Series synopsis
Popular is an American comedy drama television series that premiered on The WB on September 29, 1999. It ended on May 18, 2001. It was created by Ryan Murphy, Gina Matthews. It stars Leslie Bibb, Carly Pope, Tamara Mello and Christopher Gorham.
Brooke McQueen, a popular cheerleader at Jacqueline Kennedy High School, and Sam McPherson, the editor of the school paper, are polar opposites. When their single parents unexpectedly meet and get engaged, Brooke and Sam have to deal with their new situation on top of regular teenage girl problems.
Premise
Brooke McQueen, a popular cheerleader at Jacqueline Kennedy High School, and Sam McPherson, the editor of the school paper, are polar opposites. When their single parents unexpectedly meet and get engaged, Brooke and Sam have to deal with their new situation on top of regular teenage girl problems.
Premise: It's not a contest. It's a war.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Leslie Bibb as Brooke McQueen
- Carly Pope as Sam McPherson
- Tamara Mello as Lily Esposito
- Christopher Gorham as Harrison John
- Sara Rue as Carmen Ferrara
- Bryce Johnson as Josh Ford
- Tammy Lynn Michaels as Nicole Julian
- Ron Lester as Michael 'Sugar Daddy' Bernardino
Supporting cast
- Leslie Grossman as Mary Cherry
- Lisa Darr as Jane McPherson
- Scott Bryce as Mike McQueen
- Diane Delano as Bobbi Glass
- Brenda Bakke as Mary Lou Parker
- Bob Clendenin as Godfrey
- Mitchell Anderson as Mr. Bennett
- Alyson Reed as Stern Woman Judge
- Susan Ruttan as Joy Ferrara
- Niecy Nash as Teacher
- Taryn Manning as Ashley Carmichael
- Ali Landry as Heather
Guest cast
- Brenda Bakke as Mary Lou Parker
- Bob Clendenin as Godfrey
- Mitchell Anderson as Mr. Bennett
- Alyson Reed as Stern Woman Judge
- Susan Ruttan as Joy Ferrara
- Niecy Nash as Teacher
- Taryn Manning as Ashley Carmichael
- Ali Landry as Heather
- Steve Kmetko as Steve Kmetko
- Alessandra Torresani as Emily Dick / Emma Dick
- Rachel Wilson as Flynn Hudson
- Ashley Edner as Misty Dawn Ford
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 43 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 22 | September 29, 1999 | May 18, 2000 |
| Season 2 | 21 | September 22, 2000 | May 18, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Popular, Round One In the series pilot, social opposites Sam and Brooke are paired as lab partners, to the delight of Carmen, who sees it as a chance for Sam to help her get on the cheerleading squad. Meanwhile, Brooke and Nicole plan the first party of the school year and star quarterback Josh tries out for the school play. |
September 29, 1999 |
| 2 |
Mo' Menace, Mo' Problems Carmen ditches school the day after the cheerleading roster is posted, and Lily refuses to dissect a frog in science class. Meanwhile, Josh's father embarrasses him at rehearsal; and Mary Cherry stalks Nicole. |
September 30, 1999 |
| 3 |
Under Siege Sam writes an exposé about the cheerleaders' school budget, leading to the squad's termination and its remaining funds being redistributed to the drama department. The exposé also heightens the tension between Brooke and Sam as they prepare for their first dinner together with their parents. Meanwhile, Josh must decide between starring in the school musical or playing in the homecoming game. |
October 7, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Timber! Brooke bonds with her long-lost mother--much to her dad's chagrin. Meanwhile, Lily and Sugar Daddy try to save a tree from being cut down, and Carmen delays telling her friends about her pregnancy. |
September 22, 2000 |
| 2 |
Baby, Don't Do It! Bobbi Glass (with her new nickname, Claws) has a new experiment for the students: they have to take care of baby dolls as if they were real babies. Everybody gets one, except for Lily who shares the doll with Carm. Because they don't know the baby's gender, they name it Hillary Swank - neither a boy nor a girl. Brooke is too busy because she is moving to San Francisco with her mom, and doesn't have time to take care of the doll. Emory's twin sisters, Emma and Emily (Em&Em, a parody of the rap singer Eminem) come to K. High looking for lessons from Nic and MC for how to become popular. Too busy teaching the girls and organizing a party that will define popularity, they handle their babies to a British nanny, who eventually abuses them. Carm, concerned about the unpopular group, decides to help them, but neglects her baby. The twins become too powerful and turn against their teachers. Nic and Mary Cherry decide it's time to stop them and put things back on track. Meanwhile, Sam decides t |
September 29, 2000 |
| 3 |
Citizen Shame Bobbi Glass's uncle Tipton is coming to town, and she has to find a solution for her lies. All these years she has been telling him about her child, which she doesn't have. He is rich and she wants his money. So she bribes Nicole to pretend to be her daughter. Carmen runs away from home because she is having family problems. Her father left and she has bruises on her arm. She stays with Sam and Jane for a while, but then Jane talks her into calling her mom. She doesn't want Carmen to come back anymore, and Carmen is thinking about getting her own place. Trying to help Carm with money, Lily shows up at the family lunch and poses as Bobbi's second daughter. Bobbi's plans are ruined and nobody gets the money. Meanwhile, Bonnie, the new SAT teacher, becomes friendly with Brooke and they have lunch together. She gets drunk and Brooke tries to drive her home, but she takes the wrong car by accident and gets in major trouble. Jane and Sam have to take her out of prison. And then Jane realizes |
October 6, 2000 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | The WB |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 29, 1999 |
| Last aired | May 18, 2001 |
| Runtime | 44 minutes |
| Status | canceled |
| Schedule | Friday |