Victorious
| Victorious | |
|---|---|
| File:Vtitlecard.png | |
| Genre | Teen sitcom |
| Created by | Dan Schneider |
| Starring | Victoria Justice Leon Thomas III Matt Bennett Elizabeth Gillies Ariana Grande Avan Jogia Daniella Monet |
| Opening theme | "Make It Shine", performed by Victoria Justice |
| Composers | Dr. Luke, Michael Corcoran |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 14 (aired) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Dan Schneider |
| Producers | Robin Weiner (supervising producer) Joe Catania Bruce Rand Berman |
| Production locations | Hollywood, California (setting) Nickelodeon On Sunset, Hollywood, California (filming location) |
| Camera setup | Videotape (filmized); Multi-camera |
| Running time | 23 minutes |
| Production companies | Schneider's Bakery Sony Music Entertainment Nickelodeon Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nickelodeon |
| Release | March 27, 2010 – present |
Victorious (stylized as VICTORiOUS) is an American television sitcom created by Dan Schneider for Nickelodeon. The series revolves around aspiring singer Tori Vega, portrayed by Victoria Justice, who attends a performing arts high school called Hollywood Arts, based on Chicago's High School for the Arts;ChiArts, while getting into wacky screwball situations on a daily basis. The series' pilot episode premiered on March 27, 2010.
Characters
 | This section describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. (November 2010) |
| This section possibly contains original research. (October 2010) |
Main characters
- Victoria "Tori" Vega (Victoria Justice) is the main protagonist of the show. She got a spot at Hollywood Arts by taking Trina's spot in the Big Show Case. She is 16 years old and starting school at Hollywood Arts, where she'll practice her "craft" (acting, singing, and dancing), make new friends and make a new enemy. Her sister, Trina, has always been the "star" of the Vega family. When Tori finally does start to realize her own abilities, her life changes even more and in ways she never imagined. Tori used to go to Sherwood High School.
- Andre Harris (Leon Thomas III) is an amazingly gifted musician and singer who can play almost any instrument, but prefers the keyboard. He quickly becomes Tori's best friend after they meet when he works with Trina on her performance for her school's big showcase. He is 16 years old. He loves to play for his friends. Andre is the guy Tori and their other friends come to for advice on anything. He is very supportive of Tori and believes in her. He co-wrote all of the songs that Tori sings in the show and can be seen playing the keyboard when she performs.
- Robert "Robbie" Shapiro (Matt Bennett) is a shy and awkward nerdy student at Hollywood Arts, so it makes sense that he is more comfortable speaking through his dummy Rex Powers. He is 16 years old. Robbie is a master ventriloquist and Rex is his puppet alter-ego and cannot keep anything to himself. Despite Rex just being a puppet, Robbie treats him like a human being and even tells others that Rex is not a puppet. Throughout the series, Robbie seems to abuse himself verbally and physically through Rex.
- Jade West (Elizabeth Gillies) is Beck's popular girlfriend and is sometimes the antagonist of the show. She is extremely jealous whenever Beck is hanging out with another girl. She and Tori start out as rivals with Jade going so far as to claim Tori injured her in stage fighting, but Andre discovers that Jade faked it. Rather than tell on Jade, Tori accepts punishment with her. She is 16 years old. She becomes somewhat friendly with Tori as the series goes on, such as asking Tori to help her get back together with Beck. Jade has an obsession with coffee.
- Caterina "Cat" Valentine (Ariana Grande) is a super sensitive drama queen with flighty tendencies. She is guilty of being an over-actor and is always at age 10 emotionally. Whenever anyone says anything she finds insulting, she cries, "What's that supposed to mean?!" but afterwards she always reverts to her usual bubbly self. Though Cat can be a lot to handle, she is a close friend to Tori. She is 16 years old.
- Beck Oliver (Avan Jogia) is handsome, easygoing, funny and down-to-earth. He is Jade's boyfriend and is close with Tori and their other friends. Beck is really friendly to everybody, including those that he doesn't know so well. He lives in an RV in his parent's driveway, saying that it's his roof, his rules. He is 16 years old.
- Katrina "Trina" Vega (Daniella Monet) is Tori's 17 year old sister. Though she is likable, she is a diva and believes everything is always about herself. It's been like that forever and she truly believes stardom is her destiny. The truth: Trina has the attitude of an A-list star but the actual talent of a much lower grade (hint, hint: she is not that great a singer). She had long been the star of the family until Tori's song debut won her parents over but Trina seems not to understand how the family dynamic has shifted.
Recurring characters
- Sinjin Van Cleef (Michael Eric Reid)[2] is a nerdy, dorky and somewhat creepy boy who collects the teeth of the relatives of past presidents. He claims to be in love with Jade, but she absolutely cannot stand him. He says he is "backup" when she dumps Beck. Sinjin was intended to be a one-time character, but Schneider enjoyed Reid's performance so much that he cast him in nearly every episode of the series.[3] He is also the first non-major character so far to have a profile on TheSlap.com. His name is a portmanteau of Sen'jin and Edwin Van Cleef, both characters from the popular online game World of Warcraft.
- Mr. Sikowitz (Eric Lange)[4] is the school's barefoot acting teacher. He has strange methods of teaching. Tori (and possibly everyone else) believes he is crazy. He also loves drinking coconut milk because it gives him "visions." He is now the second non-major character to have a profile on TheSlap.com.
- Mr. and Mrs. Vega (Jennifer Carta and Jim Pirri) are Tori and Trina's parents. They have been seen in the episodes Pilot, The Birthweek Song, and Robarrazzi. Mr. Vega was in Freak The Freak Out. Although Tori and Trina Vega's mom has been featured in more episodes than their father, she was recently seen in the episode Robarrazzi. They are depicted as typical parents from a teenager's point of view: caring parents that look after their kids, but can be embarrassments sometimes. In "Pilot", "The Birthweek Song", and "Freak the Freak Out", it is revealed that her dad is a cop.
- Lane (Lane Napper) is the school guidance counselor. He often helps resolve problems and catches students who ditch classes. He also helps build connection and understanding between characters, for example as shown in "Beck's Big Break", Robbie and Rex are sent to Lane's office to resolve Robbie's nightmare problems.
- Mamaw (Renee Taylor) is Robbie's crazed grandmother. She first appeared in the episode "The Birthweek Song" wherein she asked Robbie to fix her computer. Like Taylor's character in The Nanny, Mamaw also screams to her husband.
Production
Victorious is the sixth series created by Dan Schneider for Nickelodeon, following Kenan & Kel, The Amanda Show, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101, and iCarly.[5] Schneider first met Justice in 2005, when she was twelve and arrived to audition for the part of Lola Martinez on Zoey 101. Impressed by her energy and look, Schneider hired her and, after working with her on three episodes, called Nickelodeon to say, "I’ve got your next star."[6] Justice continued her role on Zoey 101 until the series ended in 2008. In the meantime, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon's main competitor, had experienced immense success with franchises like Hannah Montana and High School Musical, which featured original songs and generated revenue through music as well as television. Seeking to "follow where the kids are", Nickelodeon executives asked Schneider to create a music-based show for the channel.[6] Near the end of Zoey 101's run, Justice was summoned to meet with Schneider about a potential series starring her.[7]
While discussing possible concepts for the series during the meeting, Justice mentioned that she had attended a performing arts middle school. The idea intrigued Schneider, who recognized the appeal of series concerning fame.[7] "If there is anything I've learned about kids today—and I'm not saying this is good or bad—it's that they all want to be stars," said Schneider.[8] Marjorie Cohn, who was then Nickelodeon's executive vice president of original programming and development, agreed. "Every kid thinks they're five minutes away and one lucky circumstance from being famous," Cohn stated. She noted that Schneider's iCarly, a sitcom about a girl who hosts a popular web show, was spurred by the rise of YouTube celebrities and had become a successful show for Nickelodeon.[8]
On August 13, 2008, Nickelodeon announced that Justice had signed "an overall talent and music deal" with the company, agreeing to star in a then-untitled musical-comedy series about a girl who attends a performing arts high school.[9] While discussing the show's premise, Schneider stated that while it would be nice if more children "wanted to be teachers and social workers" instead of celebrities, "At least in Victorious, you see a world where they're all working on the talent part."[8] Nickelodeon Productions and the Columbia/Epic Label Group of Sony Music Entertainment agreed to co-produce the series as part of a partnership to develop talent and release their music.[10]
The second season of Victorious is currently being filmed as of October 25, 2010.[citation needed]
Casting
Several of actors on Victorious had appeared in Nickelodeon programs prior to Victorious's premiere. In addition to Zoey 101, Justice appeared on television series iCarly, The Naked Brothers Band and True Jackson, VP plus an episode of The Troop. She also co-starred with Avan Jogia, who plays Beck, on the Nickelodeon television movie Spectacular!. Daniella Monet guest starred in three episodes of Zoey 101 and an episode of "iCarly" while Leon Thomas was cast in episodes of iCarly and The Naked Brothers Band. Thomas, Elizabeth Gillies and Ariana Grande have both appeared in Broadway musicals. They auditioned in New York while co-starring in the musical 13. Of the seven main castmembers, Grande is the only one with no on-screen experience whatsoever prior to her role in the series.
Sets
The series is filmed at Nickelodeon Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California.[11] According to Paula Kaplan, Nickelodeon's executive Vice President for talent, "In our adult world, nobody accommodates us for down time. But in a child's life on a set, we do take that seriously. At our studios on Sunset Boulevard, where we shoot iCarly and Victorious, the greenrooms are filled with games and Rock Band. We create an environment where they can have fun with their colleagues and take it easy."[12]
The series is set primarily at Hollywood Arts. Outdoor shots of Hollywood Arts depict Burbank High School, which is located approximately fifteen minutes from the set.[13] According to David Hinkley of the New York Daily News, "Outside of school, Victorious has the same look as iCarly, with most of the action taking place on one main set with a few basic home/crib-furniture items." The show also has a BLIX machine from Zoey 101.[14]
Reception
Critical reception
The series as a whole earned generally mixed reviews. Variety magazine reviewer Brian Lowry wrote, "Victorious has been cobbled together with the wooden-headed market in mind."[15] David Hinkley of the New York Daily News says the series' format is nearly identical to iCarly's and hopes that the series will develop a "more distinctive personality" over the course of the season.[14] Roger Catlin of the Hartford Courant describes Victorious as "harmless but hardly entertaining".[16] Mark A. Perigard of the Boston Herald titled his review "Victorious is a big loser" and writes, "The bulk of the cast mugs for the cameras, probably to compensate for a script that could have been commissioned from fifth-graders."[17] Linda Stasi of the New York Post was mixed; she agreed that the episode contained over-acting performers, "corny" dialogue and a "terribly, terribly loud laugh track", but believed it was "a 'surefire tween hit".[18]
However, reviewers were positive about Justice's performance and suggested that series' potential hinged on her. Hinkley comments, "At this point, Justice is better at singing than acting, and the show doesn't flow as smoothly as iCarly," but Justice "has the personality and talent" needed for a shot at being "the Next Big Teen Thing".[14] Perigard describes her as "undeniably appealing"[17] and Lowry states, "Justice is winsome and talented enough to provide the latest show a leg up in connecting with tween girls."[15]
Viewership
The series premiere did well among viewers. The pilot episode, advertised as a "sneak preview" of the series, aired after the 2010 Kids' Choice Awards on March 27, 2010 to 5.7 million viewers. Victorious's second episode was advertised as the series' official premiere and drew 3.48 million viewers.[19] By comparison, Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush received 3.5 million viewers for its "sneak preview" debut in November 2009,[20] and 6.8 million viewers for its "premiere" in January 2010.[21]
On June 4, 2010, the episode "Robarazzi" became the most watched episode of the series to date, with 5.9 million total viewers, including 3.3 million in the Kids 6-11 demographic, and 2.2 million in the Tweens 9-13 demographic.[22]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Show | Victorious | Nominated |
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Season Premiere | Season Finale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 20 | March 27, 2010 | — |
Filming began on October 5, 2009 and ended on April 14, 2010. 20 episodes were produced for the show's first season.[23]
The show has been renewed for a second season[24] Filming of the second season began on October 25, 2010.
TV films/specials
| Title | Airdate |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi in the Sky | August 27, 2010 |
| Freak the Freak Out | November 26, 2010 |
Music
| "Victorious" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Make It Shine" is the theme song for Victorious, and is performed by Justice. It was co-written by Justice, Dr. Luke and Anthony Rodriguez and released it as Justice's debut single on April 13, 2010. The song is an up-tempo power-pop song with elements of dance and rock . The song has peaked at #16 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.[citation needed]
Victorious features approximately one song every three episodes.[25] This far, the songs that have been featured in Victorious are "You're the Reason" ("The Birthweek Song"), "Finally Falling" ("Tori the Zombie"), "Tell Me That You Love Me" ("The Great Ping Pong Scam"), "Freak The Freak Out" and "Give It Up". ("Freak the Freak Out").
International release
References
- ^ Leffler, Rebecca (4 October 2010). "MTVNI touting 5,000 hours of programming". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
{{cite web}}:|section=ignored (help) - ^ Sinjin Van Cleef at The Slap
- ^ Posted by DanWarp (2004-02-26). "DanWarp: FUN FACTS for tonight's new iCARLY & VICTORIOUS!!!". Danwarp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ "Ch. 12 Doppler big-storm ready | cincinnati.com | Cincinnati.Com". News.cincinnati.com. 2010-04-18. Retrieved 2010-05-10. [dead link]
- ^ "Breaking News - Rising Teen Talent Victoria Justice Takes Star Turn in "Victorious"". TheFutonCritic.com. 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b Wyatt, Edward (24 March 2010). "First the Tween Heart, Now the Soul". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ a b Shen, Maxine (26 October 2009). "'Zoey' pal gets own show". New York Post. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ a b c Martin, Denise (22 November 2009). "Child's play". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ Gornstein, Leslie (14 August 2008). "A-List Secrets: How to Make a Shiny New Miley". E!. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.com. 2008-08-23. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ "Los Angeles Production Listings". Backstage.com. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ By (2009-12-03). "Growing up in character - Entertainment News, Youth Impact Report '09, Media". Variety. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ Posted by DanWarp (2010-04-18). "DanWarp: FUN FACTS: Victorious - "Stage Fighting" !!!". Danwarp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b c David Hinckley (2010-03-26). "Nickelodeon patterns 'Victorious' with Victoria Justice after 'iCarly' to win young fans". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b By (2010-03-25). "Victorious Review - TV Show Reviews - Analysis Of Victorious The TV Series". Variety.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ Catlin, Roger (2010-03-27). "Roger Catlin's TV Eye - TV Entertainment News". Blogs.courant.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ a b Press, Associated (2010-03-27). "'Victorious' a big loser - BostonHerald.com". News.bostonherald.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ Stasi, Linda (2010-03-27). "'Victorious' has 'tween spirit". NYPOST.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ "USA, TBS Split Ratings Crown". Mediaweek.com. 2010-04-13. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ "Breaking News - NEW NICKELODEON SERIES PREMIERES WITH A BIG TIME RUSH OF COMEDY AND MUSIC ON MONDAY, JAN. 18, AT 8:30 P.M. (ET/PT)". TheFutonCritic.com. 2010-01-05. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ By (2010-01-19). "iCarly,' 'Rush' set records - Entertainment News, TV News, Media". Variety. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ By (2010-07-08). "Nickelodeon's iCarly And Victorious Finish The Week As The #1 and #3 Rated Shows In All Of Basic Cable". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ Nick, Sony Music will duet for comedy
- ^ Renewed for Season 2
- ^ 'Victorious' Star Victoria Justice Is 'Luckiest Girl In The World'