Difference between revisions of "Queen of the Willis"

Revision as of 20:31, 21 September 2018

Queen of the Willis
Genre	Animated sitcom Comedy-drama Slice of life
Created by	Ava Zinn Holly Everman
Voices of	Ava Zinn Holly Everman
Opening theme	Theme from Queen of the Willis by Jack Pinnacle (2006-07) "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis (2008-2012) Queen of the Willis theme by Karly Jameson (2019-)
Composer(s)	TBD
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	140 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Ava Zinn Holly Everman
Producer(s)	TBD
Editor(s)	TBD
Running time	21–23 minutes
Production company(s)	CBS Television Distribution
Distributor	CBS Television Distribution
Broadcast
Original channel	First-run syndication
Picture format	480i (4:3 SDTV) (2006–2012) 720p (16:9 HDTV) (2018–)
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Queen of the Willis is an American animated sitcom created by Ava Zinn that ran from August 12, 2006 to May 31, 2012. It centers on the Willis family, a middle-class American LGBTQ family in the fictional city of Quillsville, Indiana. It attempts to maintain a realistic approach, seeking humor in the conventional and mundane aspects of everyday life. The series centers on the Willis family, a family consisting of parents Ava and Angie; their children, Tom, Deanna, and sextuplets Stuart, Ron, Brian, Luanne, Emilie, and Hillary; and their anthropomorphic pets: lobster Heather, dog, Tabby, and cat Shushu.

The family was conceived by Zinn after developing two animated comic strips, Frank's Life and Frank & Brittani. Zinn redesigned the films' protagonist, Frank, and his wife, Brittani, and renamed them Ava (after sex reassignent surgery) and Angela, respectively. Zinn pitched a seven-minute pilot to ATE Media in 2004, and the show was greenlit and began production. Shortly after the sixth season of Queen of the Willis had aired in 2012, NoSirGifts canceled the series. However, favorable DVD sales and high ratings for syndicated reruns in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis convinced Fox Fantasy Television Stations to pick up the show in 2018 for a seventh season, which will begin airing in 2020.

The series debuted in syndication on the ATE Media Corporation owned stations in 2006 before moving to NoSirGifts Fantasy Television Stations in November 2007, quickly becoming a hit. The series' popularity led to nationwide syndication, and reruns formerly aired nightly on NoSirGifts-owned My 50 (WIFX-FDT2) in Indianapolis and INNCD 47 (WXXC) Fort Wayne from 2010 until 2018.

A total of at least 200 episodes aired over the course of its 6 seasons.

Many tie-in media have been released, including RAGStory, a straight-to-DVD special released in 2010; and a series of parodies of the original Sleepaway Camp trilogy.

Series synopsis

History

Conception

Initial success

Format change

Facing cancellation

Because it was paired with Hoosier Millionaire on the ATE Media Network, portions of Queen of the Willis episodes were often pre-empted by sporting events that ran into overtime; in season one especially, whole episodes were pre-empted. Ultimately, enough episodes were pre-empted that the majority of the series' 5th season—initially intended to be the final season, consisted of unaired fourth-season episodes.

Cancellation

Revival

Development

On May 24, 2018, in the wake of broadcast networks reviving their own popular classic series (Will & Grace on NBC, Roseanne on ABC, Murphy Brown on CBS and The X-Files for Fox), Fox Fantasy Televiision Stations announced it had given a series order to a thirteen episode revival of Queen of the Willis and Hoosier Anchorwoman! for the 2019–2020 season. Ava Zinn is set to return as executive producer.^[1] On August 27, 2018, it was announced that Season Atkins would direct the revival's pilot episode.^[2]

On July 16, 2018, it was announced during the upfronts presentation that the revival will have Ava becoming manager of Craven Gifts, Angie Willis working at the Mississinewa Cola Company, Deanna Willis and Heather Willis being unemployed, Rags undergoing a sex change and living as a female named Tabby, Shushu coming out as a bisexual, and the family struggling to support the Willis family as the Sextuplets turn 10, with Ava's old friends, co-workers at Craven Gifts adjust to Tina's retirement after marrying Mayor Lee Kelso.^[3] On September 9, 2018, it was announced that the series would premiere in the fall of 2019.^[4]

Casting

Alongside the initial announcement of the revival, it was confirmed that Ava Zinn would reprise her role as the voices of Ava Willis, Tabby Willis, Shushu Willis, and Pamhouser.^[1] On August 26, 2018, it was announced that Karly Jameson would take over the voice of Angie Willis and Brandi Sousa, and other roles formerly voiced by Holly Everman and Robyn Hurd; Rachael Passalt joining the cast and reprising her role as the voice of Deanna Willis, Kendra Ray joining the cast as the voice of Melissa Rose replacing Alexis Arquette; Lee Kelso, Bob Donaldson, Diane Willis also joining the recurring castand reprising their roles from the series' original run.

Several original cast members had died in the interim between the original and revival series: Garfield Everman (who played most of the male characters) died in 2011, Robyn Hurd (who played Adrienne Fansler, Angela Stroup, and several older female characters) died in 2012, Leonard Lai (who played Tom Willis) died in 2015, and Holly Everman (who played Angie Willis and other young female characters) died in 2017.

Television ratings

Setting and characters

Opening sequence

In the opening sequence of the first six seasons, Ava joins Melissa, Tiffani D, and Pamhauser at the curb outside her house in the morning. When she opens his can of soda pop, the playback speed increases greatly and depicts other main and secondary characters carrying out various daily activities around them. Meanwhile, the four continue drinking soda and a nearby recycling bin fills with their empty cans. When Angie brings a bag of garbage out to Ava, the other three leave and the playback returns to normal speed as she takes it to the trash can and gathers with Angie, Deanna, Tom, and the Willis sextuplets.

The opening theme was "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. For season finales there is a slight variation. Season one's finale added a "yahoo" to the beginning and the 2-6 finales accompanied the "yeehaw" with a dinner triangle.

Setting

Queen of the Willis is set in the fictional town of Quillsville, Indiana. In addition to drawing inspiration from Indianapolis, Zinn has described Quillsville as "a town like New Haven" (a suburb of Fort Wayne).^[5] Indianapolis Monthly magazine praised the authentic portrayal as the "most acutely observed, realistic sitcom about regional American life bar none".^[6] As seen in the episode, "Ava's Colt Movie" the town has a population of 290,600 people.

Though the location is based on suburbs of the Indianapolis, the physical location of Quillsville id directly east of Indianapolis. The area s on the Craven Gifts delivery trucks was "765" and later "463," indicating a setting of Anderson or Muncie. Three episodes give conflicting s for the Willis residence: In the Season 4 episode, Ava receives a letter with her 46301 which in real life is the town of Beverly Shores, Indiana, while in the episode "Hank's Choice" the is 46104, indicating that the Willis live in Arlington, Indiana. In Season 3 episode Tiffani Donovan writes Melissa a check for a million dollars. Tiffani Donovan's checks has her address with 46304, the of Chesterton, Indiana. The address of the First National Bank of Quillsville is different but illegible (4?1?? possibly, which would also be an unassigned Indiana ).

Quillsville includes settings such as Evansville Road, where the Willis' and other major characters reside, and Craven Gifts, Ava's employer until retiring at the end of season 7. Also included are parodies of well-known businesses, such as Aldi-Lo Mart (a parody of Aldi and Walmart), Bradidos (a parody of Bandidos), Karsh Supermarkets (a parody of Kroger and Marsh Supermarkets). Ava's friend and neighbor Tiffani Donovan was a hair stylist at Fort Indianapolis an army post (similar to Grissom AFB) near Quillsville. Most of the children in the show attend Vivica A. Fox Elementary School, Bart Peterson Middle School (named after the former Indianapolis Mayor), Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds High School. Early in the series, the schools are referred to as being in the Marion County School District (according to markings on the school buses), though in later seasons this is changed to Quillsville Independent School District.

Characters

Main article: List of Queen of the Willis characters

Queen of the Willis depicts an average LGBTQ middle-class family and their lives in a typical Indiana town. It documents the Willis' day-to-day-lives in the small Indiana town of Quillsville, exploring modern themes such as parent-child relationships, friendship, loyalty, and justice.^[7] As an animated sitcom, however, Queen of the Willis's scope is generally larger than that of a regular sitcom.

Episodes

Main article: List of Queen of the Willis episodes

Home media

Reception

Queen of the Willis received critical acclaim over its 6-year run. Early reviews of the show were positive. The TV critic at the Chronicle-Tribune considered it the "most Hoosier television series since One Day at a Time," and praised the show's "sly sense of humor and subversive sensibility."^[8]

Awards and nominations

See also

• Television in the United States
• List of animated television series
• Queen of the Willis (soundtrack)
• List of Queen of the Willis episodes

References

Archival sources

External links

v t e Queen of the Willis Characters Willis Family Ava Breeanna Sellars Dylan Porter Stan Hicks Dominique Hicks Angie Heidi Unger Kellie Maggie Martin Olivia Martin Deanna Brandi Willis Lina Willis Tessanne Willis Maggie Willis Alexandra Souza Chereice Souza Telissa Souza Tom Kaylee Willis The Willis sextuplets Brittany Emilie Hillary Rhonda Luanne Suzanne Brynn   Heather Rumer Moffitt Arthur Tur Tabby Alaina Shushu Pheobe Ava's relatives Peggy Willis Mandy Willis Diane Willis Harry Willis Albert Willis Bianca Willis Austen Willis Janice Parkinton Sharon Willis Scott Willis Marissa Willis Clint Willis Arianna Willis Melanie Willis Angie's relatives Bob Donaldson Laura Donaldson Amy Donaldson Larra Donaldson Andrew Donaldson Sarah Donaldson Lisa Shanks Skye Donaldson Willis Family In-Laws (Sousas and Abhrams') Tammie Souza Mark Sousa Patty Sousa Louisa Sousa Other characters Rose/Dawsons Melissa Stephanie Connie Rose Amanda Dawson Kymberly Rose Ashley Rose Donovan/Kendall Tiffani Elisa Donovan Kendra Kendall Kaity Kendall Miles Kendall Jackie Kendall Allison Kendall Samantha Kendall Kayla the Snake Joyce the Cow Quillsville Mayors/Politicians Lee Kelso Nicole Pence Quillsville-Quill County Council Business Owners Tina Craven Christiana Sellars Musicians Normani Hamilton Karly Jameson Josh Kaufman Alisan Porter Avril Lavigne Minor characters Brittani Hicks Todd Unger Trevelle Abhrams Quillsville Metropolitan Police Department Quill County Sheriff's Office Pamhouser Lilly Rush Chelsea Wolf Deann McCall Brad Hunter Nick Jeffries Naomi Brannigan Jarett Dailey Elaine Reed Ramona Battishill Kymberly Millspaugh Sharane Hamilton Production Cast members Guest stars Writers Stations Media releases Frank's Life shorts RAGStory Sleepaway Camp episodes Nightmare Vacation It's a Camp Trap! Quillsville Wasteland Seasons Original series 1 2 3 4 5 6 Revival series 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Hallmarks Back Home Again in... episodes Revenge of the Male Anchors epsiodes Quillsville Cold Case episodes Lore Media 6abc WIBC-TV 8/My10 Fox 11 NBC 13 Quillsville 24 CBS 40 Sports Indiana Colts New Colt on the Block Indiana Pacers Buildings Craven Gifts The Broken Boilermaker Dan Quayle Intercontental Airport The Drunken Hoosier Quillsville Independent School District Kenneth "Babyface" Edmunds High School Bart Peterson Middle School Vivica A. Fox Elementary School Quillsville Metropolitan Police Department Quillsville-Quill County Building Sweethearts Restaurants Roads Interstates 65 67 69 70 72 74 267 369 465 570 765 865 U.S. Routes 131 Indiana State Roads 5 (Eastbrook Highway) 15 (Mississinewa Highway) 37 (Marion/Port Melissa Expressway) 221 Robyn Hurd Memorial Expressway Holly Everman Memorial Expressway See also Criticism Amanda & Elisa Deanna & Brandi Hoosier Anchorwoman! Vote for the Girls Vote for the Girls with Ava Zinn & Alexandra Moffitt Vote for the Girls with Julia Passalt & Tracia Mattewson Category