Brothers & Sisters season 1
| Brothers & Sisters | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
| File:B&S Season One DVD Cover.jpg DVD cover | |
| No. of episodes | 23 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | September 24, 2006 – May 20, 2007 |
| Season chronology | |
The first season of Brothers & Sisters, an American serialized family-drama television series created by Jon Robin Baitz, began airing on September 24, 2006, on ABC. Brothers and Sisters follows the lives of The Walker Family who include: Nora Walker, her brother Saul and her children Sarah, Kitty, Tommy, Kevin, and Justin. The series began with the death of Nora's husband William Walker and follows the discovery that he had a twenty-year affair with Holly Harper and the fact that William and Holly had a child together, Rebecca, that no one knew about. As well as this central plot bringing the family together, each character must deal with the events of their personal lives.
Cast
Brothers & Sisters introduces Nora Walker (Sally Field) and her children; Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Tommy (Balthazar Getty), Kitty (Calista Flockhart), Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Justin (Dave Annable) each with their own lives and problems. Husband and father William Walker (portrayed by Tom Skerritt) heads the family. However, his death in the opening episode reveals hidden secrets that serve to test the family and their business 'Ojai Foods' to the limits. Patricia Wettig stars as Holly Harper; William's longtime mistress and Emily VanCamp appears mid-season as Rebecca Harper; Holly's daughter.
Main
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Recurring and notable guest stars
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Storylines
Sarah, Tommy and Saul - who are most involved with the Walker family business - learn that William embezzled the company's funds. The business revelation also reveals two major revelations on the personal front: William had a mistress, Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig) whom he kept for decades, and the couple were believed to have had a child, Rebecca (Emily VanCamp). The first half of the season introduces the family and their search into William's secrets around Ojai. The second half focuses on Rebecca and her integration into the Walker family. Her mother (Holly) also becomes involved, as she goes into business with Tommy to open 'Walker Landing,' a vineyard.
Nora
Although Nora is devastated by the death of her husband and the secrets he harbored, she reveals that she knew he was having an affair but she chose to ignore it. She is deeply hurt by the depth of his relationship with Holly upon discovering he bought her a house. Nora embarks on a short romance with her contractor; however, this ends when she realizes she is not ready to date. Nora begins to express her feelings through writing after finding stories she had written when she was younger and begins to take a class at a local college. Here, she meets and begins dating her professor Mark even though she finds out he has dated one of his other, much younger students. This relationship ends at the opening of 'Walker Landing,' when he kisses Holly and Nora tells him they do not work as a couple. Nora becomes stronger and heals throughout the course of the season, although she struggles with the idea of Justin going back to war and finds it difficult, in the beginning of the season, to work through her issues with Kitty. However, they re-bond through the season and see Justin off at the airport in the season finale.
Sarah & Joe
Sarah and Joe's marriage hits the rocks as they begin to drift apart. Sarah becomes jealous of Joe and the mother of one of his music students. The marriage is further strained when Joe kisses Rebecca. Although they try to move past this, they eventually decide to divorce. Sarah also spends time with Tommy trying to unlock the hidden accounts left by their father at the family business. After being introduced to Holly and discovering she had a child, Sarah figures out the password - the initials of all his children, including Rebecca - S,K,T,K,J,R.
Tommy & Julia
Tommy struggles after finding out that his father left Sarah as CEO of the Ojai Foods in his will. He and Sarah clash as he finds it hard reporting to her and Sarah fails to listen to his advice and respect his experience with the company. After Holly decides to use her shares and become involved in the business, she reveals that William planned to open a winery and that it was his plan to have Tommy run it. Tommy decides to leave Ojai and do just this with Holly as his partner. Together, they open 'Walker Landing.' After he and Julia try for months to conceive, Tommy discovers he is sterile. They turn to Kevin and Justin for support as possible surrogates. Both brothers decide to give sperm, but never discover whose sperm is ultimately used. Everyone is thrilled when Tommy & Julia discover they are expecting twins; however, tragedy strikes when Julia goes into early labor and gives birth to a boy, William, and a girl, Elizabeth. The doctors inform the new parents that William won't make it, and that they must operate on Elizabeth or risk losing her too.
Kitty
Kitty has the hardest time, out of all her brothers and sisters, accepting Rebecca into her life, a fact she does not hide from her half-sister.
Kevin
Kevin has a short-term relationship with Scotty, who he meets through work before beginning a secret fling with Chad Barry, a TV star, who cannot admit to his sexuality. Although Chad & Kevin carry on a secret relationship, this ends when Chad's girlfriend finds out and warns him about Chad's behavior. After an argument in which Kevin tells him he does not want the drama of being with someone who cannot be himself, Chad comes out to the public, but tells Kevin he needs to be alone.
Justin
Justin struggles with his drug addiction and his family's lack of faith in him; however, as the season progresses, he decides to stay clean and enters rehab. He has an on-again/off-again relationship with an old high school friend and short-time boss Tyler. But, they break up when she admits she cannot take being with someone recovering from drugs and that he shouldn't have to worry about her when he should be taking care of himself. He, out of all the brothers and sisters, spends more time with Rebecca and becomes closest to her. Later in the season, he receives a letter from the army ordering him to return to active duty which causes him to relapse. He asks his brother Kevin to help him out of it and although Kevin cannot stop him from going, Justin is given an extra six months at home to prepare and say his goodbyes. In the season finale, Justin leaves to serve.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Patriarchy" | Ken Olin | Jon Robin Baitz | September 25, 2006 | 16.10[1] | |
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After being offered a co-anchor position on a political talk show, Kitty moves back to Los Angeles to live with her parents. At a family dinner, her four other siblings and father convince Kitty to reconcile with her mother whom she had a falling out with prior to her departure. William, the Walker family patriarch, suffers a heart attack and dies. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "An Act of Will" | Matt Shakman | Jon Robin Baitz & Marti Noxon | October 2, 2006 | 13.90[2] | |
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After William's burial, secrets come to light: Sarah informs Tommy and Saul that Ojai Foods is in financial troubles and Justin finds out about his father's affair with the mysterious Holly Harper. Kitty starts her job at "Red, White & Blue". Nora, Kevin and Kitty go to find Justin, who has disappeared. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Affairs of State" | Tucker Gates | Jon Robin Baitz & Emily Whitesell & Craig Wright | October 9, 2006 | 13.10[3] | |
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Kitty and Warren continue to argue but end up in bed. Tommy and Sarah are at odds at Ojai Foods as Jonathan surprises Kitty in Los Angeles. The Walkers decide to throw a pool party in order to suppress the horrible memory of William Walker dying in it. Sarah invites Scotty Wandell, a witness in one of Kevin's cases, to the party just to spite him. At the pool party Nora stuns the family and a shocked Holly that she knew about William's affair. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Family Portrait" | Ken Olin | Jon Robin Baitz & Craig Wright | October 16, 2006 | 12.00[4] | |
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Sarah and Joe learn that Paige has diabetes. Tommy gets Justin a new job as a bellhop but he takes drugs and drinks on the job, so the two brothers come to blows. Kevin is forced to join his mother at a golf outing honoring their father instead of going on a date with Scotty, whom he later sees with another guy. Nora suspects that Saul has feelings for Holly. Kitty feels left out of the family because Nora had hung up a family picture that she's not in. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Date Night" | Allison Liddi-Brown | David Marshall Grant & Molly Newman | October 23, 2006 | 12.10[5] | |
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Kitty arranges a disastrous double date with Jonathan, Warren and the talk show's new intern, Amber, who Kitty suspects Warren slept with. Jonathan tries to help Sarah, Saul and Tommy with their financial crisis at the company. Kevin and Scotty go out on a date and everything goes well up until Scotty kisses Kevin. Nora goes on her first date in forty years with her repairman, David (special guest star Treat Williams). Justin helps Sarah with her fears about giving Paige her insulin shots. Meanwhile, Tommy is still not talking to Justin. Scotty goes to Kevin and they talk and kiss. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "For the Children" | Frederick E. O. Toye | Jon Robin Baitz & Jessica Mecklenburg | October 30, 2006 | 12.67[6] | |
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Sarah has to confront Nora with the real situation at Ojai Foods. Meanwhile, Nora insists that the family attend the annual fund raiser for a children's hospital. The siblings' plans go awry when Kevin accidentally insults Scotty, who is catering at the fund raiser and Kitty asks Warren to come along only to find out that he's no longer available. Tommy finds out he's sterile, all the while trying to conceive with Julia. Several scandals also happen that evening that put Nora to shame. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Northern Exposure" | Lawrence Trilling | David Marshall Grant & Molly Newman | November 6, 2006 | 13.73[7] | |
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In order to save the company, the family has to sell the cottage in Ojai, where they spent their summers growing up. Nora wants the family to have one last get-together, but they disagree. Meanwhile, each of them invites their significant other in hope that they will be alone. Upon meeting, buried secrets and open resentment make the passions run high. Kevin tells Scotty to shut up, which hurts him. | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Mistakes Were Made (Part 1)" | Michael Lange | Jon Robin Baitz & Craig Wright | November 13, 2006 | 13.10[8] | |
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Justin receives a letter from the U.S. Army stating that he must return for active duty. Fearing for his life, Justin wants to flee to Mexico against Kevin's advice. Sarah has trouble making her stepson Gabe feel more like a part of her family. Nora sleeps at David’s house shocked that she's let it get that far. Sarah and Saul try to crack the password for William’s account and inquire from Holly information about her daughter, Rebecca. Upon cracking the password, Sarah gives Saul an ultimatum. Kevin tries his hardest to win Scotty back, but he breaks up with him. The family recalls September 11, 2001, Kitty coming back home and Justin's decision to enlist. | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Mistakes Were Made (Part 2)" | Ken Olin | Marc Guggenheim & Greg Berlanti | November 20, 2006 | 13.21[9] | |
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Kitty puts herself in an awkward position when she asks Senator Robert McCallister (special guest star Rob Lowe) for a favor in return for a non-confrontational interview over his personal life. The family gathers at the hospital after finding out that Justin has attempted suicide by drug overdose. Sarah, Tommy and Kevin take a road trip to Nevada to find their father’s vast and lucrative land. Julia and Tommy announce to the family that she's pregnant. | |||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Light the Lights" | Frederick E. O. Toye | Peter Calloway & Cliff Olin | December 11, 2006 | 10.47[10] | |
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Paige feels that she needs to connect with her Jewish self, so the family plans to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. Kevin and Justin go to court, demanding that the contract Justin has with the Army be annulled. Kitty is offered a job at the TV station without Warren. Sarah, Tommy and Saul try to deceive Holly upon finding out that William had left her 10 million dollars. Nora stops by Holly's house. | |||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Family Day" | David Petrarca | David Marshall Grant & Molly Newman | January 8, 2007 | 12.06[11] | |
| 17 | 17 | "All in the Family" | David Paymer | Sherri Cooper-Landsman & David Marshall Grant | April 2, 2007 | 9.13[10] | |
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Nora invites Holly and William's daughter Rebecca for dinner to welcome her to the family. The other family members are not as supportive: Kitty doesn't show up, Sarah is giving Rebecca the cold shoulder and Kevin tries to pull Rebecca's hair in order to get her DNA, so that he can be sure that she's really William's daughter. Meanwhile, Kitty meets Robert's children and has a very unpleasant situation and Kevin meets with Donald, Chad's manager. | |||||||
Production
The show was created by Ken Olin and Jon Robin Baitz. Greg Berlanti acts as executive producer and show runner for the first season. Brothers and Sisters is produced by Berlanti Television, After Portsmouth, and Touchstone Television (Fall 2006-Spring 2007), which is now ABC Studios (Fall 2007–present). In the UK Brothers and Sisters was aired on Channel 4, premiering on June 20 at 20:30 with a double bill. Season 1 is officially composed of 23 episodes, although 24 were produced during the season. The unaired episode, which was supposed to be episode 2, right after the pilot, contains scenes of William's funeral, also used in the actual episode 2. This ghost episode was taken out because of its slowliness.
Ratings
This season averaged 12.2 million viewers based on average total viewers each episode. This ranked the show at #37. In the UK, the show averaged approximately 2.2 million viewers and then settled to 600,000.[12]
| Episode number Production number |
Title | Original airing | Rating | Share | Rating/share (18–49) | Total viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 1-01 |
Patriarchy | September 24, 2006 | 11.0 | 17 | 6.2 | 16.10[1] |
| 2 1-02 |
An Act of Will | October 1, 2006 | 9.1 | 15 | 5.5 | 13.90[2] |
| 3 1-03 |
Affairs of State | October 8, 2006 | 8.6 | 14 | 5.3 | 13.10[3] |
| 4 1-04 |
Family Portrait | October 15, 2006 | 8.3 | 14 | 4.9 | 12.00[4] |
| 5 1-05 |
Date Night | October 22, 2006 | 8.6 | 13 | 5.0 | 12.10[5] |
| 6 1-06 |
For the Children | October 29, 2006 | 9.1 | 14 | 5.5 | 12.67[6] |
| 7 1-07 |
Northern Exposure | November 5, 2006 | 8.7 | 14 | 5.3 | 13.73[7] |
| 8 1-08 |
Mistakes Were Made, Part 1 | November 12, 2006 | 8.9 | 15 | 5.5 | 13.10[8] |
| 9 1-09 |
Mistakes Were Made, Part 2 | November 19, 2006 | 8.9 | 15 | 5.5 | 13.21 |
| 10 1-10 |
Light the Lights | December 10, 2006 | 7.2 | 12 | 4.0 | 10.47 |
| 11 1-11 |
Family Day | January 7, 2007 | 8.0 | 13 | 4.6 | 12.06 |
| 12 1-12 |
Sexual Politics | January 14, 2007 | 8.2 | 13 | 4.8 | 12.46 |
| 13 1-13 |
Something Ida This Way Comes | January 21, 2007 | 8.2 | 13 | 4.6 | 11.95 |
| 14 1-14 |
Valentine's Day Massacre | February 11, 2007 | 7.6 | 12 | 4.5 | 11.31 |
| 15 1-15 |
Love is Difficult | February 18, 2007 | 8.0 | 13 | 4.6 | 11.78 |
| 16 1-16 |
The Other Walker | March 4, 2007 | 8.0 | 13 | 4.7 | 11.78 |
| 17 1-17 |
All in the Family | April 1, 2007 | 6.5 | 11 | 3.4 | 9.13 |
| 18 1-18 |
Three Parties | April 8, 2007 | 7.4 | 12 | 4.1 | 10.98 |
| 19 1-19 |
Game Night | April 15, 2007 | 7.7 | 13 | 4.5 | 11.49 |
| 20 1-20 |
Bad News | April 29, 2007 | 7.9 | 13 | 4.4 | 11.52 |
| 21 1-21 |
Grapes of Wrath | May 6, 2007 | 7.6 | 13 | 4.1 | 10.83 |
| 22 1-22 |
Favorite Son | May 13, 2007 | 8.1 | 14 | 4.3 | 11.92 |
| 23 1-23 |
Matriarchy | May 20, 2007 | 8.6 | 14 | 4.7 | 12.66 |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. September 26, 2006. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 3, 2006. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 10, 2006. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 17, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 24, 2006. Archived from the original on October 1, 2009. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 31, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. March 14, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. November 14, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. November 21, 2006. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Episode List: Brothers & Sisters- Page 1". TvTango- The Ultimate TV Database. December 11, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
- ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. January 9, 2007. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Home".