Reba (TV series)
- For the singer, see Reba McEntire.
| Reba | |
|---|---|
| File:Reba.jpg The cast of the WB comedy Reba | |
| Created by | Allison M. Gibson |
| Starring | Reba McEntire Christopher Rich Joanna Garcia Steve Howey Scarlett Pomers Mitch Holleman Melissa Peterman |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 112 (13 episodes ordered) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | The WB (2001 - 2006) The CW (2007-present) |
| Release | October 5, 2001 – present |
Reba is a United States sitcom starring country music singer Reba McEntire.
Synopsis
Reba McEntire plays wisecracking single mother Reba Hart, whose ex-husband Brock (Christopher Rich) has left her to marry ditzy dental hygienist Barbara Jean (Melissa Peterman). Ironically, though Reba sees "B.J." as her nemesis, Barbara Jean considers Reba her best (and perhaps only) friend. During the show's first season, Reba's oldest daughter, then-high school senior Cheyenne (Joanna Garcia), became pregnant. In the pilot episode, Cheyenne married her baby's father, fellow high-schooler Van Montgomery (Steve Howey), a dim-witted but well-meaning football player. Reba's other two children are Kyra (Scarlett Pomers), a rebelious teenager, and Jake (Mitch Holleman), a young boy just trying to sort through the mess of his family. The show attempts to realistically portray the trials and tribulations of family life in modern society and succeeds in modern comedy.
History
The show first aired on The WB television network in October 2001 and soon became the network's highest-rated comedy. The show continued to be The WB's number one comedy for five years. Then in May of 2006, rumors began circulating that The CW, the network that would be playing Reba because of the WB/UPN merger, would not pick up the show for a sixth season. Insiders said that the reason for no season six was that Reba does not attract "the desired demographic" the new network wants tuning in. By doing this, The CW would have to pay a reported twenty million to 20th Century Fox Television in syndication fees. [1] On May 17, 2006, it was announced that Reba would not make the cut when The WB and UPN merge into The CW. However, in an 11th hour move on May 17, it was picked up for 13 episodes on the new CW, slated as a midseason starter.[2]
Cast
- Reba McEntire as Reba Nell Hart
- Christopher Rich as Brock Hart
- Melissa Peterman as Barbara Jean Booker-Hart
- Joanna Garcia as Cheyenne Hart-Montgomery
- Steve Howey as Van Montgomery
- Scarlett Pomers as Kyra Eleanor Hart
- Mitch Holleman as Jake Hart
- Alexander & Jackson McClellan as Henry Hart, Brock and Barbara Jean's son
- Alena & Gabrielle LeBerger as Elizabeth Montgomery, Cheyenne and Van's daughter
Episodes
Opening sequences
In season one, the opening credits were black-and-white photos of cast members interspersed with color video shots of Reba on a soundstage. The theme song, "I'm a Survivor," was slower and softer. The first eleven episodes of season two featured a truncated opening sequence: Cast and crew names were shown during the first and second segments of the show. The song was re-recorded at a faster, more energetic pace, but only the last two lines of the chorus ("Who I am is who I want to be / I'm a survivor") were sung. New video inserts of Reba were shot and played with a color photo of the entire cast at the end.
From the second half of season two onwards, a full opening sequence was returned to the show. The fast-paced song played among the new shots of Reba plus clips of cast members from previous episodes as their names scroll past the screen horizontally. In season five, the song was re-mixed again, with more accompanying instrumentals.
Trivia
- Reba was the most-watched comedy series on The WB for most of its run on that network.
- Reba set a new all-time viewership record for any program on the WB's Friday night (best-ever Friday in women 19-49).
- The original name of the show was Sally before changing to Reba.
- McEntire was named executive producer in 2002.
- The last episode of Season 5 was a cliffhanger but because the show wasn't going to return for another season The WB put in clips at the end of the episode from all 5 seasons. Ironically Reba was renewed for a sixth season so the cliffhanger will be resolved.
DVD Releases
| Title | Release Date | # of Discs | # of Eps |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Complete First Season | December 14, 2004 | 3, Double Sided | 22 |
| The Complete Second Season | December 13, 2005 | 3, Double Sided | 24 |
| The Complete Third Season | April 25, 2006 | 3, Double Sided | 22 |
| The Complete Fourth Season | TBA 2006 | TBD | 22 |
| The Complete Fifth Season | TBA 2007 | TBD | 22 |
| The Complete Sixth Season | TBA 2007 | TBD | 13 |
Viewing Information
New Episodes:
Fridays, 9pm, The WB (completed airing season 5).
Season 6 will be shown next spring on The CW. 13 episodes confirmed.
Repeats:
Airs on Lifetime Mondays-Fridays at 1 & 1:30pm and at 6 & 6:30pm. ET/PT
Will also be playing on weekdays on The CW Daytime starting September 18.