Camp Wilder
Encyclopedia
Camp Wilder is an American sitcom about a family living in suburban Los Angeles, California
, airing as part of ABC
's TGIF
lineup for half a season (right after Step by Step).
It premiered on September 18, 1992, but was canceled after the 19th episode aired on February 26, 1993, due to low ratings
. A 20th episode was produced but was never aired in the US. Camp Wilder was also shown in the UK and Germany, where it became a hit.
) is a 28-year-old nurse and single mother, raising her family in her childhood home in lieu of her deceased parents. Ricky's only actual child was her 6-year-old daughter Sophie (Tina Majorino
), but she was also the principal guardian to her younger, teenage siblings Brody (Jerry O'Connell
) and Melissa (Meghann Haldeman). From the time their parents died, Ricky understood that she couldn't change out of her persona as the "cool, approachable" older sister, and mixed parenting tactics in with the setting of a casual, laissez-faire
household. In fact, the atmosphere in the Wilder house was so laid back that many of Brody and Melissa's friends sought it as a refuge from the stricter, more confining homes run by their traditional parents. Ricky thus welcomed them all in with open arms, and they regularly sat around the family's kitchen table and dished about life's various happenings and dilemmas, while Ricky helped them sort out their issues and dispensed sound advice in a non-judgmental, friend-like way. As a result, the neighborhood youth nicknamed their home "Camp Wilder".
Among the regular inhabitants of Camp Wilder were Brody's off-kilter best friend Dorfman (Jay Mohr
) and Melissa's friends Beth (Margaret Langrick
) and Danielle (Hilary Swank
). Many other friends and classmates of theirs passed through Camp Wilder in guest appearances, most notably Dexter (Jared Leto
), a hip, motorcycle-riding bad boy who Danielle had the hots for. However, it was goofball Dorfman who quickly became the show's breakout character, with his gross-out humor causing friction with the girls, and Ricky's numerous attempts to help him become an upstanding young man (i.e., teaching him work ethic by giving him a job as an orderly at her hospital, saving him from being held back in school by becoming his tutor, etc). Other stories focused on the escapades of the Wilders, and especially on Sophie, who was beginning to look up to Brody as a surrogate father figure rather than just as an uncle. Throughout the show's 20 episodes, she began exhibiting tomboy
ish traits, and at Christmas
, she told the family that all she wanted was to be a boy.
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, airing as part of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's TGIF
TGIF (ABC)
TGIF was the name of an American family-friendly prime time television programming block on the ABC network. The name comes from the initials of the popular phrase "Thank God It's Friday"...
lineup for half a season (right after Step by Step).
It premiered on September 18, 1992, but was canceled after the 19th episode aired on February 26, 1993, due to low ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
. A 20th episode was produced but was never aired in the US. Camp Wilder was also shown in the UK and Germany, where it became a hit.
Synopsis
Ricky Wilder (Mary Page KellerMary Page Keller
Mary Page Keller is an American actress known for roles on both daytime and primetime television.-Career:On daytime, Keller played the role of Amanda Kirkland on Ryan's Hope and the role of Sally Frame on Another World...
) is a 28-year-old nurse and single mother, raising her family in her childhood home in lieu of her deceased parents. Ricky's only actual child was her 6-year-old daughter Sophie (Tina Majorino
Tina Majorino
Tina Marie Majorino is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld...
), but she was also the principal guardian to her younger, teenage siblings Brody (Jerry O'Connell
Jerry O'Connell
Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...
) and Melissa (Meghann Haldeman). From the time their parents died, Ricky understood that she couldn't change out of her persona as the "cool, approachable" older sister, and mixed parenting tactics in with the setting of a casual, laissez-faire
Laissez-faire
In economics, laissez-faire describes an environment in which transactions between private parties are free from state intervention, including restrictive regulations, taxes, tariffs and enforced monopolies....
household. In fact, the atmosphere in the Wilder house was so laid back that many of Brody and Melissa's friends sought it as a refuge from the stricter, more confining homes run by their traditional parents. Ricky thus welcomed them all in with open arms, and they regularly sat around the family's kitchen table and dished about life's various happenings and dilemmas, while Ricky helped them sort out their issues and dispensed sound advice in a non-judgmental, friend-like way. As a result, the neighborhood youth nicknamed their home "Camp Wilder".
Among the regular inhabitants of Camp Wilder were Brody's off-kilter best friend Dorfman (Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr
Jay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
) and Melissa's friends Beth (Margaret Langrick
Margaret Langrick
Margaret Langrick is a Canadian actress. She won a 1986 Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for My American Cousin and was also nominated in the same category in 1990 for Cold Comfort. She was also nominated for a Gemini Award in 1987 for Best Guest Performance in a...
) and Danielle (Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank
Hilary Ann Swank is an American actress. Swank's film career began with a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then a major part in The Next Karate Kid , as Julie Pierce, the first female protégé of sensei Mr. Miyagi...
). Many other friends and classmates of theirs passed through Camp Wilder in guest appearances, most notably Dexter (Jared Leto
Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
), a hip, motorcycle-riding bad boy who Danielle had the hots for. However, it was goofball Dorfman who quickly became the show's breakout character, with his gross-out humor causing friction with the girls, and Ricky's numerous attempts to help him become an upstanding young man (i.e., teaching him work ethic by giving him a job as an orderly at her hospital, saving him from being held back in school by becoming his tutor, etc). Other stories focused on the escapades of the Wilders, and especially on Sophie, who was beginning to look up to Brody as a surrogate father figure rather than just as an uncle. Throughout the show's 20 episodes, she began exhibiting tomboy
Tomboy
A tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
ish traits, and at Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
, she told the family that all she wanted was to be a boy.
Cast
- Mary Page KellerMary Page KellerMary Page Keller is an American actress known for roles on both daytime and primetime television.-Career:On daytime, Keller played the role of Amanda Kirkland on Ryan's Hope and the role of Sally Frame on Another World...
... Ricky Wilder - Jerry O'ConnellJerry O'ConnellJeremiah "Jerry" O'Connell is an American actor, best known for his roles in the TV series Sliders, Andrew Clements in My Secret Identity, Vern Tessio in the film Stand by Me, Charlie Carbone in Kangaroo Jack, and Detective Woody Hoyt on the drama Crossing Jordan...
... Brody Wilder - Meghann Haldeman ... Melissa Wilder
- Tina MajorinoTina MajorinoTina Marie Majorino is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as Andre; When a Man Loves a Woman; Corrina, Corrina; and Waterworld...
... Sophie Wilder - Jay MohrJay MohrJay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
... Dorfman - Hilary SwankHilary SwankHilary Ann Swank is an American actress. Swank's film career began with a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then a major part in The Next Karate Kid , as Julie Pierce, the first female protégé of sensei Mr. Miyagi...
... Danielle - Margaret LangrickMargaret LangrickMargaret Langrick is a Canadian actress. She won a 1986 Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for My American Cousin and was also nominated in the same category in 1990 for Cold Comfort. She was also nominated for a Gemini Award in 1987 for Best Guest Performance in a...
... Beth - Jared LetoJared LetoJared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
...Dexter
Episodes
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "Bad Influence" | September 18, 1992 |
| 1-2 | "See Spot Go" | September 25, 1992 |
| 1-3 | "The First Kiss" | October 2, 1992 |
| 1-4 | "To Protect and Serve" | October 9, 1992 |
| 1-5 | "Melissa's Friend" | October 16, 1992 |
| 1-6 | "Sophie's Birthday" | October 23, 1992 |
| 1-7 | "Spirit of Friendship" | October 30, 1992 |
| 1-8 | "It's a Wonderful Video" | November 6, 1992 |
| 1-9 | "Something Wilder" | November 13, 1992 |
| 1-10 | "Boy Loses Girl" | November 20, 1992 |
| 1-11 | "Jung at Heart" | December 4, 1992 |
| 1-12 | "A Close Shave" | December 18, 1992 |
| 1-13 | "Career Day" | January 8, 1993 |
| 1-14 | "I Love You, Margaret B. Sanger" | January 15, 1993 |
| 1-15 | "Bringing Up Brody" | January 22, 1993 |
| 1-16 | "Forget-Me-Not" | February 5, 1993 |
| 1-17 | "Love Stinks" | February 12, 1993 |
| 1-18 | "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dorfman" | February 19, 1993 |
| 1-19 | "That Was Thin, This is Now" | February 26, 1993 |
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Young Artist Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Actress Under Ten in a Television Series | Tina Majorino |
| Best Young Actress in a New Television Series | Hilary Swank | |||
| Best Young Actress in a New Television Series | Meghann Haldeman |
External links
- Camp Wilder intro from Retrojunk