Life As We Know It (2004–2005)

Life through the eyes of Dino Whitman (Faris), Jonathan Fields (Lowell) and Ben Connor (Foster), three hormone-charged teenage boys.

Stars:

Sean Faris, Jon Foster, Chris Lowell

Cast

Series cast summary:
Sean Faris	...	Dino Whitman (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Jon Foster	...	Ben Connor (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Chris Lowell	...	Jonathan Fields (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Missy Peregrym	...	Jackie Bradford (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Kelly Osbourne	...	Deborah Tynan (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Jessica Lucas	...	Sue Miller (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Lisa Darr	...	Annie Whitman (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
D.B. Sweeney	...	Michael Whitman (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Evan Smith	...	Max Whitman (11 episodes, 2004-2005)
Marguerite Moreau	...	Monica Young (10 episodes, 2004-2005)
Sarah Strange	...	Mia Tynan (10 episodes, 2004-2005)
Carly McKillip	...	Ali O'Keefe (7 episodes, 2004-2005)
Jessica Harmon	...	Zoe Cresswell (6 episodes, 2004)

Storyline

At a Seattle high-school, three best buds live fairly normal teenage lives, as far as horny hormones allow. Dino Whitman is the cocky one, a beautiful hockey athlete, spontaneous, a born charmer and adored by kid brother Max. Ben is the brightest academically, but comes from an over-protective home which undermines his confidence. Jonathan is the third wheel, clumsiest at everything. They have girlfriends, the main ones being Jackie Bradford, Dino's counterpart in popularity and temperament; Sue Miller, Ben's girl, except for a phase with teacher Monica; Deborah 'Deb' Tynan, odd and unpopular enough to 'match' Jonathan, but as unforgiving as Jackie, while her mother Mia has an affair with Dino's dad Michael, and his ma Annie even worse, with ...

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Plot Keywords:

high school | high school student | teacher student relationship | masturbation | horniness | 

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Taglines:

Enter virgin territory

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Diario adolsecente

Filming Locations:

Lion's Gate Studios, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sachs/Judah Productions, SpudTV, Touchstone Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

43 min 43 min (13 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the school scenes are filmed around two in the morning.

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Quotes

Jackie Bradford: [after seeing Ben, Mr. Miller, and Sue together at the ski trip] I really had to pee.

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Soundtracks

"Sooner or Later"
(Theme song)
by Michael Tolcher

User Reviews

A smart, if not flawed TV show.

"life as we know it" (no capitalizations for supreme coolness), despite it's obvious flaws is a stand-out drama series. The coming-of-age story follows three high school boys whose mission is that of almost every real life high school boy- the name need not apply. Dino, the central character grapples with his need to be intimate with his less than willing girlfriend and a stunning secret he has just learned about his mother. His friends Ben and Jonathan are less secure with their social status and sex life, one coming to terms with dating the girl everyone makes fun of and the other beginning a relationship with his young teacher that definitely crosses the professional line. The show stands out from other soapy dramas because of it's ability to be frank in discussions of sex and the consequences (and even rewards) that come from it. The boys speak their minds and hold nothing back which may offend some. But it's a truthful depiction that shows both the careless desire of high school life and the maturity that must come with sexual relationships. But the package, unfortunately, doesn't come without some nicks. The style of the three leads speaking to the camera when blurting confessions, while sometimes amusing is also conventional and clichéd. As is some of the dialogue that veers the story from an original format to glorifying potentially cardboard characters. The three leads, however, are extremely charismatic and play very well off of each other. Other notable praises should be directed at first-time actress Kelly Osbourne, who plays Deborah almost too convincingly. Her ability to generate emotion and sympathy for an all-too-true character is stellar. In "life as we know it", there's much to be worked with but equally as much to be destroyed. If the cards are played right (and the ratings are high enough) this could turn out to be a sophisticated, enlightening teen drama in the vein of "The OC".