Joan of Arcadia is an American fantasy family drama television series telling the story of teenager Joan Girardi (Amber Tamblyn), who sees and speaks with God and performs tasks she is given. The series originally aired on Fridays on CBS for two seasons, from September 26, 2003, to April 22, 2005.
The show was praised by critics and won the Humanitas Prize and the People's Choice Award. It was also nominated for an Emmy Award in its first season for Outstanding Drama Series. The title alludes to Joan of Arc and the show takes place in a fictionalized version of the town Arcadia, Maryland.
Premise Joan Girardi is a 16-year-old girl living in the town of Arcadia, Maryland. She is the middle child of her family, which includes elder brother Kevin, a former jock who has been left a paraplegic after a car accident, and younger brother Luke, a brainy nerd. Joan's father, Will, is the town's police chief. In the pilot episode, God appears to Joan and reminds her that she promised to do anything he wanted if he let Kevin survive the car crash. He appears to Joan in the form of various people including small children, teenage boys, elderly ladies, transients, or passersby. God asks Joan to perform tasks that often appear trivial or inconsequential—such as enrolling in an AP Chemistry class or building a boat—but always end up improving a larger situation.
These plotlines are interwoven with more realistic matters, such as the relationships within the Girardi family. Various storylines that span multiple episodes deal with the consequences of Kevin's accident, Will's job as a police officer, mother Helen's career as an art teacher, and Luke's aspirations to be a scientist.
Characterization of God God is portrayed with a very human personality, and does not appear to favor any particular religion, saying there are "different ways to share the same truth". He quotes Bob Dylan, Emily Dickinson, and the Beatles rather than any scripture or verses. The series examines God from a more metaphysical standpoint than a religious perspective.
God is also depicted as having a sharp sense of humor. In the episode "Touch Move", he tells Joan that he has to send her "down there". When Joan is worried he means Hell, he laughs and clarifies he meant the school basement.Hall, Barbara (writer); Brand, Joshua (director). "Touch Move." October 10, 2003. Joan of Arcadia. Season 1. Episode 3. CBS. In another instance, She appears in the form of a woman exercising and says, "Why do people always try and discern my deeper meanings? This is the kind of thinking that starts wars."
Cast and characters Main cast Joe Mantegna as Will Girardi, the father of Joan, Kevin, and Luke. He moved his family from their home in Chicago when he was offered the job of Chief of Police in Arcadia, Maryland. Mantegna had a development deal with CBS and liked the script. He was also involved in casting the other characters. Mary Steenburgen as Helen Girardi, Will's wife and mother of Kevin, Joan, Luke. An artist, Helen dropped out of art school after being raped by an unknown perpetrator. She works as the secretary at Arcadia High School and becomes the art teacher in "State of Grace". She was raised in the Catholic faith but was never confirmed; after moving to Arcadia, she considers going back to the Church. Amber Tamblyn as Joan Girardi, the middle child of the Girardi family who talks to God. He often gives her assignments or tasks that usually have a positive outcome, but she is frequently exasperated by the randomness of the directives and God's refusal to answer direct questions. Jason Ritter as Kevin Girardi, the eldest child in the Girardi family. A year and a half before the events of the pilot, he became a paraplegic in a car accident after failing to stop a friend from drunk driving. Michael Welch as Luke Girardi, the youngest Girardi child. Luke is a science nerd and straight-A student. Chris Marquette as Adam Rove (Recurring Season 1;Marquette is credited as guest stars throughout season 1, even though he appeared in every episode of the series except the pilot. Regular Season 2), Joan's best friend and later boyfriend. Becky Wahlstrom as Grace Polk (Recurring Season 1;Wahlstrom is credited as guest stars throughout season 1, even though she appeared in every episode of the series except the pilot. Regular Season 2), Adam and Joan's best friend and Luke's eventual girlfriend.
Recurring cast Andrew Ableson as Andy Reese, the style editor at the Arcadia Herald. David Burke as Father Ken Mallory, Helen's friend and pastor of a nearby church. Ivonne Coll as Marlene, Helen's co-worker in the office at Arcadia High. Haylie Duff as Stevie Marx, a student at Arcadia High. Patrick Fabian as Gavin Price, the unpopular vice principal of Arcadia High School. John Getz as District Attorney Gabe Fellowes, a corrupt public servant. April Grace as Detective Toni Williams, at the Arcadia Police Department and later at the Hogan County Sheriff's department. Often worked with Will. Sprague Grayden as Judith Montgomery, Joan's friend from the Gentle Acres summer psychiatric camp (affectionatly referred to as Crazy Camp). Elaine Hendrix as Elaine Lischak, Arcadia High's Advanced Placement science teacher, teaches Joan's AP chemistry and AP physics classes. She has an on-again/off-again relationship with Dana Tuchman. Jared Hillman as Brian Beaumont, tightly wound over-achiever student at Arcadia High. Aaron Himelstein as Friedman, Arcadia High student and Luke's best friend. Kimberly McCullough as Beth Reinhart, Kevin's girlfriend from before the accident. Wentworth Miller as Ryan Hunter, a young, charming dot com millionaire who also talks to God, but with his own sinister agenda. Derek Morgan as Roy Roebuck, initially Arcadia Fire Department Arson investigator, later Hogan County Undersheriff for Arcadia. Morocco Omari as Stephen Chadwick, Arcadia High's principal. Erik Palladino as Lieutenant Michael Daghlian, the senior detective of the Arcadia PD under Chief Girardi. Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Rebecca Askew, editor and reporter at the Arcadia Herald where Kevin works, dated Kevin. Annie Potts as Lieutenant Lucy Preston, the former head of the Hogan County Sheriff's Department's Internal Affairs Division. Kevin Rahm as Dana Tuchman, guidance counselor at Arcadia High School. Has an on-again/off-again relationship with Elain Lischak. Paul Sand as Rabbi Polanski, Grace's father. Riley Smith as Andy Baker, Kevin's friend who's drunk driving put him in that wheelchair. Mark Totty as Detective Carlisle, Will Girardi's junk food-addicted partner on the Hogan County Sheriff's Department. Mageina Tovah as Glynis Figliola, Luke's friend and onetime girlfriend. Misti Traya as Iris, Adam's first girlfriend. Constance Zimmer as Sister Lilly Watters, a former nun who helps advise Helen Girardi and dates Kevin.
Guest cast Michael Badalucco as Father Payne Hilary Duff as Dylan SamuelsHall, Barbara; Sturman, Lindsay (writers); Mitchell, Martha (director). "The Rise & Fall of Joan Girardi". January 28, 2005. Joan of Arcadia. Season 2. Episode 14. CBS. Alexis Dziena as Bonnie Louise Fletcher as Eva Garrison Cloris Leachman as Aunt Olive Shelley Long as Miss Candy Lauren Mayhew as Elle Armin Shimerman as Ronald Harbison Tyler James Williams as hallway boy
Incarnations of God
The many incarnations include:
Juliette Goglia – Little Girl God Kathryn Joosten – Old Lady God, or occasionally as Mrs. Landingham GodA reference to the actress's role as Mrs. Landingham on The West Wing. She also frequently visits the book store where Joan works and is a candy striper at the hospital. Russ Tamblyn – Dog Walker God Kris Lemche – Cute Guy God Jeffrey Licon – Goth Kid God Keaton Tyndall and Kylie Tyndall – Twin Girl God Zachary Quinto – video assignment God Adam Richman (from Man v. Food) – a butcher God John Marshall Jones – commonly referred to as Chess Player God John Kassir – Mime God Robert Clendenin – Linesman God Roark Critchlow – Newscaster God Wendy Worthington – Mailwoman God Phill Lewis – Naval Officer God Candice Azzara – Housewife God David Doty – Businessman God Larry Hankin – Homeless Man God Chris Hogan – Sidewalk Vendor God Oliver Muirhead – Proctor God Alphonso McAuley – DJ God Thomas Kopache – Creepy Guy God Curtis Armstrong - Security Guard God II Lindsay Hollister – Computer/Library Girl God Fred Stoller – Pizza Delivery God Trevor Einhorn – Mascot God Ronnie Warner – Street Guitarist God Anastasia Baranova – Exchange Student God Brian Klugman – Cashier God Louis Mustillo – Garbage Man God George D. Wallace – Old Man Walker God Joel Murray – Balloon Sculptor God Erin Chambers – Majorette God Susan Sullivan – Rich Woman God John Patrick Amedori – Loner Loser Kid God Allyce Beasley – Woman with Cats God Rick Overton – Bad Stand-Up Comedian God Iqbal Theba – East Indian Sunglasses Salesman God Rae Allen – Fortune Teller God Christy Carlson Romano – Officious Hall Monitor God Mike Starr – Big Tough Guy God Sonya Eddy – Female Custodian God Veanne Cox – Personable Woman God Jack Kehler – Electrician God Al Mancini – Grandpa God Rolando Molina – Trash Man God Adam Wylie – Skinny Kid God Mark L. Taylor – Salesman God Shelly Cole – Punk Girl God Don McManus – Park Ranger God Jane Morris – Substitute Teacher God James Martin Kelly – Sweeper God Michael N. Chinyamurindi – Nigerian Doctor God John Del Regno – Locksmith God Michael Wyle – French Waiter God Cal Gibson – Groundskeeper God Todd Sherry – Gay Male Secretary God Jordan David – Geek God will.i.am – Three Card Monte Guy God
Theme song The opening credits roll with the Eric Bazilian-written song "One of Us" performed by recording artist Joan Osborne. It was a hit single for Osborne in the United States from her 1995 album Relish: What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us Just a stranger on the bus Trying to make his way home Osborne re-recorded the song specifically for the show. To fit its lyrics, Joan first meets God as a teenage boy riding to school on the bus with her.
Production
Development Joan of Arcadia took shape during Barbara Hall's time as a producer on Chicago Hope in the mid-1990s and evolved while she was an executive producer on CBS drama Judging Amy. Hall said "the concept meshed her fascination with Joan of Arc...her longtime interest in physics and metaphysics, and her desire to use drama and comedy to explore the existence of God in a 'scary, not benign universe.'" Hall added, "I started thinking, what would it look like if God tried to contact a teenager today? I made the decision that God would have to come to a teenage girl visually. Joan of Arc heard voices, but kids today aren't going to hear voices because you'd have to get the iPods off their heads."
When Hall pitched the series to CBS, she and executives agreed they were not looking to make another Touched by an Angel. Among the differences between it and Joan is that Joan is not religious and "the show’s tone is grittier".
CBS greenlit the show in 2002 "when public discourse about spirituality seemed more gentle: post-9/11 prayer services rather than heated debates over 'The Passion of the Christ'". The acquisition was made as part of an effort by the network, which was known for its adult-skewing shows, to appeal to younger viewers. Hall developed the series with Hart Hanson and Jim Hayman, her Judging Amy production associates.