a heavenly family

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Television series
German title a heavenly family
Original title 7 th Heaven
Country of production United States
original language English
Year (s) 1996-2007
length 42 minutes
Episodes 243 in 11 seasons ( List )
genre Drama , family series
Theme music "7 th Heaven" (was composed especially for this series)
idea Brenda Hampton
production Aaron Spelling , E. Duke Vincent
music Dan Foliart
First broadcast August 26, 1996 ( USA ) on The WB
German-language
first broadcast		 June 22, 1999 on VOX
main actor
supporting cast

A heavenly family (English original title 7 th Heaven) is an American television series about the family of the Protestant pastor Camden in a small town in California . The first broadcast of the eleven seasons of the series took place from 1996 to 2007 on the channels The WB and The CW (2006/2007 only). The series was conceived and produced by Brenda Hampton .

background

The main characters are Pastor (Reverend) Eric Camden, his wife Annie and their children. The family originally consisted of five children (Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, and Ruthie Camden). Right at the beginning, the family is expanded by the bitch Happy. At the end of the second season, Annie becomes pregnant and in the third season they have twins, Samuel and David. Three of the children (Mary, Matt and Simon) move out of home and from then on only appear irregularly. But there are always new main characters added, some of whom also live with the Camdens.

A Heavenly Family is the longest running family series in the United States . On November 11, 2005, the US television network The WB announced that A Heavenly Family would be canceled after the 10th season, despite the high ratings. One reason for the discontinuation of the series was, among other things, its very high production costs, which The WB recently brought in over 16 million US dollars in loss. The actual series finale was broadcast on May 8, 2006 and reached 7.2 million viewers. These high ratings were what prompted the new network The CW to extend the series for an 11th season. The last season was initially planned for 13 episodes and later increased to 22 episodes. Due to major pay cuts for the actors, David Gallagher (Simon Camden) was no longer in the 11th season, while Mackenzie Rosman (Ruthie Camden) was represented in 16 episodes, contrary to initial announcements.

Jessica Biel , who played the eldest daughter, Mary, ran into trouble with the show's producers after taking topless photos of her that appeared in Gear Magazine . The new image of the actress was built into the series, so that Mary was sent to Eric's father, the Colonel, because of various problems so that he could get her rebellious behavior under control. However, she later returned to the Camdens.

In Germany, the series was broadcast by VOX , later also by Tele 5 , Das Vierte , sixx and Bibel TV . In Austria the series ran on ORF one and was later repeated by ATV .

subjects

Many social problems are addressed in the series, often with social criticism. Topics include:

However, some very controversial issues such as positive discrimination , abortion and homosexuality are avoided.

Often a sequence is put under a certain motto, which is then viewed from the different perspectives of the individual family members. These issues are dealt with from a conservative and emphatically Christian point of view and resolved accordingly.

people

The Camdens

Reverend Eric Camden is the Camden family head and pastor of Glenoak Community Church. Eric always has an open ear for both his 7 children and his parishioners and helps wherever he can. As gentle and understanding as Eric is usually to his parishioners, so strict is he sometimes to his children. He doesn't understand jokes when it comes to cigarettes, alcohol or even sex. Eric is an excellent public speaker, which is useful for his pastor but can annoy his family. Since a heart attack (season 4), Eric has had to pay more attention to his health. In the 7th season he gets a double bypass. As a result, Eric falls into a crisis of meaning and retires from the Church for some time. Eric is completely untalented when it comes to housekeeping and especially when it comes to cooking. He loves the music of the 50s and 60s , especially Elvis and Ricky Nelson .

Annie Camden is Eric's wife and has been happily married to him for 20 years. Annie is an excellent cook and loves her housewife role. Nevertheless, she also looks for challenges outside of the family. So she goes back to college in season 5 and teaches at Ruthie's private school for a short time in season 6. Annie broadly shares Eric's conservative line, but occasionally forms the liberal counterpart. Overall, she is a very balanced person, but her outbursts of anger are all the more intense. She also tends to be jealous - unfounded, as Eric remains loyal to her under all circumstances. Annie has to deal with a few blows of fate in the course of the series. So she loses her mother at the beginning of the series and her father in season 8. In addition, she learns in the 5th season that she has a half-sister, a fact that she finds it difficult to deal with.

Matthew "Matt" Camden is the eldest son of the Camdens. It has developed very positively over the years. While he was initially inclined to rebel and often got into trouble, over time he developed into a responsible young man. His wife Sarah, the daughter of a rabbi, whom he married in season 6 (episode 15), now gives him additional support. He also successfully completed his medical studies with her, and they are now the parents of twins. Matt previously had numerous girlfriends, but only three of them were permanent: Heather - a deaf person -, Shauna and Cheryl. Matt is - if not preoccupied with his own problems - a loyal older brother and often helps his younger siblings out of a jam.

Mary Camden (later Mary Camden-Rivera ) is the eldest daughter of the Camden family. For the first few seasons, she is the star of the school's basketball team. She also overcomes a serious knee injury. However, after the basketball team was suspended due to poor grades from the players, she and some other players demolished the gym. For this she is given a suspended sentence and has to do community service. Until then, Mary's sense of responsibility attracted positive attention and was rarely in trouble, but from now on she is the child her parents have to worry about most. After Mary gets into bad company in season 5, including driving a car drunk and having high debts, Eric and Annie send her to her grandparents in Buffalo. After Mary lives with the Camdens for a while in season 6, she takes her life into her own hands afterwards - in a way that her family does not always like. She is training to be a stewardess. She later marries Carlos Rivera and has a son named Charles Miguel. In season 9, she divorces Carlos and gives up custody of her son, but a year later they are back together and Mary becomes the mother of twin girls.

Lucy Camden (later Lucy Kinkirk ) is the second eldest daughter of the Camden family. It has developed amazingly over the years. If she is very shy and insecure in the first few years, she will develop into a self-confident, loyal and warm-hearted young woman. In the first few seasons she has many relationships, including with Jimmy Moon, Jordan, Andrew Nayloss and Robbie. In season 6, she meets the policeman Kevin Kinkirk, her dream man, whom she later marries. In season 9, she has a daughter named Savannah. Lucy also wants to follow in her father's footsteps. She successfully completes her theology studies and is Eric's assistant pastor from the 9th season. In season 10, she is entrusted with a project to set up a home for unmarried underage mothers. Like her mother, Lucy is prone to jealousy and outbursts of anger. She loves to make phone calls and is also gifted with craftsmanship. Towards the end of the series it is revealed that Lucy, despite a previous miscarriage, is pregnant again.

Simon Camden is the second eldest son of the Camdens. It too has changed a lot over the years. In the first few years he stood out for his precocious comments, great curiosity and an extraordinary business acumen, which earned him the nickname “Simon Bank”. Later he developed more and more rebellious traits. He has earrings pricked and often gets into trouble. Eventually he is involved in a car accident in which a 13-year-old boy dies. It turns out that the boy, who was stoned and rode his bike without a helmet, was to blame for the accident, but Simon makes bitter accusations. He is also threatened by Justin, the victim's brother. Simon no longer wants to go to school and gets early college admission. In season 9, Simon confesses to his father that he had premarital sex - a shock for the conservative pastor. From now on, Simon has alternating relationships and continues to have sex. With Rose he seems to have found the woman of his life, but the wedding is about to burst.

Ruth "Ruthie" Camden is the youngest Camden child until the twins are born. At first she is characterized by her sweet and lovable nature, later by her precocious comments. The birth of the twins initially triggers great jealousy. It quickly becomes clear that Ruthie is extremely intelligent. After problems with her teacher Miss Riddle, Ruthie is determined to change schools. Eventually Ruthie goes to private school, which she attends for about a year. Little by little, Ruthie shows more and more interest in boys, which especially displeases Eric. She has relationships with Jake, Peter and Vincent. In season 10, she developed great feelings for Martin, a boy who lived with the Camdens for a while. In the 11th season she comes together with T-Bone.

Samuel and David Camden are born in Season 3. Over time, they take on the position in the series that Ruthie had before: That of the youngest. The older they get, the more they get involved in the series. In the 9th season they come to preschool, where they get into trouble immediately.

Sarah Glass is Matt's wife. The two get to know each other in the 6th season and get married after just 24 hours. They survived a marriage crisis in season 8. Sarah later becomes the mother of twin boys. Sarah is the daughter of a Jewish rabbi. She accepts Matt's Christian faith but also insists on her own. Sarah is a very friendly, but also headstrong person. She doesn't like black coffee and only chooses Democrats.

Carlos Rivera is Mary's husband. He appears for the first time in the 3rd season. After that he does not appear again at first. Eventually, Mary and Carlos get married in Season 7. Carlos is a friendly person with a sympathetic, idiot nature and a lot of Latin American temperament.

Kevin Kinkirk is Lucy's husband. The two get to know each other in season 6 at the airport. In season 7 they get married. Kevin is a police officer, but resigns this job in the 10th season in order to be able to take care of Savannah, their daughter, more. He was married once before, a secret he withheld from Lucy for the time being. Kevin is a very loyal and courteous person who also has his principles and clear opinions.

Happy is Simon's bitch. In the first episode, Annie brings her from an animal shelter to be put down. Simon can persuade his parents to keep her. In season 1, Happy gives birth to two baby dogs. A little later she is hit by a car and seriously injured, but survives. In the second season, the Camdens Happy almost lose to their previous owners, but she just feels more comfortable with the Camdens. Happy often comments on family events with a bark or sigh. In the later seasons she fades into the background.

Important secondary people

  • Robbie Palmer: does community service; with Mary and Lucy; lives in the 5th – 7th Season almost two years with the Camdens.
  • Martin Brewer: son of an officer in Iraq; lives in the 8th – 9th Season a good 1½ years with the Camdens, from then on Ruthie becomes more and more like a best friend to him. But his dad comes back, and from then on he no longer lives with the Camdens. Martin is also in the 10./11. Relay represented. He unintentionally becomes the father of Sandy's son, Aaron.
  • Heather Cain: Deaf friend of Matt; she and Matt almost get married in season 4.
  • John Hamilton: friend of Matt; lives with him in the 4th / 5th Season almost 1½ years together.
  • Ben Kinkirk: Kevin's brother; proposes marriage to Mary in season 6, which she refuses; Firefighter
  • Wilson West: Young Father; he and Mary almost get married in season 6.
  • Jeremy: Was engaged to Lucy.
  • Rose: You and Simon almost get married at the end of Season 10.
  • Jimmy Moon: Lucy's first friend, later starts using drugs.
  • Sergeant / Lieutenant / Captain / Chief Michaels: Police officer who often helps the Camdens and their friends.
  • Mrs. Bink: Cranky old lady.
  • John Camden ("The Colonel"): Eric's father, a retired Marine who visits the family from time to time and is considered quite strict.
  • Sandy Jameson: Sandy has a son named Aaron in Martin's 10th season.
  • T-Bone: friend of Ruthie's; lives with the Camdens, previously lived as a homeless person. He works with Mac in the cinema.
  • Mac: Martin's friend
  • Jane: Lives with Mac and Margaret, lived as homeless before
  • Margaret: Lives with Mac and Jane, previously lived as homeless

Important events

1st season

Happy moves in with the Camdens. Annie's mother dies. Mary is seriously injured in an accident. First appearing: Jimmy Moon, Wilson, Heather, Grandpa Charles, Colonel John, Grandma Ruth, Aunt Julie, Ginger, the Hamilton family.

2nd season

Lucy loses her friend in a car accident. Mary returns to the basketball team. Annie learns she is pregnant. First appearing: Rod, Shelby.

3rd season

Annie gives birth to twins Samuel and David. Eric is shot. Grandpa Charles and Ginger get married. Hank and Julie get married. Mary gets her driver's license. Appearing for the first time: Dr. Hank Hastings, Jordan, Deena, Shauna, Carlos, Nicole.

4th season

Eric has a heart attack. Matt moves into an apartment with John. Julie has her daughter Erica. Mary and members of her basketball team demolish the school's gym, receive a suspended sentence, and do community service. Annie learns that her father has Alzheimer's. The first birthday of the twins Sam and David takes place. First appearing: Robbie, Cheryl, Andrew Nayloss.

5th season

Ruthie goes to a private school. Mary gets into trouble at Glenoak and is sent to Buffalo. Robbie moves in with the Camdens, and Matt returns as well. Annie learns that she has a half-sister. Lucy becomes engaged to Jeremy and goes to New York. John Hamilton marries Priscilla. Annie goes to college. First appearing: Jeremy, Sasha, Mike Pierce, "Doc".

6th season

Lucy breaks off her engagement with Jeremy and returns to Glenoak. Annie works as a teacher. Mary and Wilson want to get married, but then split up. Lucy and Mary go to Buffalo together. Lucy meets Kevin. Mary wants to stay in Buffalo. Matt marries Sarah. First appearing: Rabbi Glass, Rosina, Ben, Kevin, Sarah.

7th season

Eric has a heart operation and then falls into a crisis of meaning. Lucy marries Kevin. Mary got married too (see season 8). Simon is involved in a car accident in which a 13-year-old boy is killed (the viewer does not find out until the beginning of season 8). Appearing for the first time: Cecilia, Roxanne, Chandler, Peter.

8th season

Simon goes to college early. The family learns that Mary Carlos has married and is pregnant. At the end of the season, Mary has her son Charles Miguel. Annie's father Charles dies. Lucy is pregnant. Martin appears for the first time. Martin moves in with the Camdens.

9th season

Simon admits to Eric that he had premarital sex. Lucy gives birth to her daughter Savannah. Lucy and Kevin move into their first apartment of their own. Mary divorces Carlos and gives up custody of her son. First appearing: Rose, Meredith.

10th season

Martin sleeps with Sandy and becomes the father of a son named Aaron mid-season. Simon and Rose's wedding falls apart. Mary and Carlos are back together. Lucy is pregnant again, as is Mary and Sarah - each with twins. Matt and Sarah graduated from medical school. Appearing for the first time: Sandy, Umberto, Paul.

11th season

Lucy loses her twins at the beginning of the season, but is pregnant again at the end of the season. Eric is diagnosed with a heart defect, but is cured by the end of the season. Eric takes Sam and David out of school and teaches them at home. Ruthie is participating in an exchange program in Scotland but is returning early. Shortly afterwards she meets with T-Bone. Sandy is studying theology. She falls in love with Dr. Jonathan Sanders and wants to marry him. The Colonel gives the Camdens a large motor home. Eric and Annie want to travel through America in it. They also want to visit their children. Sam, David, T-Bone, Ruthie, Margaret, Jane, Mac, Kevin, Lucy, Savannah, Sandy and Aaron are coming with me. Appearing for the first time: Margaret, Jane and T-Bone.

occupation

The series was set to music at Telesynchron Film in Berlin . Marc Boettcher wrote the dialogue books with Ulrike Heiland and directed the dialogue with Andreas Böge.

Camden family

role actor Voice actor Year (number of episodes)
Reverend Eric Camden Stephen Collins Detlef Bierstedt 1996-2007
Annie Camden Catherine Hicks Andrea Aust 1996-2007
Matt Camden Barry Watson Kim Hasper 1996-2002; thereafter numerous guest appearances
Simon Camden David Gallagher Till Völger (seasons 1–4)
Fabian Hollwitz (seasons 5–11) 		1996–2003, 2004–2006 + guest appearances
Mary Camden Rivera Jessica Biel Sonja Spuhl 1996-2002; then 7 guest appearances
Lucy Camden Kinkirk Beverley Mitchell Oona Plany 1996-2007
Ruthie Camden Mackenzie Rosman Theresa Mertens 1996-2007
Samuel Camden Nikolas Brino 1999-2007
David Camden Lorenzo Brino 1999-2007
Kevin Kinkirk George Stults Björn Schalla 2002-2007
George Camden Sam Saletta 1997-2001 (6 episodes)
Jane Sarah Wright Tanya Kahana 2006-2007
Colonel John Camden Peter Graves Hartmut Reck (1st voice)
Christian Rode (2nd voice) 		1997-2007 (10 episodes)
Ruth Camden Barbara Rush Barbara Adolph 1997-2007 (8 episodes)
Julie Camden-Hastings Deborah Raffin Ulrike Möckel 1996-2006 (17 episodes)
Dr. Hank Hastings Ed Begley, Jr. Frank-Otto Schenk 1999-2003 (16 episodes)
Jenny Jackson Alice Hirson Irmelin Krause 1996, then in various flashbacks
Charles Jackson Graham Jarvis Hans Nitschke 1996-2003 (16 episodes)
Carlos Rivera Carlos Ponce Timmo Niesner 1998-2006 (12 episodes)
Sarah Glass Camden Sarah Danielle Madison Manja Doering 2002-2006 (16 episodes)
Ben Kinkirk Geoff Stults Matthias Hinze 2001-2007 (23 episodes)
Ginger Beverly Garland Gertie Honeck 1997-2004 (9 episodes)
Rabbi Richard Glass Richard Lewis Joachim Tennstedt 2002-2004 (9 episodes)
Rosina Glass Laraine Newman Rita Engelmann 2002-2004 (8 episodes)
Mrs. Kinkirk Bo Derek 2003-2005 (3 episodes)
Savannah Kinkirk Hannah and Alyssa Yadrick 2004-2007 (48 episodes)

More characters

role actor Voice actor Year (number of episodes)
Martin Brewer Tyler Hoechlin Konrad Bösherz 2003-2007 (62 episodes)
Robbie Palmer Adam LaVorgna Marius Clarén 1999-2002 (49 episodes)
Cecilia Smith Ashlee Simpson Esra Vural 2002-2004 (39 episodes)
Roxanne Richardson Rachel Blanchard Maxi German 2002-2004 (40 episodes)
Reverend Chandler Hampton Jeremy London Matthias Deutelmoser 2002-2004 (36 episodes)
Peter Petrowski Scotty Leavenworth 2002-2007 (33 episodes)
Sandy Jameson Haylie Duff Julia Kaufmann 2005-2007 (31 episodes)
Wilson West Andrew Keegan Sebastian Schulz 1997-2004 (23 episodes)
Heather Cain Andrea Ferrell Andrea Kathrin Loewig 1997-2006 (20 episodes)
John Hamilton Chaz Lamar Shepherd Tobias Kluckert 1996-2001 (32 episodes)
Paris Petrovsky Shannon Kenny 2002-2005 (15 episodes)
Shana Sullivan Maureen Flannigan Gundi Eberhard 1998-2002 (22 episodes)
Jeremy David Lago Fabian Schwab 2001-2002 (7 episodes)
rose Sarah Thompson Uschi Hugo 2005-2006 (24 episodes)
Meredith Davies Megan Henning Anja Stadlober 2004-2006 (11 episodes)
Sgt. Michaels Christopher Michael Klaus-Peter Hoppe 1996-2006 (43 episodes)
Jimmy Moon Matthew Linville Vanya Gerick 1996-2003 (20 episodes)
Lou Dalton Alan Fudge Werner Ehrlicher 1997-2005 (19 episodes)
Deena Stewart Nicole Chérie Saletta 1998-2001 (18 episodes)
Cheryl Barret Swatek 2000-2003 (15 episodes)
George Smith Brad Maule Frank Schröder 2002-2005 (12 episodes)
Reverend Morgan Hamilton Dorian Harewood Andreas Hosang 1996-2003 (10 episodes)
Jordan Wade Carpenter Dennis Schmidt-Foss 1998-2001 (10 episodes)
Mike Pierce Jeremy Lelliott Florian Knorn 2000–2002 (10 episodes)
Rod Toran Caudell 1997-2001 (9 episodes)
Patricia Hamilton Olivia Brown Joseline Gassen 1996-2003 (9 episodes)
Nigel Hamilton David Nice Fabian Hollwitz 1996-2000 (9 episodes)
Mrs. Carmen Mackoul Brenda Strong Heike Schroetter 2000–2002 (8 episodes)
Shelby Connor Julie Marie Berman 1997–1999 (7 ​​episodes)
Priscilla Carter / Hamilton Andrea Pearson Heath Domanowski 2000-2001 (7 episodes)
Wilson 'Billy' West Jr. Casey and Dylan Boersma 1997-2001 (6 episodes)
Mike Weinberg 2001-2002 (6 episodes)
Lynn Hamilton Camille Winbush Viola Scherff 1996-1999 (6 episodes)
Andrew Nayloss Will Estes Marcel Collé 1999-2000 (5 episodes)
Vincent Thomas Dekker Nicolás Artajo 2004-2005 (5 episodes)
Keesha Hamilton Gabrielle Union Uschi Hugo 1996–1999 (5 episodes)
T-bone Colton James 2006-2007
Margaret Andrea Morris Jill Schulz 2006-2007
Frankie Chyler Leigh 2000 (3 episodes)

Episode list

DVD release

In Germany, 11 seasons have so far been released after a long waiting period and various advance notice on the following dates:

  • Season 1: September 6, 2012
  • Season 2: May 16, 2013
  • Season 3: November 4, 2013
  • Season 4: November 4, 2013
  • Season 5: April 30, 2014
  • Season 6: April 30, 2014
  • Season 7: December 4, 2014
  • Season 8: December 4, 2014
  • Season 9: May 21, 2015
  • Season 10: May 21, 2015
  • Season 11: May 21, 2015

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ A Heavenly Family. Retrieved June 22, 2020 .
  2. ↑ German synchronous index: German synchronous index | Series | A heavenly family. Retrieved June 15, 2018 .