Life with Derek explained

Runtime:24 minutes
Creator:Daphne Ballon
Developer:Daphne Ballon
Bernice Vanderlaan
Producer:
  • Paul Pope (S1-2)
  • Suzanne French
  • Laura Harbin (S1)
  • Laurie Mclarty
  • Jeff Biederman
Starring:Michael Seater
Ashley Leggat
Jordan Todosey
Daniel Magder
Ariel Waller
Joy Tanner
John Ralston
Theme Music Composer:Gary Koftinoff and
Ron Proulx
Opentheme:"Livin' Life with Derek", sung by Cheyenne Twiner of Uncensored, performed by Gary Koftinoff
Composer:Gary Koftinoff
Location:Corner Brook, Canada (Season 1)
Toronto, Canada (Seasons 2-4)
Camera:Film
Single-camera
Country:Canada
Language:English
Network:
Company:Shaftesbury Films
Pope Productions (season 1)
Num Seasons:4
Num Episodes:70
List Episodes:List of Life with Derek episodes
Related:Vacation with Derek
(2010 TV movie)

Life with Derek is a Canadian television teen sitcom that aired on Family Channel (English) and VRAK.TV (French) in Canada and on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on Family on September 18, 2005, and ran for four seasons, ending its run on March 25, 2009. Reruns currently air on Family Channel and previously on multiplex sister channel Family Chrgd. The series stars Michael Seater as the titular character and Ashley Leggat as his step-sister Casey. These are the two oldest children in a stepfamily.

It ended having aired 70 episodes, and was followed by one spin-off television film, entitled Vacation with Derek, which was filmed in northern Ontario in fall 2009,[1] and it aired on Family Channel on June 25, 2010.

On May 12, 2020, Shaftesbury Films announced that a spinoff television film, titled Life with Luca and set 15 years after the original series, was in development.[2] The spin-off feature film premiered in February 2023.[3] [4]

Plot

George Venturi (John Ralston), a divorced man from London, Ontario who had custody of his three children from a previous marriage: sons Derek (Michael Seater) and Edwin (Daniel Magder), and daughter Marti (Ariel Waller), marries a divorced woman named Nora McDonald (Joy Tanner), who has two daughters of her own from a previous marriage: Casey (Ashley Leggat) and Lizzie (Jordan Todosey). Up until that point, Casey was perfectly content with her life. Growing up as the oldest child in a household in Toronto with only her mother and sister had suited her well and brought her up as a self-sufficient and independent young woman.

After George and Nora's marriage, the McDonalds moved in with the Venturis in London, Ontario. Casey was originally upset about having to move to London, Ontario from Toronto, a much bigger city (as shown in the episode "How I Met Your Stepbrother"), for many reasons including Derek, but she eventually got over her own problems and agreed to move there for Nora and George's sake once she saw how much they cared for each other.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

See main article: List of Life with Derek episodes.

Production

The first season was filmed on Sound Stages at Atlantic Studios Cooperative Sound Stage in Corner Brook.[5] Seasons two through four were filmed in Toronto.

Broadcast

Original broadcast

Life with Derek and another Canadian sitcom, Naturally, Sadie, were both added to Disney Channel in the United States in 2005. In June 2007, Naturally, Sadie was pulled from the channel, but Life with Derek was left on. Though many episodes were originally broadcast on Family in Canada, Disney often advertised the episodes as being new episodes. Life with Derek has not aired on the Disney Channel since January 2, 2010, but reruns continued to air on Family, Family CHRGD until September 2016, and VRAK.TV in Canada.

The first two seasons were added to CBC Gem on December 26, 2019.[6] The remaining episodes were later added on February 14, 2020.[7] In 2023, all four seasons were added to Roku TV.[8] In 2024 all 4 seasons were made available on byutv.org and the BYUtv App.

Home media

SeasonRelease dateEp #Additional informationBonus Features
Season 1United States/Canada: October 1, 2008[9] 13 This two disc box set includes all 13 episodes from Season 1.
  • Interviews with cast and crew
  • Behind-the-scenes photo shoot
  • Studio tours with Derek and Casey
  • 8×20 inch full-color locker poster
Season 2United States/Canada: August 11, 2009[10] 13 This two disc box set includes all 13 episodes from Season 2.
  • Interviews with Ashley Leggat, Michael Seater, Jordan Todosey, Daniel Magder, Ariel Waller, John Ralston, and Joy Tanner
  • Interview with creator/writer Daphne Ballon and producer/writer Jeff Biederman
  • On-set tour with Michael Seater, behind-the-scenes footage
Season 3United States/Canada: March 23, 2010[11] 26 This three disc box set includes all 26 episodes from Season 3.
  • Interview with Ashley Leggat and Michael Seater

Awards and nominations

2009 - Television Series - Family (Nominated)

2007 - Television Series - Family (Nominated)[13]

2006 - Outstanding Television Series - Family (Nominated)

2009 - Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series (Won)

2009 - Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series - Michael Seater (Won)

2009 - Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series - Jeff Biederman for episode "Just Friends" (Nominated)

2008 - Best Original Music Score for a Program or Series - Gary Koftinoff for episode "Fright Night" (Nominated)

2008 - Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series - Ashley Leggat (Nominated)

2007 - Most Popular Website (Nominated)

2007 - Best Cross-Platform Project (Nominated)

2006 - Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series (Nominated)

2006 - Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series (Nominated)

2006 - Youth (Won)

2008 - Best Performance in a TV Series: Supporting Young Actor - Daniel Magder (Nominated)

2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actor - Michael Seater (Nominated)

2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress - Ashley Leggat (Nominated)

2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actor - Daniel Magder (Nominated)

2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Young Actress Age Ten or Younger - Ariel Waller (Nominated)

2006 - Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Ashley Leggat, Daniel Magder, Michael Seater, Jordan Todosey, Ariel Waller (Nominated)

Spinoff film

"Life with Luca" is a spinoff movie announced by Canadian media company WildBrain in August 2022. The film is set to follow the return of Casey and Derek, who are all grown up and have teenagers of their own. The movie picks up fifteen years later and follows Derek and Casey as they each navigate parenthood and raise distinctly different teenagers,” the movie’s official logline reads, per The Sun. The synopsis teased that Casey is now a married lawyer with three kids, while Derek is a successful musician who is also a single dad of one daughter.[14] Actors Jordan Todosey and Danny Magder, who played Casey's sister Lizzie and Derek's brother Edwin, won't be rejoining the cast. According to WildBrain Television, the actors are not reprising their younger sibling roles due to "scheduling challenges, however Todosey claims she wasn't contacted."[15]

Notes and References

  1. Pack your bags! 'Vacation with Derek' is now in production. Family Channel and Shaftesbury Films. September 16, 2009. CNW A PR Newswire Company. May 15, 2016. June 11, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611112833/http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/pack-your-bags-vacation-with-derek-is-now-in-production-538567581.html. live.
  2. Shaftesbury Kids Expands Development and Production Slate and Commences Virtual Writing Rooms for Four New Series. Shaftesbury Kids. TV, Eh?. May 12, 2020. May 12, 2020. May 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200513184957/https://www.tv-eh.com/2020/05/12/shaftesbury-kids-expands-development-and-production-slate-and-commences-virtual-writing-rooms-for-four-new-series/. live.
  3. Wildbrain Television Announces Three More Original Greenlights From Canadian Producers Exclusive to Family Channel . Wildbrain Television . TV, Eh? . August 31, 2022 . September 2, 2022 . September 2, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220902221356/https://www.tv-eh.com/2022/08/31/wildbrain-television-announces-three-more-original-greenlights-from-canadian-producers-exclusive-to-family-channel/ . live .
  4. Web site: 'Life With Derek' Cast Reunites on Set of Spinoff Movie. TV Insider. August 31, 2022. September 3, 2022. September 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220901235709/https://www.tvinsider.com/1058840/life-with-derek-spinoff-movie-photos/. live.
  5. Web site: New television series to be filmed in province. Executive Council, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. July 16, 2004. October 22, 2013. October 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060025/http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2004/exec/0716n03.htm. live.
  6. Web site: What's coming to CBC Gem in December 2019. December 2, 2019. May 12, 2020. CBC.ca. December 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191205113158/https://www.cbc.ca/television/what-s-coming-to-cbc-gem-in-december-2019-1.5378172. live.
  7. Web site: What's coming to CBC Gem in February 2020. January 31, 2020. May 12, 2020. CBC.ca. March 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200311065013/https://www.cbc.ca/television/what-s-new-on-cbc-gem-in-february-2020-1.5446663. live.
  8. Web site: Casey . Henry . 22 February 2023 . Roku just got 11 free TV channels: what you need to know . 16 July 2023 . 16 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230716224722/https://www.tomsguide.com/news/roku-11-new-free-tv-channels-feb-2023 . live .
  9. Web site: Life with Derek - The Complete 1st Season. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090801020935/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Life-Derek-Complete-1st-Season/8061. 2009-08-01.
  10. Web site: Life with Derek - The Complete 2nd Season. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090805185901/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Life-Derek-Complete-2nd-Season/8932. 2009-08-05.
  11. Web site: Life with Derek - The Complete 3rd Season. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100504114421/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Life-Derek-Complete-3rd-Season/9609. 2010-05-04.
  12. Web site: Life with Derek - Let the Games Begin!. TVShowsOnDVD.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090801020942/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Life-Derek-Volume-Release/8392. 2009-08-01.
  13. 2007 Directors Guild of Canada Awards Nominations. The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC). August 13, 2007. CNW A PR Newswire Company. October 22, 2013. October 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131023055031/http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/50385/2007-directors-guild-of-canada-awards-nominations. live.
  14. Web site: Disney's 'Life With Derek' Cast Reunites for 'Life With Luca': Details. Shelby. Stivale. September 1, 2022. November 16, 2022. October 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221022014554/https://www.j-14.com/posts/life-with-derek-cast-reunion-life-with-luca-movie-details/. live.
  15. Web site: A 'Life With Derek' Spinoff Is Coming & 2 Former Stars Say They Weren't Invited (VIDEO). Megan. Johnson. September 26, 2022. Narcity. November 16, 2022. October 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221022014556/https://www.narcity.com/a-life-with-derek-spinoff-film-is-coming-2-former-stars-say-they-weren-t-invited-video. live.