Rita Rocks
Encyclopedia
Rita Rocks is a Lifetime original sitcom
that premiered on October 20, 2008. It is the network's first original comedy in over a decade. The series debuted alongside re-runs of Reba
as part of a new comedy hour for Tuesday nights, which later changed to Monday nights. The show stars Nicole Sullivan
as Rita, Tisha Campbell-Martin
, Richard Ruccolo
, Raviv Ullman, and Kelly Gould
.
On January 11, 2010, Lifetime cancelled the series after two seasons due to low ratings.
In a February 2009 interview on Anytime with Bob Kushell
, Sullivan agreed the main character is going through a midlife crisis
, but she does not like using the term "midlife".
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that premiered on October 20, 2008. It is the network's first original comedy in over a decade. The series debuted alongside re-runs of Reba
Reba (TV series)
Reba is an American sitcom starring Reba McEntire, which ran from 2001 to 2007. For the show's first five seasons, it ran on The WB, with the show transitioning to The CW in its last year.-Synopsis:...
as part of a new comedy hour for Tuesday nights, which later changed to Monday nights. The show stars Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
as Rita, Tisha Campbell-Martin
Tisha Campbell-Martin
Tisha Michelle Campbell-Martin is an American actress and singer, known for her starring roles in television series Martin and My Wife and Kids and now is starring in the new television series The Protector...
, Richard Ruccolo
Richard Ruccolo
-Early life:Ruccolo was born in Marlton, New Jersey. He attended Cherokee High School in Evesham Township, New Jersey. It was there Ruccolo first discovered his love of acting while starring as the lead in the high school's production of Oklahoma! After graduating he moved to Los Angeles to find...
, Raviv Ullman, and Kelly Gould
Kelly Gould
Kelly Kristen Gould is an American child actress.Gould's acting career began at three weeks old in a birthing scene. At six weeks old, she portrayed baby Chastity Bono in a movie about Sonny & Cher...
.
On January 11, 2010, Lifetime cancelled the series after two seasons due to low ratings.
Plot
A hard-working mom and wife splits her time between a job she doesn’t particularly like, running the kids around and managing the household. She believes that if she can just get a few hours a week to herself, she can figure a few things out. After finding her old guitar in the garage and the prompting of a new friend, they start up a weekly jam session and are joined by a neighbor, the mail-woman and her daughter’s boyfriend for nightly rehearsals. The plot is set in the Metropolitan Detroit area, most likely the Southfield area as Shannon attends Southfield Elementary School, which is shown throughout season 1.In a February 2009 interview on Anytime with Bob Kushell
Anytime with Bob Kushell
Anytime with Bob Kushell is a five-minute talk show produced for Sony Pictures Television and their online portal "". Not to be confused with Anytime Talk Show with Christopher Logan Biggs an online broadcast which runs 40 minutes, or The Anytime Show Starring Trevor Widger which is also broadcast...
, Sullivan agreed the main character is going through a midlife crisis
Midlife Crisis
"Midlife Crisis" is a song by the American rock band Faith No More. It was released on May 26, 1992 as the first single from their fourth album, Angel Dust...
, but she does not like using the term "midlife".
Characters
- Rita Clemens (Nicole SullivanNicole SullivanNicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
): a working mom with a busy life. She is the leader of a garage bandGarage bandThe term garage band can refer to:* A band that performs garage rock* GarageBand, audio production software published by Apple Inc.* GarageBand.com, a website that helps publicize emerging bands...
and also the assistant manager of Bed Bath & Max. She was formerly training assistant before her boss learned of her pregnancy. - Jay Clemens (Richard RuccoloRichard Ruccolo-Early life:Ruccolo was born in Marlton, New Jersey. He attended Cherokee High School in Evesham Township, New Jersey. It was there Ruccolo first discovered his love of acting while starring as the lead in the high school's production of Oklahoma! After graduating he moved to Los Angeles to find...
): Rita’s husband who tries his best to support her band. He sometimes takes care of the household, getting himself into funny situations in the process. - Patty Mannix (Tisha Campbell-MartinTisha Campbell-MartinTisha Michelle Campbell-Martin is an American actress and singer, known for her starring roles in television series Martin and My Wife and Kids and now is starring in the new television series The Protector...
): a postal worker and Rita's best friend who convinces her to take down her guitar and start the band. - Hallie Clemens (Natalie DreyfussNatalie DreyfussNatalie Rachel Dreyfuss is a television actress, who has had guest starring roles in shows such as Burn Notice and The Shield. Most recently, she had a recurring role on the television series Glory Daze....
): Rita's absent minded and rebellious teenage daughter. She is a worker along with her mom at Bed Bath & Max and is almost always texting or "tweeting" from her phone. - Shannon Clemens (Kelly GouldKelly GouldKelly Kristen Gould is an American child actress.Gould's acting career began at three weeks old in a birthing scene. At six weeks old, she portrayed baby Chastity Bono in a movie about Sonny & Cher...
): Rita's nine-year-old daughter. She goes to a school for gifted children and is interested in space camp and astronauts. - Kip (Raviv Ullman): Full name is Skip; Hallie's goofy and likable boyfriend/ex-boyfriend is the drummer in Rita's band. His parents are separated and he spends all of his time at the Clemens' household.
- Max: Rita & Jay's new baby. Rita gave birth to him in the Season 2 finale.
Minor characters
- Owen Delgado Jr. (Ian GomezIan GomezIan Gomez is an American actor best known for his comedic TV work, the most notable of which are his series-regular stints as Javier on Felicity and Andy on Cougar Town.-Career:...
): Rita's unemployed neighbor who joins her garage band. He has two kids with wife Audrey. (left in 2009 to join Cougar TownCougar TownCougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
)
- Audrey (Lauren BowlesLauren BowlesLauren Hannah Bowles is an American actress and a half-sister of Julia Louis-Dreyfus.She has appeared in numerous TV shows including Seinfeld, Arrested Development, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Judging Amy, The New Adventures of Old Christine , Private Practice and many more...
): Owen's wife and mother of his two children. She loves her job more than her own husband.
- Chuck (Duane MartinDuane MartinDuane Martin is an American film and television actor.-Personal life:Martin was born in Dayton OH, and went to Dunbar High school and failed the 9th grade freshman year.Then met Tisha Campbell at the New York Liberty City Awards for the World records by doing backflips.-Career:Martin had a short...
): Rita's new neighbor, a former baseball player who is a huge annoyance to Rita and Jay. He and Patty (played by his Duane Martin's wife Tisha Campbell-Martin) begin dating in late Season 2.
- Marilyn (Swoosie KurtzSwoosie KurtzSwoosie Kurtz is an American actress. She began her career in theater during the 1970s and shortly thereafter began a career in television, garnering ten nominations and winning one Emmy Award. Her most famous television project was her role on the 1990s NBC drama Sisters...
): Rita's mother, who visits and stays for four episodes before leaving at Rita's request to talk to her father.
- Rusty (Paul Vato): the owner of the bowling alley where Rita's band performs publicly for the first time.
Guest appearances
| Guest Star | Season | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Mindy Sterling Mindy Sterling Mindy Lee Sterling is an American actress. Although she had worked in film for over 30 years, she only began to garner attention after playing Frau Farbissina, the diminutive and domineering Germanic cohort of Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, and has a recurring role as Ms... |
1 | Mrs. Portman, customer at Rita's workplace, Bed Bath & Max |
| Tony Danza Tony Danza Tony Danza is an American actor best known for starring on the TV series Taxi and Who's the Boss?, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards... |
1 | Jay's boss |
| Andrew J. West | 1 | Craiger |
| Harry Shum Jr. | 1 | Zach |
| Craig Gellis | 1 | Grungy Counter Guy |
| Brooklyn McLinn | 1 | Roger |
| Bayne Gibby | 1 | Genna, customer at Bed & Bath Max |
| Deborah Gibson Deborah Gibson Deborah Ann "Debbie" Gibson is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. In 1987 she was pronounced the youngest artist to write, produce, and perform a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, with her song "Foolish Beat" and she remains the youngest female to write, record, and... |
1 | Cindy Schatz (Rita's old band friend) |
| Melissa Peterman Melissa Peterman Melissa Margaret Peterman is an American actress and comedienne who is best known for her role as Barbara Jean in the television comedy series Reba... |
1, 2 | Jennifer |
| Jessie Pavelka Jessie Pavelka Jessie Pavelka is an American fitness model, personal trainer, actor and television presenter. He currently presents Lifetime's DietTribe in the US and has appeared on Friday Night Lights.-Personal life:... |
1 | Jessie (himself); Patty's trainer and Kip's temporary replacement |
| Mimi Kennedy Mimi Kennedy Mimi Kennedy is an American actress, author and activist.-Early life:Kennedy was born Mary Claire Kennedy in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Nancy Helen and Daniel Gerald Kennedy. She got her start in theater with the Rochester Community Players, appearing in Agatha Christie's "Spider Web"... |
1 | Aunt Mavis (Jay's aunt who has a grudge towards Rita) |
| Paul Vato | 2 | Rusty is the bowling alley owner who gives Rita her first big break |
| G. Hannelius G. Hannelius Genevieve Hannelius is an American child actress and singer, better known professionally as G. Hannelius. She has played the role as Emily in Den Brother, a Disney Channel Original Movie also starring Hutch Dano and for her co-starring role as Amy Little on the Disney's Channel Original short... |
2 episodes | Brianna Moone |
DVD release
Rita Rocks: The Complete 1st Season was released on a 3-disc combo pack on April 27, 2010.International broadcasting
- Arena TV in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
airs the program. - CityTvCitytvCitytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division...
in CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
airs the program. - STAR WorldSTAR WorldSTAR World is an Asian English language cable and satellite television network owned by Star TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation. The channel is the successor of STAR Plus, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
in AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
airs the program. - 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...
in PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
airs the program. - SKY Uno in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
is going to air in autumn 2009. - RTL 8RTL 8RTL 8 is a commercial television station which launched in the Netherlands on 18 August 2007. The channel apperead by the former Tien, previously known as Talpa, which was launched in August 2005, and other assets of John de Mol's Talpa Media were amalgamated with RTL Nederland...
in The Netherlands is going to air in winter 2009. - TNT SerieTNT SerieTNT Serie is a German television channel dedicated to television series.The station is operated by Turner Broadcasting System and launched on 28 January, 2009. Since 1 June, 2009 the channel is broadcasting around the clock...
in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
airs the program. - Comédie!Comédie!Comédie+ is a French cable network showing humorous programs since 1996. It bears some resemblance to Comedy Central; even the comédie word in the name is used in the very broad American meaning. It is directed by Dominique Farrugia, a former member of the Les Nuls comedy team...
in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
will air the sitcom in 2010. - Yes Comedy in IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
airs the program.
External links
- Rita Rocks at Mylifetime.com