Fifteen (TV series)


Fifteen is a Canadian-American teen drama that aired on YTV in Canada and on Nickelodeon from 1991 to 1993. Created and produced by John T. Binkley, the series was Nickelodeon's only teenage soap opera. The show was shot on videotape, similar to most daytime dramas.
The series was first conceived as Fifteen in an improvised form for The Disney Channel, where a 13-episode pilot series was produced and tested in the U.S. After Disney decided not to proceed with the project, Nickelodeon and Canadian partners joined Binkley in producing the series which was known in its first and second seasons as Hillside in Canada, and throughout the 65-episode run as Fifteen in the U.S. The show was subsequently syndicated around the world, with runs in Germany and Israel, among others. Rerun rights are held by the Peter Rodgers Organization, which has made the first season available for free on YouTube.
The series features a large ensemble cast which underwent several changes over the show's four-season run. Notable cast members include Laura Harris, Enuka Okuma, and Ryan Reynolds.

Plot

Fifteen followed the students of fictional Hillside School and dealt with a variety of issues including dating, divorce, alcohol abuse, infidelity and friendship. The show played heavily into stereotypes, including two characters named Dylan and Chris, who wore leather jackets to show off their toughness, but which could not completely disguise their inner selves. At one point, they play a gig with their band Teenagers in Love at local eatery and hangout spot The Avalon.

Cast

The entire first season is available for download from iTunes. The first season was previously on Hulu and seasons 1-3 currently stream on Amazon Prime.

Production notes

The series' head writer for all 65 episodes was Ian Weir, who wrote all but five episodes. Its director was Michael Berry.
The first season of the show was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the second season was recorded at the studios of CJOH-TV in Ottawa, Ontario, and the third and fourth seasons were videotaped at Nickelodeon Studios at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

Awards and nominations