Life with Derek

Life with Derek
Created by Daphne Ballon
Developed by Daphne Ballon
Bernice Vanderlaan
Starring Michael Seater
Ashley Leggat
Jordan Todosey
Daniel Magder
Ariel Waller
Joy Tanner
John Ralston
Theme music composer Gary Koftinoff and
Ron Proulx
Opening theme "Livin' Life with Derek",
sung by Cheyenne Twiner of Uncensored, performed by Gary Koftinoff
Country of origin Canada
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 70 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Daphne Ballon
Christina Jennings
Camera setup Film; Single-camera
Running time 24 minutes
Production company(s) Shaftesbury Films
Pope Productions (season 1)
Family Channel
Distributor Disney Channel (USA)
Release
Original network Family
Original release September 18, 2005 (2005-09-18) – March 25, 2009 (2009-03-25)
Chronology
Followed by Vacation with Derek
(2010 TV movie)
External links
Website web.archive.org/web/20090506001437/http://www.family.ca/whatson/minisites/?id=638

Life with Derek is a Canadian television sitcom that aired on Family (English) and VRAK.TV (French) in Canada and on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on Family on September 18, 2005, and ran for four seasons, ending its run on March 25, 2009. Reruns aired on Family Channel and multiplex sister channel Family Chrgd until September 2016. The series stars Michael Seater and Ashley Leggat as the two oldest children in a stepfamily.

It ended having aired 70 episodes, and was followed by one spin-off television film, entitled Vacation with Derek, which was filmed in northern Ontario in fall 2009,[1] and it aired on Family Channel on June 25, 2010.

Plot

George Venturi (John Ralston), a divorced man from London, Ontario who had custody of his three children from a previous marriage: sons Derek (Michael Seater) and Edwin (Daniel Magder), and daughter Martie (Ariel Waller), marries a divorced woman named Nora McDonald (Joy Tanner), who has two daughters of her own from a previous marriage: Casey (Ashley Leggat) and Lizzie (Jordan Todosey). Up until that point, Casey was perfectly content with her life. Growing up as the oldest child in a household in Toronto, Ontario with only her mother and sister had suited her well and brought her up as a self-sufficient and independent young woman.

After George and Nora's marriage, the McDonald's moved in with the Venturis in London, Ontario. Casey was originally upset about having to move to London, Ontario from Toronto, a much bigger city (as shown in the episode "How I Met Your Stepbrother"), for many reasons including Derek, but she eventually got over her own problems and agreed to move there for Nora and George's sake once she saw how much they cared for each other.

Main cast

The McDonald-Venturi family

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

Recurring cast

Episodes

Season Episodes Season premiere Season finale
1 13 September 18, 2005 (2005-09-18) January 22, 2006 (2006-01-22)
2 13 July 1, 2006 (2006-07-01) December 15, 2006 (2006-12-15)
3 26 May 11, 2007 (2007-05-11) July 5, 2008 (2008-07-05)
4 18 July 19, 2008 (2008-07-19) March 25, 2009 (2009-03-25)
Series finale film June 25, 2010

Production

Filming locations

The first season was filmed on Sound Stages at Atlantic Studios Cooperative Sound Stage in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador.[2] Seasons two through four were filmed in Toronto, Ontario.

Awards

Syndication

Life with Derek and another Canadian sitcom, Naturally, Sadie, were both added to Disney Channel in the United States in 2005. In May 2007, Naturally, Sadie was pulled from the channel, but Life with Derek was left on. Though many episodes were originally broadcast on Family in Canada, Disney often advertised the episodes as being new episodes (though they were only first-run broadcasts in the United States). Life with Derek has not aired on the Disney Channel since January 2, 2010, but reruns continue to air on Family, Family CHRGD (both stopped airing reruns in September 2016), and VRAK.TV in Canada.

DVD releases (United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom)

Season releases

Season Release date Ep # Additional information Bonus Features
Season 1United States/Canada: October 1, 2008[3]13 This two disc box set includes all 13 episodes from Season 1.
  • Interviews with cast and crew
  • Behind-the-scenes photo shoot
  • Studio tours with Derek and Casey
  • 8×20 inch full-color locker poster
Season 2United States/Canada: August 11, 2009[4]13 This two disc box set includes all 13 episodes from Season 2.
  • Interviews with Ashley Leggat, Michael Seater, Jordan Todosey, Daniel Magder, Ariel Waller, John Ralston, and Joy Tanner
  • Interview with creator/writer Daphne Ballon and producer/writer Jeff Biederman
  • On-set tour with Michael Seater, behind-the-scenes footage
Season 3United States/Canada: March 23, 2010[5]26 This three disc box set includes all 26 episodes from Season 3.
  • Interview with Ashley Leggat and Michael Seater

Volume releases

DVD TitleRelease dateEpisodes featuredBonus features
Life with Derek: Let the Games Begin! United States\Canada: February 17, 2009[6]
  • "The Room"
  • "House of Games"
  • "Babe Raider"
  • "Prank Wars"
  • "House of Games" interactive challenge
    • Play as either Casey or Derek
  • 8×20 inch full-color locker poster

International release

Country Network(s) Title in country
France France Disney Channel France Derek
France 2
France 4
Germany Germany Disney Channel Germany Mensch, Derek!
Super RTL
Italy Italy Disney Channel Italy La mia vita con Derek
Cielo, Rai Gulp
Philippines Philippines Nickelodeon
United States United States Disney Channel Life With Derek
Republic of Ireland Ireland TG4 shaol le Derek
Hungary Hungary m2 Derek, a fenegyerek
Portugal Portugal Disney Channel Portugal Viver com Derek
Turkey Turkey JOJO Derekle Yaşam
Poland Poland Teletoon+ życie z Derekiem
Romania Romania TVR 2 Viața lui Derek
Slovenia Slovenia Kanal A
Israel Israel Arutz HaYeladim לחיות עם דרק
Argentina Mexico Chile

Colombia Latin America

Disney Channel Latin America Mi Vida con Derek
Disney Channel
Netherlands Netherlands Z@PP
Brazil Brazil Disney Channel Brazil Minha Vida com Derek
Australia Australia Nickelodeon
Japan Japan Disney Channel Japan
Canada Canada Family Life with Derek (English), Derek (French)
Disney XD (Canada)
VRAK.TV
Spain Spain Disney Channel Spain
Clan TVE
Cartoon Network
Boing España
Norway Norway Disney Channel Scandinavia
Sweden Sweden Disney Channel Scandinavia
New Zealand New Zealand Nickelodeon
United Kingdom United Kingdom Boomerang
Toonami
Pop Girl
India India Disney Channel India Life with Derek (English)
लाइफ विथ डेरेक (Hindi)
Russia Russia Disney Channel Russia
Croatia Croatia HRT 2 Život s Derekom

Awards and nominations

2009 - Television Series - Family (Nominated)
2007 - Television Series - Family (Nominated)[7]
2006 - Outstanding Television Series - Family (Nominated)
2009 - Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series (Won)
2009 - Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series - Michael Seater (Won)
2009 - Best Writing in a Children's or Youth Program or Series - Jeff Biederman for episode "Just Friends" (Nominated)
2008 - Best Original Music Score for a Program or Series - Gary Koftinoff for episode "Fright Night" (Nominated)
2008 - Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series - Ashley Leggat
2007 - Most Popular Website
2007 - Best Cross-Platform Project (Nominated)
2006 - Best Original Music Score for a Dramatic Series (Nominated)
2006 - Best Performance in a Children's or Youth Program or Series (Nominated)
2006 - Youth (Won)
2008 - Best Performance in a TV Series: Supporting Young Actor - Daniel Magder (Nominated)
2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actor - Michael Seater (Nominated)
2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actress - Ashley Leggat (Nominated)
2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Supporting Young Actor - Daniel Magder (Nominated)
2007 - Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Young Actress Age Ten or Younger - Ariel Waller (Nominated)
2006 - Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Ashley Leggat, Daniel Magder, Michael Seater, Jordan Todosey, Ariel Waller (Nominated)

References

  1. "Pack your bags! 'Vacation with Derek' is now in production" (Press release). Family Channel and Shaftesbury Films. September 16, 2009 via CNW A PR Newswire Company.
  2. "New television series to be filmed in province". Executive Council, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. July 16, 2004.
  3. "Life with Derek - The Complete 1st Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com.
  4. "Life with Derek - The Complete 2nd Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com.
  5. "Life with Derek - The Complete 3rd Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com.
  6. "Life with Derek - Let the Games Begin!". TVShowsOnDVD.com.
  7. "2007 Directors Guild of Canada Awards Nominations" (Press release). The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC). August 13, 2007 via CNW A PR Newswire Company.
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