Miss Guided
Encyclopedia
Miss Guided is an American
situation comedy
that premiered on March 18, 2008 as a mid-season replacement on ABC
. The series follows the life of Becky Freeley, a guidance counselor at a high school that she attended when she was a teenager. The pilot
was directed by Todd Holland
.
The series was not renewed for a second season.
's Studio at 20th Century Fox Television
. The ABC network then ordered the pilot
to be made in August 2006.
After the pilot was shot ABC ordered the show to series on 13 May 2007 ordering an additional six episodes two days before its formal upfront presentation for the fall television season. At the upfronts the show wasn't given any formal timeslot, instead being held by the network for a mid-season debut. The show completed all of its original 7 episode order prior to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
. Prior to its first airing the shows title was changed to Miss Guided, losing the '/' from its original title.
. The show subsequently moved to its regular time slot of Thursday 8PM EST on March 20, 2008, where back to back episodes air for the whole hour.
) was hired as the original show runner
with Todd Holland
committed to direct the pilot. Kutcher, Jason Goldberg
and Karey Burke would serve as the shows executive producers alongside Holland and Allen.. Creator Caroline Williams would serve as Co-Executive Producer.
In June 2007, Gabrielle Allen left her production role and Rob Thomas
was announced as the new Show Runner of the series but left the show after only a few weeks due to creative differences over the show's tone. He was replaced by Mark Hudis, who previously worked as the show runner on That '70s Show
. Hudis is credited as Executive Producer from the second episode onward.
Crew Members
The show has featured a number of guest stars, most notably Executive Producer Ashton Kutcher
guest starred in the second episode as substitute teacher Beaux alongside Zoey 101
star Jamie Lynn Spears
as a student, and Rumer Willis
as a rebellious student.
was cast in the lead role of Becky. This was soon followed by Brooke Burns
as Lisa, Kristoffer Polaha
as Tim, Earl Billings
as Principal Huffy and Jonathan Sadowski
as Gary, the school's male nurse.
Following the changes to the show runners, Chris Parnell
was cast as a regular in the show as Bruce, originally planned to be a rival Guidance Counselor to Becky. The character was then changed to the Vice Principal of the school, while Jonathan Sadowski was let go from his role of Gary.
, indicating "generally favorable reviews", with the most positive review coming from Entertainment Weekly
saying "MG is wonderfully absurd and the supporting cast is satisfyingly straight-faced" [21 Mar 2008, p. 53] while the most negative review from Variety
said "Beyond Greer's latter-day Mary Tyler Moore
shtick, there's not a note or character that doesn't feel warmed over."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that premiered on March 18, 2008 as a mid-season replacement on 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...
. The series follows the life of Becky Freeley, a guidance counselor at a high school that she attended when she was a teenager. The pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
was directed by Todd Holland
Todd Holland
Todd Holland is an American television and film director and producer.-Personal life:Holland was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an honor student, graduating from Meadville Area Sr. High School. While there, he got his feet wet...
.
The series was not renewed for a second season.
Production
Caroline Williams penned the script for the show, originally called Miss/Guided, which was then developed by Katalyst Films, Ashton KutcherAshton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
's Studio at 20th Century Fox Television
20th Century Fox Television
20th Century Fox Television is the television production division of 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, and a production arm of the Fox Broadcasting Company...
. The ABC network then ordered the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
to be made in August 2006.
After the pilot was shot ABC ordered the show to series on 13 May 2007 ordering an additional six episodes two days before its formal upfront presentation for the fall television season. At the upfronts the show wasn't given any formal timeslot, instead being held by the network for a mid-season debut. The show completed all of its original 7 episode order prior to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike
The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, more commonly referred to as simply the Writers' Strike, was a strike by the Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West ....
. Prior to its first airing the shows title was changed to Miss Guided, losing the '/' from its original title.
Broadcasting
The show debuted Tuesday March 18, 2008 at 10:30PM EST following an extended Dancing With the StarsDancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
. The show subsequently moved to its regular time slot of Thursday 8PM EST on March 20, 2008, where back to back episodes air for the whole hour.
Main Crew
Gabrielle Allen (ScrubsScrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
) was hired as the original show runner
Show runner
Showrunner is a term of art originating in the United States and Canadian television industry referring to the person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a television seriesalthough such persons generally are credited as an executive producer...
with Todd Holland
Todd Holland
Todd Holland is an American television and film director and producer.-Personal life:Holland was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an honor student, graduating from Meadville Area Sr. High School. While there, he got his feet wet...
committed to direct the pilot. Kutcher, Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg is an American film and television producer. Goldberg is the producer of the films Guess Who and The Butterfly Effect and executive producer of the shows Beauty and the Geek and Punk'd...
and Karey Burke would serve as the shows executive producers alongside Holland and Allen.. Creator Caroline Williams would serve as Co-Executive Producer.
In June 2007, Gabrielle Allen left her production role and Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas (writer)
Rob Thomas is an American author, producer, and screenwriter, best known as the author of the 1996 novel Rats Saw God and creator of the critically acclaimed television programs Veronica Mars and Party Down.-Education and early career:Thomas graduated from San Marcos High School in 1983 and went...
was announced as the new Show Runner of the series but left the show after only a few weeks due to creative differences over the show's tone. He was replaced by Mark Hudis, who previously worked as the show runner on That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
. Hudis is credited as Executive Producer from the second episode onward.
Crew Members
- Kevin EttenKevin EttenKevin Etten is an American screenwriter and television producer.Beginning as a writer for The Late Show with David Letterman, Etten has since been a part of the crews of the dramedies Ed and Desperate Housewives, the latter for which he also served as a producer.In 2011, Etten began as executive...
- Mark HudisMark HudisMark Hudis is an American television writer and producer who has worked on a variety of shows including Cybill, That '70s Show, Nurse Jackie and True Blood. In 2010, his work on Nurse Jackie earned him both Writer's Guild of America and Emmy Award nominations.He began his career writing for magazines...
- Victor Hsu
- Karey Burke
- Todd HollandTodd HollandTodd Holland is an American television and film director and producer.-Personal life:Holland was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an honor student, graduating from Meadville Area Sr. High School. While there, he got his feet wet...
- Ashton KutcherAshton KutcherChristopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
- Caroline Williams
- Barbara Feldman
- Jason GoldbergJason GoldbergJason Goldberg is an American film and television producer. Goldberg is the producer of the films Guess Who and The Butterfly Effect and executive producer of the shows Beauty and the Geek and Punk'd...
- David Walpert
- Joel Goldberg
- Gabrielle Allan
Cast and characters
- Judy GreerJudy GreerJudy Greer is an American actress, known for portraying a string of supporting female characters, including Kitty Sanchez on the Fox series Arrested Development and Cheryl on the animated comedy series Archer...
- Becky Freeley, Guidance Counselor at Glen Ellen High School. She previously attended the school as a student, and was in the same graduating class as Lisa. She was unpopular in High School, her sole activity being one of only two members of the Milli VanilliMilli VanilliMilli Vanilli was a pop/dance music project formed by Frank Farian in Germany in 1988, visually fronted by Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus. The group's debut album achieved international success and earned them a Grammy Award for Best New Artist on Feb. 21, 1990. Milli Vanilli became one of the most...
club. - Earl BillingsEarl BillingsEarl William Billings is an American character actor who may best be known as Rob in the 1976-1977 television series What's Happening!!.-Life and career:Billings was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Willie Mae Billings....
- Phil Huffy, Principal of the school. He hired Becky mainly because she is a lot prettier than he remembers her in High School. - Brooke BurnsBrooke BurnsBrooke Elizabeth Burns is an American actress and former fashion model. She began her career on the popular TV series Baywatch and Baywatch Hawaii.-Early life:...
- Lisa Germain, English teacher and cheerleadingCheerleadingCheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
coach. Lisa is a new addition to the school but like Becky she also attended the school as a student, graduating in the same class as Becky and being crowned Homecoming Queen and was a cheerleader. She was married to a man called Jay, but they are currently separated. She is also the target of Vice Principal Bruce Terry's affections but she has no feelings whatsoever for him, while she is seen as Becky's rival for the affections of fellow teacher Tim O'Malley. - Kristoffer PolahaKristoffer PolahaKristoffer Caleb "Kris" Polaha is an American film and television actor who starred on the Fox TV series North Shore. He recently played Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile on the CW series Life Unexpected....
- Tim O'Malley, Remedial Spanish teacher. Previously taught Auto-Shop at the school, before a vacancy led him to move to the Spanish department despite having only basic knowledge of the language. He is noted for having good hair and being the object of both Becky and Lisa's affections. Is two credits short of holding a College Diploma, but no one else at the school knows. - Chris ParnellChris ParnellThomas Christopher "Chris" Parnell is an American comic actor best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998–2006 and currently for his recurring role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock. Parnell also voices Cyril Figgis on the FX animated comedy...
- Bruce Terry, Vice Principal of the school. Has been at the school for at least 11 years, teaching both Becky and Lisa in their school days. He likes to think of himself as an authoritative masculine figure, although it is hinted that he has homosexual tendencies. He has already set his sights on going after both the Principal's job and Lisa, who wants nothing to do with him. The episode "Frenemies" showed that he greatly admires Vice President Dick Cheney.
The show has featured a number of guest stars, most notably Executive Producer Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
guest starred in the second episode as substitute teacher Beaux alongside Zoey 101
Zoey 101
Zoey 101 is an American television series that ran from January 9, 2005 to May 2, 2008 starring Jamie Lynn Spears as teenager Zoey Brooks, produced for Nickelodeon and syndicated worldwide. The show was initially filmed at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, then at stages in Valencia,...
star Jamie Lynn Spears
Jamie Lynn Spears
Jamie Lynn Marie Spears is an American actress and singer. The younger sister of pop star Britney Spears, she rose to prominence for her appearances on Nickelodeon shows All That and for playing Zoey Brooks on Zoey 101....
as a student, and Rumer Willis
Rumer Willis
Rumer Glenn Willis is an American actress, the oldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore and the stepdaughter of Emma Heming and Ashton Kutcher.-Personal life:...
as a rebellious student.
Casting
In October 2006, Judy GreerJudy Greer
Judy Greer is an American actress, known for portraying a string of supporting female characters, including Kitty Sanchez on the Fox series Arrested Development and Cheryl on the animated comedy series Archer...
was cast in the lead role of Becky. This was soon followed by Brooke Burns
Brooke Burns
Brooke Elizabeth Burns is an American actress and former fashion model. She began her career on the popular TV series Baywatch and Baywatch Hawaii.-Early life:...
as Lisa, Kristoffer Polaha
Kristoffer Polaha
Kristoffer Caleb "Kris" Polaha is an American film and television actor who starred on the Fox TV series North Shore. He recently played Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile on the CW series Life Unexpected....
as Tim, Earl Billings
Earl Billings
Earl William Billings is an American character actor who may best be known as Rob in the 1976-1977 television series What's Happening!!.-Life and career:Billings was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Willie Mae Billings....
as Principal Huffy and Jonathan Sadowski
Jonathan Sadowski
Jonathan Sadowski is an American actor. He is best known for playing Viola Hasting's best friend Paul Antonio in the movie She's The Man, Trey in Live Free or Die Hard, and Blake in the 2009 film The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. In July 2010, he joined the cast of the CBS comedy $#*! My Dad...
as Gary, the school's male nurse.
Following the changes to the show runners, Chris Parnell
Chris Parnell
Thomas Christopher "Chris" Parnell is an American comic actor best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998–2006 and currently for his recurring role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock. Parnell also voices Cyril Figgis on the FX animated comedy...
was cast as a regular in the show as Bruce, originally planned to be a rival Guidance Counselor to Becky. The character was then changed to the Vice Principal of the school, while Jonathan Sadowski was let go from his role of Gary.
Episodes
| # | Title | Original airdate | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
Critical reception
The show received a 63 out of 100 on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, indicating "generally favorable reviews", with the most positive review coming from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
saying "MG is wonderfully absurd and the supporting cast is satisfyingly straight-faced" [21 Mar 2008, p. 53] while the most negative review from Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
said "Beyond Greer's latter-day Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore is an American actress, primarily known for her roles in television sitcoms. Moore is best known for The Mary Tyler Moore Show , in which she starred as Mary Richards, a 30-something single woman who worked as a local news producer in Minneapolis, and for her earlier role as...
shtick, there's not a note or character that doesn't feel warmed over."
U.S. Nielsen Ratings
| # | Episode | Air Date | Timeslot | Rating | Share | 18-49 (Rating/Share) | Viewers (m) | Rank (Timeslot) | Rank (Night) | Rank (Overall) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Homecoming" | March 18, 2008 | 10:35 P.M. | 6.7 | 12 | 2.9/8 | 9.93 | 1 | 5 | 21 |
| 2 | "Hot Sub" | March 20, 2008 | 8:00 P.M. | 4.2 | 8 | 2.1/7 | 6.28 | 4 | 9 | 49 |
| 3 | "The List" | March 20, 2008 | 8:30 P.M. | 4.3 | 7 | 2.3/7 | 6.31 | 4 | 9 | 47 |
| 4 | "Rebel Yell" | March 27, 2008 | 8:00 P.M. | 4.0 | 7 | 2.0/6 | 5.90 | 4 | 7 | 59 |
| 5 | "Pool Party" | March 27, 2008 | 8:30 P.M. | 3.8 | 6 | 2.1/6 | 5.58 | 4 | 8 | 65 |
| 6 | "High School Musical" | April 3, 2008 | 8:00 P.M. | 3.2 | 5 | 1.5/5 | 4.60 | 4 | N/A | 70 |
| 7 | "Frenemies" | April 3, 2008 | 8:30 P.M. | 3.0 | 5 | 1.6/4 | 4.34 | 4 | N/A | 74 |