Melissa & Joey

Melissa & Joey is an American sitcom television series starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence that aired for four seasons between 2010 and 2015 on ABC Family (now Freeform). The series follows local politician Mel Burke (Hart) and Joe Longo (Lawrence), whom Mel hires to look after her niece Lennox Scanlon (Taylor Spreitler) and nephew Ryder Scanlon (Nick Robinson) after a Ponzi scheme leaves Joe broke.

Not to be confused with Mel & Joey, a defunct Philippine talk show.

Melissa & Joey
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
Theme music composerJoey Lawrence &
Matthew Gerrard
Opening theme"Stuck With Me", performed by Joey Lawrence
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes104 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • David Kendall
  • Bob Young
  • Melissa Joan Hart
  • Joey Lawrence
  • Paula Hart
  • John Ziffren
  • Seth Kurland
Producers
  • Ken Ornstein
  • Sarah Jane Cunningham
  • Suzie V. Freeman
  • David Hartle
  • Brenda Hsueh
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22 minutes[1]
Production companies
  • Hartbreak Films
  • JL Veritas
DistributorDisney–ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original networkABC Family
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
Audio formatDolby Digital 5.1
Original releaseAugust 17, 2010 (2010-08-17) –
August 5, 2015 (2015-08-05)
External links
Website

The series was picked up originally for a pilot and season one containing 12 episodes – this premiered August 17, 2010. Then, due to the success of the show, ABC Family renewed it for 18 more episodes on October 8, 2010, which premiered June 29, 2011. The series was renewed by ABC Family for a second season of fifteen episodes, which began airing on May 30, 2012, and ended on August 29, 2012.[2] During the second season, Melissa & Joey ranked as cable television's #1 telecast at 8 o'clock across target audiences 18–34, 18–49 and 12–34 demographics.[3][4]

On August 17, 2012, ABC Family renewed Melissa & Joey for a third season,[5] set to premiere on May 29, 2013.[6] On May 28, 2013, ABC Family announced that the third season would be expanded by 20 episodes, and that the show had also been renewed for a fourth season, bringing the series total to 100 episodes.[7]

The show proved to be quite successful for ABC Family as, in its third season, it established a 13-week high in total viewers, an eight-week high in viewers between the ages of 18–34 and 18–49 and a 15-week high in female viewers between the ages of 12–34.[8] During the fourth season, the show reached a milestone of 100 episodes for syndication purposes but declined in the ratings.[9][10] Along with most ABC Family shows, the declining number of viewers watching Melissa & Joey occurred in tandem with a general trend of reduced numbers of television network subscribers.[11][12][13] Looking to marginalize these declines, the show accelerated the availability of its episodes to non-provider-authenticated ABC Family subscribers with Hulu Plus to three weeks post broadcast.[14] On February 9, 2015, ABC Family announced its decision to end the series after four seasons.[15] The series finale aired on August 5, 2015.[16]

Series overview

Mel is a local politician from a political family. When a family scandal leaves her niece, Lennox, and nephew, Ryder, without their parents, Mel takes them in. Meanwhile, Joe is a former commodities trader left bankrupt after a Ponzi scheme, and finds himself searching for a job.[17] So when Mel finds it hard to handle an instant family and her own life, she hires Joe to become the family's new male nanny, or "manny".

The show stars two former teen idols who were notable for roles they played in popular 1990s sitcoms, Lawrence for Blossom and Hart for Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Hart and Lawrence are both listed as executive producers of the series, and have each directed individual episodes.

Episodes
Main article: List of Melissa & Joey episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
13012August 17, 2010 (2010-08-17)October 26, 2010 (2010-10-26)
18June 29, 2011 (2011-06-29)September 14, 2011 (2011-09-14)
215May 30, 2012 (2012-05-30)August 29, 2012 (2012-08-29)
337May 29, 2013 (2013-05-29)June 18, 2014 (2014-06-18)
42212October 22, 2014 (2014-10-22)March 18, 2015 (2015-03-18)
10June 3, 2015 (2015-06-03)August 5, 2015 (2015-08-05)

Cast and characters

Main
  • Melanie Alison "Mel" Burke[18][19] (Melissa Joan Hart) is a city councilwoman in Toledo, Ohio (the youngest in the city's history, as Mel repeatedly brags). She is also a senator's daughter. Growing up, she was a rebellious, irresponsible party girl, and now she must take care of her niece and nephew after their mother (her sister, Meredith)[20] was arrested for money laundering and their father disappeared to avoid arrest for running a Ponzi scheme. She started dating Joe in "A Decent Proposal". She accepted his proposal in season 3 episode 32 "Right Time, Right Place", and they marry at the end of "At Last". She runs for Congress in season 4 and learns that she and Joe are having twins.
  • Joseph Paul "Joe" Longo[19] (Joey Lawrence) is a former executive and commodities trader with an MBA who lost his job, money and marriage in the wake of Mel's brother-in-law's Ponzi scheme and wound up living in his car. Seeing that Mel needed help raising her niece and nephew (and that he needed a job), he has agreed to be the live-in nanny/ house manager to assist Mel and give advice to the kids. He was born in a U.S. Army hospital in Uijeongbu, South Korea, and raised in Secaucus, New Jersey. He also has a brother named Tony who briefly dated Mel and a sister named Teresa. It was revealed he has a 13-year-old daughter named Dani (Jada Facer) with a woman named Felicia (Brooke Burke-Charvet). He started dating Mel in "A Decent Proposal". He proposed to her in "Right time, right place" and they get married in "At Last". In season 4 he writes a book and in the series finale it is published, he is also invited to go on a book tour.
  • Lennox Elizabeth Scanlon (Taylor Spreitler) is a free-spirited teenage girl who, at first, is against the idea of living with her aunt, but soon comes to terms with it. Lennox is known for her artsy, hipster style and extremely vocal liberal views and ideas. Her longest relationship thus far has been with Zander. They broke up when he left Ohio for school in Vermont and Lennox stayed in Toledo to attend the University of Toledo. They get back together, but then break up again after Zander finds out that Lennox had a relationship with Joe's nephew, Marco; then Zander slept with his roommate, keeping them apart. In "At Last", she hooked up with Marco to forget about Zander, but continued their relationship afterwards and in the series finale she and Zander get engaged.
  • Ryder Scanlon (Nick Robinson) is Mel's nephew, and the youngest in the household. In the Pilot, it is mentioned that he suffered a nervous breakdown and burned his father's suits in the driveway. Like many teenage boys his age, he enjoys watching television and playing sports and chasing girls. Lennox often makes jabs at her brother for being a "nerd", but it is not clear if this is true or just a brother-sister teasing relationship. Ryder is suspended from school in Season 3 for smoking marijuana on a school trip. In Season 4 he joins the Navy and is stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Recurring
  • Stephanie Krause (Lucy DeVito) is Mel's legislative assistant and former intern, beginning with episode 7. Hyperactive and fiercely loyal, Stephanie is keen to schedule interviews, photo opportunities, and media coverage for Mel. She regularly exhibits that she has a crush on Joe.
  • Rhonda Cheng (Elizabeth Ho) is Mel's press secretary appearing in 5 of the 6 first episodes. She's a giddy yet loyal friend to her and always gives her dating and/or parenting advice.
  • Tiffany Longo (Megan Hilty) is Joe's former wife, first seen in episode 13. Their on-again, off-again relationship is punctuated by bouts of lovemaking in unusual places.
  • Holly Rebeck (Rachel G. Fox) is Ryder's extremely aggressive, controlling girlfriend. She is often manipulative, jealous, and conceited, and Ryder is usually submissive to her demands. Later on, she gets help with her "controlling" issues, though sometimes she can't help but be a bit demanding. She broke up with Ryder in the beginning of the third season after she found out he smoked pot on the school trip.
  • George Karpelos, Jr.[21] (Scott Michael Foster) is Mel's 24-year-old lover, starting with episode 21. He is an independent business entrepreneur who loves bicycling. Their relationship is put on hold when George moves to Italy for business, and later, Mel breaks it off.
  • Roman Maizes (Chris Brochu), a nerd and Lennox's boyfriend in the first season.
  • Russell Burke (Christopher Rich) is Mel's father, the former Senator of Ohio, who is very indulgent to his grandchildren and tends to undermine Mel's authority with them. He left his wife Monica for a 28-year-old yoga instructor but returns to his wife when Mel informs the yoga instructor that her father had a vasectomy.
  • Elena Romanov (Anya Monzikova) is a Russian businesswoman whom Joe marries at the end of the second season. Their marriage ends when she moves back to Russia to testify for an old colleague.
  • Leo Larbeck (Joel McKinnon Miller), the friendly contractor who helped Mel and Joe remodel the house in the beginning of the second season.
  • Jackie (Christine Lakin), Mel's best friend from college, who is her only other single friend. She plans to get a sperm donor to have a baby without having to marry someone, and Mel unwittingly leads her to purchase Joey's sperm.
  • Haskell Davis (Gregg Sulkin), Lennox's boyfriend in the second season.
  • Aidan Haber (Cody Linley), the president of the Spirit Committee at Lennox and Ryder's school. Became romantically involved with Lennox in the second season.
  • Monica Burke (Rita Rudner), Mel's neurotic mother who gets back together with her husband Russell after Mel ruins his relationship with his mistress by telling her about his vasectomy.
  • Austin (Trevor Donovan) is Mel's childhood friend who is back in town.[22]
  • Noah (Justin Hartley) Mel's boyfriend in season 3, who temporarily moves in with her after his apartment floods.[23]
  • Zander Carlson (Sterling Knight), Lennox's boyfriend in the third and fourth season. He is also a talented artist, and provides illustrations for Lennox's web series "Cassandra." After a car accident, Zander and Lennox decided to take their relationship to the next level and got engaged in the series finale.
  • Keira (Sadie Calvano), Ryder's girlfriend in the third season.
  • Dani Mancini (Jada Facer), Joey's long-lost daughter, revealed in late season three. She decided to live with Joey and Mel while her mother goes on tour. After her mother returned, Dani moved back with her, but still keeps in touch with Joey and Mel.
  • Felicia Mancini (Brooke Burke), Dani's mother who works as a professional band massager.
  • Anthony "Tony" Longo (Matthew Lawrence), Joe's younger brother. Actor Matthew Lawrence and Joey Lawrence are brothers.
  • Marco (Kevin Fonteyne) Joey's nephew and Lennox's ex-boyfriend who she dumped when he left for Japan for six months.
  • McKenna Cederstrom (Greer Grammer), an aspiring actress who Lennox and Zander hire for the role of "Cassandra" in their film. She and Zander become romantically involved, until realizing he still loves Lennox.
  • Noelle (Hayley Erin), Lennox's friend who develops a crush on Ryder.

Development and production
The cast and crew of Melissa & Joey

The series marks the second time Hart and Lawrence have co-starred together in an ABC Family production; their first was the 2009 television film, My Fake Fiance. Melissa & Joey was criticized early on for lacking sufficient chemistry between the leads and a "will they, won't they" theme present in their earlier project, My Fake Fiance.[24]

On October 8, 2010, ABC Family announced their order of an additional 20 episodes for the first season, creating a season of 30 episodes.[25] The mid-season finale for season one aired on October 26, 2010.[26] The second half of the first season began airing on June 29, 2011.[27] On July 11, 2011, ABC Family announced that Melissa & Joey had been picked up for a second season.[28] On August 17, 2012, ABC Family announced that Melissa & Joey had been picked up for a third season.[29]

Both Lawrence and Hart directed episodes in season two. Lawrence's episode is called "Wherefore Art Thou Lennox" and Hart was the first woman to direct an episode of the series.[30]

The series was filmed before a live studio audience at CBS Studio Center stage 14.[31] The house used for exteriors is located in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles.[32]

On February 9, 2015, ABC Family announced its decision to end the series after four seasons.[33]

Broadcast

Melissa & Joey premiered on STAR World India on October 6, 2011.[34] In Southeast Asia, it premiered on STAR World in 2011.[35] In the United Kingdom, all episodes were put on Sky On Demand on July 1, 2014[36] and began airing on E4 on July 28, 2014.[37]

Home media

On May 24, 2011, Shout! Factory released Melissa & Joey: Season One, Part One on DVD in Region 1.[38] Special features include a sneak peek of the remaining season 1 episodes, bloopers, and featurettes with Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. On October 4, 2011, Shout! Factory released Melissa & Joey: Season One, Part Two on DVD in Region 1, collecting the final 18 episodes of season one in a 2-disc set.[39]

Reception

Ratings

Melissa & Joey stood as Wednesday's #1 cable TV telecast at 8 o'clock in Adults 18–34, Women 18–34, Women 18–49 and Females 12–34 Demographics. The show continued to dominate its cable time period during its second season, ranking #1 across key measures Adults 18–34, Women 18–34, Adults 18–49, Women 18–49, Viewers 12–34 and Females 12–34.[3][4]

The following is a table with the average estimated number of viewers per episode, each season of Melissa & Joey on ABC Family.

Season Timeslot (ET/PT) No. of
episodes		 Premiere Finale
Date Premiere viewers
(in millions)		 18–49
rating		 Date Finale viewers
(in millions)		 18–49
Rating
1 Tuesday 8:00PM 12 August 17, 2010 2.15[40] 1.0 October 26, 2010 1.38[41] 0.6
Wednesday 8:00PM 18 June 29, 2011 1.54[42] 0.6 September 14, 2011 1.39[43] 0.7
2 15 May 30, 2012 1.21[44] 0.7 August 29, 2012 1.50[45] 0.7
3 37 May 29, 2013 0.97[46] 0.5 June 18, 2014 1.29[47] 0.6
4 22 October 22, 2014 1.19[48] 0.6 August 5, 2015 0.94[49] 0.4
Melissa & Joey : U.S. viewers per episode (millions)
Audience measurement performed by Nielsen Media Research.[50]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Outcome
2013 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Comedy Melissa & Joey Nominated
2014 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Comedy Melissa & Joey Nominated
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Cable TV Comedy Melissa & Joey Won
2015 Women's Image Network Awards Outstanding Actress Comedy Series Melissa Joan Hart Nominated
2015 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Drama Series - Guest Starring Young Actress 14 - 16 Johnnie Ladd Won

References
  1. "Melissa & Joey 4 Seasons 2014: "Witch Came First"". Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  2. "(#2001/2002) "I Can Manage/If You Can't Stand the Heat"". Listings – Melissa & Joey on ABC Family. the Futon Critic. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  3. ""Melissa & Joey" Ranks as Cable TV's #1 Telecast at 8 O'Clock Across Target 18–34, 18–49 and 12–34 Demographics". FutonCritic. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  4. "'Melissa & Joey' Ranks as Cable TV's #1 Telecast at 8 O'Clock for the 11th Consecutive Week in Women 18–34". TVbytheNumbers. August 16, 2012. Archived from the original on August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  5. "ABC Family Renews 'Melissa & Joey', 'Baby Daddy', 'Switched at Birth' & Orders Additional Episodes of 'Bunheads'". TVbytheNumbers. August 17, 2012. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  6. "'Melissa and Joey' Season Three, ' 'Baby Daddy' Season Two and 'Dancing Fools' Premiere Wednesday May 29 on ABC Family – Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. May 1, 2013. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  7. Goldberg, Lesley (May 28, 2013). "'Melissa and Joey' Renewed for Season 4 at ABC Family". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  8. "ABC Family's 'Baby Daddy' & 'Melissa & Joey' Soar to 13-Week Highs in Total Viewers and Multi-Week Highs in Target Demos". TVByTheNumbers.com. May 29, 2014. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
  9. http://www.disneyabcpress.com/abcfamily/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/02/138312_0086-900x598.jpg
  10. "Melissa & Joey TV show on ABC Family: latest ratings (cancel or renew?) | canceled + renewed TV shows". TV Series Finale. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  11. "Are SVODs Netflix, Amazon To Blame For Cable TV Viewing Declines? 02/05/2015". Mediapost.com. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  12. Cynthia Littleton (November 4, 2014). "Cable Under Fire: Plunge in Ratings Could Spell Trouble for Top Nets". Variety. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  13. Hagey, Keach (October 9, 2014). "Pay TV's New Worry: 'Shaving' the Cord". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  14. "Watch Melissa & Joey Online - Free at Hulu". Hulu.com. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  15. Nellie Andreeva (February 9, 2015). "'Melissa & Joey' Cancelled After Four Seasons on ABC Family - Deadline". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  16. "Double Happiness". Disney ABC Press. disneyabcpress.com. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  17. DiNunno, Gina (March 19, 2010). "Joey Lawrence Compares New ABC Family Role to 'Bruce Willis In His Prime'". TV Guide. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  18. "Skip to the 3:10 mark". YouTube. September 7, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  19. "You're the One That I Want". Melissa & Joey. Season 3. Episode 35. June 4, 2014. Event occurs at 18:25. ABC Family.
  20. "The Perfect Storm".
  21. "Young Love". Melissa & Joey. Season 1. Episode 21. August 17, 2011. 04:48 minutes in. ABC Family.
  22. "'90210' star Trevor Donovan moves on to 'Melissa and Joey,' leaving his old zip code behind". Blog.zap2it.com. February 28, 2013. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  23. Carina Adly MacKenzie (May 9, 2013). "'Smallville' and 'Emily Owens' star Justin Hartley stops by 'Melissa and Joey' - Zap2it & Features". Zap2it. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  24. Reiher, Andrea (August 17, 2010). "'Melissa & Joey' review: 'Who's the Boss?' without the Mona". Zap2It.com.
  25. Nellie, Andreeva (October 8, 2010). "ABC Family Orders More 'Melissa & Joey'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  26. "ABC Family press release for Melissa & Joey mid-season finale". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  27. "ABC Family Announces Summer 2011 Programming Including 'Switched At Birth,' 'The Nine Lives of Chloe King' and 'The Lying Game'". Zap2It.com. March 7, 2011. Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
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  29. Scanlon, Lennox. "ABC Family Orders a Third Season of Melissa & Joey". Abcfamily.go.com. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  30. Klutzy_girl (October 12, 2011). "Melissa and Joey – Season 2 – Joey Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart to direct episodes (Spoilers)". Spoilertv.com. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
  31. (PDF) http://www.cbssc.com/images/NEWSLETTERS/PDF%20files/2014%20March.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. "The Mystery of the "Melissa & Joey" House". Iamnotastalker. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  33. All references concerning the cancellation of Melissa & Joey:
  34. "Melissa and Joey". StarWorld.in. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  35. "STAR World – Melissa & Joey". Starworldasia.tv. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  36. "Melissa and Joey".
  37. Munn, Patrick (July 16, 2014). "E4 Acquires ABC Family's 'Melissa & Joey', Sets Premiere For July 28th". TVWise. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  38. Melissa & Joey – DVDs for ABC Family's Series Starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence Archived February 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine – TVShowsOnDVD.com
  39. Melissa & Joey – 'Season 1, Part 2' Announced: Date, Cost, Cover Art Coming from Shout! in early October Archived July 15, 2011, at the Wayback Machine – TVShowsOnDVD.com
  40. Robert, Seidman (August 18, 2010). "More Tuesday Cable: 'Warehouse 13' Drops, 'Teen Mom,' & 'Hawthorne Get Bigger & More". TV By the Numbers. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  41. Tuesday Cable Ratings: Heat/Celtics Slam Dunk; 'Sons of Anarchy' Steady; 16 & Pregnant, Caprica, Stargate Universe, Millionaire Matchmaker & More By Bill Gorman – tvbythenumbers.com
  42. Seidman, Robert (June 30, 2011). "Cable Ratings: 'Royal Pains' 'Necessary Roughness' Top Wednesday Cable + 'Franklin & Bash,' Not So Raven? & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  43. Robert (September 15, 2011). "Wednesday Cable: 'Storage Wars' Tops; 'Necessary Roughness,' 'Melissa & Joey' Finales; 'Operation Repo' Premiere & More". Archived from the original on September 24, 2011.
  44. "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Hatfields & McCoys' Wins Night, NBA Playoffs, 'Hardcore History', 'Restaurant Impossible', 'Melissa & Joey' 'Daily Show' & More – Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. May 31, 2012. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  45. "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' Wins Night, + FOX RNC Coverage, 'Storage Wars Texas', 'Royal Pains', 'American Hoggers', 'Daily Show' & More – Ratings | TVbytheNumbers". Tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com. August 30, 2012. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  46. "Wednesday Cable Ratings: NHL Playoffs Win Night, 'Psych', 'The Real World', 'Love Thy Neighbor','Mythbusters', 'Melissa & Joey' & More - Ratings - TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com". TVbytheNumbers. May 30, 2013. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  47. "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'Duck Dynasty' Wins Night + World Cup Soccer, 'Catfish', 'Big Smo', 'Suits', 'Melissa & Joey' & More - Ratings". TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com. June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  48. "Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'American Horror Story' Tops Night + 'Key & Peele', 'Melissa & Joey' & More - Ratings". TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com. October 23, 2014. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  49. "Wednesday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. August 6, 2015. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  50. For the second season, see "Melissa & Joey: Season Two Ratings". TV Series Finale. August 30, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
    For the third season, see "Melissa & Joey: Season Three Ratings". TV Series Finale. June 20, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
    For the fourth season, see "Melissa & Joey : Season Four Ratings". TV Series Finale. August 6, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
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