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| Image Upright: | 1.15 |
| Num Episodes: | 18 |
| Network: | The CW |
The fifth season of One Tree Hill, an American television series, began on January 8, 2008, with a two-hour episode. This is the second season to air on The CW television network. Season five is set four years into the future from the season 4 finale, and after the main characters have graduated from college.
Production for this season of One Tree Hill, along with production for all other American scripted television shows, was caught in the middle of a contract dispute between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The dispute led to a strike by the writers, which has caused a lack in episodes being produced.[1] The season had to conclude in June 2008, after twenty-two episodes, but it had been initially shortened to twelve episodes due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. Then, with the strike resolved, the CW announced that six more episodes would be produced, bringing the season's total episode count to eighteen.[2]
See also: List of One Tree Hill characters.
See also: List of One Tree Hill episodes.
On May 17, 2007, The CW announced that the show would return for a fifth season as a mid-season replacement. The show was dramatically retooled and set four years into the future – after the characters have already graduated from college. Until the show's return to the schedule, the network planned to post diaries online to fill in the intervening years in the characters' lives.[3] The fifth season began shooting on July 30, 2007, and premiered January 8, 2008. Dawn Ostroff confirmed on July 20, 2007, that One Tree Hill had a 22-episode order.[4]
Hilarie Burton confirmed on TRL that the show's fifth season would focus on their lives after college, citing the reason for this as "We've seen the high school dramas not do so well while they're in college, and another thing, we've done everything that everyone does in college". She said this will "enable them to do flashbacks and a lot of cool stuff with the characters".
On November 5, 2007, a strike began between the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE), Writers Guild of America, west (WGAw) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The strike was speculated to force television shows to end their seasons early, because there would be no future scripts until a settlement was reached. Due to the writer's strike, only twelve out of the twenty-two episodes ordered were thought to be produced. With the end in sight, Mark Schwahn stated, "Although we have six new episodes left, no one is more excited about the end of the strike than we are at One Tree Hill." On the February 5, 2008, episode, One Tree Hills ratings were second only to Smallville for scripted dramas at the CW. Schwahn went on to say that "we'd love the opportunity to continue season five, and if the WGA's new contract is ratified, hopefully we'll be able to do just that. If not, we'll see you for season six." On February 15, the CW announced that six additional episodes would be produced to wrap up the season due to the conclusion of the strike.[5]
For season five, Jackson Brundage was cast as James Scott, the child of Nathan and Haley Scott. Barry Corbin reprised his role as Whitey Durham for a flashback sequence. Danneel Harris returned, as a recurring not main cast member, to portray Rachel Gatina, who is now a drug addict. Moira Kelly also returned as Lucas' mother Karen Roe. Barbara Alyn Woods reprised her role of Deb Lee in the fourteenth episode, appearing in a total of four episodes.
Cullen Moss and Vaughn Wilson returned as Junk Moretti and Fergie Thompson, living with Mouth and Skills. Stephen Colletti reprised his guest role as Chase Adams, as did Kieren Hutchison as Andy Hargrove. Shawn Shepard returned to portray Tree Hill High's principal, Principal Turner, where Haley, Lucas and Skills now work. Brett Claywell returned as Tim Smith, working as a pizza boy. Bevin Prince also returned as Bevin Mirskey, married to Tim Smith, with whom she has a son, Nathan Smith.
Newcomer Michaela McManus was added to the cast for a multi-episode arc as Lindsey Strauss, a "tough but kind" New York editor assigned to work on Lucas' novel. Daphne Zuniga guest starred as a "glamorous and intimidating" business exec who works with Brooke,[6] later revealed to be her mother. Torrey DeVitto has signed on to play the nanny of Nathan and Haley's son in a multi-episode arc.[7] Robbie Jones joined the cast as Quentin Fields, a difficult student and member of the Ravens. Kelly Collins Lintz became a guest as Mouth's boss Alice. Lisa Goldstein was cast as Brooke's assistant as Millicent Huxtable. Kevin Federline appears in a multi-episode arc this season playing Jason,[8] as well as singer/songwriter Kate Voegele who portrays Mia. Joe Manganiello has also been added as Owen, a bar tender at Tric. Mary Kate Englehardt returned to play the role of Lily Roe Scott.
On November 6, 2007, The CW posted the first One Tree Hill online diary, a series of six segments to be released before the start of the new season. One Tree Hill Fast Forward allows fans of the show to catch a glimpse of the lives of the six main characters at the beginning of the fifth season. The first Fast Forward diary features Sophia Bush's character, Brooke Davis.[9] The second diary, posted on November 13, featured Chad Michael Murray's character, Lucas Scott. The third diary, posted on November 20, featured Hilarie Burton's character, Peyton Sawyer. The fourth diary, posted on November 27, featured Lee Norris's character, Mouth McFadden.The fifth diary, posted on December 4 featured the Scott-James family, consisting of Bethany Joy Galeotti's character, Haley James Scott and James Lafferty's character, Nathan Scott. The sixth and last diary, posted on December 11, featured all the new faces of the show, commented by Mark Schwahn, Joe Davola, the six main teens and the above listed new faces (minus Jamie).
The season opening to 3.36 million viewers and a 1.5 adults 18–49 rating. Episode two aired back-to-back with the season premiere and achieved season highs in viewers (3.59 million) and adults 18–49 (1.6). The season finale matched season highs in adults 18–49 with a 1.5 rating.
The overall season averaged 2.89 million viewers and ranked #122 with 1.3 rating.[10]
The DVD release of season five was released after the season has completed broadcast on television. It has been released in Region 1. As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release features bonus material such as audio commentaries on some episodes from the creator and cast, deleted scenes, gag reels and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
| The Complete Fifth Season | |||||
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| Set details | Special features | ||||
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| Release dates | |||||
| United States | United Kingdom | Australia | |||
| August 26, 2008 | October 6, 2008 | April 1, 2009 | |||