Life with Derek

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Life with Derek

Genre	Sitcom
Creator(s)	Daphne Ballon
Developer(s)	Daphne Ballon Bernice Vanderlaan
Starring	Michael Seater Ashley Leggat Daniel Magder Jordan Todosey Ariel Waller Joy Tanner John Ralston
Opening theme	Performed by Unsensored
Country of origin	Canada
No. of episodes	26 (As of December 15, 2006)
Production
Running time	approx. 0:22 (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel	Family (TV channel)
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Life with Derek is a Canadian sitcom that is currently being aired on the Family channel in Canada (English), on VRAK.TV (French), in Germany, Italy, Israel, France and Mexico, Toonami in the UK, Disney Channel in the United States, and Nickelodeon in Australia.

The series is produced by Shaftesbury Films. The third season of the series is going to be released.

1 Synopsis
- 1.1 The Rivalry
2 Cast
3 Episodes
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

A divorced man named George Venturi; with custody of his two sons (Derek and Edwin) and daughter (Marti), marries a divorced woman (Nora) with two daughters, Casey and Lizzie.

Up until that point, Casey MacDonald was perfectly content with her life. Growing up as the oldest child in a household with only her mother and sister had suited her well and brought her up as a self-sufficient and independent young woman.

With the addition of a father, two brothers, a sister, new school, new house and overall a whole new life, Casey struggles to find her place within the new family.

[edit] The Rivalry

Prior to becoming members of a blended family, Casey and Derek were firmly comfortable in their roles as first-born children, including having a major influence on how family decisions were made. When their families blend, each strives for dominance: Casey by "sticking to the rules" and Derek by asserting himself with both force and manipulation. This is further complicated because Derek and Casey are in the same grade in high school; the situation is harder for Casey, who's making new friends. Both teens aren't afraid to speak their minds, especially when trying to recruit their respective parents to be on their side.

The sibling rivalry grows intense at times, and causes them to constantly try to one up the other in order to get their way, even if it involves them getting really sneaky and have to risk being grounded by the adults, and sometimes no matter who gets in the way, whether it's friends or family. In their struggle to find their place, both at home and at school, Casey learns to "loosen up" and break a rule or two, while Derek learns to occasionally "walk the straight and narrow" and put family interests ahead of his own gain, even if it means that Casey benefits. In the rivalry, Derek and Casey sometimes make deals with each other to prove that he or she is better. Also, Edwin often chooses to be on Derek's side.

The show includes several cut-scenes, where various members of the family (usually the ones involved in a problem) interact with one another in a way that is symbolic of their current issue, performed in a nondescript setting with no background.

Despite Casey and Derek's constant bickering and disagreements, they have been known to come together to cooperate toward a common goal, or to use one another to further their own selfish agendas.

[edit] Cast

The MacDonald-Venturi family (from left to right), Derek, Marti, George, Edwin, Lizzie, Nora and Casey.

[edit] The Macdonalds

Ashley Leggat as Casey Macdonald
Jordan Todosey as Lizzie Macdonald
Joy Tanner as Nora Macdonald

[edit] The Venturis

[edit] Friends

Shadia Simmons as Emily Davis, Casey's best friend, has a crush on Derek and kissed Derek once.
Arnold Pinnock as Paul Creepy, Casey's guidance counsellor
Kit Weyman as Sam, Derek's best friend, once Casey's boyfriend