"American Dreams," the two-time Emmy Award-winning primetime drama about a young Philadelphia family facing the wave of cultural changes in the 1960s, started its third season with an amazing episode.
The show centers around East Catholic High School senior Meg Pryor (played by a perfect Brittany Snow), who, in this episode, goes to civil court for her arrest at a University of Pennsylvania protest against the Vietnam War. Meg's older brother JJ, played by a poignantly melancholy Will Estes, is fighting overseas in Vietnam. Meg's stern, no-nonsense father Jack Pryor fights internal battles in this episode as he begins his candidacy for City Council. Sarah Ramos aptly portrays Meg's heinously annoying little sister Patty, and Ethan Dampf plays their adorable younger brother Will, who is recovering from polio surgery. Gail O'Grady plays Meg, JJ, Patty and Will's smart and increasingly independent mother, Helen Pryor. Meg's two best friends, the gorgeous and daring Roxanne (Vanessa Lengies) and the shier and earnest Sam (Arlen Escarpeta) play pivotal roles in the show, both as sidekicks in Meg's various flirtations with protesting and rebellion and as shoulders to lean on in times of trouble.
The sets for "American Dreams" are, for the most part, the same as last year. The three primary sets are those in the Pryor household, the girls' private Catholic high school and the TV set of "American Bandstand" (on which Meg and Roxanne are dancers). A new setting on "American Dreams" is The Lair, a restaurant that features daily live music where Beth Mason (Rachel Boston), JJ's pregnant fiancée, works part-time.
The costumes on "American Dreams" are period costumes with various modern flairs. While the girls wear modest skirts and blouses to dance on the show, they are more fitted than their true 60s counterparts. The same sort of trend applies to the hairstyles; although they are basically true to the originals, elements of modern style (for example, bangs) are snuck in to maintain appeal to younger viewers. However, the children's school uniforms and their father's business suits are perfectly accurate. There are enough argyle sweaters, A-line skirts, horn-rimmed glasses and flipped-out curls to make any viewer believe they are watching a window into a world of almost 50 years ago.
A feature of the show since its inception is the casting of current celebrities as the stars performing on "Dick Clark's American Bandstand." Previous cameos include Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lil' Kim and Nick Lachey. Sunday's guest star was Brandy, who portrayed Gladys Knight and sang her song "I Heard it Through the Grapevine." The next episode promises an appearance by Nicole Richie.
Representing Meg's passion for music, which she expresses in her dancing on "American Bandstand" and her growing record collection, is the show's thematic centricity around popular music of the 60s era. The show always has a fluid quality because of this concept; a shot of Meg and Roxanne dancing on "Bandstand" can cut to a shot of Meg's father at work in his TV and radio store with "Bandstand" on the TV screens, which can cut to JJ listening to the same song on the radio in the hospital in Vietnam.
In keeping with the 1960s spirit, "American Dreams" is dedicated to bringing the political and cultural shifts in American society to life onscreen, exemplifying the generational friction in the characters' lives. This clash is brought to life most vividly in the conflicts between the more conservative and sometimes religious parental figures and the questioning and increasingly liberal youth. In addition to war controversy, the issues of racism, sexism, civil disobedience, teen behavior and birth control are just some of those faced in past episodes of the show. These topics, among others, are not treated trivially but are deeply and thoroughly explored in the context of the times.
Do not think that "American Dreams" is a soap opera; although it can bring viewers to tears, the drama is never over-the-top. Neither, however, is "American Dreams" is a textbook with commercials. Because of its realistic and down-to-earth characters, its intricate plots, its music and its daring, "American Dreams" entertainingly portrays a microcosm of a younger America at the pinnacle of its growing pains.
"American Dreams" airs on Sunday nights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on NBC. More information about "American Dreams" can be found on the show's website.
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