''Camp Wilder'' is an American
television
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
which aired on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
from September 18, 1992 until February 26, 1993. The premise centered on a young woman who opens up her home to the friends of her younger siblings, who sought it as judgment-free "hangout", and who regularly went to her for advice. The series was created by
Matthew Carlson
Matthew Carlson (birth name Matt James Carlson; born February 10, 1951) is an American television producer and writer.
He is best known for his work on the series ''Malcolm in the Middle'' and ''The Wonder Years''. He was nominated for two Pri ...
, and produced by a.k.a. Productions in association with Capital Cities Entertainment.
The show aired as a part of ABC's ''
TGIF'' lineup, but was cancelled after 19 episodes due to low
ratings. A twentieth episode was produced, but was never aired in the United States. ''Camp Wilder'' was also shown in the
UK,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
.
Synopsis
Ricky Wilder (
Mary Page Keller
Mary Page Keller (born March 3, 1961) is an American actress known for roles on television. Keller began her career on the daytime soap operas ''Ryan's Hope'' (1982–1983) and '' Another World'' (1983–1985) and later starred in a number of tel ...
) is a 28-year-old nurse and single mother, raising her family in her childhood home after her parents' deaths. Ricky's only actual child was her 6-year-old daughter Sophie (
Tina Majorino
Albertina Marie Majorino (; born February 7, 1985) is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as ''Andre (film), Andre'', ''When a Man Loves a Woman (film), When a Man Loves a Woma ...
), but she was also the principal guardian to her teenage siblings, 16-year-old Brody (
Jerry O'Connell
Jerry O'Connell (born February 17, 1974) is an American actor and television host. He is known for his roles as Quinn Mallory in the television series ''Sliders'', Andrew Clements in ''My Secret Identity'', Vern Tessio in the film '' Stand by M ...
) and 13-year-old Melissa (
Meghann Haldeman
Meghann Michelle Haldeman is an American actress.
Haldeman had a role in 1991 TV movie ''Bad Attitudes'', playing a rock & roller who communicates with hand gestures while listening to music through head phones.
She was nominated for best juven ...
). From the time their parents died, Ricky understood that she couldn't change out of her persona as the "cool, approachable" older sister, and mixed parenting tactics in with the setting of a casual,
laissez-faire
''Laissez-faire'' ( ; from french: laissez faire , ) is an economic system in which transactions between private groups of people are free from any form of economic interventionism (such as subsidies) deriving from special interest groups. ...
household. In fact, the atmosphere in the Wilder house was so laid-back that many of Brody and Melissa's friends sought it as a refuge from the stricter, more confining homes run by their traditional parents. Ricky thus welcomed them all in with open arms, and they regularly sat around the family's kitchen table and dished about life's various happenings and dilemmas, while Ricky helped them sort out their issues and dispensed sound advice in a non-judgmental, friend-like way. As a result, the neighborhood youth nicknamed their home "Camp Wilder."
Among the regular inhabitants of Camp Wilder were Brody's off-kilter best friend Dorfman (
Jay Mohr
Jon Ferguson "Jay" Mohr (born August 23, 1970) is an American actor, comedian and radio host. He is known for his roles as film producer Peter Dragon in the TV comedy series ''Action'', Professor Rick Payne in the TV series ''Ghost Whisperer'' (2 ...
) and Melissa's friends Beth (
Margaret Langrick
Margaret Langrick (born 1971) is a Canadians, Canadian writer and retired actress. She is now known as Maggie Langrick, and is the CEO of the publishing company Wonderwell.
Filmography
Films
*''My American Cousin'' (1985) as Sandy Wilcox
*''Ha ...
) and Danielle (
Hilary Swank
Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series '' Camp Wilder'' and made her film debut with a minor role in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1992 ...
). Many other friends and classmates of theirs passed through ''Camp Wilder'' in guest appearances, most notably Dexter (
Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto ( ; born December 26, 1971) is an American actor and musician. Known for his method acting in a variety of roles, he has received numerous accolades over a career spanning three decades, including an Academy Award and a Golde ...
), a hip, motorcycle-riding bad boy who Danielle had the hots for. However, it was goofball Dorfman who quickly became the show's breakout character, with his gross-out humor causing friction with the girls, and Ricky's numerous attempts to help him become an upstanding young man (i.e., teaching him work ethic by giving him a job as an orderly at her hospital, saving him from being held back in school by becoming his tutor, etc.). Other stories focused on the escapades of the Wilders, and especially on Sophie, who was beginning to look up to Brody as a surrogate father figure rather than just as an uncle. Throughout the show's 20 episodes, she began exhibiting
tomboy
A tomboy is a term for a girl or a young woman with masculine qualities. It can include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and actively engage in physical sports or other activities and behaviors usually associated with boys or men. W ...
ish traits, and at
Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...
, she told the family that all she wanted was to be a boy.
Cast
Main
*
Mary Page Keller
Mary Page Keller (born March 3, 1961) is an American actress known for roles on television. Keller began her career on the daytime soap operas ''Ryan's Hope'' (1982–1983) and '' Another World'' (1983–1985) and later starred in a number of tel ...
as Ricky Wilder
*
Jerry O'Connell
Jerry O'Connell (born February 17, 1974) is an American actor and television host. He is known for his roles as Quinn Mallory in the television series ''Sliders'', Andrew Clements in ''My Secret Identity'', Vern Tessio in the film '' Stand by M ...
as Brody Wilder, Ricky's younger brother
*
Jay Mohr
Jon Ferguson "Jay" Mohr (born August 23, 1970) is an American actor, comedian and radio host. He is known for his roles as film producer Peter Dragon in the TV comedy series ''Action'', Professor Rick Payne in the TV series ''Ghost Whisperer'' (2 ...
as Dorfman, Brody's best friend
*
Meghann Haldeman
Meghann Michelle Haldeman is an American actress.
Haldeman had a role in 1991 TV movie ''Bad Attitudes'', playing a rock & roller who communicates with hand gestures while listening to music through head phones.
She was nominated for best juven ...
as Melissa Wilder, Ricky's younger sister
*
Margaret Langrick
Margaret Langrick (born 1971) is a Canadians, Canadian writer and retired actress. She is now known as Maggie Langrick, and is the CEO of the publishing company Wonderwell.
Filmography
Films
*''My American Cousin'' (1985) as Sandy Wilcox
*''Ha ...
as Beth, Brody's friend
*
Hilary Swank
Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series '' Camp Wilder'' and made her film debut with a minor role in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1992 ...
as Danielle, Brody's friend
*
Tina Majorino
Albertina Marie Majorino (; born February 7, 1985) is an American film and television actress. She started her career as a child actor, starring in films such as ''Andre (film), Andre'', ''When a Man Loves a Woman (film), When a Man Loves a Woma ...
as Sophie Wilder, Ricky's daughter
Recurring
*
Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto ( ; born December 26, 1971) is an American actor and musician. Known for his method acting in a variety of roles, he has received numerous accolades over a career spanning three decades, including an Academy Award and a Golde ...
as Dexter
Episodes
Awards and nominations
External links
*
*
''Camp Wilder''intro from Retrojunk
{{TGIF (ABC)
1992 American television series debuts
1993 American television series endings
1990s American sitcoms
American Broadcasting Company original programming
English-language television shows
Television series about siblings
Television shows set in Santa Monica, California
Television series by Disney–ABC Domestic Television
TGIF (TV programming block)