The Bedford Diaries

Infobox Television
show_name = The Bedford Diaries


caption =
format = Drama
camera =
picture_format =
audio_format =
runtime = 54 minutes
creator = Tom Fontana
Julie Martin
developer =
executive_producer = Tom Fontana
Julie Martin
Barry Levinson
starring = Penn Badgley
Victoria Cartagena
Tiffany Dupont
Corri English
Matthew Modine
Milo Ventimiglia
Ernest Waddell
narrated =
opentheme = Jeremy Kay - Weight in Gold
endtheme =
country = USA
network = The WB
first_run =
first_aired = March 29, 2006
last_aired = May 10, 2006
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 8
website =
imdb_id = 0460626
tv_com_id = 32848

"The Bedford Diaries" is an American television series that began its first season on The WB network on March 29, 2006 and concluded its first season on May 10, 2006. It was soon cancelled on May 18, 2006. It was created by Tom Fontana and Julie Martin.

A week prior to its premiere, The WB posted scenes from the pilot, which might have prompted FCC fines, on its Website. A version without explicit images was aired on the network.

Plot

"The Bedford Diaries" explores the excitement and intensity of New York City college life through the eyes of six students with different backgrounds, experiences and ages, who are brought together in a provocative sexuality seminar. The seminar, which examines the human condition through sexuality, is taught by maverick Professor Jake Macklin, who will challenge and inspire his students as they question their assumptions about their own sexuality, life and identity. The themes include sexual responsibility, manipulation, and the differences between love and sex, passion and abstinence.

The students’ innermost thoughts and desires are told through video diaries they make to fulfill their weekly class assignments.

Among the students are Sarah Gregory, the Student Government President, poised and assured but vulnerable in love, and her younger brother, Owen Gregory, a freshman pre-med major, who plans to take advantage of all the fun college life has to offer. Natalie Dykstra, a lovely, out-going and emotional woman, has returned to campus after a suicide attempt. She now struggles with being stereotyped as “the jumper.” Natalie’s ex-boyfriend, Richard Thorne, a former Park Avenue bad boy who turned his life around after Natalie’s jump, is also a member of the class. He’s now clean, sober and works as the college newspaper’s editor, but he’s still tormented by old demons. Lee Hemingway is a scholarship student from Queens with ambitions to become an art historian. Lee has a serious girlfriend, Rachel, but he’s attracted to another scholarship student, Zoe Lopez. Zoe talks a fast and flirty game, but despite her brash veneer, she is still a virgin and struggles with her growing feelings for Lee.

The series also stars Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald as Professor Carla Bonatelle, a Political Science professor and head of the Ethics Committee, who regularly clashes with Professor Macklin, as well as with
Peter Gerety as Harold Harper, the fatherly, compassionate and often beleaguered Dean of Students.

From HBO Independent Productions, Warner Bros. Television Production Inc. and The Levinson/Fontana Co. with executive producers Tom Fontana (“Oz,” “Homicide: Life On The Street”), Julie Martin (“Homicide: Life on the Street”), and Barry Levinson (“Rain Man,” “Diner”).

Outdoor scenes are filmed at Barnard College in New York City.

Cast

*Matthew Modine as Professor Jake Macklin
*Penn Badgley as Owen Gregory
*Victoria Cartagena as Zoe Lopez
*Tiffany Dupont as Sarah Gregory
*Corri English as Natalie Dykstra
*Milo Ventimiglia as Richard Thorne
*Ernest Waddell as Lee Hemmingway
*Aaron Yoo as James Fong

Episodes

External links

* [http://www.bedforddiaries.org The Bedford Diaries WB Online] (Unofficial site)