Parenthood is an American television drama series on NBC that tells the story of the Braverman family, which consists of an older couple, their four children, and their families. The series is loosely based on the 1989 film of the same title (following the 1990–91 TV series, which also aired on NBC, which debuted 20 years ago to the series).
Plot[]
Parenthood is set in Berkeley, California and revolves around the Braverman family covering three generations. It features patriarch Zeek Braverman and matriarch Camille Braverman, and the families of their four children Adam, Sarah, Crosby, and Julia. Adam is married to Kristina and has three children – Haddie, Max, and Nora. Sarah is divorced from Seth Holt and has two children – Amber and Drew. Crosby marries Jasmine in Season 3 and has two children – Jabbar and Aida. Julia is married to Joel and has two children – Sydney and their adopted son Victor.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
Recurring Cast[]
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Darin Heames / John Corbett | Seth Holt |
| Marguerite Moreau | Katie |
| Mike O'Malley | Jim Kazinsky |
| Eduardo Rioseco | Damian |
| Tom Amandes | Dr. Pelikan |
| Phil Abrams | Phil Lessing |
| Amanda Foreman | Suze Lessing |
| Erinn Hayes | Racquel |
| Asher Brook | Steve Williams |
| Minka Kelly | Gaby |
| Tina Lifford | Renee Trussell |
| Jason Ritter | Mark Cyr |
| William Baldwin | Gordon Flint |
| Michael B. Jordan | Alex |
| Richard Dreyfuss | Gilliam T. Blount |
| Rosa Salazar | Zoe DeHaven |
| Skyler Day | Amy Ellis |
| D. B. Woodside | Dr. Joe Prestridge |
| Alexandra Daddario | Rachel |
| Mia and Ella Allan | Nora Braverman |
| Jonathan Tucker | Bob Little |
| Courtney Ford | Lily |
| Ray Romano | Hank Rizzoli |
| Rose Abdoo | Gwen Chambers |
| Kurt Fuller | Dr. Bedsloe |
| Courtney Grosbeck | Ruby Rizzoli |
| Matt Lauria | Ryan York |
| Betsy Brandt | Sandy |
| Josh Stamberg | Carl Fletcher |
| Sonya Walger | Meredith Peet |
| David Denman | Ed Brooks |
| Jurnee Smollett-Bell | Heather Hall |
| Lyndon Smith | Natalie |
| Tyson Ritter | Oliver Rome |
| Ally Ioannides | Dylan Jones |
Trivia[]
- Maura Tierney was originally cast as Sarah. NBC moved the show's originally slated fall release to mid-season, when Tierney was diagnosed with breast cancer. Due to her cancer treatment, she eventually had to leave the show and Lauren Graham replaced her.
- Mae Whitman and Miles Heizer are real life roommates.
- In almost every episode, someone makes pancakes or waffles.
- Darin Heames played Seth Holt in the pilot but was replaced by John Corbett when the character next appeared in season 2.
- Showrunner Jason Katims, who previously ran the show "Friday Night Lights", cast many "FNL" actors on "Parenthood" in recurring or guest roles, including Michael B. Jordan, Minka Kelly, Matt Lauria, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Jeff Rosick, Angela Rawna, Derek Phillips and Scott Porter.
- Kelly Wolf, who plays Mrs. McKindall, is the real-life mom of Max Burkholder (Max Braverman).
- Mae Whitman and Max Burkholder played siblings on the show "In Treatment", and now play cousins on "Parenthood".
- Lauren Graham (Sarah Braverman) and Peter Krause (Adam Braverman) were in a relationship from 2010 to 2022. They started dating while playing brother and sister on the show.
- Craig T. Nelson (Zeek Braverman) and Bonnie Bedelia (Camille Braverman) also played a married couple in Alex: The Life of a Child (1986) and The Fire Next Time (1993).
- Rose Abdoo (Gwen Chambers) and Lauren Graham (Sarah Braverman) were both on Gilmore Girls as Gypsy/Berta and Lorelai Gilmore.
- Before Lauren Graham signed on to be Maura Tierney's replacement Helen Hunt was in the running for the role of Sarah, but she and the network failed to reach a salary agreement.
- In Season 4 Episode 7, Amber and Drew drive down Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives and Drew walks up to Mike's house.
- In Season 4 episode 12, Kristina states her age as 34 which would have made her 16 when she birthed Haddie.
- Lauren Graham was in Bad Santa with John Ritter and played the love interest of John's son Jason Ritter in Parenthood.
- From seasons 4-6 Nora Braverman was played by identical twins Ella Allan and Mia Allan. Ella and Mia are mirror twins, Ella is right-handed and Mia is left-handed.
- Vanessa Marano makes a guest appearance on Parenthood. Lauren Graham and Vanessa previously worked together on Gilmore Girls. Peter Krause and Vanessa also previously worked together on Six Feet Under.
- Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin was asked to submit a possible theme song for the series. He ended up writing a song entitled "Casting Lines" but by the time he gave it to the producers they had already settled on using Bob Dylan's Forever Young. "Casting Lines" appears on Jack's Mannequin's third album "People and Things".
- Diane Farr was originally cast as Kristina Braverman but had to exit due to scheduling conflicts with Californication (2007).
- The colors orange and green appear together in the backdrop of almost every scene.
- In season 2 episode 10 "Happy Thanksgiving" Crosby can be seen wearing an East Dillon Lions t-shirt during the football game.
- Set in the same universe as Friday Night Lights and the 2014 version of About A Boy, all three produced by Jason Katims.
- Betsy Brandt, who plays the ex wife of the character Hank in this show, also plays the wife of another character named Hank in the tv series Breaking Bad.
- The Braverman's are huge baseball fans. Their favorite MLB team is the Oakland Athletics.
- This was the second attempt to adapt the 1989 movie Parenthood (starring Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, and Keanu Reeves) into a TV series. The first ran for only twelve episodes during 1990-1991. Although the characters all retained their names from the film, all actors but a handful of the children were recast; the adult leads were Ed Begley Jr. and Jayne Atkinson as Gil and Karen Buckman, and the show provided an early role for the then-teenaged Leonardo DiCaprio as Garry Buckman (the role originally played by Leaf Phoenix, later Joaquin). This second TV series was a looser adaptation (for example, the main family's last name was changed to "Braverman") and much more successful than the first; it started in 2010, ran for six seasons, and starred Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, and Dax Shepard.
- Jason Ritter (Mark Cyr) and John Corbett (Seth Holt) previously starred together in the movie Raise Your Voice (2004).
- The phrase "It's not fair" is said at least once in every single episode.
- Mae Whitman and Xolo Maridueña share a birthday. June 9th although Mae Whitman is 13 years older.
- Many of the actors in this show also worked on another show called The Fosters.
- When Carl comes to pick up his keys there is a woman with him by the name of Lincoln. Dax Shepard (Crosby Braverman)'s, first born daughter with Kristen Bell is named Lincoln.
- Jason Ritter (Mark Cyr) starred in Joan of Arcadia (2003) with Mary Steenburgen, who starred in Parenthood (1989), the movie that inspired this series.
- The Braverman adults are very similar to the Buckman kids in the original parenthood movie. Kevin: Adam (Kevin is autistic and Adam has a child with autism) Taylor: Sarah Justin: Crosby Surprise baby: Julia
Videos[]
Parenthood Trailer 1