Party of Five

Party of Five is a drama that aired on FOX from 1994 - 2000. It focuses on the Salingers, a family of five siblings who lose their parents in a drunk driving accident shortly before the series begins. The family consists of 24-year old Charlie (Matthew Fox), young teens Bailey (Scott Wolf) and Julia (Neve Campbell), pre-teen Claudia (Lacey Chabert), and baby Owen (played, at various times, by Andrew Cavarno, Steven Cavarno, Jacob Smith, Brandon Porter, and Taylor Porter). Charlie, a lazy twentysomething with no job or goals in life, struggles to come to terms with his new role as head of the family while also trying to earn respect from his younger siblings. Angsty 15-year old Julia and unruly 16-year old Bailey have issues of their own; while Charlie is trying to make ends meet they are battling with high school pressures and the loss of their parents as such an impressionable young age. Even 11-year old Claudia suffers from the rifts in her family. A gifted musician, she finds it hard to forge her own path through life while her siblings are unable to move forward themselves. Throughout the show's six season run, the Salingers deal with family issues, alcoholism, drug abuse, and even domestic violence. In later seasons, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jeremy London, and Paula Devicq join the cast as love interests and eventual recurring cast members. Although loved by critics, Party of Five suffered from low ratings throughout its run, and was almost canceled after only one season. It led to one spin-off show in 1999, Time of Your Life, that lasted for only one season. MORE