''Beautiful People'' is an American drama television series about a family that moves from
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
to
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
to make a fresh start on their lives. The series aired on the
ABC Family network from August 8, 2005, to April 24, 2006, lasting sixteen episodes. Its executive producer was
Paul Stupin
Paul Stupin is an American film and television executive.
Biography
After graduating from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Stupin went to Los Angeles to work for NBC in series development. In 1986 he became a vice president for p ...
, who played the same role for ''
Dawson's Creek
''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college that ran from 1998 to 2003. T ...
''.
[Beautiful People - Get Beautiful With Daphne Zuniga This August](_blank)
accessed August 14, 2007
Plot
An academically gifted teen Sophie Kerr (
Sarah Foret), her model-beautiful older sister Karen Kerr (
Torrey DeVitto
Torrey Joël DeVitto (born June 8, 1984) is an American actress and former fashion model. Her first starring role was as Karen Kerr on the ABC Family drama series '' Beautiful People'' (2005–2006). She followed this up with recurring roles as ...
) and their newly single mother Lynne Kerr (
Daphne Zuniga
Daphne Eurydice Zuniga (; born October 28, 1962) is an American actress. She made her film debut in the 1982 slasher film '' The Dorm That Dripped Blood'' (1982) at the age of 19, followed by a lead role in another slasher film '' The Initiation ...
) leave small town New Mexico in search of a new life in New York City. After their father runs off with his teenage mistress, Sophie and Karen decide their family needs a fresh start. They convince their mother that the big city holds promise for all of them. Sophie has received a scholarship to a Manhattan private school, Karen can pursue her dreams of modeling, and Lynn can leave the painful memories of her failed marriage behind her, while reviving the ambitions of becoming a fashion designer which she put on hold to raise a family.
Characters
* Lynne Kerr (
Daphne Zuniga
Daphne Eurydice Zuniga (; born October 28, 1962) is an American actress. She made her film debut in the 1982 slasher film '' The Dorm That Dripped Blood'' (1982) at the age of 19, followed by a lead role in another slasher film '' The Initiation ...
): Lynne leaves New Mexico after her husband leaves her for her daughter Karen's best friend. When she arrives in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
she is a retailer at first, until she gets a jump start in the fashion world and starts working for a prominent sportswear designer. She bumps into her college sweetheart Julian Fiske, for whom she still has feelings.
* Karen Kerr (
Torrey DeVitto
Torrey Joël DeVitto (born June 8, 1984) is an American actress and former fashion model. Her first starring role was as Karen Kerr on the ABC Family drama series '' Beautiful People'' (2005–2006). She followed this up with recurring roles as ...
): Beautiful and vivacious, Karen is an aspiring model who is usually confident, but she loses some of that confidence when she begins taking diet pills to be thinner at the suggestion of one of her agents. Her first modeling gig is when she poses for the cover of a Brighton School magazine in a school business competition. She also worked wearing a chicken suit, among other odd gigs.
* Sophie Kerr (
Sarah Foret): Gifted and intelligent, Sophie is a talented photographer who wins a scholarship to the prestigious Brighton School, a hub for the children of Manhattan's elite. She meets her good friend Gideon Lustig, who ends up falling for Sophie and Annabelle. Sophie finds herself in a romantic dilemma between elitist Nicholas Fiske and artistic Gideon.
* Gideon Lustig (Ricky Mabe): Sensitive and adorable Gideon is a vulnerable artist who is constantly put down by his wealthy, world-renowned artist father. Gideon believes that just because he has money doesn't mean he's better than others who aren't as fortunate. He develops a crush on Sophie Kerr and is caught in a love triangle with her and long-time best friend, Annabelle Banks.
* Annabelle Banks (
Kathleen Munroe
Kathleen Munroe (born April 9, 1982) is a Canadian actress and wig maker.
Munroe was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and currently resides in Los Angeles. She studied cinema at the University of Toronto. She won the 2010 ACTRA Award for Outstanding F ...
): An aspiring photographer, Annabelle is in the shadow of Gideon, her long-time crush, when Sophie Kerr rolls into town. Her parents are divorced and both her parents left six months after it was finalized, leaving Annabelle with a babysitter. Annabelle explores her sexuality, ultimately realizing that she is
bisexual.
* Nicholas Fiske (
Jackson Rathbone
Monroe Jackson Rathbone V (born December 14, 1984) is an American actor, singer, and musician best known for his role as Jasper Hale in ''The Twilight Saga'' film series. From 2008 to 2012, he was the vocalist and occasional guitarist, bassist, ...
): Charming and extravagantly rich, Nicholas is the heir to Fiske Publications and is a BP and captain of the JV lacrosse team at the exclusive Brighton School. He turns his back on then-girlfriend Paisley Bishop to start a relationship with new girl Sophie Kerr, whose heart Nicholas competes for with Gideon.
* Paisley Bishop (Jordan Madley): Wealthy, snobbish, and popular, Paisley is a BP and is used to getting whatever she wants, unless longtime on-and-off boyfriend Nicholas Fiske is involved. Her family owns the
Empire State Building and she drives a silver
Porsche.
* Chris Pritchett (
Sean Wing
Sean Wing (born July 10, 1982, in Las Vegas) is a singer and American film and television actor who first appeared on an episode of the CBS series ''Touched by an Angel''. He may be best known for his roles as Glenn in the HBO comedy series ''He ...
)
Episodes
Season 1 (2005)
Season 2 (2006)
Reception
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media (CSM) is an organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children. gave the series 3 out of 5 stars, and wrote: "Drama best for teens and up lacks sizzle."
Michael Ausiello writing for
TV Guide
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news.
The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008.
Corpora ...
was disappointed by the season premiere, saying "it reduced Daphne Zuniga to a glorified extra". He felt it was trying to be a big-city ''
Gilmore Girls
''Gilmore Girls'' is an American Comedy drama, comedy-drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) and Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore). The show debuted on October 5, 2000, on The WB and beca ...
'' and was ready to write off the show but his interest was piqued by the season finale which cast Zuniga's former ''
Melrose Place'' costar
Grant Show
Grant Alan Show (born February 27, 1962) is an American actor best known for his role on ''Melrose Place'' as Jake Hanson, which he played from 1992 to 1997. Since 2017, Show has portrayed tycoon Blake Carrington in the soap opera reboot ''Dyna ...
, as her character's ex-husband.
Home media release
The series was released for region 1 on August 8, 2006.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beautiful People (American TV series)
2005 American television series debuts
2006 American television series endings
2000s American teen drama television series
ABC Family original programming
English-language television shows
Modeling-themed television series
Television series about teenagers
Television shows filmed in Toronto
Television series by Sony Pictures Television
Television shows set in New York City