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Young Americans
Young Americans title
Genre	Drama
Created by	Steven Antin
Starring	Rodney Scott Mark Famiglietti Katherine Moennig Ian Somerhalder Kate Bosworth Ed Quinn
Narrated by	Rodney Scott as Will Krudski
Opening theme	The Getaway People - "Six Pacs" (modified)
Country of origin	USA
Language(s)	English
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producer(s)	Scott Sanders, Joe Voci
Running time	approx. 43 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	The WB
Original run	12 July 2000 – 30 August 2000

Young Americans is an American television drama on The WB network created by Steven Antin. The show debuted in 2000 as a summer replacement for, and spin-off from, another Columbia TriStar Television production, Dawson's Creek, in three episodes at the end of that series' third season.

The show explores themes of forbidden love, morality and social classes.

[edit] Plot summary

The show is set in the town of New Rawley at a prestigious boarding school, Rawley Academy. The plot focuses mainly on Will's moral dilemmas and the forbidden love of Scout and Bella. In a change from most television shows, the supporting characters, Jake and Hamilton, are explored in a secondary storyline that until the final two episodes barely involves the other characters on the show.

[edit] Cast

• Rodney Scott as Will Krudski, a poor but brilliant young man who cheated on the entrance exam to ensure his admission and with a complicated relationship to his father. The character was first introduced in the episodes "Stolen Kisses", "The Longest Day" and "Show Me Love" of Dawson's Creek where he briefly dates Andie McPhee. When Will was leaving Capeside, Will's friend Pacey Witter offers the advice "Avoid public nudity, stay off drugs, don't murder anyone and don't sleep with any of your teachers," adding "it never works out as well as you think."
• Mark Famiglietti as Scout Calhoun, Will's roommate at Rawley Academy. Scout meets, and dates, Will's old friend Bella until her father explains his disapproval.
• Katherine Moennig as Jake Pratt, a teenage girl who struggles with transitioning into a boy.
• Ian Somerhalder as Hamilton Fleming, a student at the school and the son of the dean. Hamilton finds himself confused by his attraction to Jake.
• Kate Bosworth as Bella Banks, Will's childhood friend – a pretty townie torn between Scout and fellow New Rawleyian, Sean.
• Ed Quinn as Finn, coach of the rowing team and also a teacher.

[edit] Notable guest appearances

• Matt Czuchry as Sean McGrail, Will's long-time best friend and baseball team mate as well as a childhood friend of Bella's.
• Deborah Hazlett as Susan Krudski, Will's mother. Works at a New Rawley beauty salon named "Glamorama".
• Charlie Hunnam as Gregor Ryder, bad-boy and student at Rawley Academy.
• Michelle Monaghan as Caroline Busse, Will's love interest.
• Cyndi Johnson as Paige Bennett, old friend of Scout's family.
• Kathleen Bridget Kelly as Kate Fleming, Hamilton's mother and the dean's wife.
• Gabrielle Christian as Grace, Bella's irresponsible sister
• Beau Gravitte as Senator Calhoun, Scout's dad.
• Glynnis O'Connor as Donna Banks, Bella & Grace's mom.
• Naomi Kline as Lena, a student visiting Rawley Academy for girls displaying a romantic interest in Jake.

[edit] Episodes

[edit] Pilot

The pilot was not aired on television. There are some differences between the pilot and the first aired episode The Beginning. One difference includes Jeremy Sisto as Finn.

This section requires expansion.

[edit] The Beginning

Written by Steven Antin, Directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

Will settles in at Rawley Academy, where the teacher Finn learns a secret Will shared with Scout. When Scout's dating Bella turns serious, Mr. Banks explains why he won't allow it. The rowing team's cox Jacqueline "Jake" Pratt, who also has a secret, makes a profound impression on Hamilton. Hamilton is surprised by this and starts to question his own sexual orientation.

[edit] Our Town

Written by Steven Antin, Directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

Will agonises over telling best friend Sean about his attending the summer session at Rawley Academy. Scout is introduced to Will's old friends at Sean's party. Bella gets upset when Scout tells her that he wants to tell his father about her. Sean misreads the situation and a brawl ensues. Hamilton lets Jake know that he's not into guys. Jake's bike is confiscated by the groundskeeper and Hamilton offers to help get it back.

Guest cast includes Matt Czuchry as Sean McGrail.

[edit] Kiss and Tell

Written by Kerry Ehrin, Directed by Perry Lang.

Will and returned student Ryder accidentally see Finn kissing the dean's wife. Will finds himself in a position where he has to choose between protecting Finn or himself. Scout has a hard time stopping thinking about Bella, but then Paige, a long time friend of Scout's family, turns up. Scout asks Paige out on a date to the newly restored drive-in theater. Lena, an LA resident visiting Rawley Academy, hears about the drive-in and invites Jake to join her and Hamilton.

Guest cast includes Charlie Hunnam as Gregor Ryder, Matt Czuchry as Sean McGrail, and Kathleen Bridget Kelly as Kate Fleming.

[edit] Cinderbella

Written by Anne McGrail, Directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

Will asks Bella to join him for the Summer Cotillion to impress on Caroline. Hamilton and Jake agree to go alone together, an agreement which is broken when Lena asks Hamilton to go with her.

Guest cast includes Matt Czuchry as Sean McGrail.

[edit] Winning Isn't Everything

Written by Andi Bushell & Jim Praytor, Directed by Mel Damski.

Scout's father, senator Calhoun, makes an unexpected visit for parents' weekend and the regatta. As does Jakes mother. Will's conflict with his father deepens and Bella contemplates meeting senator Calhoun.

[edit] Gone

Written by Laura Wolner & Greg Berlanti, Directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

Bella writes a confessing letter to senator Calhoun and hides it in her jacket, which her younger sister, Grace, subsequently borrows and loses. Ryder finds himself in possession of Will's laptop. Jake and Hamilton go on a date and are confused as to who should pick up the tab or ride the "bitch pad" of Jake's bike.

This episode is narrated by Kate Bosworth as Bella Banks.

Guest cast includes Charlie Hunnam as Gregor Ryder.

[edit] Free Will

Written by Ellen Byron & Lissa Kapstrom, Directed by Robert M. Williams, Jr.

Bella receives a birthday present from her mother but is unsure how to relate to it. Will's request to tutor has been approved. Will is surprised to learn who he will tutor and what has changed since they last met. Hamilton suggests moving in with Jake so that they can spend more time together.

Guest cast includes Charlie Hunnam as Gregor Ryder, Matt Czuchry as Sean McGrail, and Kathleen Bridget Kelly as Kate Fleming.

[edit] Will Bella Scout Her Mom?

Written by Steven Antin & Joe Voci, Directed by James Whitmore, Jr.

Will learns that the funding for his scholarship has been withdrawn. Bella's father receives a phone call informing him that the gas station is up for auction, and Bella seeks out her mother to put the deed in her father's name. Jake's masquerade comes to an abrupt halt. At the end of the episode, Will gets new funding, and is allowed to remain at school for the fall.

While this episode is clearly meant to serve as the introduction for the fall season of the show, Young Americans was canceled before any additional episodes could be produced.

Guest cast includes Matt Czuchry as Sean McGrail, and Glynnis O'Connor as Donna Banks.

[edit] Music

• Nick Drake - "Pink Moon" (ep 1.1 and 1.7)
• The Getaway People - "Six Pacs" (modified) (ep 1.1 and theme song)
• Nick Drake - "From the Morning" (ep 1.1)
• Blur - "Tender" (ep 1.1)
• Hans Zimmer - "You're so cool" (ep 1.1)
• Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - "Over the Rainbow" (ep 1.1 and 1.8)
• Crash Poets - "Goodbye" (ep 1.2)
• Nick Drake - "Which Will" (ep 1.3)
• Kate Bosworth as Bella Banks - "The Way You Look Tonight" (ep. 1.4)
• Julius La Rosa - "The Way You Look Tonight" (ep. 1.4)
• David Gray - "This Years Love" (ep. 1.5)
• Salt-N-Pepa - "Let's Talk About Sex" (ep. 1.5)
• David Gray - "Sail Away" (ep 1.5)
• David Gray - "Please Forgive Me" (Album Version) (ep 1.5)
• Nick Drake - "Place to Be" (ep 1.7)
• Nick Drake - "Things Behind the Sun" (ep 1.7)
• "Fernando" (ep 1.8)

[edit] Theme song

The lyrics of the theme song "Six Pacs" by The Getaway People from the album Turnpike Diaries was changed at the request of the producers to remove the original reference to cigarettes.

Joe Voci, the show's executive producer, said in an interview with VH1.com that "Unlike other teen shows that are angst-driven, ours is about a group of kids who want to do the right things, and how they handle the obstacles they're presented. The song presented a mood, tone and feel that is optimistic and implies a sense of adventure."^[1]

[edit] Production

[edit] Casting

[edit] Airing

When Dawson's Creek went on hiatus in the summer of 2000, Young Americans occupied its timeslot of Wednesdays at 8 P.M. Repeats were shown at 8 P.M. on Fridays.

[edit] Sponsoring

The Coca-Cola Company was the primary sponsor, the show being billed as "Coca-Cola Presents Young Americans". Young Americans was profiled by Steve Carell on the August 22, 2000, episode of The Daily Show in the Ad Nauseam segment due to the Coca-Cola tie ins. Carell constantly referred to the pilot as an "hour-long commercial".

The product is seen or mentioned in several episodes. The pilot episode even featured a scene that was reshot in order to show the characters drinking Coca-Cola.

[edit] Promotion

• A scene from the Pilot, which was heavily promoted prior to the show's premiere, where the characters and other students at Rawley run in slow motion to the school's lake while stripping off their clothes was parodied in another WB show, Grosse Pointe.

[edit] Cancellation

Despite being a spin off of one of the most popular WB shows, Young Americans received low ratings throughout its summer run and was cancelled in August 2000.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Young Norwegians Hope 'Young Americans' Will Be Big Break". VH1.com, June 23, 2000. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.

• Josef Adalian and Michael Fleming. "WB seeks 'Young' blood". Daily Variety, December 13, 1999.

[edit] External links

• Young Americans at the Internet Movie Database
• Young Americans at TV.com
• Young Americans (TV series) at EpGuides.com