Jack & Bobby
Encyclopedia
Jack & Bobby is an American
television series that aired on The WB
network. It featured two brothers, one of whom would become President of the United States
, serving from 2041 to 2049. The series was created by Greg Berlanti
, novelist and comic book writer Brad Meltzer
, and Thomas Schlamme, who directed fourteen episodes of The West Wing
.
On May 17, 2005, The WB announced it would not renew Jack & Bobby for a second season.
The 22 episode series has also aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
network, debuting on September 25, 2006. The pilot aired as part of a Warner Bros.
50th anniversary celebration on the TV Land
cable network in the summer of 2005. Otherwise, the series has not re-appeared on American cable.
The show is now available to U.S. viewers on The WB website.
, who is both smart and volatile, and always a dominating influence in their lives. The names of the main characters are unmistakable references to President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his brother, Senator Robert Francis Kennedy, who were commonly referred to as "Jack" and "Bobby," though it is stated in the show they are named after their father, Juan Roberto del Alba.
The main storyline is paralleled by a series of interviews with figures associated with the McCallister presidency, who speak of events from Robert McCallister's later life. Typically, there is a thematic link between the main plot, set during Bobby's adolescence, and the reminiscences of his adult life and political career.
The pilot maintains the mystery about which of the two brothers becomes President until the end of the episode, when it is revealed that Jack died young. The circumstances of his death are left unknown until the season one (and series) finale, where it is learned that Jack served in the War of the Americas, and as a public defender, before running for political office at Bobby's suggestion, only to be killed during a convenience store robbery.
Jack's death inspired Bobby to take his brother's place, eventually leading to his election as President in 2040, as an Independent. President Robert McCallister became known as "The Great Believer", for his determination and faith in the face of many obstacles, from international conflicts, to scandals within his own administration, and attacks upon his reputation. Memories of Jack are kept alive through Bobby; he marries his brother's ex-girlfriend Courtney in 2025, and has one of Jack's best friends as a member of his staff.
(USA) tv series Brothers & Sisters. On that show, which premiered in 2006, Robert McCallister is played by Rob Lowe
; and is a U.S. Senator (Republican) with an ex-wife named Courtney and a son named Jack.
Matt Long, Jessica Paré, and John Slattery all appeared together on the fourth season of Mad Men.
Many episodes were filmed at Lynwood High School in the small town of Lynwood in Los Angeles, California.
:
Casting Society of America
:
GLAAD Media Awards
:
Golden Globe Awards:
Screen Actors Guild
:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series that aired on The WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
network. It featured two brothers, one of whom would become President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, serving from 2041 to 2049. The series was created by Greg Berlanti
Greg Berlanti
Greg Berlanti is an American television writer and producer.- Personal life :Berlanti was born in Rye, New York. His parents are Barbara Moller Berlanti and Eugene Berlanti. Greg has one sister, Dina and is the uncle of two nieces...
, novelist and comic book writer Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer
Brad Meltzer is a bestselling American political thriller novelist, non-fiction writer, TV show creator and award-winning comic book author.-Early life:...
, and Thomas Schlamme, who directed fourteen episodes of The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
.
On May 17, 2005, The WB announced it would not renew Jack & Bobby for a second season.
The 22 episode series has also aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
network, debuting on September 25, 2006. The pilot aired as part of a Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
50th anniversary celebration on the TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
cable network in the summer of 2005. Otherwise, the series has not re-appeared on American cable.
The show is now available to U.S. viewers on The WB website.
Plot
The show follows the lives of teenaged Jack and Bobby (Robert) McCallister as they attend high school and generally mature. Much conflict is generated between the boys and their mother, Grace, played by Christine LahtiChristine Lahti
Christine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
, who is both smart and volatile, and always a dominating influence in their lives. The names of the main characters are unmistakable references to President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his brother, Senator Robert Francis Kennedy, who were commonly referred to as "Jack" and "Bobby," though it is stated in the show they are named after their father, Juan Roberto del Alba.
The main storyline is paralleled by a series of interviews with figures associated with the McCallister presidency, who speak of events from Robert McCallister's later life. Typically, there is a thematic link between the main plot, set during Bobby's adolescence, and the reminiscences of his adult life and political career.
The pilot maintains the mystery about which of the two brothers becomes President until the end of the episode, when it is revealed that Jack died young. The circumstances of his death are left unknown until the season one (and series) finale, where it is learned that Jack served in the War of the Americas, and as a public defender, before running for political office at Bobby's suggestion, only to be killed during a convenience store robbery.
Jack's death inspired Bobby to take his brother's place, eventually leading to his election as President in 2040, as an Independent. President Robert McCallister became known as "The Great Believer", for his determination and faith in the face of many obstacles, from international conflicts, to scandals within his own administration, and attacks upon his reputation. Memories of Jack are kept alive through Bobby; he marries his brother's ex-girlfriend Courtney in 2025, and has one of Jack's best friends as a member of his staff.
Main
- Jack McCallister (Matt LongMatt LongMatthew Clayton "Matt" Long is an American actor. He played the teenaged Jack McCallister on Jack & Bobby, the younger Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider, and Tyler Prince in Sydney White....
) - Robert "Bobby" McCallister (Logan LermanLogan LermanLogan Wade Lerman is an American actor, known for playing the title role in the 2010 fantasy-adventure Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. He appeared in commercials in the mid 1990s, before starring in the series Jack & Bobby , and the movies The Butterfly Effect and Hoot...
) - Peter Benedict (John SlatteryJohn SlatteryJohn M. Slattery, Jr. is an American actor and director, best known for his role as Roger Sterling on AMC's series Mad Men. He has been nominated for many awards, and has won two SAG Awards with the Mad Men ensemble....
) - Missy Belknap (Keri Lynn PrattKeri Lynn PrattKeri Lynn Pratt is an American actress of film and television. She is well known for her role of Missy Belknap on Jack & Bobby or as Dee Vine in the film Drive Me Crazy, which was her debut role....
) - Professor Grace McCallister (Christine LahtiChristine LahtiChristine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
) - Courtney Benedict (Jessica ParéJessica ParéJessica Paré is a Canadian film and television actress. She has appeared in the films Stardom , Lost and Delirious , Wicker Park , Hot Tub Time Machine , and co-starred in the vampire horror-comedy Suck...
) - Tom Wexler Graham (Bradley CooperBradley CooperBradley Cooper is an American film, theater, and television actor. He is known for his roles in the films The Hangover, The A-Team, and Limitless. In 2011, People magazine named Cooper "Sexiest Man Alive".-Early life:...
) - Marcus Ride (Edwin HodgeEdwin HodgeEdwin Hodge is an American actor. Hodge is the older brother of actor Aldis Hodge.-Biography:Edwin Martel Basil Hodge was born on January 26, 1985 in Jacksonville, North Carolina to Aldis Hodge and Yolette Evangeline Richardson, but he was raised in New York. Hodge's mother is from the state of...
) - Warren (Dean CollinsDean Collins (actor)Dean Richard Collins is an American actor, best known for playing the character Mike Gold in the Fox television sitcom The War at Home. The series ran from September 2005 to April 2007. Previously, he had recurring roles in MADtvs "Reading Caboose" skit as Ernie, and as Warren Feide in Jack & Bobby...
) ~ Bobby's Best Friend
Recurring
- Nate Edmonds (Mike ErwinMike ErwinMike Erwin is an American actor who is best known as Colin Hart in the now cancelled WB television series Everwood. He has been more widely heard as the voice of Jak in the Jak and Daxter series from Jak II onward except in the case of Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier in which he did not reprise...
) - Courtney's former boyfriend - Randy Bongard (Cam GigandetCam GigandetCam Joslin Gigandet is an American actor, whose roles have included Twilight, The O.C., Never Back Down, The Roommate, Burlesque and Priest.- Career :...
) - Missy's on-and-off boyfriend - Katie (Kate MaraKate MaraKate Mara is an American television and film actress. Beginning acting in her hometown of Bedford, New York, she moved from the stage to her first film, Random Hearts...
) - Jack's former girlfriend - "'Cheerleader'" (J*Smith) - Missy's Posse
- Dennis Morgenthal (John Heard)
- Reverend Belknap (Ed Begley, Jr.Ed Begley, Jr.Edward James "Ed" Begley, Jr. is an American actor and environmentalist. Begley has appeared in hundreds of films, television shows, and stage performances. He is best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich, on the television series St...
) - Missy's father - Future Marcus Ride (Ron CanadaRon CanadaRon Canada is an American actor. He began as a television newscaster during the 1970s in the Baltimore-Washington area mainly on WBAL-TV Channel 11 in Baltimore, until the early 1980s when he became an actor. He was a tour guide at NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza...
) - Future Courtney McCallister (Brenda Wehle)
- Dex Truggman (Jeanette Brox) - Bobby's former girlfrend
- Juan Roberto de Alba (Lou Diamond Philips) - Grace's former lover and father of Jack and Bobby
Episodes
- "Pilot" (12 September 2004)
- "Better Days" (19 September 2004)
- "The Kindness of Strangers" (26 September 2004)
- "A Man of Faith" (3 October 2004)
- "The First Lady" (10 October 2004)
- "An Innocent Man" (17 October 2004)
- "Valentino" (27 October 2004)
- "Election Night" (3 November 2004)
- "Chess Lessons" (10 November 2004)
- "Lost Boys" (17 November 2004)
- "Today I Am a Man" (1 December 2004)
- "Running Scared" (26 January 2005)
- "A New Frontier" (2 February 2005)
- "Into the Woods" (9 February 2005)
- "Time Out of Life" (16 February 2005)
- "And Justice for All" (23 February 2005)
- "Querida Grace" (2 March 2005)
- "Friends with Benefits" (13 April 2005)
- "A Child of God" (20 April 2005)
- "Under the Influence" (27 April 2005)
- "Stand by Me" (4 May 2005)
- "Legacy" (11 May 2005)
Production
The name Robert McCallister, plus a few recognizable elements of the character, would later be reused by Greg Berlanti in his hit ABCAmerican 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...
(USA) tv series Brothers & Sisters. On that show, which premiered in 2006, Robert McCallister is played by Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
; and is a U.S. Senator (Republican) with an ex-wife named Courtney and a son named Jack.
Matt Long, Jessica Paré, and John Slattery all appeared together on the fourth season of Mad Men.
Many episodes were filmed at Lynwood High School in the small town of Lynwood in Los Angeles, California.
Awards and nominations
Art Directors GuildArt Directors Guild
The Art Directors Guild is an American labor union and branch of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees representing almost 2,000 motion picture and television professionals....
:
- 2004: Excellence in Production Design Award - Single-Camera TV Series (for "An Innocent Man", nominated)
Casting Society of America
Casting Society of America
Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1982, the Casting Society of America is a professional society of about 350 casting directors for film, television, and theatre in Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The society is not to be confused with an industry union. The...
:
- 2004: Best Casting for Television - Dramatic Pilot (nominated)
GLAAD Media Awards
GLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
:
- 2004: Outstanding Individual Episode - Series Without a Regular Gay Character (for "Lost Boys", won)
Golden Globe Awards:
- 2004: Best Actress - Drama Series (Christine LahtiChristine LahtiChristine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
for playing "Grace McCallister", nominated)
Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
:
- 2004: Outstanding Actress - Drama Series (Christine LahtiChristine LahtiChristine Lahti is an American actress and film director. Lahti has had a successful career in television and film. Throughout her career she has garnered 2 Golden Globe Awards from 8 Nominations, An Emmy Award from 6 Nominations and 2 Academy Award nominations...
for playing "Grace McCallister", nominated)