Before The Reboot 20 Little-Known Details About 'Party Of Five'
Party Of Five has been off the air for some time now, but it is definitely still a fan favorite, such a favorite that the whole show is being remade. The characters, the storylines, the plot, and the setting all fell together perfectly, drawing people in for tears and for laughter.
Plus, the stars of this show went on to be featured in some pretty big shows and films such as Lost, Mean Girls and Scream, which means that in today's time, people are discovering this series for the first time due to its actors and actresses or rediscovering it and watching it with a new generation.
And, for better or worse, everyone will soon be able to enjoy Party Of Five all over again; it was recently announced that a reboot is coming to Freeform. In the original, five siblings were left behind after losing their parents in a car wreck. In this new series, four siblings will be trying to survive after their parents get deported.
This seems to be the day and age of reboots and revivals, and for some fans, that is good news. For others… not so much. Before fans get a chance to watch this reboot and decide if they like it or not, let's look back at 20 little-known details from the original Party Of Five…
20 It Ran For Six Seasons
Party Of Five was a teen and family drama created by Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman. It aired on FOX from September 12, 1994 to May 3, 2000, running for six seasons.
It starred big names such as Scott Wolf, Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, and Lacey Chabert, and it was all about five siblings who lost their parents in a car accident.
It made fans laugh, it made fans cry, and now, Freeform is bringing a rebooted version of this series to television. Before we decide if we are into this new show or not, let's look back at some little-known details of the original…
19 It Was Meant To Replace 'Beverly Hill, 90210'
Before there was Party Of Five, there was Beverly Hills, 90210, a show FOX TV was looking to replace. The network wanted a show that would have many of the same values and one that was about teenagers and for teenagers. According to the Los Angeles Times, writer and producer Amy Lippman had the idea to turn the "standard expectations about a family of orphans on its head." And while it is debatable which show was more successful-Party Of Five or Beverly Hills, 90210-it is clear that fans are anxious to see what this new reboot will be like, as even Neve Campbell herself is calling it “wonderful."
18 And Neve Campbell Could Appear In The Reboot!
Yes, while not everyone is a fan of every new reboot coming out, Neve Campbell, who played Julia Salinger, said she loves the idea of this new show “because it's very timely." This new story will be about a family whose parents have been sent across the border to Mexico.
While this differs a little from the original, it is still about a family learning how to stand strong together.
And if she gets asked to come to be on this new show… "I probably would,” she said! So as we get ready to meet this new family, the Buendias siblings, we can all stay hopeful, knowing that Julia Salinger and/or Neve Campbell could pop up.
17 Jennifer Love Hewitt's Character Was Supposed To Exist For Just Nine Episodes
Jennifer Love Hewitt played Sarah Reeves, and this character was only supposed to be around for nine episodes. However, the producers wanted more! Plus, Jennifer Love Hewitt was the only actor/actress who was actually playing a teen as a teen in the early seasons. When her character made her final appearance, she began a spin-off series called Time of Your Life. It was discontinued after only 18 episodes, but Scott Wolf's voice was heard on the show when Bailey Salinger left Sarah Reeves a voicemail (and we won't say anything else on this topic, so as not to give away any spoilers!).
16 Jerry O'Connell Almost Starred In This Show
And speaking of Bailey Salinger… Jerry O'Connell was actually the one who was originally cast in this role. However, just before the pilot was filmed, he backed out in order to work on Sliders.
After that, Scott Wolf was the first person to be cast for this TV show, on the very first day, since “he seemed completely right for that character.”
Now, stars like Sarah Camacho (from The Glass Castle and The Fixer), Niko Guardado (from The Goldbergs and The Fosters), and Brandon Larracuente (from Bloodline and Thirteen Reasons Why) have already been cast in the reboot.
15 James Marsden Was Originally In This Series, Too
Another big name was also involved in this television series and then replaced: James Marsden! He was playing Griffin Holbrook (one of Julia Salinger's significant others), but then he landed another role, which is when Jeremy London came into the picture. London is also known for playing Chandler Hampton in 7th Heaven and for starring in the 1995 comedy film Mallrats, and in 2013, he made his directorial debut with a film called The Devil's Dozen. But to many of us, he will always be Griffin… even though that part used to belong to Mr. James Marsden.
14 And Kate Hudson Made Her TV Acting Debut Here!
Here is a final piece of information regarding well-known stars and this series: Kate Hudson made her TV acting debut as Corey, who worked with Justin.
But there are plenty of other notable stars who were on Party Of Five.
The show featured Andrew Keegan as Reed Isley, Adam Scott as Josh Macon, Carroll O'Connor as Jacob Gordon, Danny Masterson as Matt, Ben Savage as Stuart, Patricia Heaton as Robin Merrin, Peter Krause as Daniel Musser, Brittany Murphy as Abby, Jodie Sweetin as Rhiannon Marcus, Jane Lynch as Dr. Pennant, and Julie Bowen as Shelley. It is always fun to see familiar faces on TV, and it will be equally as neat to see who pops up on this reboot!
13 Lacey Chabert Really Plays The Violin
In today's time, the stars of this series are pretty popular: the oldest brother, Charlie, was played by Matthew Fox, who starred on Lost. The oldest sister, Julia, was played by Neve Campbell, known for her role in the Scream films. Scott Wolf played Bailey, and he is known for his work in Everwood. And Lacey Chabert played Claudia, who has since played Eliza Thornberry on The Wild Thornberrys, Dana Mathis in the remake of Black Christmas and, of course, Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls. But who knew that Chabert played the violin in real life… ? Yes, all that playing seen in Party Of Five is real!
12 Neve Campbell And Lacey Chabert Acted Together Again
Party Of Five ran from 1994-2000, and during that time, the main stars were in other works-and they definitely were after the series ended, as mentioned above.
With their busy acting schedules, it makes sense that some of these actors/actresses could end up working together again, and that is what happened in 1998.
Neve Campbell and Lacey Chabert were both in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. This direct-to-video flick was a sequel to The Lion King, and in it, Chabert voiced young Vitani, while Campbell did the voice for adult Kiara.
11 Owen Was Played By Several Actors
Don't think we forgot about the youngest child in this party! Owen Salinger was just a baby when this show started out, so his storylines were not as thrilling as some of the other characters'. However, he grew up with the other family members and with fans, too, so here is a fact about him: this character, Owen, was actually played by several different boys over the six seasons of the show: Alexander Ahnert in one episode in 1994, Zachary Ahnert in one episode in 1994, Brandon Porter in 25 episodes from 1994-1995, Taylor Porter 25 episodes from 1994-1995, Andrew Cavarno in 59 episodes from 1995-1998, Steven Cavarno in 59 episodes from 1995-1998, and Jacob Smith in 40 episodes from 1998-2000.
10 … Which Caused Some Problems When He Learned To Walk
According to a recent interview, there were some issues when Baby Owen was learning to walk. The actor who was playing him at the time could not walk, but there was supposed to be a scene where everyone witnessed this character's first steps.
Therefore, the team searched for a baby who could walk yet not walk too well.
And when the cameras started rolling, this kid took off running (which is far from how a first step looks). After take after take after take, the young actor's mom finally suggested spinning him around and pushing him a little, in order to get a realistic step!
9 The Cast Felt Like Family
In an interview with TODAY, Scott Wolf reminisced on the five main actors/actresses standing in a circle and being told, “Congratulations, you're the Salingers”-a moment that just felt so right, like they had been it for their whole lives. Wolf said he had an amazing experience making it and that he loves all the people he made it with. He understands why so many fans loved it, too, since it made people think and feel, but he also thinks the story is over and feels finished. Maybe that is why we are getting a whole new cast/story, instead of picking up with the Salingers… ?
8 And They Are Close IRL, Too!
While on Watch What Happens Live, Neve Campbell and Scott Wolf dished out some juicy behind-the-scenes deets! Did fans know that Wolf dated Paula Devicq, the family's nanny?
Did anyone know that Jennifer Love Hewitt was linked to some of the show's fans?
Is it a surprise that Matthew Fox was the biggest partier of the group? Despite all these details being shared, the stars of this show are close-especially now that Lacey Chabert has a baby since she wants to “share her with [the] extended family… You can't work with a group of people for that long and not feel incredibly connected to them.”
7 'Party Of Five' Was Referenced On 'The X-Files'
Another popular show from FOX was The X-Files, and in Season 6 and on Episode 18, this show referenced Party Of Five. In a graveyard, a certain headstone had two specific names on it: Diana and Nicholas Salinger, with the year of their death as 1994. Yes, these fictional names belong to the parents in Party Of Five-characters who passed away and left behind five children. Both of these shows had and still have many fans, and we wonder how many noticed this Easter egg while watching what may be the most popular sci-show of all time, The X-Files!
6 This Show Had A Rough Start
After Party Of Five aired, TV Guide named it "The Best Show You're Not Watching" in 1995. However, the overall ratings for this television series were quite low, and rumors circulated that it could be canceled.
But in 1996, the series won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series-Drama.
After that, the show and the cast went on to be nominated for and to win numerous awards, such as the YoungStar Award for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series, which Lacey Chabert won in 1997, 1998, and 1999.
5 And It Touched On Some Tough Subjects
Though this show was aimed at teens and starred teens, its episodes centered around some pretty heavy topics at times. Losses in families, substance abuse, and terminal illness were just a few of the categories discussed in Party Of Five. According to Wolf, the hardest scenes to get through were the ones which showed the five siblings not getting along. He specifically mentioned the intervention episode in Season 3, where Bailey started to pull himself away from his family. To this day, Wolf says it's emotional to go back and watch these big scenes.
4 … All While Lacey Chabert Was Only 11
As mentioned, Lacey Chabert was the only one who was sort of close to her age while filming, and in the beginning, this young actress was only 11, and she was having to talk about and film scenes about some really adult subjects.
However, in real life, her older costars felt protective of her, too, and it all translated really well onto the screen.
Chabert learned lessons, her fellow co-stars helping her learn, and this family unit developing together. And we, as fans, got to learn and grow with them all, and can continue to do so with this reboot!
3 The Show Was Cancelled After Neve Campbell Left
After the show had been on for a while, Neve Campbell said she was leaving the show. She wanted the freedom to do what she wanted acting-wise, according to an interview with Jane Magazine. Despite her leaving, the team decided to move forward with a series that was based around Charlie and Claudia (who were the two main characters with the most exciting storylines at that point), but “it would have been a very different show.” Therefore, three weeks after Campbell announced she was leaving, FOX canceled the show, and here we are. It has been off the air for nearly two decades, yet a new generation, a new story, and a new show is on its way.
2 … As The Final Episode Served As A Goodbye
While at the ATX Television Festival, a few members from Party Of Five got together to talk about the good ol' days, and they reminisced on filming the final scene. The main characters would take turns during shots to just go and cry, and when that final part had been captured, they all just circled up, hugging, and stayed that way for some time.
In an article that came out the day that final episode aired, Lacey Chabert echoed these thoughts, stating that the last episode reminded her of the first, with a family struggling yet coming together.
She also remembered how “every last person lost it,” which was their way of saying they loved each other… and their way of saying goodbye, to each other and to us.
1 But The Original Lives On!
Many people still recognize Matthew Fox as Charlie, Neve Campbell as Julia, Scott Wolf as Bailey, and Lacey Chabert as Claudia. In an interview last year with People, Scott Wolf said that people ask him if he gets tired of fans coming up and talking about Party Of Five… but no! He had fun doing it and is proud to have been involved. He says fans will sometimes talk about it as though they'd just watched it last week, which is emotional, and that people who watched it when it was on TV are now watching it with their kids, which is trippy!
