As Told by Ginger

As Told by Ginger

Intertitle
Genre Comedy
Teen drama
Created by Emily Kapnek[1]
Directed by Mark Risley
Starring Melissa Disney
Kenny Blank
Jeannie Elias
Jackie Harris
Laraine Newman
Kathleen Freeman
Aspen Miller
Tress MacNeille
Liz Georges
Cree Summer
Kath Soucie
Adam Wylie
Sandy Fox
Opening theme "I'm in Between" performed by Macy Gray[2]
Written by Jared Faber and Emily Kapnek
Composer(s) Jared Faber
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 60 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 24 minutes
Production company(s) Anivision
Klasky-Csupo
Nickelodeon Productions
Distributor Viacom International
Release
Original network Nickelodeon
The N
Nicktoons Network[3]
Original release October 25, 2000 (2000-10-25) – November 14, 2006 (2006-11-14)
Website

As Told by Ginger (also known as As Told by Ginger Foutley[4]) is an American animated television series aimed at teenagers, produced by Klasky-Csupo and aired on Nickelodeon. The series focuses on a middle schooler (and later a high schooler) girl named Ginger Foutley who, with her friends, tries to become more than a social geek.[5][6][7]

As Told by Ginger ended production in 2004, although some episodes remain unaired on U.S. television. It was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour). The series was praised and noted for the fact that it had ongoing story arcs and characters who developed, aged and changed their clothes throughout the show, rare for an animated series. Reruns are currently airing on TeenNick's block The Splat since 2015.

Premise

Characters

The show focuses mainly on the life of junior high school student Ginger Foutley (Melissa Disney).[8] She, along with her friends, Darren Patterson (Kenny Blank), Deidre Hortense "Dodie" Bishop (Aspen Miller), and Macie Lightfoot (Jackie Harris), try to rise from the position of school geeks as they solve many conflicts that come their way.[9]

Luckily for Ginger, the most popular girl in school, Courtney Gripling (Liz Georges), has taken a liking to her and often includes her in her social plans.[10] She is intrigued by her "gingerisms", as Courtney calls them. However, Miranda Killgallen (Cree Summer), Courtney's right-hand woman, makes sure that she is not bumped down from her position thanks to Ginger. At home, Ginger records her lively adventures in her diary. Her little brother, Carl (Jeannie Elias), is often scheming with Robert-Joseph "Hoodsey" Bishop (Tress MacNeille) in his own side plots, and her mother, Lois (Laraine Newman), is always there for advice to which Ginger is always open to listen.

Setting

The series takes place in the fictional town of Sheltered Shrubs, located in Connecticut.[11] Sheltered Shrubs is based on the real town of Larchmont, New York. Other towns noted in the series are Protected Pines, a gated community in which Courtney lives, Brittle Branches, where Ginger's father resides, and Heathered Hills, the town of Ginger's summer camp crush, Sasha.

Continuity and themes

As Told by Ginger has been recognized by fans and Nickelodeon alike for its character development, most of which is unusual for a cartoon.[1]

In the first season, Ginger's age group is hinted as being in seventh grade. By the second season, they move up to eighth grade rather than remaining the same age. They graduate junior high in the third season and move on to becoming freshmen in high school. Carl's age group works in a similar way, as they become junior high students by the third season. Also in the second season, Darren had his unwieldy orthodontia that he had been wearing for the entire first season removed, which resulted in rising popularity. Also, many episodes (mostly seasons two/three, although season one did this too) have references to previous episodes, giving the episodes a definite order.

One of the more noticeable developments is the fact that the characters change clothes each time a new day comes. Many cartoons have their characters remain in the same outfits to save time and money. The girls in Ginger's age group (Dodie, Courtney, Macie, Miranda and Ginger herself) and some of the adults were the only ones to do this at first. But after Darren got his orthodontia removed, he changed clothes as well. Carl's age group only changes clothes so often, most of the time with little changes. Hoodsey's coat rack has identical purple hooded-sweatshirts, mocking cartoons that always remain in the same outfits. Also, unlike most live-action shows, whose characters only wear an outfit once, As Told by Ginger characters wear their outfits in rotation, and new outfits are added every few episodes.

The series also deals with several deeper themes.[12] In "Wicked Game", Ginger's two best friends betray her after feeling jealousy toward her new boyfriend, Darren.[13] In "And She Was Gone", the staff and students at school think Ginger is depressed after she writes a disturbing poem.[14] In the episode "No Hope for Courtney", Carl's pranks cause his teacher to retire. After she agrees to come back, Mrs. Gordon passes on.[15] In actuality, Mrs. Gordon's voice actress, Kathleen Freeman, died before the episode's completion, and the script was rewritten to be dedicated to her. "A Lesson in Tightropes" has Ginger going through an emotional break-up with Darren while, at the same time, having to get surgery for appendicitis.[16] Furthermore, the episode "Stuff'll Kill Ya" shows Ginger dealing with what could be conceived as a caffeine addiction.[17]

Unlike most other Nicktoons, the series was aired on the TEENick block.[19]

Episodes

Sixty episodes (not including the pilot episode) were produced for the show.

The pilot was produced in 1999 and was officially completed on September 10 of that year.
Season One was produced from 2000 to 2001.
Season Two was produced from 2002 to 2003.
Season Three was produced in 2003.

Television films

There were four television films that aired during the series' run.

Nickelodeon had originally asked for the ending of The Wedding Frame to be changed to something less conclusive in case they wished to order more episodes, however, perhaps due to that situation being very unlikely, the original ending was eventually retained. It was released directly to DVD in the United States in November 2004, but it was not broadcast in the US; also, the six episodes leading up to the film were not aired in the US either, resulting in some continuity problems.

In international airings, the films were divided in two (for Butterflies are Free) and three parts (for the other three films) in reruns.

Production

The pilot for the show was completed in September 1999. The show premiered in October 2000 on Nickelodeon.[22] The show was greatly popular at first, making its way into the teenager-aimed block TEENick.[19] After the second season, the show's popularity began to decline, partially due to constant scheduling changes. Nickelodeon then took the show off the air after airing less than half the episodes of the third and final season. The show was a part of the Nicktoons channel since its inception in 2002, and started airing the remaining third season episodes in November 2004, when "Ten Chairs" premiered. The "high school" episodes were slated to premiere during November 2006, but only one, "Stuff'll Kill Ya", premiered. The aforementioned Season 3 episodes remain unaired, however, they instead aired on teen-oriented block The N on Saturday nights, on January 20, 2007.

Show airings

Network Time In effect
Nickelodeon Wednesdays at 8 pm October 2000 – January 2001
Nickelodeon Sundays 7:30 pm January 2001 – June 2003
Nickelodeon on CBS Saturday mornings September 2002 – January 2003
Nickelodeon Selected Weekday Mornings November 2005
Nicktoons Weekday mornings November 2006 – May 2007
Nicktoons Sunday and Monday mornings May 2007 – July 2007
Nickelodeon Monday mornings August 2007
Nicktoons Monday – Saturday mornings October 2007 – March 2008
Nickelodeon 6am Tuesdays March 2008
Nicktoons 4:00am Monday – Friday mornings March 2008 – January 2009
The Splat Fridays at midnight October 9, 2015 –
Four (New Zealand TV Channel) Every Morning 7.30am and later Sunday – Friday Mornings 7.30am 7 February 2011 – 13 April 2011
Indus Vision Daily 5.30pm August 2003 – November 2004
Nickelodeon Canada Weekdays at 4 & 4:30pm Fall 2014 – February 2015

DVD and iTunes releases

Theme song

The opening theme, "I'm in Between", was written for the show by series composer, Jared Faber, and Emily Kapnek. The song was first recorded with vocals by Melissa Disney, in character as Ginger. But this version was replaced before initial North American broadcasts with another version performed by Cree Summer. This would be used for half of the first season before a third version, featuring vocals by R&B artist Macy Gray, which was used for the rest of the series' run.

In international English speaking broadcasts, the Melissa Disney and Cree Summer versions were used for seasons one and two broadcasts, while the Macy Gray version was used for season three. Internationally, the Macy Gray version is the more recognizable version.

Closing credits

The closing credits are generally designed backgrounds with the show's signature font. These backgrounds include the ice cream cones from Ginger's bedroom walls, ladybugs from Dodie's bedroom walls, pencils, lizards and more. In most episodes, the ending theme is an instrumental rock-based song, although there have been exceptions. "Piece of My Heart" ends with a different and softer instrumental melody. The episode "Never Can Say Goodbye" ended with a song called "Wrong", sung by voice actor Kenny Blank as Darren Patterson, and "And She Was Gone" ended with a musical version of Ginger's poem during the credits. The episode "Come Back, Little Seal Girl" featured the songs "Courtney's World" and "The Little Seal Girl" blended together. In "About Face", a song called "Diamonds Are Expensive", presumably sung by the engaged Lois and Dr. Dave, is played over the credits. "Next Question" ended with "The Teen Seal Girl" song. Finally, the episode "No Hope for Courtney" had no music during the credits, being dedicated to the memory of Kathleen Freeman.

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 Villarreal, Yvonne (February 17, 2012). "Creative Minds: Emily Kapnek, mayor of 'Suburgatory'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  2. ↑ Rutenberg, Jim (February 14, 2001). "Nickelodeon's Tweens". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  3. ↑ Eller, Claudia (November 17, 2000). "Rugrats Duo Draws on Shared Vision". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ Beck, Jerry, Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons!
  5. ↑ Weiss, Tara (March 12, 2001). "Tween Scene". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Nickelodeon's 'Ginger' Spices Up Tonight's Lineup". Orlando Sentinel. October 25, 2000. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ Shattuck, Kathryn (August 3, 2003). "Leaving Larchmont, Again". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Family Fare". The Tuscaloosa News. November 1, 2000. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  9. ↑ Levine, Evan (March 6, 2001). "Junior high angst told by Ginger". Rome News-Tribune. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  10. ↑ Jaafar, Julia (September 4, 2001). "TV News". New Straits Times. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  11. ↑ Ryan, Lidia (February 24, 2015). "TV shows set in Connecticut". Connecticut Post. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ Salamon, Julie (February 15, 2002). "Grabbing Viewers 'Tween 8 and 14". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Wicked Game". As Told by Ginger. Season 3. Episode 2. August 30, 2003. Nickelodeon.
  14. ↑ "And She Was Gone". As Told by Ginger. Season 2. Episode 7. June 16, 2002. Nickelodeon.
  15. ↑ "No Hope for Courtney". As Told by Ginger. Season 2. Episode 8. June 23, 2002. Nickelodeon.
  16. ↑ "A Lesson in Tightropes". As Told by Ginger. Season 3. Nickelodeon.
  17. ↑ "Stuff'll Kill Ya". As Told by Ginger. Season 3. Episode 11. July 11, 2004. Nickelodeon.
  18. ↑ Waite, Matthew (June 1, 2002). "Girl gains health, other wishes". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Sunday Bests". The New York Times. March 4, 2001. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Campers' Crush". The New York Times. July 1, 2001. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Saturday & Sunday on TV". Deseret News. August 9, 2003. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Life After 'Rugrats': It's Not Easy Being Cool". The New York Times. October 22, 2000. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  23. ↑ Lacey, Gord (July 17, 2005). "As Told by Ginger - Vol 2: Far From Home Review". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  24. ↑ Lacey, Gord (July 9, 2005). "As Told by Ginger - Vol 1: The Wedding Frame Review". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  25. ↑ Weprin, Alex (July 29, 2008). "Nickelodeon Adding Classics to iTunes". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Holly Jolly Holiday Specials '07". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  27. ↑ "As Told By Ginger". Emmys. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved September 30, 2013.

Further reading

External links

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