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American Dreams Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
25 Episodes 2002 - 2003
Episode 1
Pilot Episode
Sun, Sep 29, 2002 60 mins
In the series' pilot, it's November 1963, and Jack Pryor (Tom Verica) pretty much has it all: a house with a yard his five kids can play in; his ownTV store; and two weeks at the Jersey shore each summer. But son J.J. (Will Estes) doesn't want to play football for East Catholic High anymore (he'd lose a Notre Dame scholarship if he quits). And his wife, Helen (Gail O'Grady), doesn't want more children. Meanwhile, daughter Meg (Brittany Snow) wants desperately to dance on "American Bandstand."
Episode 2
The End of the Innocence
Sun, Oct 6, 2002 60 mins
Michelle Branch guest stars as "American Bandstand" favorite Lesley Gore (and sings her hit "You Don't Own Me") in this episode, set during Thanksgiving week in 1963. But in the wake of JFK's assassination, no one feels thankful. Even Meg's selection as a "Bandstand" regular seems hollow to her, especially since best friend Roxanne (Vanessa Lengies) wasn't chosen. And the resentful Roxanne isn't going easy on Meg.
Episode 3
New Frontier
Sun, Oct 13, 2002 60 mins
Henry's son Sam (Arlen Escarpeta) earns a track scholarship to almost-all-white East Catholic. Guess who's coming to dinner at the Pryors' house? Meanwhile, Meg attracts the attention of "Bandstand" stalwart Jimmy Riley, and the ire of a rumor-spreading regular named Teresa. J.J. returns to the football team and fights with Beth over college applications. (He also hears her father call him a "Catholic kid from West Philly" to his country-club friends.) And Helen takes a literature course.
Episode 4
Pryor Knowledge
Sun, Oct 20, 2002 60 mins
Meg goes on her first date, with Jimmy Riley (Jesse Hutch). But first, Roxanne gives her some dating tips, which Patty overhears. Jack and Helen are also stepping out: Rebecca Sandstrom (Virginia Madsen) has invited them to dinner with her and her economics-professor husband. Meanwhile, Beth (Rachel Boston) won't be able to make Patty's spelling bee because she has to get ready for a mixer at Swarthmore. This is troubling for JJ because she doesn't want him to go with her. Sam: Arlen Escarpeta.
Episode 5
The Fighting Irish
Sun, Oct 27, 2002 60 mins
A Notre Dame recruiter is interested in JJ, but he's preoccupied with Beth, so Jack will have to carry the ball for his son. And Jimmy Riley asks Meg to be his regular partner on "Bandstand." This could be the start of something big. As Roxanne puts it, "Jimmy Riley has been blessed with one of the great pickup lines of our time---Will you dance with me on 'Bandstand'?---and he's not going to waste it on somebody he isn't crazy about." Meanwhile, Helen gets birth-control pills.
Episode 6
Soldier Boy
Sun, Nov 3, 2002 60 mins
Backstreet Boy Nick Carter guest stars as Jay Black, the lead singer of the '60s pop group Jay and the Americans, who meets Meg at a "Bandstand" rehearsal (where he's performing the 1964 hit "Come a Little Bit Closer"). They hit it off and plan a party for that night---but where? The Pryor house is a possibility, since Jack and Helen are in New York for a reunion of Jack's WWII unit. They'd never allow it, of course, and JJ knows it, but he's distracted by his breakup with Beth (Rachel Boston).
Episode 7
Cold Snap
Sun, Nov 10, 2002 60 mins
Usher appears as Marvin Gaye, who performs "Can I Get a Witness" on "Bandstand," and inadvertently assists Roxanne's start-up autograph business. Meanwhile, a snooty record-store clerk (Jamie Elman) uses subterfuge to turn Meg on to Bob Dylan; Sam (Arlen Escarpeta) is the victim of Tommy DeFelice's locker-room prank, which also involves JJ; and Helen receives encouragement from her lit professor (Robby Benson) at Temple.
Episode 8
Black & White
Sun, Nov 17, 2002 60 mins
The city-championship game is coming up, and JJ is understandably outraged when he hears rumors that "some guys" are paying to ensure an East Catholic loss. Meanwhile, Roxanne is taking a surprising interest in record-store clerk (and Bob Dylan fan) Luke Foley (Jamie Elman), and Meg isn't quite comfortable with that; two of Helen's Temple classmates invite her to a folk-music concert (at the record store where Luke works, as it happens); and Henry hits on a marketing strategy that Jack would never think of to unload the small TV sets they're stuck with at the store. Uncle Pete: Matthew John Armstrong.
Episode 9
The Home Front
Sun, Dec 1, 2002 60 mins
Meg goes to a North Philadelphia church to hear Luke (Jamie Elman) play piano, while JJ spends a night with a 25-year-old woman (Jessica Collins)---and Jack grounds Meg. It's a double standard that bothers Helen as well as Meg. Meanwhile, a friend of Henry's (Clifton Davis) thinks---out loud---that Henry isn't appreciated enough at the TV store; and the Pryor family's crèche is missing its Mary figurine. Perhaps Will (Ethan Dampf) knows what happened to it.
Episode 10
Silent Night
Sun, Dec 15, 2002 60 mins
Ashanti guest stars as Dionne Warwick, singing "Walk On By" on the "Bandstand" Christmas show. But Meg has something else on her mind: her first kiss. It seems that she and Jimmy Riley (Jesse Hutch) were voted one of the show's "best couples" in a teen-magazine poll. That means they'll dance under the mistletoe. That's stressful enough, but what's worse is that Jimmy's the wrong boy. And the right one, Luke (Jamie Elman), isn't taking it well at all. Meanwhile, JJ hears from Notre Dame about his scholarship and the first person he wants to tell is Beth (Rachel Boston). Colleen: Jessica Collins.
Episode 11
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Sun, Jan 5, 2003 60 mins
Beatlemania's sweeping "Bandstand" (and the Pryor household), but when JJ receives his scholarship letter from Notre Dame the answer isn't "yeah, yeah, yeah." Still, Jack vows that he'll find a way to pay the tuition. Meanwhile, it has been 27 days since Luke (Jamie Elman) has kissed Meg, and she's getting concerned. And Helen won't allow Patty to watch the Fab Four on "The Ed Sullivan Show" unless she's successful in her effort to get Will to memorize the names of the 12 apostles. Ted Pryor: Christopher Cousins. Pete: Matthew John Armstrong.
Episode 12
Great Expectations
Sun, Jan 12, 2003 60 mins
Meg gets two Cs on her report card and Helen, more concerned about it than Jack is, thinks it would be a good idea for Meg to accompany her to her Temple class. Meg dislikes the idea, but not as much as she dislikes the fact that Luke agrees with her mother. Roxanne is also at odds with her mother, so she stays with the Pryors. Meanwhile, Beth notices JJ talking to Colleen; Jack hires Henry's nephew; and it seems that there's a bullying problem in Will's third-grade class. Keb' Mo' has a cameo.
Episode 13
The Pursuit of Happiness
Sun, Feb 2, 2003 60 mins
Beth (Rachel Boston) won't forgive J.J. for his dalliance with Colleen, which bugs him a lot when he's sober, and more so when he's not. Meanwhile, Roxanne angles to write the "Backstage on Bandstand" column for "Teenzine"; Meg and Sam (Arlen Escarpata) become record-swapping friends; Henry worries about Nathan's on-the-job attitude; and Helen baby-sits Prof. Witt's 6-year-old son while he's in New York for a Freedom Summer organizational meeting. Witt: Robby Benson. Nathan: Keith Robinson. Luke: Jamie Elman. Tommy DeFelice: Paul Wasilewski. Danny O'Connor: Rodney Scott.
Episode 14
Heartache
Sun, Feb 9, 2003 60 mins
Vanessa Carlton guest stars as Dusty Springfield (and sings Springfield's 1964 hit "Wishin' and Hopin' ") on a Valentine's Day-themed episode that's short on romance. There's a dance at East Catholic, but Luke (Jamie Elman), true to form, is ambivalent about attending. And Roxanne doesn't have a date. Neither does J.J., because Beth (Rachel Boston) won't return his calls. Meanwhile, Patty is planning her first boy-girl party, but Helen sees to it that opportunies for romance will be few and far between. And in another matter of the heart, Jack is having chest pains.
Episode 15
False Start
Sun, Feb 16, 2003 60 mins
Art Garfunkel joins the cast as Luke Foley's boss at the record store. Also appearing: India.Arie, impersonating Nina Simone performing at the store. Elsewhere, track season has begun, and it's JJ vs. Sam in the 880; the scuttlebutt in Helen's class is that the divorced professor has a crush on her; and Luke and Meg want to remain friends, despite their breakup. The problem: He thinks she's not "serious" enough. Roxanne sums it up when she calls Meg a "bubbly blonde" in her "Teenzine" column.
Episode 16
Act of Contrition
Sun, Mar 2, 2003 60 mins
East Catholic's track coach wants Sam and J.J. to push each other, and that they do. Meanwhile, Will (Ethan Dampf) is preparing for his First Holy Communion, but must get through the dreaded First Confession; Patty (Sarah Ramos) has her own encounter with the Catholic Church; Roxanne tells Meg that she's now interested in "guys," not "boys," Michael Brooks (Joseph Lawrence) in particular; and a girl in Helen's lit class comes down with a disturbing illness.
Episode 17
Past Imperfect
Sun, Mar 9, 2003 60 mins
Jack's dragging Meg along on a visit to his father's grave, which means she'll probably miss a meeting with Michael Brooks about a "Bandstand" special he's planning. And J.J.'s glum because his broken leg isn't healing as fast as he'd like. Meanwhile, Helen decides to join Professor Witt (Robby Benson) on one of his voter-registration drives in North Philly. Michael: Joseph Lawrence. Beth: Rachel Boston. Pete: Matthew John Armstrong. Ted: Christopher Cousins.
Episode 18
The One
Sun, Mar 16, 2003 60 mins
Wayne Brady guest stars as Jackie Wilson, performing "Baby Work Out" on "Bandstand," while offstage things might be heating up for real between Meg and Jimmy Riley (Jesse Hutch), her dance partner and "fake boyfriend." As it happens, she realizes this while signing autographs with Jimmy at the Vinyl Crocodile as her ex-boyfriend, Luke (Jamie Elman), looks on, unhappily. Meanwhile, Jack and his brother Ted (Christopher Cousins) decide to open a new store in North Philly and make their brother Pete (Matthew John Armstrong) the manager. This is not good news for Henry.
Episode 19
Where the Boys Are
Sun, Mar 30, 2003 60 mins
LeAnn Rimes guest stars as Connie Francis, singing Francis's 1961 hit "Where the Boys Are" on "Bandstand," but the pop star Meg's concerned about is Bobby Darin (Duncan Sheik). He's also appearing on the show, and she has been assigned to be his "intern." It would be a nicer job if Darin were a nicer guy. Meanwhile, Prof. Witt (Robby Benson) offers Helen a ride home from Temple; Henry and Pete (Matthew John Armstrong) face off---at a poker table; JJ is just itching to have his cast removed; and Jimmy Riley (Jesse Hutch) announces that he has enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Episode 20
The Carpetbaggers
Sun, Apr 6, 2003 60 mins
Patty walks in on Meg and Luke (Jamie Elman) while they're making out, and drives a hard bargain. But Meg is more concerned about how "experienced" Luke is. And things might be heating up again between JJ and Colleen (Jessica Collins). Meanwhile, something Jack learns during a confrontation with Nathan (Keith Robinson) at the new North Philly store makes him worry about Helen's voter-registration work. Helen's concerned about it, too, but for a different reason. And Nathan has some advice for Sam (Arlen Escarpata): Quit the track team. Brenda Holloway: Vivian Green.
Episode 21
Fear Itself
Sun, Apr 13, 2003 60 mins
Meg and Roxanne are chosen for East Catholic's Prom Committee. Their assignment: get "cool" seniors onto the "Bandstand" set so they can take candid photos known as "senior snaps." Success, Roxanne gushes, will make them "the coolest sophomores in history." But they don't have permission from "Bandstand" to do it. Meanwhile, Will's Soap Box Derby is coming up, but he's afraid of the hills, and JJ's afraid of testing his newly healed leg; Patty has joined the Robins, and is very competitive about earning badges; and Jack hires Sam to do a job at the Girard Avenue store.
Episode 22
Secrets and Lies
Sun, Apr 27, 2003 60 mins
JJ's senior prom is coming up but he's not going because Colleen (Jessica Collins) has made him another offer. Then he hears from Beth (Rachel Boston). In other prom-related doings, Meg's new friend Carol (Lauren Mayhew) invites her---but not Roxanne---to a pre-prom sleep-over at her house. Meanwhile, Patty's afraid that no one likes her (there's some reason for this: she has a reputation as being a "know-it-all"); Nathan (Keith Robinson) puts Henry in another delicate situation at the Girard Avenue store; and Jack runs into Professor Witt (Robby Benson) near the store and senses that there might be something between him and Helen.
Episode 23
Down the Shore
Sun, May 4, 2003 60 mins
Third Eye Blind impersonates the Kinks at a "Bandstand" beach hop as the Pryors begin their annual Jersey Shore vacation. Roxanne isn't with them because she's still mad at Meg, but Meg's rich new friend Carol has invited her to her beach club. And Meg returns the favor, getting Carol and her friends into the beach hop. Meanwhile, Helen finally tells Jack about Professor Witt's advance. Back in town, JJ's at home---with Beth (Rachel Boston)---while Henry's minding the North Philly store. The neighborhood is steaming and the city pool hasn't opened yet.
Episode 24
High Hopes
Sun, May 11, 2003 60 mins
JJ, tender ankle and all, arrives at Lehigh to begin football practice. And Roxanne, who's still on the outs with Meg, meets someone she has been on the outs with for eight years: her father. Meanwhile, Meg gets her learner's permit and wants Luke to teach her to drive. And the Girard Avenue store is about to open, but the timing could be better: riots in Harlem have prompted the Philadelphia police to consider a curfew for North Philly. Montel Williams plays a North Philly minister.
Episode 25
City on Fire
Sun, May 18, 2003 60 mins
Stacie Orrico and Kelly Rowland have a cameos (as the lead singer of the girl group the Angels and Martha Reeves, respectively) an episode in which JJ must deal with the end of his football career. He does so decisively---too decisively for Beth (Rachel Boston) and his mother. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for Meg's Sweet 16 birthday party, but Sam (Arlen Escarpeta) has declined his invitation. Meg is so troubled by it that she confronts him at the Girard Avenue store, where he's working. She arrives just as North Philly erupts in a race riot.
