Instant Star

Last updated
Instant Star
Instantstarlogo.jpg
Genre
  • Teen drama
  • comedy
  • musical
Created by Linda Schuyler
Starring
Theme music composer
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes52 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Linda Schuyler
  • Stephen Stohn
Producer Stephen Stohn
Production locations Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Production company Epitome Pictures
Release
Original network
Original releaseSeptember 15, 2004 (2004-09-15) 
July 28, 2008 (2008-07-28)

Instant Star is a Canadian musical comedy-drama television series which aired from 15 September 2004 to 26 June 2008. The series stars Alexz Johnson as teenage singing competition winner Jude Harrison. The show chronicles Harrison's experience in the recording industry whilst focusing on character development.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Instant Star was created by Linda Schuyler, who also co-created Degrassi . In Canada, the show aired on CTV. In the United States, it aired on Noggin as part of its teen-oriented block, The N. [1] Epitome Pictures produced the show, and both CTV and The N were involved in the production and financing.

Four seasons of the show (each with 13 episodes) were made. CTV and The N both pulled funding following the fourth season, despite plans by Epitome Pictures to continue with a fifth season. [2] The fourth and final season ended on June 26, 2008 in the United States.

Overview

In each episode of the show, Jude Harrison must deal with the issues and challenges of both her musical career and her personal life, as one weaves into the other. She also faces dilemmas and choices in her relationships, dividing her feelings between the loves in her life, while also recording with G-Major Records. These people are important to her music – the one thread that ties her life together. Her best moments are when she is working with others in creating and performing her music. In addition to her music and her loves, there is much else going on in her personal life and in the lives of those around her.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
1 13September 15, 2004 (2004-09-15)April 24, 2005 (2005-04-24) CTV
2 13February 10, 2006 (2006-02-10)May 12, 2006 (2006-05-12) Noggin
3 13February 16, 2007 (2007-02-16)May 18, 2007 (2007-05-18)
4 13June 2, 2008 (2008-06-02)July 28, 2008 (2008-07-28)

Cast

Cast photo - Instant Star (Credit to Epitome Pictures) Alexz Johnson and Other Cast Members of Instant Star.jpg
Cast photo – Instant Star (Credit to Epitome Pictures)

Main

Recurring

Supporting

Supporting cast
SeasonActorCharacter
1
Jane Sowerby Victoria Harrison
Miku Graham Portia Mills
2
Jane SowerbyVictoria Harrison
Miku GrahamPortia Mills
Nicholas RoseMason Fox
Vincent WalshLiam Fenway
3
Miku GrahamPortia Mills
4
Kristin Fairlie Megan

Guest stars

Guest stars
ActorCharacterSeasonEpisode numberEpisode name
Stacey Farber Herself28Personality Crisis
Drake Himself28Personality Crisis
Christopher Ralph Chaz Blackburn111All Apologies
25Viciousness
Corey Sevier Hunter3818 Part 1
10Nowhere To Run
11Celebrity Skin
Jordan Todosey Helen210 Problem Child
John Ralston Don24Miss World
25Viciousness
27Stranger In The House
211Mother's Little Helper
Shawn Singleton T-Bone15You Can't Always Get What You Want
17I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
22No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn: Part 2

The Instant Stars

Instant Stars
SeasonWinnerRunner-Up
1 Jude Harrison Eden Taylor
2Mason Fox
3KarmaBobby
4Milo KeeganKadijah

Music

Other article: Instant Star soundtracks

Each episode of the series features a new song performed by Alexz Johnson. Usually, the song is about something that occurs in the episode. However, in some episodes, there is no direct explanation to the lyrics; sometimes it's just a song. Some episodes can feature more than one song, but there is only one song per episode that is to be featured on the soundtrack for that season. For instance, there are 13 episodes per season, which means there are 13 main songs. One of the songs, "Perfect," was written by Canadian synth pop artist Lights.

Alexz Johnson recorded the vocals on the first and second soundtracks, while even co-writing some of the songs with her brother Brendan. For the third and fourth soundtracks, Alexz wasn't featured for all of the songs because of the release of her debut album and conflicts with prior record labels.

Just before the broadcast of the second season on The N, viewers had a chance to see Alexz Johnson in concert in a show called Instant Star: Backstage Pass, singing two of the songs from each season of the show and accompanied by her band from the show, Spiederman Mind Explosion.

Broadcast

Instant Star was broadcast in over 120 countries.

Coverage
CountryBroadcaster
Australia Nickelodeon
Austria ORF
Belgium Ketnet
BrazilMultishow, Boomerang
Bosnia and Herzegovina FTV
BulgariaNovaTV
Canada CTV
MuchMusic
CroatiaRTL Kockica
EstoniaTV3
Finland Sub
France FillesTV
Virgin 17
Germany VIVA
Hungary Viasat3
Israel Arutz HaYeladim
Italy Italia 1
Latvia TV3
Lithuania Tango TV
Malaysia 8TV
Mexico MTV Latin America
Canal 4TV
Boomerang
Televisa Regional
Morocco 2M TV
New Zealand TV2
Norway TVNorge
Peru Boomerang Latin America
Poland ZigZap
Portugal MTV Portugal
Romania TVR 2
Russia MTV Russia
Serbia RTS 2
South Africa GO
Spain MTV Spain, 8Neox
Sweden: TV2
United Kingdom: Nickelodeon
USA: Noggin (The N block), Primo TV
Ukraine:K1
Venezuela Televen
Vietnam HTV3

Home releases

Funimation Entertainment released the first two seasons on DVD in Region 1 in 2007. [6] [7]

Echo Bridge Home Entertainment acquired the rights to the series in 2010 and subsequently released the final two seasons on DVD, available in the US only. [8] [9]

DVD NameEp#Release date
Season One13May 22, 2007
Season Two13December 4, 2007
Seasons One and Two26April 7, 2009
Season Three13January 19, 2010
Season Four13July 27, 2010

Reception

In 2005, after its first season, Instant Star was nominated for three Gemini Awards in the category of Best Children's or Youth Fiction Program or Series. Nominations included: (1) Best Series; (2) Best Performance (Alexz Johnson); and (3) Best Direction (Graeme Campbell). The show won the award for Best Direction for the episode You Can't Always Get What You Want. [10]

On August 28, 2007, the show received three more Gemini Award nominations in the category of Best Children's or Youth Program or series. Alexz Johnson was again nominated for Best Performance (for the episode, "I Fought the Law"), and there were two more nominations for Best Direction - Graeme Campbell (for "I Fought the Law"), and Pat Williams (for "Personality Crisis").

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damhnait Doyle</span> Canadian musician

Damhnait Doyle is a Canadian musician, singer and composer. A phonetic spelling of her first name also serves as the title of her 2003 album. She was a member of Atlantic Canadian band Shaye from 2003–2009 with Kim Stockwood and Tara MacLean (2003–2007). Along with Blake Manning, Stuart Cameron and Peter Fusco, she formed a new band called The Heartbroken which was active since 2009.

<i>Due South</i> Canadian crime drama series (1994–1999)

Due South is a Canadian crime comedy-drama television series created by Paul Haggis, and produced by Alliance Communications from its premiere on April 26, 1994, to its conclusion after four seasons on March 14, 1999. The series starred Paul Gross, David Marciano, Gordon Pinsent, Beau Starr, Catherine Bruhier, Camilla Scott, Ramona Milano, and Callum Keith Rennie. The show follows the adventures of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Constable Benton Fraser, who first came to Chicago on the trail of the killers of his father, and has remained, attached as liaison with the Canadian Consulate. He works alongside a detective of the Chicago Police Department to solve crimes. Both are aided at times by Fraser's deaf white wolf, Diefenbaker.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> 2001 Canadian teen drama television series

Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series created by Yan Moore and Linda Schuyler. It is the fourth series in the Degrassi franchise and a revival of Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. It premiered on CTV on October 14, 2001 and concluded on August 2, 2015 on MTV Canada. The series centers around a new ensemble cast of students at the fictional Degrassi Community School who face challenges such as sex, teen pregnancy, bullying, date rape, drug abuse, body image, homosexuality, domestic violence, gang violence, self-injury, suicide, abortion, mental disorders and many other issues. Various characters from the previous two series also returned as adults in recurring or guest roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Jo Johnson</span> American and Canadian actress (born 1970)

Amy Jo Johnson is an American and Canadian actress, musician and filmmaker. As an actress, Johnson is known for her roles as Kimberly Hart on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Julie Emrick on Felicity and Jules Callaghan on Flashpoint.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexz Johnson</span> Canadian musician and actress

Alexzandra Spencer Johnson is a Canadian singer and actress. Her debut album Voodoo was independently released with her brother Brendan Johnson in 2010, followed by the demo release of The Basement Recordings in 2011, with its sequel, The Basement Recordings II, and EP Skipping Stone in 2012. The Basement Recordings III was released in 2013. A follow-up extended play Heart followed in 2014; with her sophomore effort Let 'Em Eat Cake being released October of that year. Johnson's third studio album A Stranger Time was released in 2017 and her fourth, Still Alive, in 2020. Johnson's fifth album is to be titled Seasons, she allowed her fans to vote for the title via her personal Patreon. An official release date has yet to be announced but she began announcing dates for an intimate Europe/ US Tour set to begin in the early spring of 2023 to promote its release.

<i>Whistler</i> (TV series) Canadian TV series or program

Whistler is a teen drama series created by Kelly Senecal. It aired on CTV in Canada and on Noggin's teen-oriented programming block, The N, in the United States. It was the first hour-long drama on The N. The series centres on the aftermath of the mysterious death of a local snowboard legend in Whistler, British Columbia. It aired for two seasons from 2006 to 2008.

<i>Songs from Instant Star</i> 2005 soundtrack album by Alexz Johnson

Songs from Instant Star is the soundtrack for the first season of the television series Instant Star. The entire album is performed by Alexz Johnson, who portrays the show's protagonist Jude Harrison. Throughout the run of the show, it’s official soundtracks coincide with Johnson's character's own fictional albums as she consistently works on her music during the storylines of each episode. Jude Harrison's debut album in the first season was self-titled, Jude Harrison.

Lindsay Robins is a singer-songwriter who wrote and performed the theme song "What Would You Do" for the VJ Search reality series on MuchMusic, which went on to be the 2007 recipient of The North American Promax Award for Best Music Package/Theme Song. She wrote and performed music for the television series Instant Star and, in 2006, released a solo rock album, Dirty Chemistry, on Aquarius Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Kyte</span> Canadian actor and musician

Jonathan Tyler "Ty" Kyte is a Canadian actor and musician. He was born in Lindsay, Ontario, and began his acting career with commercials and performing in the Musical Tommy in Toronto. Kyte was made famous amongst Canadian youth as a correspondent on the Canadian TV series Popular Mechanics for Kids alongside fellow Canadians Elisha Cuthbert, Vanessa Lengies and Jay Baruchel. He later appeared on the TV series Goosebumps (1997) and Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1999). He appeared in the made-for-TV movie Prom Queen: The Marc Hall Story in 2004, and had a recurring role on the Canadian drama Instant Star as Vincent Spiederman until 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Stohn</span> American-born Canadian lawyer and television producer

John Stephen Stohn, is an American-born Canadian entertainment lawyer and television producer. He is best known for his involvement with the Degrassi teen drama franchise, particularly as an executive producer on Degrassi: The Next Generation. Until 2018 he was the president of Epitome Pictures Inc., which he and his wife Linda Schuyler founded in 1992 and was sold to DHX Media in 2014. On June 7, 2019, he was installed as Chancellor of Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 4) Season of television series

The fourth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on 7 September 2004, concluded on 14 February 2005 and contains twenty-two episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. This season depicts the lives of a group of high school sophomores and juniors as they deal with some of the challenges and issues teenagers face such as bullying, dysfunctional families, school shootings, mental disorders, STDs, disabilities, gambling, homosexuality, and inappropriate student-teacher relationships.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 6) Season of television series

The sixth season of the Canadian teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on 28 November 2006, concluded on 14 May 2007 and contains nineteen episodes. This season depicts the lives of high school juniors, seniors and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues young adults face such as imprisonment, online predators, burglary, substance abuse, stress, gambling addiction, financial difficulties, school rivalries, pregnancy scares and death. This is the first season in franchise history to feature college aged characters in prominent roles. Unlike the previous seasons, which took place over the course of an entire school year, season six only covers the fall semester of the school year, utilizing a semi-floating timeline. It also marks the first death of a main character in the series.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 7) Season of television series

The seventh season of Degrassi: The Next Generation commenced airing in Canada on 14 January 2008, concluded on 23 June 2008, and consists of twenty-four episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. This season takes place during the winter/spring semester of the school year that began in season six and continues to depict the lives of a group of high school sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues young adults face, such as rape, school violence, cancer, drug use, prostitution, sexual misconduct, racism, sexism, parenthood, HIV and relationships.

<i>Flashpoint</i> (TV series) 2008 Canadian crime drama television series

Flashpoint is a Canadian police procedural crime drama television series created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern. The series debuted on July 11, 2008, on CTV in Canada and on CBS and Ion Television in the United States. The series starred Hugh Dillon, Amy Jo Johnson, David Paetkau, Sergio Di Zio, and Enrico Colantoni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoie Palmer</span> Canadian actress

Zoie Palmer is a Canadian actress best known for her roles as Dr. Lauren Lewis in the Showcase supernatural drama Lost Girl and as the Android in the SyFy science fiction series Dark Matter.

<i>Song for Amanda: The EP</i> 2008 EP by Kyle Riabko

Song for Amanda: The EP is a music album by pop singer Kyle Riabko. It was inspired by the actress Amanda Bynes.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 8) Season of television series

The eighth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in Canada on 5 October 2008, concluded on 30 August 2009, and consists of twenty-two episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. Although only one school year passed in the story timeline since season six, season eight is set in the fall semester of the year in which it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, juniors, seniors, and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues young adults face such as sex, sexism, sexual identity, financial difficulties, drug use, mental disorders, cyberbullying, child molestation, stress, hostage situations, racism, and psychological abuse. Thirteen actors are added to the ensemble cast, while fourteen cast members have either left the series or been dropped from the main cast to recurring roles. The season focuses heavily on the new generation of students at Degrassi Community School, although it included storylines about those who have graduated and gone on to university.

<i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i> (season 9) Season of television series

The ninth season of Degrassi: The Next Generation premiered in Canada on October 4, 2009, concluded on July 16, 2010, and consists of twenty-three episodes. Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. Although only one school year passed in the story timeline since season six, season nine is set in the spring semester in which the years it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. This season continues to depict the lives of a group of high school freshmen, juniors and seniors, and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues that young adults face such as drug abuse, sexting, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual identity, homosexuality, crime, sex, and relationships.

The television show Instant Star has produced a series of soundtracks featuring songs from the show, mostly performed by Alexz Johnson, released between 2005 and 2009.

References

  1. "Soul and star searching for teens". Los Angeles Times . July 2005.
  2. "instantstar-online.net ... Your #1 source for all things Instant Star". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13.
  3. dlsmodsquad (25 August 2007). "Instant Star Season 4 Interview". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 24 December 2017 via YouTube.
  4. dlsmodsquad (25 August 2007). "Instant Star Season 4 Interview". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 24 December 2017 via YouTube.
  5. dlsmodsquad (25 August 2007). "Instant Star Season 4 Interview". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 24 December 2017 via YouTube.
  6. "Instant Star: Season 1". 22 May 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2017 via Amazon.
  7. "Instant Star: Season 2". 4 December 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2017 via Amazon.
  8. "Instant Star - Echo Bridge Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  9. "Instant Star Season 4 - Echo Bridge Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  10. "Canada's Awards Database". The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-11-13.