Wonderfalls/At a Glance

Basic Information

• Full Name: Wonderfalls
• Premiere Date: March 12, 2004
• Finale Date: April 1, 2004
• Networks:
  • FOX (2004)
• Airtimes (episodes numbered by airing order):
  • FOX: Fridays at 9PM (1x01 through 1x03).
  • FOX: Thursdays at 9PM (1x04).

International Viewings

• Australia - Channel Nine
• Canada - Télé-Québec, Vision TV
• United Kingdom - Sky One

Trivia

• The series was originally to be titled "Maid of the Mist," after the legend outlined in the pilot and referenced through out the series. However, this was shot down and the producers were left without a title for the show. Co-creator Todd Holland offered the crew $500 if they could come up with a title that suited the show and worked for the executives. Among these titles were: Animal Crackers, The Chachkey Wisperer, Joan of Niagra, Normally Insane, What Ever Happened to Baby Jaye, and Babble Head. In the end, the network didn't like Wonderfalls either and thought it should be two words, but the producers managed to win that battle.
• The show is scored by Michael Andrews, who is most famous for writing the score to Donnie Darko. The opening theme song, however, was written and performed by former XTC member Andy Partridge. The producers liked the song so much that they decided to make a music video out of the full version of the song. Caroline Dhavernas hated the idea of doing a music video, although in hindsight she liked the outcome of the video.
• Even the opening credits were criticized by the network. Some of the shots of Jaye had to be replaced because executives didn't think she was smiling enough. They also had to replace a shot of Eric fainting because it wasn't manly or heroic enough for their tastes.
• The members of the Tyler family are named in a rhyming fashion—Karen, Darrin, Aaron and Sharon—except for the black sheep of the family: Jaye. This was done purposefully to reinforce the fact that she does not fit in.
• Though set in Niagara Falls, New York, the series was filmed in Canada. The shots of the Falls were shot from the Canadian side and the rest was largely filmed in Toronto.

Awards and Accolades

Artios Awards

• Nominated: Best Casting for TV, Comedy Pilot - 2004

Mali Finn, John Buchan (Canadian casting)

Television Critics Association Awards

• Nominated: Outstanding New Program - 2004

Writers Guild of America Awards

• Nominated: Episodic Comedy - 2005
• Episode: 1x01 - Wax Lion

Bryan Fuller (teleplay/story), Todd Holland (story)