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Providence (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Providence is an American drama series that aired on NBC
starring Melina Kanakaredes
. The show ran for five seasons from January 8, 1999 until December 20, 2002.
as a plastic surgeon for the rich, so she could return to her hometown of Providence, Rhode Island
, and be with her family. Sydney lives with her father Jim, brother Robbie, sister Joanie, and sister's baby Hannah in a large home in suburban Providence that also houses her father's veterinary clinic. Sydney's mother dies in the first episode but continued to appear to Sydney as a spirit, and to offer advice.
The show ends rather abruptly, with a two-part wedding episode. NBC called this Providences "winter finale," fully expecting to bring it back in the spring or autumn of 2003, but these plans were eventually scrapped when some cast members, including Melina Kanakaredes, opted out of producing a sixth season. Reruns of the show are now shown on Lifetime Real Women
.
created the series. Regular writers include Masius, Mike Kelley
, Carol Barbee
, Elle Triedman, Robert De Laurentiis, Robert Fresco, Tim Kring
, Jennifer M. Johnson
, and Ann Lewis Hamilton
.
", a cover of the Beatles
song performed by Chantal Kreviazuk
. Internationally, the theme song was "You Make Me Home", composed by Tim Truman and performed by Angelica Hayden.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
starring Melina Kanakaredes
Melina Kanakaredes
Melina Eleni Kanakaredes Constantinides is an American actress. She is widely known for two starring roles on U.S. prime-time television drama series; playing Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY and portraying Dr...
. The show ran for five seasons from January 8, 1999 until December 20, 2002.
Synopsis
The show revolves around Dr. Sydney Hansen (played by Kanakaredes), who left her glamorous job in Beverly HillsBeverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
as a plastic surgeon for the rich, so she could return to her hometown of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and be with her family. Sydney lives with her father Jim, brother Robbie, sister Joanie, and sister's baby Hannah in a large home in suburban Providence that also houses her father's veterinary clinic. Sydney's mother dies in the first episode but continued to appear to Sydney as a spirit, and to offer advice.
The show ends rather abruptly, with a two-part wedding episode. NBC called this Providences "winter finale," fully expecting to bring it back in the spring or autumn of 2003, but these plans were eventually scrapped when some cast members, including Melina Kanakaredes, opted out of producing a sixth season. Reruns of the show are now shown on Lifetime Real Women
Lifetime Real Women
Lifetime Real Women is a digital cable channel that is the sister network to Lifetime. It was launched in August 2001 and is available in over 10 million homes via digital cable...
.
Characters
- Dr. Sydney "Syd" Hansen (Melina KanakaredesMelina KanakaredesMelina Eleni Kanakaredes Constantinides is an American actress. She is widely known for two starring roles on U.S. prime-time television drama series; playing Detective Stella Bonasera in CSI: NY and portraying Dr...
) – A high-profile plastic surgeon who returns home for her sister's wedding. Unfortunately, her mother died before the ceremony begins. Syd returns to Los Angeles, only to find her boyfriend cheating on her. Ultimately she decide to move back home to Providence to help her family, and takes a job at a free clinic that she later ends up running. While struggling with her new specialty of family medicine and helping her family, she also tries to rebuild her love life, without much luck until season 5. - Joan "Joanie" Hansen (Paula CalePaula CalePaula Korologos Cale is an American actress best known for her role as Joanie Hansen on the television series Providence.-Early life:...
) – Sydney's younger sister and single mother of young Hannah. Her mother's death interrupts her wedding and, after giving birth to Hannah, she decides to not marry Hannah's father, Richie. An optimistic woman, Joanie assists her father in his practice until she discovers that her cooking, while unpalatable for humans, is a delicacy for dogs, and she opens a delicatessen bakery for dogs. Her love life, however, is as complicated as her older sister's. Though mostly loyal to her family, Joanie often feels overshadowed by the accomplishments of Syd, and is known to squabble with Syd frequently. Sensing that her parents, especially her father, tend to favor Syd, Joanie decides to take over as her father's caregiver after he survives a near-fatal gunshot to the head. Joanie often makes Syd feel guilty about having her own life and priorities, but as is later learned, it's mainly due to extreme envy. While Joanie admires her sister , she mostly finds herself resenting her. - Robert "Robbie" Hansen (Seth PetersonSeth PetersonSeth Peterson is an American actor, best known for his role as Robbie Hansen from 1999 until 2002 on the television series Providence....
) – Syd's younger brother. A charming bad boy who manages a pub and is addicted to betting. After much trouble, he finally settles down when he marries Tina, a divorced mother of one, Pete, and later has a son with her, Nicholas "Nick" Hansen. - Lynda Hansen (Concetta TomeiConcetta TomeiConcetta Tomei is an American theatre, film and television character actress, best known for her roles as Maj. Lila Garreau on the ABC series China Beach and as Lynda Hansen on the NBC series Providence ....
) – Sydney, Joanie, and Robbie's overbearing mother. She dies before her pregnant daughter's wedding service, and afterwards appears only to Syd in dreams, giving her (often unsolicited) advice. - Dr. Jim Hansen (Mike FarrellMike FarrellMichael Joseph "Mike" Farrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H . He is an activist for politically liberal causes....
) – Sydney, Joanie, and Robbie's father. A warm-hearted veterinarian who runs a clinic in his basement and who occasionally relates better to animals than to people. - Dr. Helen Reynolds (Leslie SilvaLeslie SilvaLeslie Silva is an American actress who is best known for her role in Odyssey 5 as Sarah Forbes. She was also a regular on the Providence as Dr. Helen Reynolds....
) – Syd's friend and head of the free clinic in Season 1. Afterwards, she returns to her hometown, leaving the clinic in Sydney's hands.
Television ratings
| Season | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Ranking | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | January 8, 1999 | May 21, 1999 | 1999 | #18 | 13.9 |
| 2nd | September 24, 1999 | May 19, 2000 | 1999–2000 | #25 | 13.14 |
| 3rd | October 20, 2000 | May 18, 2001 | 2000–2001 | #43 | 11.5 |
| 4th | September 28, 2001 | May 10, 2002 | 2001–2002 | #36 | 11.4 |
| 5th | October 4, 2002 | December 20, 2002 | 2002 | #39 | 10.9 |
Crew
John MasiusJohn Masius
John Masius is an American writer and producer of television series, credited for creating the series Touched by an Angel , Providence and HawthoRNe ....
created the series. Regular writers include Masius, Mike Kelley
Mike Kelley
Mike Kelley is a contemporary American artist. Kelley's work involves found objects, textile banners, drawings, assemblage, collage, performance and video. He often works collaboratively and has done projects with artists Paul McCarthy, Tony Oursler and John Miller...
, Carol Barbee
Carol Barbee
Carol Denise Barbee is an American television writer, actress and producer.-Biography:Barbee graduated from Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina and attended Wake Forest University for Undergraduate School. She graduated from UCLA for Graduate School.She is married to actor...
, Elle Triedman, Robert De Laurentiis, Robert Fresco, Tim Kring
Tim Kring
Richard Timothy "Tim" Kring is an American screenwriter and television producer, best known for his creation of the television series Strange World, Crossing Jordan, and Heroes.Kring is Jewish...
, Jennifer M. Johnson
Jennifer M. Johnson
Jennifer M. Johnson is an American television writer and producer. She has worked in both capacities on the series Lost, Reunion, Cold Case and is a co-creator of the series Chase. Johnson won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series for her work on Lost.-Career:Johnson began...
, and Ann Lewis Hamilton
Ann Lewis Hamilton
Ann Lewis Hamilton is an American television producer and writer. She worked in both capacities on Thirtysomething. She was nominated for two Emmy Awards in 1991 for her work on the show; one for Outstanding Drama Series and one for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for her episode "Second...
.
Theme song
In the United States, the theme song was "In My LifeIn My Life
"In My Life" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney . The song originated with Lennon, and while Paul McCartney contributed to the final version, the extent of his contribution is in dispute. George Martin contributed the instrumental bridge...
", a cover of the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
song performed by Chantal Kreviazuk
Chantal Kreviazuk
Chantal Jennifer Kreviazuk is a Canadian singer-songwriter of the adult contemporary music genre. She is also a classically trained pianist, and can play the guitar.-Albums:...
. Internationally, the theme song was "You Make Me Home", composed by Tim Truman and performed by Angelica Hayden.
International
Providence has been broadcast internationally by the following stations:- Argentina: Warner ChannelWarner ChannelWarner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
- Australia: Seven NetworkSeven NetworkThe Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
and W. ChannelW. ChannelW is an Australian cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television's subscription platforms. Originally a retro channel, it moved into Women's interest programming around the late 1990s... - Belgium: Vijftv (Dutch television)
- Brazil: SBT
- Bulgaria: Kanal 1BNT Channel 1BNT 1 is a Bulgarian-language public television station founded in 1959. It began broadcasting on December 26 the same year. The headquarters are located in Sofia, Bulgaria. BNT 1 is run by the Bulgarian National Television....
, DiemaDiemaDiema is part of the Nova Television Group Bulgaria, a subsidiary of MTG.The channel airs mainly films, action series. Along with Nova Sport airs sports, including matches from the English FA Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA European Football Championship qualifications, as well as the...
and Diema 2 - Canada: GlobalGlobal Television NetworkGlobal Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
, W NetworkW NetworkW Network is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. W Network broadcasts lifestyle and entertainment programming aimed at women....
, Omni1OMNI TelevisionOmni Television, corporately styled as OMNI Television, is a Canadian television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications. It consists of the company's conventional television stations in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta which are licensed as multicultural stations... - Denmark: Kanal 5Kanal 5 (Denmark)Kanal 5 is a Danish subscription television channel operated by ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG.The station is broadcast to Denmark by satellite from London, showing mainly films, US drama shows and sports....
, TV2 - Finland: YLE TV1YLE TV1YLE TV1 is a Finnish television channel owned and operated by Finnish public broadcaster Yleisradio. It is the first and oldest Television channel in Finland. More than 70% of channel's programs are documentaries, news or educative programmes...
- France: TF1TF1TF1 is a national French TV channel, controlled by TF1 Group, whose major share-holder is Bouygues. TF1's average market share of 24% makes it the most popular domestic network...
- Germany: VOX
- Hungary: TV2TV2 (Hungary)TV2 is a Hungarian commercial television channel operating since 1997, providing a large variety of programming. It is owned by ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG...
- Iceland: Skjár 1
- Ireland: TV3
- Italy: Canale 5Canale 5Canale 5 is an Italian private television network of Mediaset, the media branch of Fininvest. Canale 5 was the first private television network to have a national coverage in Italy in 1980, based on a local channel, TeleMilano 58, founded in 1978....
- Japan: NHK-BS2NHKNHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
- Montenegro: RTCGRTCGRadio Television of Montenegro is the public broadcasting organization of Montenegro...
- Mexico Warner ChannelWarner ChannelWarner Channel is a Latin American and Asian cable television channel owned by Time Warner's HBO Asia/HBO Latin America Group Warner Channel (commonly shortened to WBTV, but not to be confused with the WB Television Network or Charlotte, North Carolina station WBTV, and currently referred to in...
- Netherlands: Net 5NET 5NET 5 is a commercial TV channel in the Netherlands owned by Sanoma and Talpa Holding . Other channels of the group in the Netherlands are SBS6 and Veronica.- History :...
- New Zealand: TV3TV3 (New Zealand)TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
- Norway TVNorge
- Poland: TVP 2TVP 2TVP2 is a Polish public mainstream TV channel operated by TVP. Its varied line-up contains all kinds of programming although it focuses on entertainment: stand up comedy, comic shows, cabaret, and themed talk shows .-Polish soap operas:* M jak...
, Fox LifeFox LifeFox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... - Portugal: RTP 2, People+ArtsPeople+ArtsLiv is an entertainment television channel in Latin America. It is jointly owned by Discovery Communications.The channel was launched in October 1997 as the local version of Travel Channel...
- Slovakia: STV 1, TV Markíza
- Slovenia: POP TVPOP TVPOP TV is a Slovenian commercial television station operated by the multi-media company PRO PLUS d.o.o.It is a TV channel with the highest ratings in Slovenia , and at the same time the most popular and trustworthy...
- South Africa: Sony Entertainment Television on DSTV
- Sweden: Kanal 5 (Sweden)Kanal 5 (Sweden)Kanal 5 is a Swedish commercial television channel established in 1989. It is owned by the media corporation ProSiebenSat.1 Media.After a troublesome 1990s, Kanal 5 launched new strategies in the early 2000s that established it as a popular entertainment channel targeting young people...
- Spain: People+ArtsPeople+ArtsLiv is an entertainment television channel in Latin America. It is jointly owned by Discovery Communications.The channel was launched in October 1997 as the local version of Travel Channel...
, Sony Entertainment Television on VEO - Spain (Catalonia): TV3TV3 (Catalonia)TV3 is the primary television channel of Catalan public broadcaster Televisió de Catalunya, a subsidiary of the CCMA. TV3 broadcasts programs only in Catalan, with an optional dual track in the original language for some foreign-language series and movies...
- Turkey: CNBC-eCNBC-eCNBC-e is a hybrid business/financial and entertainment channel operated in Turkey by CNBC Europe and the NTV Group.The channel shares its name with a co-owned magazine about CNBC-e....
- United Kingdom: ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
DVD release
To date, the only DVD release of the series is The Providence Collection (released 2004 by Lions Gate), a collection of the series best episodes from the show's 5 year run featuring 12 episodes on four discs:- Pilot, Home Again, Tying the Not, The Letter, Don't Go Changin', The Thanksgiving Story, Falling, Best Man, Act Naturally, A New Beginning, Eye of the Storm, The Eleventh Hour
- Written introduction by creator John Masius
- Commentaries by Melina Kanakaredes, Paula Cale, Mike Farrell, Michael FrescoMichael FrescoMichael "Mike" Fresco is an American television director and producer.Most notably Fresco has directed a number of episodes from shows including The O.C., My Name is Earl and the pilots to 1-800-Missing and Providence...
, Seth Peterson, Concetta Tomei, Monica Wyatt, and creator John Masius on selected episodes - Gag reel with outtakes and bloopers
- Retrospective documentary featuring new interviews with the cast, creators, and special guests