Happy Town (TV series)
| Happy Town | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre |
Mystery Drama |
| Created by |
Josh Appelbaum Andre Nemec Scott Rosenberg |
| Starring |
Geoff Stults Lauren German Amy Acker Robert Wisdom Sarah Gadon Jay Paulson Ben Schnetzer Steven Weber Sam Neill |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Location(s) |
Port Hope, Ontario Port Perry, Ontario Toronto, Ontario |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
ABC Studios Space Floor Television Mojo Films |
| Distributor | Disney–ABC Domestic Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format |
720p (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Original release | April 28 – July 1, 2010 (2 episodes aired online)[1] |
Happy Town is an American drama television series that premiered on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, and ended on June 16, 2010, on ABC.[2] It was created by Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg. It had a total of eight episodes, but only six would be broadcast on ABC. The remaining two, "Dallas Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and the series finale, "Blame It on Rio Bravo", were available for viewing only at the network's website. The show has since been removed from the site.
Plot
A period of peace following a series of unsolved kidnappings is cut short when a new crime has everyone talking in the small Minnesota town of Haplin.[3] The townsfolk are convinced the crimes are committed by the so-called "Magic Man", a person whom character Merritt Grieves describes as having "an ability to make people disappear that bordered on the mystical". Seven people have vanished, never to be heard from again.
As the series progresses, it seems evident that the disappearances are related to an old German film titled Die Blaue Tür (The Blue Door).
Background
Although the series is set in Minnesota, many of the scenes for the program's pilot and first season were filmed in Canadian communities such as Port Hope,[4] Penetanguishene, St. Catharines and Brampton, all in Ontario. Several of the street level shots were filmed in Newnan, GA.
After shooting the pilot episode, actor Ben Schnetzer replaced John Patrick Amedori in the role of Andrew Haplin, and Steven Weber replaced Dean Winters for the role of John Haplin.[5]
Cast and characters
- Geoff Stults as Deputy Tommy Conroy
- Lauren German as Henley Boone/"Chloe"
- Amy Acker as Rachel Conroy
- Robert Wisdom as Roger Hobbs
- Sarah Gadon as Georgia Bravin
- Sam Neill as Merritt Grieves
- Peter Outerbridge as Dan Farmer
- Jay Paulson as Deputy Eli "Root Beer" Rogers
- Steven Weber as John Haplin
- Warren Christie as Aidan "Greggy" Stiviletto
- Lynne Griffin as Dot Meadows
- Ben Schnetzer as Andrew Haplin
Recurring cast
- Sophia Ewaniuk as Emma Conroy
- M. C. Gainey as Sheriff Griffin Conroy
- Frances Conroy as Peggy Haplin
- Natalie Brown as Carol Haplin
- Abraham Benrubi as Big Dave
- David Cronenberg as Dr. Leichman
- Stephen McHattie as Carl Bravin
- Dee Wallace as Alice Conroy
- Joanna Douglas as Officer Shell Jenkins
- Steve Arbuckle as Baby Boy Stiviletto
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "In This Home on Ice" | Gary Fleder | Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec & Scott Rosenberg | April 28, 2010 | 5.25[6] |
| Henley Boone arrives in seemingly idyllic Haplin to live. At the same time, a shocking murder occurs in a fishing cabin at the local pond which conjures up memories of an unknown, evil force known as the "Magic Man". Tommy Conroy, a small town deputy, may have trouble solving the crime when it becomes obvious that the residents are hiding secrets. | |||||
| 2 | "I Came to Haplin for the Waters" | Gary Fleder | Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec & Scott Rosenberg | May 5, 2010 | 3.79[7] |
| Newly appointed Sheriff Tommy Conroy investigates Jerry Friddle's murder. Henley seems to know more about Haplin's dark side than she's letting on but she's determined to get access to the boarding house's forbidden third-floor room. | |||||
| 3 | "Polly Wants a Crack at Her" | Mick Garris | Davey Holmes | May 12, 2010 | 3.04[8] |
| A state investigator steps in to assist Tommy on Friddle's murder. Andrew exacts revenge on the person he believes assaulted his girlfriend Georgia. A handsome stranger rescues Henley from a bizarre car accident and then lures her into a surprising relationship. Thaw Fest finally arrives bringing with it chilling and tragic consequences. | |||||
| 4 | "Slight of Hand" | Darnell Martin | Meredith Averill | June 2, 2010 | 2.76[9] |
| Rachel Conroy disappears and clues seem to indicate the elusive Magic Man is back. Henley gets her stolen property back from Greggy Stiviletto and intends to use it for blackmail. Tommy's investigation of some gruesome evidence may mean good news for Haplin. | |||||
| 5 | "This Is Why We Stay" | John Polson | Courtney Kemp Agboh | June 9, 2010 | 2.58[10] |
| Tommy feels the pressure to find the elusive Magic Man and Rachel wants to leave Haplin all the while being pressured by John Haplin to remember details of her kidnapping. Merritt Grieves reveals a long-kept secret to Rachel. Henley returns the hammer she stole from the boarding house attic to Peggy Haplin in exchange for money. Det. Hobbs is convinced that Greggy Stiviletto knows who severed the hand found at the bakery. | |||||
| 6 | "Questions and Antlers" | Ron Underwood | Story by: Byron Balasco Teleplay by: Phil M. Rosenberg & Mike Flynn | June 16, 2010 | 2.17[11] |
| The interrogation of John Haplin about missing Lauryn Ward intensifies. This would be the final episode of the show to be broadcast on ABC. | |||||
| 7 | "Dallas Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | Bobby Roth | Bryan Oh | July 1, 2010 (ABC.com)[1] | N/A |
| Merritt and Henley scheme to take back the mysterious hammer. | |||||
| 8 | "Blame It on Rio Bravo" | Darnell Martin | Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec & Scott Rosenberg | July 1, 2010 (ABC.com)[1] | N/A |
| Many secrets of Haplin are revealed. | |||||
Ratings
Despite a promotional push from ABC, its debut episode performed poorly, scoring a 1.7/5 among 18-49's, with 5.2 million viewers overall, roughly scoring the same numbers in the same time period that predecessors Ugly Betty and Eastwick had during their run.[12] In its second outing, the ratings slipped as did its audience, scoring a 1.2/4 among 18-49's and a 2.6/5 overall with 3.8 million viewers watching.[13]
On May 11, 2010, ABC announced that it was pulling Happy Town from the schedule for two weeks, planning to resume its episode run on June 2; with the 5 remaining episodes airing on consecutive weeks.[14] On May 17, 2010, ABC confirmed that Happy Town was among the shows cancelled from the 2009–2010 season.[15][16] On June 18, 2010, ABC officially cancelled the series after its June 16, 2010 episode aired.[17] On July 1, 2010, ABC.com released the two remaining episodes online.[1]
Ratings chart
| Order | Episode | Airdate | Rating | Share | Rating/Share (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
Rank (night) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "In This Home on Ice" | April 28, 2010 | 3.5[6] | 6 | 1.7/5 | 5.25 | 8 |
| 2 | "I Came to Haplin for the Waters" | May 5, 2010 | 2.6[7] | 6 | 1.2/4 | 3.79 | 14 |
| 3 | "Polly Wants a Crack at Her" | May 12, 2010 | 2.1[8] | 4 | 1.1/3 | 3.04 | 14 |
| 4 | "Slight of Hand" | June 2, 2010 | 2.0 | 3 | 0.8/3[18] | 2.76 | 13[19] |
| 5 | "This Is Why We Stay" | June 9, 2010 | 1.9 | 3 | 0.8/2[20] | 2.58 | 11[21] |
| 6 | "Questions and Antlers" | June 16, 2010 | 1.6 | 3 | 0.6/2[11] | 2.17 | 12[22] |
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Happy Town: watch the last episodes". TV Series Finale. July 1, 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- ↑ Take Your Trip to Happy Town Early! Demand It and Be One of the First to Experience the Mayhem!
- ↑ Huff, Richard (2009-05-19). "ABC's fall lineup includes 11 new series – but no 'Samantha Who'". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ↑ O'Meara, Jennifer (July 23, 2009). "Port Hope a 'Happy Town' again". Northumberland News. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
- ↑ The Futon Critic website
- 1 2 "Wednesday Broadcast Finals: Modern Family, American Idol, Top Model Adjusted Up; High Society Down". TV By The Numbers. April 29, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-29.
- 1 2 "Wednesday Finals: American Idol, The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town and CSI: NY Adjusted Up". TV By The Numbers. May 6, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- 1 2 Seidman, Robert (May 13, 2010). "Wednesday Finals: American Idol, Modern Family, Cougar Town Adjusted Up; Old Christine, Happy Town Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
- ↑ Gorman, Bill (June 3, 2010). "TV Ratings Wednesday: So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent Down, Top Repeats". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ↑ Gorman, Bill (June 10, 2010). "TV Ratings Wednesday: So You Think You Can Dance Up, Tops Surging Stanley Cup Finals Game 6". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- 1 2 Gorman, Bill (June 17, 2010). "TV Ratings Wednesday: America's Got Talent Steady, So You Think You Can Dance Falls". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ↑ "Idol", "Family" Wow on Wednesday, Variety, April 29, 2010
- ↑ Wednesday Finals: "American Idol", "The Middle", "Modern Family", "Cougar Town" and "CSI: NY" Adjusted Up, TV By the Numbers, May 6, 2010
- ↑ This Just In: ABC Pulls "Happy Town", Entertainment Weekly, May 11, 2010
- ↑ ABC Pulls "Happy Town", Will Burn Off In Summer, Hollywood Reporter, May 11, 2010
- ↑ "ABC adds seven series for fall 2010; 'V' held till midseason" fromZap2it (May 17, 2010)
- ↑ "ABC CANCELS "HAPPY TOWN" (AGAIN); SLATES "WIFE SWAP," "PRIMETIME," "EASTWICK" ORIGINALS" from The Futon Critic (June 18, 2010)
- ↑ http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/03/tv-ratings-wednesday-so-you-think-you-can-dance-americas-got-talent-down-easily-top-repeats/53038
- ↑ http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/06/tv-ratings-fox-does-a-victory-dance-wednesday.html
- ↑ http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/10/tv-ratings-wednesday-so-you-think-you-can-dance-up-tops-surging-stanley-cup-finals-game-6/53634
- ↑ http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/06/tv-ratings-sytycd-leads-stanley-cup-strong-for-nbc-wednesday.html
- ↑ http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/06/tv-ratings-nbcs-talent-foxs-dance-split-wednesday.html
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Happy Town (TV series). |
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