Army Wives
Army Wives | |
---|---|
Created by | Katherine Fugate |
Based on | Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives by Tanya Biank |
Starring | |
Theme music composer |
|
Composers |
|
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 7 |
No. of episodes | 117 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producers |
|
Production location | Charleston, South Carolina |
Editors |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | Lifetime |
Release | June 3, 2007 June 9, 2013 | –
Army Wives is an American
On September 21, 2012, the show was picked up for a thirteen-episode seventh season to air in 2013.[2] In November 2012, it was confirmed that season 6 main cast members Catherine Bell, Wendy Davis, Terry Serpico, Brian McNamara, Kelli Williams, Alyssa Diaz, and Joseph Julian Soria would return as regulars. Kim Delaney's character, who did not appear in the final episodes of the sixth season, was written out.[3] Season seven premiered in the United States on March 10, 2013, at 9 pm Eastern on Lifetime,[4] and concluded on June 9, 2013.
On September 24, 2013, Lifetime canceled the series after seven seasons.[5][6] The network confirmed a two-hour retrospective special with cast members to celebrate the series that aired on March 16, 2014.[7]
Overview
Based on the non-fiction book originally titled Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives, by Tanya Biank, the series is set at fictional Fort Marshall, at the old
In the pilot episode of Army Wives, "A Tribe is Born", Roxy (
As the first season progresses, the four women and Roland all become close friends. Along with their spouses and other characters, they face issues such as
Though the show is based on the book of the same name, and some of the characters echo their book counterparts, significant differences exist. For example, in the book, Andrea Lynn Cory (the basis of Claudia Joy) loses her husband in a helicopter crash during a mission to find the remains of soldiers in Vietnam.[8]
Cast and characters
Main cast and characters
Actor | Character | Seasons | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
Drew Fuller | 2nd Lieutenant Trevor LeBlanc
|
Main | Special Guest | |||||
Jeremy Davidson | MSG Chase Moran | Main | Special Guest | |||||
Terry Serpico | Colonel Frank Sherwood | Recurring | Main | |||||
Brian McNamara | Lt. General Michael James Holden
|
Main | ||||||
Sterling K. Brown | Dr. Roland Burton
|
Main | Recurring | |||||
Catherine Bell | Denise Sherwood
|
Main | ||||||
Wendy Davis | Colonel Joan Burton
|
Main | ||||||
Sally Pressman | Roxanne Marie "Roxy" LeBlanc
|
Main | Special Guest | |||||
Brigid Brannagh | Officer Pamela Moran
|
Main | Special Guest | |||||
Kim Delaney | Claudia Joy Holden
|
Main | ||||||
Richard Bryant | SPC Jeremy Sherwood | Main | ||||||
Paul Wesley | PFC Logan Atwater | Main | ||||||
Kim Allen | Amanda Joy Holden | Main | Guest | |||||
Caroline Pires | Emmalin Holden | Main | ||||||
Katelyn Pippy | Recurring | Main | Special Guest | |||||
Erin Krakow | SPC Tanya Gabriel | Main | ||||||
Kelli Williams | Jackie Clarke | Main | ||||||
Alyssa Diaz | Gloria Cruz | Main | ||||||
Joseph Julian Soria | CPL Hector Cruz | Main | ||||||
Jesse McCartney | Private Tim Truman | Main | ||||||
Brant Daugherty | 2nd Lt. Patrick Clarke | Main | ||||||
Burgess Jenkins | Staff Sgt. Eddie Hall | Main | ||||||
Torrey DeVitto | Maggie Hall | Main | ||||||
Ashanti
|
Latasha Montclair | Main | ||||||
Elle McLemore | Holly Truman | Main | ||||||
Brooke Shields | Air Force Colonel Katherine "Kat" Young | Main |
Recurring cast and characters
The characters listed have appeared in multiple seasons, or for story arcs lasting at least three episodes:
|
|
Production and development
Conception
Army Wives was created by Katherine Fugate, based on the book Under the Saber: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives by Tanya Biank. Fugate told she received the book from The Mark Gordon Company and first thought it was to be adapted as a movie, since she had mostly written movies during her career. She met with Deborah Spera, the president of The Mark Gordon Company, and pitched a film adaptation of the book, which would begin and end with a murder. They presented the series to ABC and then to Lifetime.[11] Fugate commented on the book: "I read that book, and it was very traumatic and very difficult, but it also opened the gates of a military post. We drive by them all the time, but we don't know what goes on inside".[12]
Fugate expressed her desire that the show remain accurate: "It's extremely important that I portray them accurately. I have great admiration for the wives. It's the last untold story, about how they maintain relationships and how they are single mothers much of the time. That story is why I created the series."
Filming locations
Principal photography takes place in a
Production team
Army Wives was produced by The Mark Gordon Company in association with
Each script was supervised by two advisers from the Army.
Spin-off pilot
In September 2009, a survey to see which character should get its own spin-off was posted on Lifetime's Army Wives blog; Pamela Moran (Brigid Brannagh) was one of the most-chosen characters.[25] On June 13, 2010, Deadline Hollywood reported that Lifetime was pursuing a spin-off procedural drama television series for Army Wives featuring Brannagh's character, police officer Pamela Moran.[25] It was reported that an episode of the fourth season would serve as a backdoor pilot for the proposed spin-off.[25] The seventeenth episode of the season, titled "Murder in Charleston", served as the backdoor pilot, airing on August 15, 2010. Written by Bruce Zimmerman and T.D. Mitchell, the episode sees Moran teaming up with detective Gina Holt (Gabrielle Union) on a murder related to a case Holt has been working on for the past three years in Atlanta. At the end of the episode, Holt tells Moran she should take a detective's exam and to look for her if she is in Atlanta.[26] In September 2010, however, Lifetime did not pick up the spin-off series.[27]
Reception
Critical response
Army Wives holds a score of 65 out of 100 on
The Chicago Tribune called Catherine Bell who "uses her typical subtlety and grace to give an intriguing interior life to Denise Sherwood," and Kim Delaney who portrays Claudia Joy Holden "the best two things about the show" while the newspaper deemed Roxy (Sally Pressman) "the most problematic character" because she does "preposterous and downright stupid things" in the first episodes.[31] On the contrary, Rob Owen found Denise Sherwood and Claudia Joy Holden "the most passive, least interesting characters" and considered Roxy and Trevor (Drew Fuller) "the liveliest couple", adding the show "sparks to life anytime these two are on screen."[34] Michelle Hewitson of the New Zealand Herald described Roxy as "a slapper with a heart of gold".[32] Linda Stasi called Frank Sherwood, portrayed by Terry Serpico, a "rivetingly wonderful character."[30]
The second season received promotion from Barack Obama and John McCain who were running for President in 2008.[35]
Ratings
The series opened its third season with 3.5 million viewers and a 2.4 rating among women 18-49, and a 1.0 rating among men 18-49. That made Wives the top-rated drama premiere in Lifetime's key demographic for 2009, though the show declined 22% among total viewers later in the year.[36]
The series opened its fifth season with a total of 4.2 million viewers, up 27% from the fourth-season premiere, and it scored a 1.4 rating among women 18-49. The episode is Lifetime’s second most watched original season premiere among the key demos, including Women 18+ (3.0 rating) and Adults 18+ (4.0 rating), behind only the season two debut of Army Wives.[37]
Awards and accolades
Year | Award | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | ASCAP Awards | Top Television Series | Marc Fantini, Steffan Fantini, Scott Gordon | Won | [38] |
2008 | Gracie Allen Awards | Outstanding Drama | Won | [39] | |
2008 | NAACP Image Awards
|
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Wendy Davis | Nominated | [40] |
2008 | PRISM Awards
|
Mental Health Depiction Award | Nominated | ||
2008 | PRISM Awards | Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline | Wendy Davis | Nominated | |
2009 | ASCAP Awards | Top Television Series | Marc Fantini, Steffan Fantini, Scott Gordon | Won | [41] |
2009 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Wendy Davis | Nominated | [42] |
2010 | ASCAP Awards | Top Television Series | Marc Fantini, Steffan Fantini, Scott Gordon | Won | [43] |
2011 | ASCAP Awards | Top Television Series | Marc Fantini, Steffan Fantini, Scott Gordon | Won | [44] |
2011 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Wendy Davis | Nominated | [45] |
2012 | ASCAP Awards | Top Television Series | Marc Fantini, Steffan Fantini, Scott Gordon | Won | [46] |
2012 | NAMIC Vision Awards | Best Drama | Nominated | [47] | |
2013 | Young Artist Awards
|
Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actress 11-13 | Annika Horne | Won | [48] |
2013 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actress 11-13 | Taylor Blackwell | Nominated | [48] |
2014 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series - Supporting Young Actor | McCarrie McCausland | Nominated | [49] |
Home media
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has released all seven seasons on DVD.
Army Wives - The Complete First Season | ||||
Set details[50] | Special features[50] | |||
|
| |||
Release dates | ||||
USA | Canada | UK | Australia | |
June 10, 2008 | N/A | November 11, 2008[51] |
Army Wives - The Complete Second Season | ||||
Set details[52] | Special features[52] | |||
|
| |||
Release dates | ||||
USA | Canada | UK | Australia | |
June 2, 2009 | N/A | N/A |
Army Wives - The Complete Third Season | ||||
Set details[53] | Special features[53] | |||
|
| |||
Release dates | ||||
USA | Canada | UK | Australia | |
February 9, 2010 | N/A | N/A |
Army Wives - The Complete Fourth Season | ||||
Set details[54] | Special features[54] | |||
|
| |||
Release dates | ||||
USA | Canada | UK | Australia | |
December 14, 2010 | N/A | N/A |
Army Wives - The Complete Fifth Season | ||||
Set details[55] | Special features[55] | |||
|
| |||
Release dates | ||||
USA | Canada | UK | Australia | |
September 27, 2011 | N/A | N/A |
Army Wives - The Complete Sixth Season | ||||
Set details[56] | Special features | |||
|
| |||
Release dates | ||||
USA | Canada | UK | Australia | |
September 18, 2012 (part one) December 18, 2012 (part two) |
N/A | N/A |
Army Wives - The Complete Seventh Season | ||||
Set details[58] | Special features | |||
|
| |||
Release dates | ||||
USA | Canada | UK | Australia | |
September 10, 2013 | N/A | N/A |
International airings
The series began airing in Ireland on Monday, October 15, 2007, on
The series also airs in
References
- ^ ""Wives" bow scores ratings of a Lifetime". Reuters. 2007-06-06. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (September 21, 2012). "Army Wives Is Renewed — But Who Will Return?". TVLine. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (November 17, 2012). "Army Wives Exclusive: Major Character Getting Killed Off Amid Season 7 Shake-Up". TVLine. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ "Army Wives to kick off Season 7 on March 9". Deadline Hollywood. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (September 24, 2013). "'Army Wives' cancelled by Lifetime". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Abrams, Natalie (September 24, 2013). "Lifetime Cancels Army Wives After Seven Seasons". TV Guide. TV Guide. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Messina, Kim (February 12, 2014). "'Army Wives: A Final Salute' Airs March 16". Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
- ^ Google Books, Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage, page 99 Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (April 13, 2012). "'Parenthood' Actress Books Recurring Role on Lifetime's 'Army Wives' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 8, 2013). "Burgess Jenkins & Joshua Henry Join 'Army Wives'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
- ^ Silverstein, Melissa (June 6, 2008). "Army Wives Creator Katherine Fugate Answers Questions in Advance of Sunday's Season Premiere". Women & Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- New York Daily News. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ a b Felicia R. Lee (June 28, 2007). "Watching Army Wives Watching 'Army Wives'". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
- ^ a b "Army-Wives-is-Back". Baseguide. baseguide.com. Retrieved August 7, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- Gannett Company. June 4, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: Sally Pressman (Roxy LeBlanc) from Army Wives". The TV Chick. August 28, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "'Army Wives' Cast Works to Create Realistic Military Parallel". DOD. 6 May 2008.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 27, 2006). "Corbin-Miller in command of Lifetime 'Army'". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Claustro, Lisa (August 13, 2007). "Dee Johnson named the new showrunner of Lifetime's 'Army Wives'". BuddyTV. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- Reed Business Information. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (August 13, 2008). "Exclusive: 'Army Wives' Creator Relieved of Duty". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
- PMC. April 17, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Bergmann, Caitlin (January 26, 2010). ""Army Wives" Q&A: Brian McNamara". Army Wives Blog. Lifetime. Archived from the original on 2013-06-09. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "Brian McNamara on Directing Episode 10". Army Wives Blog. Lifetime. May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-02-17. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c Andreeva, Nellie (September 1, 2010). "'Army Wives' Spinoff Gets Green Light For Embedded Pilot & Taps Gabrielle Union". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ Writers: Zimmerman, Bruce; Mitchell, T.D. Director: Liddi-Brown, Alison (August 15, 2010). "Murder in Charleston". Army Wives. Season 4. Episode 17. Lifetime.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 1, 2010). "CABLE NOTES: 'Memphis Beat' Looks Good For Renewal, 'Army Wives' Spinoff A No-Go, 'Facing Kate' Order Trimmed". Deadline Hollywood. PMC. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
- ^ "Army Wives: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- CinemaBlend. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ News Corporation. Archived from the originalon January 30, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
- ^ a b "'Army Wives' inducts viewers into a potentially interesting world". Chicago Tribune. May 31, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
- ^ APN News & Media. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- Reed Business Information. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Owen, Rob (May 31, 2007). "Tuned In: 'Army Wives' is soap du jour". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Block Communications. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Eggerton, John (June 4, 2008). "Obama, McCain Tape Army Wives Spots". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ "'Kendra' sets E! ratings record; 'Army Wives' drops". The Hollywood Reporter. 2009-06-08. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (March 7, 2011). "'Army Wives' Season Five Premiere Averages 4.2 Million Viewers; 'Coming Home' Averages 2.7 Million". tvbythenumbers. Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ^ "ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards 2008 - Top Television Series". ASCAP. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "2008 Gracie Allen Winners" (PDF). 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "Winners of the 39th NAACP Image Awards" (PDF). 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards 2009 - Top Television Series". ASCAP. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "The 40th NAACP Image Awards - Winners". naacpimageawards.net. February 12, 2009. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards 2010 - Top Television Series". ASCAP. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards 2011 - Top Television Series". ASCAP. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "The 42nd NAACP Image Awards - Television". naacpimageawards.net. March 4, 2011. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards 2012 - Top Television Series". ASCAP. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- PRWeb. April 3, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ a b "34th Annual Young Artist Awards - Nominations / Special Awards". Youngartistawards.org. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- Young Artist Awards. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ a b "Army Wives: The Complete First Season". DVDEmpire.com. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ "Army Wives - Season 1 (Complete)". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ a b "Army Wives: The Complete Second Season". DVDEmpire.com. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ a b "Army Wives: The Complete Third Season". DVDEmpire.com. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ a b "Army Wives: The Complete Fourth Season". DVDEmpire.com. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ a b "Army Wives: The Complete Fifth Season". DVDEmpire.com. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
- ^ Lambert, David (May 4, 2012). "Army Wives - Release Date, Pricing, Package Art for 'The Complete 6th Season'". TV ShowsOnDvd. Archived from the original on August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ "Army Wives Season 6 DVD Box Set". DVDSEA.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-20. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ "Army Wives: The Complete Seventh Season". Amazon. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ "Army Wives at mnet.co.za". Archived from the original on October 19, 2008.
- ^ Munn, Patrick (February 10, 2012). "Sky Living Drops Army Wives, Chuck, Private Practice and White Collar". TVWise. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Cloutier, Anne-Marie (January 4, 2010). "Télévision en 2010: une rentrée faste" (in French). Lapresse.ca. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ "Zoo Video - Nouveauté mercredi 22h dès le 1er juin | Season 01 - Séries+". Archived from the original on May 28, 2010 – via www.seriesplus.com.
- ^ Roggeveen, Herman (April 26, 2010). "Net 5 pakt de draad op met Army Wives" (in Dutch). Zappen.blog.nl. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Jadoulle, François (July 17, 2008). "Army Wives débarque sur RTL TVI". Serieslive (in French). Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Jadoulle, François (December 7, 2008). "Les (Army) Wives sont de retour sur Be TV". Serieslive (in French). Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Jadoulle, François (November 4, 2008). "Army Wives arrive en France sur TMC". Serieslive (in French). Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
- ^ Cotte, Tony (July 29, 2012). "American wives remplace Grey's anatomy sur TF1". MSN Divertissements (in French). Msn.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
External links
- Army Wives at IMDb
- Tanya Biank Webcast Author Interview on Army Wives at the Pritzker Military Libraryon October 22, 2009