Bus Life
Encyclopedia
Bus Life is an English mini-series that aired on Disney Channel
in England from 2003-2004. Each episode airs between ad breaks and lasts around five minutes. It is currently airing in on Disney Channel Australia
.
throughout the series.
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
in England from 2003-2004. Each episode airs between ad breaks and lasts around five minutes. It is currently airing in on Disney Channel Australia
Disney Channel Australia
For the Disney Channel in other countries, see Disney Channel . For the original Disney Channel, see Disney Channel.Disney Channel Australia is a television channel that is broadcast in Australia and New Zealand...
.
Plot
Bus Life follows the trails and tribulations of secondary school pupils on the way home from school. The includes stereotypical 'gangs' (or cliques) of people of the bus, such as "The Brainy Kids", "The Skaters" and "The Goths". The show breaks the fourth wallFourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
throughout the series.
Characters
- Rick (Ashley Cavender-JonesAshley Cavender-JonesAshley Cavender-Jones is a British teenage star. He is most famous for his role as Rick in the series Bus Life.Ashley also acted in Wondrous Oblivion as blond boy, as well as a 6-month spell at London's National Theatre in "The Coast of Utopia"Ashley Cavender-Jones currently attends Northumbria...
) - Rick is the most popular child in school and one of the hottest, and one of the main characters who leads to solving the dilemmas on the bus. He is very athletic and respected around everyone. It is indicated that he may have a crush on Sally in a few episodes, but nothing has come out of it yet. Although in one episode they do go out for a period of 10 seconds before Rick breaks it off, this being because Rick admitted to liking Sally to Eddie so Eddie would forget about a birthday card he took off Rick, so that no-one found out that it was Rick's birthday. Rick was doing this so he could avoid something that is unknown because the episode then comes to an end when everyone finds out. It is indicated it could have been pinches or punches - Sally (Katie AngelouKatie AngelouKatie Angelou is a British teenage starlet. She is most famous for her role as Sally in the series Bus Life.Angelou also acted in Charles Dickens' Bleak House as Charley Neckett.-References:...
) - Sally is quiet, bashful and often friendly. It is hinted that she has a crush on Rick in few episodes, although no actual relationship has come out of it yet. Although they did go out for a period of 10 seconds. Although she shows great knowledge in school, she's a dimwit when it comes to solving real life problems. - Eddie (James Bird) - Eddie is the youngest and most immature of the group. He considers it a privilege to be able to sit on the top floor of the bus with the older children. He is Jess's younger brother and is the most funny of his friends.
- Jess (Nancy Wallinger) - Jess is Eddie's older sister, yet they come from totally different ethnic backgrounds. She is very superficial and is usually found talking on her cellphone. She is also very pretty. Is friends with Sally, but is embarrassed to talk to her in public (i.e., in front of her boyfriend).
- Goth (Daniel Bickerdike) - Morbid and quiet, the head goth is the stereotypical idea of a goth. He is often reserved within his clique and holds certain rules and fundamental basics on clique acceptance. He is the leader of the Goths and tends to be in competition with the skateboarder girl often.
- Skate (Clare ThomasClare ThomasClare Thomas is a British actress who has appeared in several British films and television series. Some of her highest profile roles have been as Aggie, one of the title character's classmates in the film Madeline, and Ingrid Dracula, daughter of the Count, in the children's television series...
) - The leader of the skateboarders, although is clearly the most charismatic member of the skateboarders, is known as the most intelligent of them - which, considering to Jess, is not very intelligent. She is very outgoing and often is in competition with the head goth. - Fleabag (Joseph Gritt) - A boy on the bus with very bad hygiene that people avoid often. Is known to sit by himself.
- Bruiser (Daisy Evans) - the school bully, also sits by herself as she is intimidating to the others.
- Posh Girl (Elizabeth Holme-Gwillin) - a girl who sits at the front of the bus. Has rolled her eyes in exasperation in every single episode.
- Big Nose - a boy who could detect culprits in investigations by using his nose to smell out the indication. Is meant to be a Shirlock Holmes type investigator. Starred in one episode.
- The "Foreign" Kid - a boy who starred in one episode who would not let the main characters have their seats they usually sit on. He pretended to be foreign so he can have the advantage of achieving what he wants, but the main characters find a way into tricking him to grab their seats back.
- T - Jess's boyfriend she is often on the phone to, who never appears in a single episode.
Episodes
Some of the adventures they had included:- Eddie forgetting to pay for a chocolate bar and the other kids putting him on trial.
- The bus breaking down and the kids forming a Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesLord of the Flies is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding about a group of British boys stuck on a deserted island who try to govern themselves, with disastrous results...
sort of situation. - Someone stepping in dog excrement.
- A foreign child sitting in the back seat, where the gang always sits.
- Jess getting bubble gum in her hair and the others having to get it out.
- The gang missing their stop and being driven all the way to the bus depot.
- Rick having to hide the fact that it's his birthday to avoid getting Birthday Bumps.
- Eddie missing the bus and forgetting about his detention ("Requiem of Eddie").
Awards
- Bus Life won a Grand Jury Prize at the New York Television Festical in 2004.
- Nominated - Best Drama - British Academy Children's Television Awards
- Nominated - Best Original writer: Ben ward - British Academy Children's Television Awards