| Jack & Bobby | |
|---|---|
Intertitle |
|
| Format | Political drama Teen drama |
| Created by | Greg Berlanti Steve Cohen Vanessa Taylor Brad Meltzer |
| Starring | Christine Lahti Matt Long Logan Lerman Jessica Paré Edwin Hodge John Slattery Bradley Cooper Keri Lynn Pratt |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | The WB |
| Original run | September 12, 2004 – May 11, 2005 |
Jack & Bobby is an American television series that aired on The WB network. It featured two brothers, one of whom would become President of the United States, serving from 2041 to 2049. The series was created by Greg Berlanti, novelist and comic book writer Brad Meltzer, and Thomas Schlamme, who directed fourteen episodes of The West Wing.
On May 17, 2005, The WB announced it would not renew Jack & Bobby for a second season.
The 22 episode series has also aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) network, debuting on September 25, 2006. The series finale was re-aired as part of a Warner Bros. 50th anniversary celebration on the TV Land cable network on June 11, 2005. Following this broadcast, the series has never been rebroadcast on American television.
The show is now available to U.S. viewers on The WB website.[1], and is available for purchase from Amazon and iTunes.
Contents |
The show follows the lives of teenaged Jack and Bobby (Robert) McCallister as they attend high school and generally mature. Much conflict is generated between the boys and their mother, Grace, played by Christine Lahti, who is both smart and volatile, and always a dominating influence in their lives. The names of the main characters are unmistakable references to President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his brother, Senator Robert Francis Kennedy, who were commonly referred to as "Jack" and "Bobby," though it is stated in the show they are named after their father, Juan Roberto del Alba.
The main storyline is paralleled by a series of interviews with figures associated with the McCallister presidency, who speak of events from Robert McCallister's later life. Typically, there is a thematic link between the main plot, set during Bobby's adolescence, and the reminiscences of his adult life and political career.
The pilot maintains the mystery about which of the two brothers becomes President until the end of the episode, when it is revealed that Jack died young. The circumstances of his death are left unknown until the season one (and series) finale, where it is learned that Jack served in the War of the Americas, and as a public defender, before running for political office at Bobby's suggestion, only to be killed during a convenience store robbery.
Jack's death inspired Bobby to take his brother's place, eventually leading to his election as President in 2040, as an Independent. President Robert McCallister became known as "The Great Believer", for his determination and faith in the face of many obstacles, from international conflicts, to scandals within his own administration, and attacks upon his reputation. Memories of Jack are kept alive through Bobby; he marries his brother's ex-girlfriend Courtney in 2025, and has one of Jack's best friends as a member of his staff.
The name Robert McCallister, plus a few recognizable elements of the character, would later be reused by Greg Berlanti in his hit ABC (USA) tv series Brothers & Sisters. On that show, which premiered in 2006, Robert McCallister is played by Rob Lowe; and is a U.S. Senator (Republican) with an ex-wife named Courtney and a son named Jack.
Matt Long, Jessica Paré, and John Slattery all appeared together on the fourth season of Mad Men.
Many episodes were filmed at Lynwood High School in the small town of Lynwood in Los Angeles, California.