996-2007)
Stephen Collins	...	Rev. Eric Camden / ... (241 episodes, 1996-2007)
Catherine Hicks	...	Annie Camden / ... (240 episodes, 1996-2007)
Mackenzie Rosman	...	Ruthie Camden (237 episodes, 1996-2007)
David Gallagher	...	Simon Camden (219 episodes, 1996-2006)
Barry Watson	...	Matt Camden (196 episodes, 1996-2006)
Jessica Biel	...	Mary Camden / ... (157 episodes, 1996-2006)
Lorenzo Brino	...	Sam Camden / ... (137 episodes, 1999-2007)
Nikolas Brino	...	David Camden / ... (136 episodes, 1999-2007)
George Stults	...	Kevin Kinkirk / ... (114 episodes, 2002-2007)

Also Known As:

7th Heaven: Beginnings (USA) (rerun title)
Seventh Heaven

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | New Zealand:PG (season 3) | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:TV-G | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

First Christian Church of North Hollywood - 4390 Colfax Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

CBS Paramount Network Television

Trivia:

In the series, Rev. Eric Camden ('Stephen Collins'), the father of the Camden family is a pastor at the fictional "Glen Oak Community Church". It's actually a real church - "The First Christian Church" (Disciples of Christ) that is located in Studio City, California.

Quotes:

Simon: Ruthie... how ya doing?
Ruthie: Fine, how are you doing?
Simon: Fine... but I'm not in school.
Ruthie: ...bye.
Simon: Wait... how is school?
Ruthie: Fine, except for algerbra.
Simon: You're lying... no one said anything to you about me?
Ruthie: Well, why would they?
Simon: Becase I'm your brother and... the kid on the bike was your age.
Ruthie: He didn't go to my school.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in RV (2006)

Soundtrack:

7th Heaven

Laughably bad, yet oddly mesmerizing

This series has all the qualities that should go into a horrid sitcom. The acting is beneath sub-par--with kids who were clearly picked more for their "look" than their acting abilities. The writing is so syrupy and pedestrian as to make "Martha Stewart's Living" look edgy and sophisticated by comparison. And the production quality looks like that of a 5th-rate syndicated show from 1987.

And, yet there is something oddly mesmerizing about this show. Maybe it's Aaron Spelling's knack for populating a world with such pretty people with such simple, easily solved problems. Maybe it's part of a secret desire to live in such an uncomplicated world where good guys are soapy pure and every house has a picket fence. Or maybe I just like to ogle Jessica Biel.

But what I really think is so appealing about this show is its camp value. Like a really cheesy B-horror film, 7th Heaven is at its best when it's at it worst. The hokier the story-line, the worse the acting; the more you have to laugh at it. It's like a train-wreck that you HAVE to watch--to find out who will introduce the next groan-inducing plot point, who will utter the next over-rehearsed bit of "spontaneous" dialogue, or what guest star has sunk so low this week.

7th Heaven is must-see TV, if for nothing else than watching desperate sup-par directors' constant cutaways to the family dog (to cover bad edits and, presumably, even worse dialogue). And the great thing is, the dog is actually a better actor than most of the kids on the show.

So, check it out. Get some popcorn, and have a good laugh.