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==Episodes==
==Episodes==
===Season 1 (2012-13)===
===Season 1 (2012–13)===
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Revision as of 02:07, 23 November 2012

Bunheads
GenreComedy-drama
Created byAmy Sherman-Palladino
Lamar Damon
StarringSutton Foster
Kaitlyn Jenkins
Julia Goldani Telles
Bailey Buntain
Emma Dumont
Kelly Bishop
Opening themeSam Phillips
ComposerSam Phillips
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producerAmy Sherman-Palladino
ProducerMaria L. Melograne
CinematographyAnette Haellmigk
Alex Nepomniaschy
EditorsJill Savitt
Saul Dávalas
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time42 minutes
Production companiesDorothy Parker Drank Here Productions
ABC Family Original Productions
Original release
NetworkABC Family
ReleaseJune 11, 2012 (2012-06-11) –
present

Bunheads is an American television comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Lamar Damon, starring Sutton Foster. The show premiered on ABC Family on June 11, 2012 and centers on a Las Vegas showgirl who gets married on a whim and winds up teaching alongside her new mother-in-law at her ballet school.[1] The show's title is a slang term for ballerinas or dancers who put their hair up into a bun while dancing.

Premise

Bunheads is the tale of Michelle Simms, a former ballerina 'bunhead' who wound up a Las Vegas showgirl. Seeing her life and career at a dead end, she impulsively takes up the offer of marriage from her persistent admirer, Hubbell Flowers (played by Alan Ruck), and moves to his sleepy coastal town, Paradise. Once there, Hubbell is killed in a car accident and Michelle struggles to adjust to life in a small town and teaching alongside her mother-in-law, Fanny, at her ballet school: the Paradise Dance Academy.[2]

Cast

Main cast[3]

The cast of Bunheads

Recurring

Development and production

Bunheads first appeared on the development slate at ABC Family in September 2010, under the title Strut, when the show received a cast-contingent pilot order.[7] Lamar Damon wrote the script, and production was originally expected to begin in fall 2010.[7][8] In September 2011, it was reported that the series was being retooled by Amy Sherman-Palladino, who would serve as executive producer.[8] The series was given a pilot order under the new name Bunheads.[9]

On September 28, 2011, it was announced that Broadway star Sutton Foster was set to star in the lead role as Michelle.[10] Filming took place in November with creator Amy Sherman-Palladino writing and directing.[11]

On February 11, 2012, ABC Family ordered the pilot to series with a ten episode order.[citation needed] Following shortly, on February 15, 2012, it was announced that Kelly Bishop would join the show playing the recurring role of Fanny Flowers, the mother-in-law to Michelle.[12]

It was announced on June 9, 2012, that singer-songwriter and Gilmore Girls composer Sam Phillips would score the music to Bunheads.[13]

On August 17, 2012, Bunheads received a renewal for the "back end" of the first season (eight additional episodes).[14]

Bunheads will return on January 7, 2013, after Switched at Birth.[15]

Reception

Critics have given a very positive reception to the show, specifically praising Amy Sherman-Palladino's distinct writing and the performances of leading ladies Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop.

Robert Lloyd of Los Angeles Times thinks "ABC Family's Bunheads a cute summer treat. Amy Sherman-Palladino strikes again with that Gilmore Girls charm in Bunheads, with Tony-winning Sutton Foster as a former showgirl mentoring budding ballerinas."[16] Variety's Geoff Berkshire says "Sherman-Palladino's snappy banter and slightly melancholic characters only enrich the texture of a series perfectly pitched between comedy and drama."[17]

The Huffington Post's Maureen Ryan recommends the show saying "the pilot for Bunheads moves at a brisk, refreshing clip and it even packs an emotional wallop or two. The relationships that are sketched out in the first hour are promising. Sherman-Palladino has long been interested in characters who are dancing as fast as they can, and in this show, she has a whole new set to play with."[18]

Vanity Fair's James Wolott titles the show a "knockout charmer" and singles out particular praise for lead Sutton Foster "revealing a knowing Carol Burnett-ish clowning flair that works beautifully on camera."[19]

Newsday critic Diane Werts notes that "Bunheads sets [a] multigenerational tone," and praises Sherman-Palladino's style. "Think they've all got a way with words? Some attitude? Smart pop-culture shout-outs? You betcha. Bunheads is from Gilmore Girls auteur Amy Sherman-Palladino, so it chatters just as giddily, from Gadhafi to Godzilla to Graceland."[20]

HitFix's Alan Sepinwall calls "ABC Family's Bunheads a return to form for Amy Sherman-Palladino."[21] and Time's James Poniewozik, though showing some minor concern for the series plot going forward, suggests, "What matters is its voice, and the spring in its step, and its first hour was just so damn enjoyable that I'll gladly season-pass this and see where the season takes it. Out of the gate, Bunheads has some impressive moves; I look forward to trying to keep up."[22]

Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly says in his review of the pilot, "Summer TV just got dreamier, dancier...Sherman-Palladino has constructed Bunheads cannily to both fit into and transcend ABC Family's programming."[23]

On the mixed front, David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks Bunheads "will take some work and it could just as easily become either annoying or likable."[24]

The first season holds a 74 on Metacritic and is one of the more highly rated shows to premiere in 2012.[25]

Episodes

Season 1 (2012–13)

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date U.S. viewers
(in millions)
1"Pilot"Amy Sherman-PalladinoStory by: Lamar Damon & Amy Sherman-Palladino
Teleplay by: Amy Sherman-Palladino		June 11, 2012 (2012-06-11)1.64[26]
Tired of her life as a chorus girl in Las Vegas, Michelle Simms reluctantly agrees to marry the kindly Hubbell Flowers, who loves her dearly and promises to give her a better life. He brings her to his small hometown, where she is not exactly greeted with open arms. Hubbell's overbearing mother, Fanny, is appalled by the news of their marriage and frowns upon the idea of Michelle's moving in with them. Fanny hosts a wedding reception, where Michelle interacts with the colorful locals, who all seem to despise her. The only people Michelle makes a good impression on are Fanny's ballet students, who are impressed with Michelle's real dance experience. Boo takes Michelle's advice on auditioning to heart and feels inspired to try out for a prestigious local performance. Out of nowhere, Michelle's unstable new life is rocked even further when Hubbell suddenly dies in a car accident.
2"For Fanny"Amy Sherman-PalladinoAmy Sherman-PalladinoJune 18, 2012 (2012-06-18)1.64[27]
Following Hubbell's sudden death, Michelle and Fanny are back at the house but remain in a catatonic state for the first night. Meanwhile, after Sasha Torres, Melanie Segal, Ginny Thompson, and Bettina "Boo" Jordan find out about Hubbell's accident, they "grieve" by skipping school and watching a movie. Boo is especially upset with how the girls handle the situation, criticizing their lack of sympathy. Back at the house, Fanny becomes obsessed with organizing the perfect memorial for her son: a tent to hold the entire town, Buddhist memorial traditions, a mariachi band and cocktail napkins with the face of the Dalai Lama, to name a few. Later, Fanny comforts Truly Stone as she breaks down - saying a few choice words in front of Michelle. Feeling lost, Michelle takes a long walk around town, then confronts Fanny about being included in the grieving process. Later, nothing seems to be going like Fanny wants for the memorial service. So at the dance studio, Michelle teaches the girls and the rest of the class to perform for Fanny in honor of Hubbell. Fanny is touched. But just when it looks like Michelle and Fanny are making progress, they learn that before his death, Hubbell changed his will. Everything (including the house) is now in Michelle's name.
3"Inherit the Wind"Kenny OrtegaSarah DunnJune 25, 2012 (2012-06-25)1.38[29]
Fanny melodramatically pouts about all of Hubbell's assets being left to Michelle. Michelle is visited by a pushy real estate agent, Clair, who shows her around the seven-acre estate and scares Michelle with horror stories of required maintenance. Frustrated, Michelle finds Hubbell's restored Mustang convertible in a garage and takes it for a drive; when it breaks down, she meets the mysterious and rich Grant who lives on a large estate. While telling Grant she has no reason to stay in Paradise, Michelle receives a text from the girls; her reaction shows the viewer she's forming a relationship with them. Melanie's older brother comes to a dance practice; Boo has a crush on him and is embarrassed by Sasha. As the girls are picked up, it's revealed Boo has a down-to-earth, loving mother while Sasha's is cold and aloof. Michelle later finds Sasha practicing alone in the studio at night. Michelle finds that the estate has a guest house and decides to move into it.[28]
4"Better Luck Next Year"Daniel PalladinoDaniel PalladinoJuly 9, 2012 (2012-07-09)1.44[30]
The scene opens as a moving truck is being unloaded with everything that was in Michelle's apartment in Vegas, including things that were in the apartment that were not hers, as her landlord packed everything for her. Not having enough space for the things to be nicely put away, Michelle shoves them into the guesthouse and goes to sleep. Fanny wakes up Michelle in the middle of the night to talk and help her unpack or get organised and agrees to let Michelle "borrow" her stove, as the kitchen in the guest house does not function. The next morning, Michelle gets caught eating chips and soda in her underwear by some of the ballet students.
5"Money for Nothing"Elodie KeeneAmy WelshJuly 16, 2012 (2012-07-16)1.23[31]
It's Fanny's paying season, where she catagorizes all her debts into boxes - people who have to get paid, people who should get paid, and people who might get paid - and pays some of them off accordingly. Unfortunately, many of her fellow townspeople are aware of Fanny's system, and refuse to do any further business with her until they get paid. Michelle takes Fanny to an accountant to help sort out her finances, but the accountant informs them that they need bring in some income, because only a few students at the dancing school actually pay for the classes. Fanny and Michelle discuss adding some more classes, and Fanny pressures Michelle to teach with her. Michelle tries to get all the parents to pay, but it backfires, so Fanny, Michelle, and the dancers put on a recital that ends up placating the people Fanny owes money. Boo starts a new job at the Oyster Bar, where she has to deal with another waiter who makes her jump in the dumpster, which leaves her smelling like garbage at all times. The handsome surfer son of the owners, Godot, befriends Boo and helps her navigate the new job - and smell - much to the envy of Boo's friends.
6"Movie Truck"Jamie BabbitAmy Sherman-Palladino & Beth SchacterJuly 23, 2012 (2012-07-23)1.58[32]
Michelle's best friend from Las Vegas comes to Paradise to celebrate Michelle's birthday, but their plans change when Michelle is forced to teach Fanny's classes while she's on vacation. Meanwhile, the younger girls sneak out to watch a rated - R movie where Boo tries to get Melanie's brother, Charlie, to pay attention to her.
7"What's Your Damage, Heather"Jackson DouglasGrant Levy, Dominik Rothbard & Amy Sherman-PalladinoJuly 30, 2012 (2012-07-30)1.12[33]
Michelle grudgingly teaches Fanny's classes, only to find out that fanny extended her trip by another week. There's a leak in the girls' dressing room in the dance studio, causing a re-location into Michelle's house (the guest house), where the girls go through her stuff, including Sasha, who steals one of Michelle's shirts given to her by Siegfried and Roy, and lies to Michelle about it later. Ginny, wanting to "test the waters" dumps her boyfriend of 8 years, much to the dislike and anger of her mother, who berates Michelle in front of everyone after class. Nanette, Boo's mother, calms her down with cookies and grape juice. Meanwhile, Truly introduces Michelle to the infamous Davis, a local plumber with one eye, and who is never hired for plumbing work.
8"Blank Up, It’s Time"Daniel PalladinoDaniel PalladinoAugust 6, 2012 (2012-08-06)1.17[34]
Fanny finally returns with an old friend, Michael, a pianist and troubadour. Fanny invites Michelle to see a play written by a local entitled, "Blank Up, It's Time." Michelle meets the director. In the meantime, Fanny's academy is preparing for a series of upcoming events and dance numbers, including a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers number, which usually stars Sasha and a talented & egoistic male dancer student, Jordan. This time, due to "disagreements," Sasha has been replaced with Boo, and Jordan with an underdog male student, Carl.
9"No One Takes Khaleesi's Dragons"David PaymerSheila LawrenceAugust 13, 2012 (2012-08-13)1.13[35]
10"A Nutcracker in Paradise"Amy Sherman-PalladinoAmy Sherman-PalladinoAugust 20, 2012 (2012-08-20)1.50[36]
Sasha, thanks to Michelle in the previous episode, decides to rejoin Paradise Dance Academy, just in time for their famous productions of The Nutcracker reprising her usual role as "Clara," the lead. But, unfortunately, before Fanny knew Sasha was back, she hired a professional dancer from San Francisco, CA, known only as "The Ringer" to play "Clara," this creates some hostility between the two lead dancers. Michelle helps Ginny, Melanie, and Boo make-up from their argument. Boo is still pining for Carl, and Sasha meets a boy from the basketball team when she was a cheerleader. Bad luck ensues the night of The Nutcracker's first show, starting with Fanny's 30-year-long relationship with Michael, and ending with an accident backstage of the show - Michelle macing all of the dancers - having almost everyone end up in the hospital. And in the end, after a dream in which Hubbell informs her that she was meant to shake things up in Paradise, Michelle decides to leave Paradise. When leaving the hospital all the kids stand on chairs and say "O Captain! My Captain!"
11TBAUnknownUnknownJanuary 7, 2013 (2013-01-07)N/A

References

  1. ^ "ABC Family Has Begun Production on the New One-Hour Series "Bunheads" Starring Tony Award(R)-Winning Actor Sutton Foster" (Press release). ABC Family. April 13, 2012. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  2. ^ "ABC Family Picks Up 'Bunheads' To Series, Passes On 'Intercept' And 'Village People'" (Press release). ABC Family. April 29, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  3. ^ "ABC Family - Bunheads - Cast - Official Site". abcfamily.go.com. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 27 June 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ "Introduing the cast of Bunheads" (Press release). ABC Family. May 1, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  5. ^ "'Gilmore Girls' reunion: Kelly Bishop joins Amy Sherman-Palladino's new ABC Family show -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. February 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-06-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Bunheads Cast and Details". tvguide.com. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved June 27, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  7. ^ a b "ABC Family Continues Original Programming Push; Greenlights Production of Three New Pilots This Fall" (Press release). ABC Family. September 28, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  8. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (September 15, 2011). "ABC Family Nears Pilot Pickups On 'Strut' & 'Intercept'". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 16, 2011). "UPDATE: ABC Family Renews 'Make It Or Break It', Gives Back Order To 'Lying Game', Picks Up 4 Pilots, Cancels 'State Of Georgia'". Deadline.com. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  10. ^ Ng, Philiana (September 28, 2011). "Sutton Foster Lands Lead in ABC Family Pilot From 'Gilmore Girls' Creator". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  11. ^ "ABC Family Series Bunheads Auditions". ABCFamilyAuditions.
  12. ^ Bierly, Mandy (February 15, 2012). "'Gilmore Girls' reunion: Kelly Bishop joins Amy Sherman-Palladino's new ABC Family show -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  13. ^ "Sam Phillips Bunheads Q&A". ABC Family. June 9, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  14. ^ "ABC Family Orders More Bunheads, Renews Switched at Birth and 2 Others, Cancels Jane". TVLine.com. August 17, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  15. ^ Bunheads Official Facebook Account October 29, 2012
  16. ^ Lloyd, Robert (June 10, 2012). "ABC Family's 'Bunheads' a cute summer treat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  17. ^ Berkshire, Geoff (June 10, 2012). "TV Reviews - Bunheads". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  18. ^ Ryan, Maureen (June 10, 2012). "'Bunheads' Review: 'Gilmore Girls' Creator Dances Back To Prime Time". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  19. ^ Wolcott, James (June 10, 2012). "Wrath of the She-Hulk". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  20. ^ Werts, Diane (June 10, 2012). "'Bunheads' sets a multigenerational tone". Newsday. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  21. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (June 10, 2012). "ABC Family's 'Bunheads' a return to form for Amy Sherman-Palladino". HitFix. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  22. ^ Poniewozik, James (June 11, 2012). "TV Tonight: Bunheads". Time. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  23. ^ Tucker (June 13, 2012). "'Bunheads' premiere review: Summer TV just got dreamier, dancier". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  24. ^ Wiegand, David (June 11, 2012). "'Bunheads' and 'Baby Daddy' reviews: Family shifts". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  25. ^ "Bunheads". Metacritic. June 11, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  26. ^ Bibel, Sara (June 12, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'WWE Raw' Wins Night, 'Single Ladies', 'Secret Life of the American Teenager', 'Bunheads', 'Basketball Wives', 'Pawn Stars' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  27. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (June 19, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Pawn Stars' + 'WWE Raw', 'American Pickers', 'Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta', 'Single Ladies' & 'Hardcore History'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  28. ^ "ABC Family - Bunheads - Recaps - Official Site - Inherit the Wind". abcfamily.go.com. 2012 [last update]. Retrieved 27 June 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  29. ^ Bibel, Sara (June 26, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings:'Pawn Stars' Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Single Ladies', 'Secret Life of the American Teen', 'Bunheads', 'Teen Wolf', & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  30. ^ Bibel, Sara (July, 10 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings:'Pawn Stars' Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Single Ladies', 'Secret Life of the American Teen', 'Bunheads', 'Teen Wolf', & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 10, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (July, 18 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings:'Pawn Stars' Wins Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Single Ladies', 'Secret Life of the American Teen', 'Bunheads', 'Teen Wolf', & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 18, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Bibel, Sara (July 24, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings:'WWE Raw' 1000th Episode Wins Night, 'Love and Hip Hop', 'Single Ladies', 'The Closer', 'Teen Wolf', 'Bunheads', 'Warehouse 13', & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  33. ^ Bibel, Sara (July 24, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings:'WWE Raw' 1000th Episode Wins Night, 'Love and Hip Hop', 'Single Ladies', 'The Closer', 'Teen Wolf', 'Bunheads', 'Warehouse 13', & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  34. ^ Bibel, Sara (August 6, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings:'WWE Raw' 1000th Episode Wins Night, 'Love and Hip Hop', 'Single Ladies', 'The Closer', 'Teen Wolf', 'Bunheads', 'Warehouse 13', & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  35. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (August 14, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings: NFL Pre-Season Football Rules Night, + 'Love And Hip Hop: Atlanta', 'WWE Raw', 'The Closer', 'Pawn Stars' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
  36. ^ Bibel, Sara (August 21, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Love and Hip Hop Atlanta' & Pre-Season Football Win Night, 'WWE Raw', 'Single Ladies','Major Crimes', 'Warehouse 13', 'Bunheads' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
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