''Catwalk'' is a Canadian musical

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television series that ran for 49 episodes on the YTV network from 1992 until 1994. The series' first season aired in syndication in the United States, while the second season aired on

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

Synopsis

The series is based around six twenty-something adults who formed a band named Catwalk. The episodes center on the band's personal relationships and struggles to land a record deal, while also featuring their musical performances in nightclubs. Their main gathering place is a downtown loft. Singer/guitarist Johnnie Camden (

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) is at the focus of the show; it is in his loft where the band gathers to rehearse. Relationships are also a major part of the show; there are two couples within the cast, as Daisy (

Neve Campbell Neve Adrianne Campbell (; born October 3, 1973) is a Canadian actress. After working in Canadian and American television, Campbell emerged as a scream queen for her starring roles in horror and thriller films. She has also appeared in blockbu ...

) dates the group's manager Billy K., and Mary (Kelli Taylor) dates the drummer Jesse (

Paul Popowich Paul Popowich is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Mr. Smith, an angel who helps people change their pasts, in season two of '' Twice in a Lifetime''."Toronto doubles as Harlem in the '30s; A visit to the set of the Canadia ...

). The relationship is tumultuous and the couple breaks up before the end of the first season. The second season features a new character, Maggi (

Nicole de Boer Nicole de Boer (born 20 December 1970) is a Canadian actress. She is best known for starring in the cult film ''Cube (1997 film), Cube'' as Joan Leaven, playing Ezri Dax on the final season of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1998–1999), and as ...

), who in the first season (in the episode "Toxic Love") became briefly involved with lead guitarist Johnnie Camden, causing tension within the band.

Cast and characters

* Lisa Butler as Sierra Williams, the strong-willed lead singer. After watching Johnnie and Mary's performance, she leaves a "clue" in their audition tapes, hoping they find her. Sierra works for Master Sound Records and used to date a guy named Tyrone who is actually a separatist for black people; she would take over keyboards in addition to singing after Daisy left during the second season. *

as Daisy McKenzie, the naïve keyboard player who used to date Johnnie and later ends up with Billy K. She almost married to a man named Eric, as she feels she has no one without her parents alive. She appears only in the first season. * Christopher Lee Clements as Addie "Atlas" Robinson, the smart tough-guy rapper and dancer who used to work for Billy K to look after his aunt Ellen. He had a troubled past involving his father dying in a crossfire, with a difficulty in letting go. He appears only in the first season. *

as Johnnie Camden, the fiercely driven leader and guitarist. He names his guitar "Watson". Johnnie moves out from his father, living in a loft with Jesse as his roommate. His mother Rita left him and his dad years ago. He appears only in the first season. *

as Jesse Carlson, the band's drummer who has rebelled against his wealthy family to live on his own terms. He moves into the loft as Johnnie's roommate. He also plays guitar & piano/keyboards. * Kelli Taylor as Mary Owens, the sensitive but tough bassist and background singer. She is a childhood friend of Johnnie's and Daisy's. In the second season she, along with Jesse, would take control of the band after Johnnie. *

J. H. Wyman Joel Howard "J. H." Wyman (born January 5, 1967) is a film and TV producer, screenwriter, director and musician. He is best known for his work on the Fox Broadcasting Network, Fox science fiction shows ''Fringe (TV series), Fringe'' and ''Almos ...

as Billy K, the band's manager, a nightclub owner with shady dealings. Billy has trouble reading due to dyslexia, as Daisy offers him her help both as tutor and girlfriend. * David Lee Russek as Frank Cafla, an alcoholic singer with a great voice (second season only). *

as Maggie Holden, an ex-girlfriend of Johnnie's and later girlfriend for Billy-K after Daisy left. A regular in the second season, she previously appeared in a first season episode titled "Toxic Love". * Rob Stefaniuk as Benny Doulon, a guitarist who took Johnnie's place in the band (second season only).

Minor characters

* Victor Ertmanis as Eddie Camden: Johnnie's father who works on his boat and doesn't approve of his son in music due to carrying the hurt of his wife leaving him and Johnnie. Despite of this, he tries to support his son in what he loves and with the band. * Johnie Chase and Brenda Bazinet as Joe and Julia Owens: Mary's father and mother who shared their love of music to her as a child and support her in the band. *

Jackie Richardson Jackie Richardson (born January 4, 1947) is a Canadian singer and actress. Richardson is known for her screen roles in '' Turning to Stone'', '' The Gospel According to the Blues'', ''The Doodlebops'', and '' Sins of the Father''. She is also kn ...

as Aunt Ellen Robinson: Atlas' aunt who runs a shop, who looked after him after his father died. *

Linda Griffiths Linda Pauline Griffiths (7 October 1953 – 21 September 2014) was a Canadian actress and playwright best known for writing and starring in the one woman play ''Maggie and Pierre'', in which she portrayed both Pierre Trudeau and his then-estrang ...

as Rita: Johnnie's mother who left him and her ex-husband when Johnnie was young. She revisits to see Johnnie and explain why she left. *

Yannick Bisson Yannick Denis Bisson (born May 16, 1969) is a Canadian film and television actor and director. He is famous for playing Detective William Murdoch on the series ''Murdoch Mysteries'' for over 15 years, since 2008. Early life Bisson was born in ...

as Nick: One of Mary's friends and Daisy's ex-boyfriends, who contracted

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. * Christina Cox as Suzie: One of Atlas' ex-girlfriends who got pregnant at a senior year. Due to child neglect, she was forced to give her up and be sent to foster care. *

Réal Andrews Réal Andrews (born Réal Johnson; January 31, 1963) is a Canadian actor. He is known for playing Chance Walker in the first season of the syndicated action drama series ''Soldier of Fortune, Inc.'', and for playing Marcus Taggert on the ABC dayt ...

as Tyrone: A sound engineer who Sierra used to date. She thought he was a nice man, but is racial between blacks and whites, including towards Atlas who is a "sellout". Sierra ends up breaking up with Tyrone, when she brings Catwalk for the benefit.

Episodes

Season 1 (1992–93)

Season 2

Music

The first season music was done by

Rupert Gayle Rupert Gayle is a Canadian songwriter. He has written for Warner/Chappel and BMG Music Publishing, and is signed to ole. Written and/or produced work *Maxi Priest *Mindless Behavior * Shiloh * Shawn Desman *Keshia Chanté *In-Dex *Lenou *J ...

and

Orin Isaacs Orin Isaacs is a television and film music composer/producer, best known as the musical director, bandleader and bassist on Mike Bullard's late-night talk shows '' Open Mike with Mike Bullard'' and '' The Mike Bullard Show''. Orin is also known ...

. The second season on MTV was done by

Steve Tyrell Steve Tyrell (born Stephen Louis Bilao III, December 19, 1944) is an American singer and record producer. He won a 2004 Grammy Award as the producer of the Rod Stewart studio album '' Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III''. He also h ...

('' The Heights'' and ''

California Dreams ''California Dreams'' is an American teen sitcom that aired on NBC. It was part of the network's Saturday morning block, TNBC, premiering on September 12, 1992. Created by writers Brett Dewey and Ronald B. Solomon, and executive produced by ...

'') and his late wife,

Stephanie Tyrell Stephanie Georgia Manteris Tyrell (March 20, 1949 – October 27, 2003) was an American record producer, television composer, songwriter, and the wife of jazz composer, Steve Tyrell. She produced the soundtrack albums for ''The Brady Bunch Movie ...

(also ''The Heights''). A soundtrack from the second season was released on

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

and also featured performances, in addition to "Catwalk" (series star Lisa Butler and singer Barry Coffing as the singing role of Frank Cafla), from former ''The Heights'' star

Jamie Walters James Leland Walters Jr. (born June 13, 1969) is an American actor and singer, best known for his roles on ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' and '' The Heights'' and singing lead vocal on " How Do You Talk to an Angel". Career Walters was born in Bosto ...

Vonda Shepard Vonda Shepard (born July 7, 1963) is an American singer, songwriter, music director, and actress. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as a fictionalized version of herself on the television series '' Ally McBeal'' (1997–2002), for w ...

Buffalo Tom Buffalo Tom is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz who also sings the majority of lead vocals, bassist and singer Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginn ...

The Lemonheads The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band formed in Boston in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily, and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member. After their initial punk-influenced releases and tours as an indep ...

, and Intro.

1994 soundtrack

Track listing # If You Want Me # Life is Sweet # I'm Allowed-Buffalo Tom (produced by The Robb Brothers with Buffalo Tom) (from the album '' Big Red Letter Day'') # Drive Me-Jamie Walters (from the album ''

) # Let Me Off Here # Something to Cry About # Ribbon in the Sky (single edit) (cover of the song by

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...

)-Intro (produced by Nevelle Hodge) (from the album ''Intro'') # Reckless (this song was later sung by Jamie Walters and appeared on an episode of ''

Beverly Hills 90210 ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (often referred to as ''90210'') is an American teen drama television series created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling via his production company Spelling Television. The series ran for 10 seasons on Fo ...

''; the Walters' version would also turn up on his second album ''

Ride Ride may refer to: People * MC Ride, a member of Death Grips * Sally Ride (1951–2012), American astronaut * William Ride (19262011), Australian zoologist Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Ride'' (1998 film), a comedy film by Millicen ...

'') # It's About Time-The Lemonheads (produced by The Robb Brothers and Evan Dando) (from the album '' Come On Feel The Lemonheads'') # Love Is A Dream (featuring Vonda Shepard) # You Hurt Me Tracks 1–2, 5, 8, and 11 lead vocals by Barry Coffing
Track 6 lead vocals by Lisa Butler

Cancellation

The first season of ''Catwalk'' was rerun on YTV in Canada for four consecutive years. Season one comprised 24 episodes. The majority of the second season episodes were never aired due to a licensing conflict between MTV Networks and the original creator of the show,

Adam Kidron Adam Kidron is a British-born ex-music producer, serial entrepreneur, and the ex-Chief Executive Officer of Urban Box Office (UBO), a reggaeton and urban Latino record label, and Yonder Music. Record producer Adam Kidron began his career in the ...

, and remain unseen.

In popular culture

* In 1992, a Connecticut-based band also named Catwalk sued over the right to use the name.

Award and nominations

References

External links

The Great Canadian Guide to the Movies & TV
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Catwalk (Tv Series) 1990s Canadian drama television series 1990s Canadian music television series 1992 Canadian television series debuts 1994 Canadian television series endings Canadian English-language television shows First-run syndicated television programs in the United States Television series by Claster Television Television shows filmed in Toronto YTV (Canadian TV channel) original programming