Wonderfalls 497550 225683247 2008-07-14T21:52:59Z 165.230.171.76 /* Production history */ {{infobox Television | | show_name = Wonderfalls | image = [[Image:Wonderfalls.jpg|230px]] | caption = ''Wonderfalls'' promotional photo. Left to right: Neil Grayston, William Sadler, Diana Scarwid, Tracie Thoms, Tyron Leitso, Katie Finneran, Caroline Dhavernas, Lee Pace. | format = [[Dramedy]] | picture_format = [[Enhanced-definition television|EDTV]] | runtime = approx. 42 min. | creator = [[Bryan Fuller]], [[Todd Holland (producer)|Todd Holland]] | executive_producer = [[Bryan Fuller]], [[Todd Holland (producer)|Todd Holland]]<br>[[Tim Minear]] | starring = ''[[Wonderfalls#Cast and crew|See below]]'' | opentheme = "I Wonder Why the Wonder Falls" by [[Andy Partridge]] | slogan = "Surrender to destiny." | country = [[Canada]], [[United States]] | network = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] | first_aired = [[March 12]], [[2004]] | last_aired = <br>[[December 15]], [[2004]] | num_episodes = 13 | list_episodes = List of Wonderfalls episodes | imdb_id = 0361256 | tv_com_id = 18158 |}} '''''Wonderfalls''''' is a [[television program]] that was featured on the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television network in [[2004]]. The show's premise is centered on Jaye Tyler ([[Caroline Dhavernas]]), a recent [[Brown University]] graduate with a philosophy degree, who holds a dead-end job as a sales clerk at a [[Niagara Falls]] gift shop. Jaye is the reluctant participant in conversations with a variety of animal figurines — a wax lion, brass monkey, stuffed bear, and mounted fish, among others — which direct her via oblique instructions to help people in need.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=VNnM_pZVBkwC&pg=PA331&dq=wonderfalls&sig=zERF7bQ_xwSQCkbh25DvxJPE6u0 Hofstede, David (2006). ''5000 Episodes And No Commercials: The Ultimate Guide to TV Shows on DVD 2007'', Back Stage Books, ISBN 0823084566, p. 331]</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=YJsLk18cftsC&pg=PR89&dq=wonderfalls&sig=zmKrnubIknDTWZDrALvXUpmH-Hs#PPR89,M1 Datlow, Ellen, et. al. (2005). ''The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Eighteenth Annual Collection'', Macmillan, ISBN 0312341946, p. xxxix – xl]</ref> Some sources use the two-word spelling, "Wonder Falls", for the title. Although the [[DVD]] lists it as a single word, the title of its theme song is two words. == Production history == Originally scheduled to debut in the fall of [[2003]], its premiere was delayed until early 2004. When it finally debuted in March 2004, ''Wonderfalls'' received positive reviews from critics,<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/03/12/DDG6B5HL391.DTL Goodman, Tim. "Trinkets are Spirit Guides in Fox's Brilliant 'Wonderfalls'", ''San Francisco Chronicle'', March 12, 2004]</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/12/arts/television/X12HEFF.html?ex=1394514000&en=0d7f1ed9316e4d01&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND Heffernan, Virginia. "Orders Come From a Talking Lion (Made of Wax)", ''New York Times'', March 12, 2004]</ref><ref>[http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0409,tv,51439,8.html Press, Joy. "Guided by Voices", ''Village Voice'', February 24, 2004]</ref> but had trouble attracting viewers. The pilot episode, “[[Wax Lion]]”, received a higher [[Nielsen Ratings|Nielsen rating]] when it was repeated the Thursday after its premiere, and the show was moved from a Friday night time slot to Thursday.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=MZRt-W8Hq7UC&pg=PA277&dq=wonderfalls&sig=aaZXLxdxtjNhD4kecsDrjWomW8I#PPA277,M1 Perebinossoff, Philippe, et. al. (2005) ''Programming for TV, Radio, and the Internet: Strategy, Development, and Evaluation'', Elsevier, ISBN 0240806824, p. 277]</ref> However, there was little notice or promotion of the time change, and the show was subsequently canceled after airing the fourth episode. (A fifth episode was advertised but never aired.)<ref>[http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/Wonderfalls ''Wonderfalls''] at [[Television Without Pity]]</ref><ref>[http://www.timminear.net/archives/press/000064.html Cancellation notice from Tim Minear]</ref> Immediately after the show's cancellation, its producers attempted to interest other networks, including [[The WB Television Network|The WB]], in picking up the series. If they had been successful, ''Wonderfalls'' would have been the first American series in history to change networks in the midst of its first season. In addition, some episodes were shown in theatres in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] during the summer of 2004 in order to drum up support for the series. The series holds the dubious honour of being the second show produced by [[Tim Minear]] that was cancelled in the midst of its first season, the first being ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]''. Other similarities between ''Wonderfalls'' and ''Firefly'' are that they were both aired out of the order in which they were originally intended to be shown, and they both feature actress [[Jewel Staite]] ([[Kaylee Frye|Kaywinnit Lee "Kaylee" Frye]] in ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]''). The show now lives in [[broadcast syndication|syndication]] on the [[Logo (TV channel)|Logo]] cable network. == Fan support and DVD release == Despite its cancellation, ''Wonderfalls'' developed a loyal fanbase. A campaign spearheaded by fans (and an accompanying website) was launched, and several members of the cast and crew visited the site and encouraged the grassroots support.<ref>[http://www.savewonderfalls.com Save Wonderfalls]</ref><ref>[http://www.savewonderfalls.com/messages.html Save Wonderfalls — Thanks from Bryan Fuller]</ref> [[20th Century Fox]] released a [[DVD]] set of the full 13 episodes on [[February 1]], [[2005]]. The DVD set includes commentary by the producers and cast members on half the episodes, a behind-the-scenes documentary, an examination of the show’s visual effects, and one of the two [[music video]]s produced for the theme song, “I Wonder Why the Wonder Falls” by [[Andy Partridge]]. ''Wonderfalls'' has not yet been released on DVD outside of [[region 1]]. ==Cast and crew== The series was a [[United States]]/[[Canada]] co-production, filmed in Niagara Falls and [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]],<ref>[http://www.wondertour.org/ Wonderfalls Tour — Guide to filming locations seen on the show]</ref> and with several Canadian actors cast in lead roles (including the show’s star). It was created by [[Bryan Fuller]] (''[[Dead Like Me]], [[Pushing Daisies]]'') and [[Todd Holland (producer)|Todd Holland]] (''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]'') with executive producer [[Tim Minear]] (writer and director for ''[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]'' and ''[[Angel (TV series)|Angel]]''). {| class="wikitable" |- bgcolor="CCCCCC" ! Actor !! Role |- | [[Caroline Dhavernas]] || Jaye Tyler |- | [[Tracie Thoms]] || Mahandra McGinty |- | [[Tyron Leitso]] || Eric Gotts |- | [[Lee Pace]] || Aaron Tyler |- | [[Katie Finneran]] || Sharon Tyler |- | [[William Sadler]] || Darrin Tyler |- | [[Diana Scarwid]] || Karen Tyler |- | [[Neil Grayston]] || Alec "Mouthbreather" (recurring role) |- | [[Jewel Staite]] || Heidi Gotts (recurring role) |} ==Episodes== {{main|List of Wonderfalls episodes}} Fox aired the first four episodes out of sequence, although the episodes as a whole were produced in a different order than was intended for broadcast. === Planned episodes === Although the series creators had intended for the 13 episodes of ''Wonderfalls'' to tell a standalone story (perhaps anticipating cancellation after the first season), apparently, the writers were already thinking as much as two years ahead. According to an interview featured on the 2005 DVD release of the series, the producers revealed that they already had plans for a second and third season. Among the projected storylines mentioned on the DVD: * In the second season, Jaye’s therapist would document their sessions, eventually publishing a book on her, which would lead to her being institutionalized with “Joan of Arc Syndrome” in the third season. * An accidental-pregnancy plotline was also planned for Jaye's lesbian sister Sharon. * A new "Wax Lion", one who was intact, would be introduced, who would advise Jaye against listening to what the original "Wax Lion" said. * The young boy who receives a mail order bride from Russia in the "Lovesick Ass" episode would come back in the opening of Season 3 in the same institution as Jaye. He began suffering from [[pyromania]] after Jaye broke his heart, which he first manifested by burning Eric's car at the end of the episode. ==References== {{wikiquote|Wonderfalls}} {{reflist}} [[Category:2000s American television series]] [[Category:2004 television series debuts]] [[Category:2004 television series endings]] [[Category:Comedy-drama television series]] [[Category:Fantasy television series]] [[Category:Fox network shows]] [[Category:Niagara Falls in fiction]] [[Category:Teen dramas]] [[Category:Television series by Fox Television Studios]] [[de:Wonderfalls]] [[es:Wonderfalls]] [[fr:Wonderfalls]] [[it:Wonderfalls]] [[nl:Wonderfalls]] [[ru:Чудопад]]