31:
431:
boy, including his dreams, fantasies, and hopes. Klein loved the idea and asked Sontag who would write it, with Sontag's suggesting Dan
Wakefield. Despite this unsourced account of the "creation" of the series, Sontag created no characters, no plotlines, and no settings. The on-screen credit for the series reads "Created by Dan Wakefield," as it was Wakefield who worked out the specifics from Sontag's general conceptual outline.
560:
is still the most respectable new entertainment series of the season. Consistently, it communicates something about the state of being young, rather than just communicating that it wishes to lure young viewers. And if it romanticizes adolescence through the weekly trials and triumphs of its teen-age
462:
Wakefield, who was born and raised in
Indianapolis but eventually moved to Boston, said he chose Boston both because he wanted to write about a city he knew well and because he was tired of television's tendency to give programs settings in Los Angeles or New York City. To update his own memories of
518:
for the week of
September 5–11, 1977, with a 42% share of the viewing audience, quickly prompting NBC to approve a series. Associated Press writer Jerry Buck wrote that the pilot movie "captures the essence of growing up in America," adding "It makes up for all the drivel we've had to put up with,
430:
Sontag, the senior vice-president of creative affairs at Fox, had had a lunch meeting in New York City with Paul Klein, the head of programming at NBC. Klein said he needed a series for Sunday night. On the spot, Sontag pitched the idea for a coming-of-age series seen through the eyes of a teenage
543:
applauding the program's avoidance of stereotyping characters: "Sly, a jiving black student...has solidly middle-class parents deeply involved in classical music" and a classmate discovers that her father makes more money as a plumber than James' professor father.
577:
and Joe Hardy, the show's original executive producers, were replaced by Ron Rubin in
December 1977. Despite the critical acclaim, the show lasted only one season. Kerwin was age 16 when the series began and had turned 17 when it was cancelled.
451:-like dreams and dabbles in photography, has a hard time fitting into his new surroundings. During the series run, when James turned 16, the title was updated accordingly. (11 episodes, counting the two-hour movie, were produced as
570:. However, head writer Wakefield quit in a dispute with NBC over the use of the euphemism "responsible" for "birth control" in the episode as well as the network's insistence that James should feel remorse over his decision.
565:
Critics also approved of its handling of James' first sexual experience, with a
Swedish exchange student (Kirsten Baker) in the episode which aired February 9, 1978— at which point the show assumed the name
1163:
1001:
Littlefield, Kinney (January 18, 1998). "Drama's creator is addiction to adolescence: 'Scream' screenwriter Kevin
Williamson translates teen angst to the tube with 'Dawson's Creek'".
1133:
1138:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
893:
813:
521:
1173:
1168:
920:
447:) who has moved his family across the country to take a teaching job, transplanting James from Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts. James, who had
985:
964:
652:
1041:
697:
1178:
30:
415:, which aired on Monday September 5, 1977 and was intended as a television pilot for the series. Both were written by
334:
65:
527:
763:
706:, cited this show as a major influence on him and named it as an inspiration for his show. Williamson said, "
660:
116:
876:, which scored a whopping 42 share of the audience with its pilot earlier in September, will move into the
561:
hero, at least it does so in more ambitious, inquisitive and authentic ways than the average TV teeny-bop.
810:
424:
952:
678:
633:
609:
39:
316:
1072:
731:
1016:
1117:
1105:
981:
960:
928:
878:
726:
702:
817:
515:
423:, a tale of coming of age in the 1950s, had led to his being contacted by David Sontag of
187:
574:
286:
218:
208:
129:
1127:
978:
From Scream to Dawson's Creek to
Wasteland: The Phenomenal Career of Kevin Williamson
478:
444:
416:
213:
158:
134:
75:
1049:
718:
641:
622:
490:
472:
448:
440:
168:
153:
111:
35:
539:
The show was highly praised for its realism and sensitivity, with a reviewer from
834:
O'Connor, John. New York Times News
Service. "New shows put kids in spotlight,"
484:
163:
121:
722:
545:
499:
David Raynr as Ludwig "Sly" Hazeltine, James' friend (billed as David
Hubbard)
932:
638:
Outstanding Lead
Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series
619:
Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series
408:) is an American drama series that aired on NBC during the 1977–78 season.
1111:
1099:
714:
for the '90s. It was very provocative and way ahead of its time."
809:, Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, p. 389 (
657:
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series' - Night
556:
Not perfect, not revolutionary, not always deliriously urgent,
792:
Buck, Jerry. Associated Press. "'James at 15' relives youth,"
349:
463:
growing up, the writer spoke with adolescents from Boston.
868:
Pederson, Rena. "8 to air game — on tape" (TV column),
847:
Pederson, Rena. "'Washington' no 'Roots'" (TV column),
505:
Kevin Van Wieringen as a deaf student in James' class
370:
355:
345:
340:
330:
322:
312:
295:
276:
271:
260:
249:
241:
233:
201:
193:
183:
146:
104:
81:
71:
61:
51:
21:
807:Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America
514:The movie premiered to high ratings, topping the
1164:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
496:Deirdre Berthrong as Kathy Hunter, James' sister
851:, September 14, 1977, page 15: "...NBC landed
738:The title of The Breakup Society's 2004 album
419:, a journalist and fiction writer whose novel
502:Susan Myers as Marlene Mahoney, James' friend
411:The series was preceded by the 1977 TV movie
8:
1134:1970s American high school television series
1139:1970s American teen drama television series
1159:American television series about teenagers
1154:American English-language television shows
29:
18:
830:
828:
826:
585:
1149:1978 American television series endings
755:
1144:1977 American television series debuts
788:
786:
784:
443:) is the son of a college professor (
7:
197:"James" performed by Lee Montgomery
1042:"Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies Lyrics"
677:Two novels were written by author
535:Critical reception and controversy
455:, with the remaining 10 airing as
14:
959:. Random House Children's Books.
892:Shales, Tom (December 15, 1997).
872:, October 5, 1977, page 14: "And
721:refer to the show in their song "
1017:"James at 15 vs. Dawson's Creek"
894:"Facing the Death of an Old Pal"
653:Directors Guild of America Award
16:American drama television series
919:Brown, Les (January 12, 1978).
1174:Coming-of-age television shows
1169:Television shows set in Boston
493:as Sandy Hunter, James' sister
261:
250:
1:
487:as Joan Hunter, James' mother
481:as Paul Hunter, James' father
796:, September 2, 1974, page 4.
710:came out of my desire to do
1003:[The Orange County Register
859:in first and second place."
838:, October 25, 1977, page 7.
725:" ("I'm not James at 15 or
359:September 5, 1977
335:20th Century Fox Television
1195:
921:"Wakefield Quits 'James'"
646:(for the episode "Pilot")
627:(for the episode "Ducks")
613:
605:
28:
870:The Dallas Morning News
849:The Dallas Morning News
836:The Dallas Morning News
794:The Dallas Morning News
980:. St. Martin's Press.
976:Mangels, Andy (2000).
764:"Wakefield, Dan 1932-"
729:..."), from the album
582:Awards and nominations
563:
1179:NBC television dramas
554:
425:Twentieth Century Fox
267:1 movie / 20 episodes
1073:"Hughes Your Daddy?"
805:Gannon, Jack. 1981.
634:Primetime Emmy Award
610:Primetime Emmy Award
184:Theme music composer
40:Melissa Sue Anderson
1052:on February 4, 2015
898:The Washington Post
665:(for the "Friends")
573:Behind the scenes,
550:The Washington Post
277:Executive producers
43:in the pilot movie
1023:. January 30, 1998
925:The New York Times
816:2012-04-24 at the
742:is a reference to
541:The New York Times
522:Sons and Daughters
331:Production company
1077:Phoenix New Times
1071:Dominic, Serene.
882:spot on Oct. 27."
879:Man from Atlantis
700:, the creator of
670:
669:
666:
647:
628:
421:Going All the Way
395:
394:
242:Original language
234:Country of origin
176:Deirdre Berthrong
1186:
1108:(pilot TV-movie)
1087:
1086:
1084:
1083:
1068:
1062:
1061:
1059:
1057:
1048:. Archived from
1038:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1028:
1013:
1007:
1006:
998:
992:
991:
973:
967:
950:
944:
943:
941:
939:
916:
910:
909:
907:
905:
889:
883:
866:
860:
845:
839:
832:
821:
803:
797:
790:
779:
778:
776:
774:
768:Encyclopedia.com
760:
727:Chachi in charge
698:Kevin Williamson
664:
645:
626:
586:
391:
389:
381:
379:
374:October 27, 1977
366:
364:
341:Original release
263:
252:
33:
19:
1194:
1193:
1189:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1184:
1183:
1124:
1123:
1096:
1091:
1090:
1081:
1079:
1070:
1069:
1065:
1055:
1053:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1026:
1024:
1015:
1014:
1010:
1000:
999:
995:
988:
975:
974:
970:
951:
947:
937:
935:
918:
917:
913:
903:
901:
891:
890:
886:
867:
863:
846:
842:
833:
824:
818:Wayback Machine
804:
800:
791:
782:
772:
770:
762:
761:
757:
752:
732:Paul's Boutique
695:
675:
663:
644:
625:
584:
537:
512:
475:as James Hunter
469:
437:
387:
385:
383:
377:
375:
362:
360:
308:
302:Ernest A. Losso
291:
229:
188:John Ford Coley
179:
142:
126:Ernest A. Losso
100:
97:Shelley Zellman
47:
42:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1192:
1190:
1182:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1146:
1141:
1136:
1126:
1125:
1122:
1121:
1109:
1095:
1094:External links
1092:
1089:
1088:
1063:
1033:
1008:
1005:. pp. F9.
993:
987:978-1580631228
986:
968:
945:
911:
884:
861:
840:
822:
798:
780:
754:
753:
751:
748:
708:Dawson's Creek
703:Dawson's Creek
694:
691:
674:
671:
668:
667:
658:
655:
649:
648:
639:
636:
630:
629:
620:
617:
612:
607:
603:
602:
599:
596:
593:
590:
583:
580:
575:Martin Manulis
536:
533:
528:Hollywood High
511:
508:
507:
506:
503:
500:
497:
494:
488:
482:
476:
468:
465:
439:James Hunter (
436:
433:
393:
392:
372:
368:
367:
357:
353:
352:
347:
343:
342:
338:
337:
332:
328:
327:
324:
320:
319:
314:
310:
309:
307:
306:
303:
299:
297:
293:
292:
290:
289:
287:Martin Manulis
284:
280:
278:
274:
273:
269:
268:
265:
258:
257:
254:
247:
246:
243:
239:
238:
235:
231:
230:
228:
227:
226:J.A.C. Redford
224:
223:Murray MacLeod
221:
219:Jimmie Haskell
216:
211:
209:Richard Baskin
205:
203:
199:
198:
195:
191:
190:
185:
181:
180:
178:
177:
174:
171:
166:
161:
156:
150:
148:
144:
143:
141:
140:
137:
132:
130:Ernest Pintoff
127:
124:
119:
114:
108:
106:
102:
101:
99:
98:
95:
92:
89:
85:
83:
79:
78:
73:
69:
68:
63:
59:
58:
53:
49:
48:
34:
26:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1191:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1155:
1152:
1150:
1147:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1131:
1129:
1119:
1115:
1114:
1110:
1107:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1097:
1093:
1078:
1074:
1067:
1064:
1051:
1047:
1043:
1037:
1034:
1022:
1018:
1012:
1009:
1004:
997:
994:
989:
983:
979:
972:
969:
966:
965:0-440-92666-1
962:
958:
954:
949:
946:
934:
930:
926:
922:
915:
912:
900:. pp. B1
899:
895:
888:
885:
881:
880:
875:
871:
865:
862:
858:
854:
850:
844:
841:
837:
831:
829:
827:
823:
819:
815:
812:
808:
802:
799:
795:
789:
787:
785:
781:
769:
765:
759:
756:
749:
747:
745:
741:
736:
734:
733:
728:
724:
720:
715:
713:
709:
705:
704:
699:
692:
690:
688:
684:
680:
672:
662:
659:
656:
654:
651:
650:
643:
640:
637:
635:
632:
631:
624:
621:
618:
616:
611:
608:
604:
600:
597:
594:
591:
588:
587:
581:
579:
576:
571:
569:
562:
559:
553:
551:
547:
542:
534:
532:
530:
529:
524:
523:
517:
509:
504:
501:
498:
495:
492:
489:
486:
483:
480:
479:Linden Chiles
477:
474:
471:
470:
466:
464:
460:
458:
454:
450:
446:
445:Linden Chiles
442:
434:
432:
428:
426:
422:
418:
417:Dan Wakefield
414:
409:
407:
406:
401:
400:
384:June 29, 1978
373:
369:
358:
354:
351:
348:
344:
339:
336:
333:
329:
326:45–48 minutes
325:
321:
318:
317:Single-camera
315:
311:
304:
301:
300:
298:
294:
288:
285:
282:
281:
279:
275:
270:
266:
259:
255:
248:
244:
240:
237:United States
236:
232:
225:
222:
220:
217:
215:
214:Miles Goodman
212:
210:
207:
206:
204:
200:
196:
194:Opening theme
192:
189:
186:
182:
175:
173:David Hubbard
172:
170:
167:
165:
162:
160:
159:Linden Chiles
157:
155:
152:
151:
149:
145:
138:
136:
135:James Sheldon
133:
131:
128:
125:
123:
120:
118:
115:
113:
110:
109:
107:
103:
96:
94:Dan Wakefield
93:
90:
87:
86:
84:
80:
77:
76:Dan Wakefield
74:
70:
67:
64:
60:
57:
54:
52:Also known as
50:
46:
41:
37:
32:
27:
24:
20:
1112:
1100:
1080:. Retrieved
1076:
1066:
1054:. Retrieved
1050:the original
1045:
1036:
1025:. Retrieved
1020:
1011:
1002:
996:
977:
971:
956:
953:Smith, April
948:
936:. Retrieved
924:
914:
902:. Retrieved
897:
887:
877:
873:
869:
864:
856:
852:
848:
843:
835:
806:
801:
793:
771:. Retrieved
767:
758:
743:
739:
737:
730:
719:Beastie Boys
716:
711:
707:
701:
696:
686:
682:
676:
673:Novelization
661:Joseph Hardy
642:Kate Jackson
623:Irene Tedrow
614:
572:
567:
564:
557:
555:
549:
540:
538:
526:
520:
513:
491:Kim Richards
473:Lance Kerwin
461:
456:
452:
449:Walter Mitty
441:Lance Kerwin
438:
429:
420:
412:
410:
404:
403:
398:
397:
396:
323:Running time
313:Camera setup
305:Ronald Rubin
283:Joseph Hardy
169:Kim Richards
154:Lance Kerwin
117:Joseph Hardy
112:Marc Daniels
88:Wally Dalton
55:
44:
36:Lance Kerwin
22:
1113:James at 15
1101:James at 15
874:James at 15
853:James at 15
744:James at 15
740:James at 35
712:James at 15
683:James at 15
679:April Smith
568:James at 16
558:James at 15
485:Lynn Carlin
457:James at 16
453:James at 15
413:James at 15
405:James at 16
399:James at 15
264:of episodes
164:Lynn Carlin
139:George Tyne
122:Peter Levin
105:Directed by
56:James at 16
45:James at 15
23:James at 15
1128:Categories
1082:2024-09-04
1027:2022-05-06
938:October 5,
723:Hey Ladies
601:Recipient
546:Tom Shales
388:1978-06-29
378:1977-10-27
363:1977-09-05
272:Production
253:of seasons
82:Written by
72:Created by
933:0362-4331
615:Nominated
598:Category
296:Producers
202:Composers
91:Bill Nuss
1120:(series)
955:(1980).
857:Laugh-In
814:Archived
519:such as
510:TV movie
435:Synopsis
147:Starring
957:Friends
687:Friends
595:Result
516:ratings
402:(later
386: (
382: –
376: (
371:Release
361: (
356:Release
346:Network
245:English
1056:May 6,
1046:Genius
1021:EW.com
984:
963:
931:
904:May 6,
773:May 6,
693:Legacy
592:Award
552:wrote:
750:Notes
589:Year
66:Drama
62:Genre
1118:IMDb
1106:IMDb
1058:2022
982:ISBN
961:ISBN
940:2020
929:ISSN
906:2022
855:and
775:2022
717:The
685:and
606:1978
525:and
467:Cast
38:and
1116:at
1104:at
811:PDF
548:of
531:."
459:.)
350:NBC
262:No.
251:No.
1130::
1075:.
1044:.
1019:.
927:.
923:.
896:.
825:^
783:^
766:.
746:.
735:.
689:.
681::
427:.
1085:.
1060:.
1030:.
990:.
942:.
908:.
820:)
777:.
390:)
380:)
365:)
256:1
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
