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

User Rating:

4.5/10   

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:

Children | Minister | Sister Sister Relationship | Sentimental | Mother Son Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 20 wins & 55 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 10	9:00 AM	WGNAMER	The Tribes That Bind	#3.13
Fri. July 10	1:00 PM	HALMRK	What Will People Say?	#1.8

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Spelling Television

Trivia:

During the fourth and fifth season of the series there was much controversy over co-star Jessica Biel's (Mary Camden) unhappiness over the show and her character Mary. She attempted to leave the show by getting fired when she posed for Gear Magazine to upset producers and network executives to let her out of her contract - which she'd later regret, as she admitted in later interviews and was now contented with the series.

Quotes:

Annie: I need to talk to you in the living room.
Sam: You're in trouble. Tell her you're sorry and you'll never do it again.
Eric: I don't think that will work for me.
David: Tell her Happy did it.
Eric: I don't think that will work for me either.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: You've Been Gilmored (#6.14)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

7th Heaven

Corny, heavy-handed but sweet

I watched this show once to kill time before something else came on, and found myself hooked. Sure the show has some major flaws -- it's heavy-handed moralizing, largely terrible acting, corny plots, a tendency to take itself way too seriously, and with the exception of the Mary-in-trouble story arc, everything is wrapped up in an hour.

But...

Everyone in the family cares about the others (tho sometimes I think mom has just a touch of an Evil Overlord bent on world domination streak), there's no sex, no violence beyond what's required to make a point, and no swearing. We're drowned in that stuff every day of our lives in every other medium we have. It's nice to find one hour during the week that's free of it. And if it moralizes -- what's the harm? Frankly most ppl could use a bit of moralizing. The other thing I've noticed is that while they're a religious family, and they approach their lives by that code -- they don't force it down anyone's throat, and that's pretty nice to see too. While they are tenacious in their own beliefs, they do allow others theirs... except when it impacts their family, which is understandable.

All in all, the irritations of the show are more than balanced by the sweet nature of the show, and the very family friendly spot it occupies. It may not be entirely realistic, but it's not entirely false either -- and if I want realism I can look at my own family which is just a bit *too* real.