View source for Party of Five

{{short description|American television series (1994–2000)}}
{{about|the original 1994 Fox series|the 2020 Freeform series reboot|Party of Five (2020 TV series){{!}}''Party of Five'' (2020 TV series)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = Party of Five (1994 television logo).svg
| image_size         = 250
| genre              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Family drama]] 
* [[Teen drama]]
}}
| creator            = {{Plain list|
* [[Christopher Keyser]]
* [[Amy Lippman]]
}}
| starring           = {{Plain list|
* [[Scott Wolf]]
* [[Matthew Fox]]
* [[Neve Campbell]]
* [[Lacey Chabert]]
* [[Scott Grimes]]
* [[Paula Devicq]]
* [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]]
* [[Michael Goorjian]]
* [[Alexondra Lee]]
* [[Jeremy London]]
* [[Jennifer Aspen]]
}}
| opentheme          = "[[Closer to Free]]" by [[BoDeans]]<!-- Throughout the series, the end credits consistently showed the title of the song as "Closer to Five" -->
| country            = United States
| language           = English
| num_seasons        = 6
| num_episodes       = 142
| list_episodes      = List of Party of Five episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plain list|
* Christopher Keyser
* Amy Lippman
* [[Ken Topolsky]]
* P.K. Simonds
* Bruce J. Nachbar
* [[Mark B. Perry]]
* [[John Romano (writer)|John Romano]]
* Mitchell Burgess
* Robin Green
}}
| producer           = {{Plain list|
* Paul Marks
* P. K. Simonds
* Bruce J. Nachbar
* Steven Robman
* Daniel Attias
* Ian Biederman
* Allan Heinberg
}}
| editor             = {{Plain list|
* Richard Freeman
* Steve Potter
* David Dworetzky
}}
| camera             =
| runtime            = 43–45 minutes
| company            = [[Christopher Keyser|Keyser/]][[Amy Lippman|Lippman Productions]]<br>[[Columbia Pictures Television]] (1994–1997) (seasons 1–3)<br>[[Columbia TriStar Television]] (1997–2000) (seasons 4–6)
| network            = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
| first_aired        = {{start date|1994|9|12}}
| last_aired         = {{end date|2000|5|3}}
| related            = ''[[Time of Your Life (American TV series)|Time of Your Life]]'' 
}}

'''''Party of Five''''' is an American [[teen drama|teen]] and [[family drama]] television series created by [[Christopher Keyser]] and [[Amy Lippman]] that originally aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] from September 12, 1994, to May 3, 2000, with a total of six seasons consisting of [[List of Party of Five episodes|142 episodes]]. The series featured an [[ensemble cast]] led by [[Scott Wolf]] as Bailey, [[Matthew Fox]] as Charlie, [[Neve Campbell]] as Julia, and [[Lacey Chabert]] as Claudia Salinger, who with their baby brother Owen (played by several actors) constitute five siblings whom the series follows after the loss of their parents in a car accident. Notable co-stars included [[Scott Grimes]], [[Paula Devicq]], [[Michael A. Goorjian|Michael Goorjian]], [[Ben Browder]], [[Jeremy London]], and [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]]. While categorized as a series aimed at teenagers and young adults, ''Party of Five'' explored several mature themes, including substance and domestic abuse, teen pregnancy, mental illness, cancer, and the long-term effects of parental loss.<ref name="Chicago Tribune" />

Despite receiving positive reviews from television critics after its debut, including ''[[TV Guide]]'' naming it "The Best Show You're Not Watching" in 1995,<ref>{{cite book |title=TV Guide Book of Lists |url=https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse |url-access=registration |year=2007 |publisher=Running Press |isbn=978-0-7624-3007-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse/page/212 212]}}</ref> the series suffered from low ratings during its first and second seasons, during which speculation arose that it would soon be cancelled.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |date=September 3, 2014 |title='Everybody Wants to Live': An Oral History of Party of Five's First Season |url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/09/party-of-five-oral-history-1994-1995-week.html |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]] |language=en-us}}</ref> In 1996, ''Party of Five'' won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama]], after which ratings and popularity grew for the majority of the remainder of the series.<ref name="AV Club">{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff |first=Emily |title=Party Of Five is the great forgotten drama of the '90s |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/iparty-of-fivei-is-the-great-forgotten-drama-of-th-100492 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=July 22, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2019|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327122823/http://www.avclub.com/article/iparty-of-fivei-is-the-great-forgotten-drama-of-th-100492 |archive-date=March 27, 2016}}</ref>

A [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]], ''[[Time of Your Life (American TV series)|Time of Your Life]]'', starring Hewitt, debuted on Fox on October 25, 1999, and was cancelled after one season and 19 episodes.

== Synopsis ==
The show, set in [[San Francisco]], centered on the five Salinger siblings (the "party of five" of the show's title), who become orphans after their parents are killed in a car accident caused by a [[Drunk drivers|drunk driver]]. The family is composed of 24-year-old Charlie ([[Matthew Fox]]), the eldest, a womanizing, immature manual laborer who struggles with the responsibility of being the new head of the family; 16-year-old Bailey ([[Scott Wolf]]), the once-rebellious teen forced into a role of responsible caretaker and later veering into alcoholism; 15-year-old Julia ([[Neve Campbell]]), a sensitive teen; 11-year-old Claudia ([[Lacey Chabert]]), a precocious [[child prodigy]] musician; and baby Owen, age one.

The siblings take over the running of their family's restaurant, Salinger's. Charlie initially serves as bartender and manager, and later Bailey takes over. Over the years, the Salingers face various struggles: the long-term effects of parental loss; in season three, Bailey's attempt to recover from alcoholism; in season four, Charlie's diagnosis with cancer; and in season five, Julia's dealing with [[domestic violence]] in a relationship.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite news |author=Parish Perkins |first=Ken |date=September 12, 1994 |title=Party Of Five Fares Better Than 'On Our Own' |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/09/12/family-matters-25/ |url-status=live |access-date=2020-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606142649/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-09-12/features/9409120012_1_big-brother-family-matters-party |archive-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref>

As the series progressed, romantic relationships became plot points and new cast members joined the show, including [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]] as Sarah, Bailey's girlfriend; [[Jeremy London]] as Griffin, Julia's "bad-boy" boyfriend and later husband; and [[Paula Devicq]] as Kirsten, Owen's nanny, who develops an on-again-off-again relationship with Charlie throughout the series, until they get married during the show's sixth and final season.

== Cast and characters ==
===Cast timeline===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" | Actor
! rowspan="2" | Character
! colspan="6" | Seasons
|-
! |[[List of Party of Five episodes#Season 1 (1994–95)|1]]
! |[[List of Party of Five episodes#Season 2 (1995–96)|2]]
! |[[List of Party of Five episodes#Season 3 (1996–97)|3]]
! |[[List of Party of Five episodes#Season 4 (1997–98)|4]]
! |[[List of Party of Five episodes#Season 5 (1998–99)|5]]
! |[[List of Party of Five episodes#Season 6 (1999–2000)|6]]
|-
|[[Scott Wolf]]
|Bailey Salinger
| colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|[[Matthew Fox]]
|Charlie Salinger
| colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|[[Neve Campbell]]
|Julia Salinger
| colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|[[Lacey Chabert]]
|Claudia Salinger
| colspan="6" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|[[Paula Devicq]]
|Kirsten Bennett Salinger
| colspan="2" {{CMain|Main}}{{efn|Devicq departs in "Poor Substitutes" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 2.13). She returns in a recurring role from "Spring Breaks" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 2.21).}}
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
| colspan="2" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|[[Scott Grimes]]
|Will McCorkle
| colspan="2" {{CMain|Main}}
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
| colspan="2" {{CGuest|Guest}}
| colspan="1" {{CMain|Main}}{{efn|Grimes returns to the opening credits from "Wrestling Demons" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 6.4).}}
|-
|[[Jennifer Love Hewitt]]
|Sarah Reeves Merrin
| {{n/a|}}
| colspan="5" {{CMain|Main}}{{efn|Hewitt departs in "Bye, Bye, Love" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 6.3).}}
|-
|[[Michael A. Goorjian|Michael Goorjian]]
|Justin Thompson
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
| colspan="1" {{CMain|Main}}
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
| colspan="2" {{CGuest|Guest}}
| colspan="1" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
|-
|[[Alexondra Lee]]
|Callie Martel
| colspan="2" {{n/a|}}
| colspan="1" {{CMain|Main}}{{efn|Lee is added to the opening credits in "Not So Fast" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 3.8), before departing in "Promises, Promises" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 3.23).}}
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
|-
|[[Jeremy London]]
|Griffin Chase Holbrook
|{{cGuest|Guest}}{{efn|[[James Marsden]] initially plays the character in "The Ides of March" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 1.22).}}
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
| colspan="3" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|[[Jennifer Aspen]]
|Daphne Jablonsky
| colspan="3" {{n/a|}}
| colspan="2" {{CRecurring|Recurring}}
| colspan="1" {{CMain|Main}}
|-
|}

;Cast notes
{{notelist}}

=== Main ===
<!-- The show's credit order places Scott Wolf before Matthew Fox, and per MOS:TVCAST, that is how they should be ordered, despite Wolf's character being younger. -->
* [[Scott Wolf]] as Bailey Salinger; the second-born sibling who is forced to grow up fast after growing up as a rebellious teenager and deal with life after his parents' deaths. He is 16 at the start of the series, 21 at its conclusion.
* [[Matthew Fox]] as Charlie Salinger; the eldest sibling who struggles to live his own life in the reluctant role of legal guardian to his brothers and sisters. Immature and insecure, he dropped out of college his senior year to "find himself" and was planning to re-enroll when his parents' deaths made him his siblings' legal guardian. He is 24 at the start of the series, 30 at its conclusion.
* [[Neve Campbell]] as Julia Salinger; a highly intelligent, emotionally sensitive teen who struggles to adjust to being an orphan and having more family responsibilities. She is 15 at the start of the series, 20 at its conclusion.
* [[Lacey Chabert]] as Claudia Salinger; a gifted violinist struggling to build a life for herself and also deal with being an orphan. She is 11 at the start of the series, 17 at its conclusion.
* [[Paula Devicq]] as Kirsten Bennett Salinger (seasons 1–2, 5–6, recurring seasons 2–4); a graduate student who is hired as Owen Salinger's [[nanny]] and becomes romantically involved with Charlie off-and-on during the series, eventually marrying him by season six and being pregnant with their first child by the end of the series.
* [[Scott Grimes]] as Will McCorkle (seasons 1–2, 6, recurring seasons 3–5); Bailey's best friend from high school.
*[[Michael A. Goorjian|Michael Goorjian]] as Justin Thompson (season 2, recurring seasons 1, 3–6); Julia's friend, and later off-and-on boyfriend, during the series.
* [[Jennifer Love Hewitt]] as Sarah Reeves Merrin (seasons 2–6); Bailey's sensitive, off-and-on girlfriend from high school who struggles to "find herself" after she finds out that she was adopted.
* [[Alexondra Lee]] as Callie Martel (season 3); Bailey's roommate and girlfriend during his freshman year at college.
* [[Jeremy London]] as Griffin Chase Holbrook (seasons 4–6, recurring seasons 2–3); A moody and troubled teenager whom Julia dates, and later marries and divorces. Older brother of Jill Holbrook, Bailey's ex-girlfriend who dies from a drug overdose. The character was originally portrayed by [[James Marsden]] in the first-season finale episode.<ref name="eonline25">{{cite web |author=Bricker |first=Tierney |date=September 12, 2019 |title=25 Shocking Party of Five Secrets Revealed |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1072196/25-shocking-party-of-five-secrets-revealed |website=[[E! Online]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date= 23 July 2017 |last= Johnson |first= Blanche |title= James Marsden talks 'Westworld's' success, recalls early days on 'iconic' shows like 'Party of Five' |url= https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/james-marsden-talks-westworlds-success-recalls-early-days-on-iconic-shows-like-party-of-five |website= Fox News |quote= ... not knowing if 'Party of Five' was going to be picked up [...] I went into that, and ‘Party of Five’ had to recast because I was off on another show. }}</ref>
* [[Jennifer Aspen]] as Daphne Jablonsky (season 6, recurring seasons 4–5); a part-time [[stripper]] who becomes briefly romantically involved with Charlie and later has his baby.

=== Recurring ===
The following lists all actors who appeared in five or more episodes during the run of the show.
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Owen Salinger, the youngest sibling was recast three times as the character grew. He was played by Alexander and Zachary Ahnert in the pilot episode, Brandon and Taylor Porter as an infant, Andrew and Stephen Cavarno as a preschooler, and [[Jacob Smith (actor)|Jacob Smith]] as a school-age child until the end of the show. He is 1 at the start of the series, 6 at its conclusion.
* [[Tom Mason (actor, born 1949)|Tom Mason]] as Joe Mangus (seasons 1–6); co-owner of the family restaurant Salinger's, who grew up with their father Nick in an orphanage, taking over as full-time owner after Nick's death. He also often acts as a father figure to the children.
* [[Mitchell Anderson]] as Ross Werkman (seasons 1–6); a professional violinist and Claudia's personal violin tutor and friend.
* Cari Shayne as Nina DiMayo (seasons 1–2); Julia's rebellious, outgoing friend from high school.
* [[Jennifer Blanc]] as Kate Bishop (season 1); Bailey's first girlfriend from high school.
* [[Michael Shulman (actor)|Michael Shulman]] as Artie Baum (season 1); Claudia's friend from elementary school, a fellow child violinist.
* [[David Burke (American actor)|David Burke]] as Bill (season 1); Owen's part-time nanny.
* [[Megan Ward]] as Jill Holbrook (season 1); Bailey's outgoing and troubled girlfriend, younger sister of Griffin Holbrook.
* [[Kathleen Noone]] as Ellie Bennett (seasons 2–3, 6); Kirsten's mother.
* [[Marla Sokoloff]] as Jody Lynch (seasons 2–3); Claudia's troublemaking friend from junior high school.
* [[Alyson Reed]] as Mrs. Reeves (seasons 2–5); Sarah's adoptive mother.
* [[Carroll O'Connor]] as Jacob "Jake" Gordon (seasons 2–3); the Salingers' maternal grandfather, father of their deceased mother, Diana Gordon Salinger.
* [[Brenda Strong]] as Kathleen Isley (season 2); a wealthy TV producer whom Charlie dates. When Charlie broke up with her after feeling like a "kept man", she maliciously uses her wealth to nearly close down the family restaurant.
* [[Tamara Taylor]] as Grace Wilcox (season 3); a social worker and peer counselor who briefly becomes Charlie's girlfriend. She also runs a successful election campaign to become a [[city councilwoman]].
* [[Ben Browder]] as Sam Brody (season 3); a construction worker who briefly becomes Julia's boyfriend.
* [[Dan Lauria]] as Coach Russ Petrocelli (season 3); Bailey's wrestling coach during his first year at college.
* Jackie Mari Roberts as Marcia (season 3); Grace's co-worker, who later works for Grace's city council election campaign.
* [[Andrew Keegan]] as Reed Isley (season 4); a high-school football player whom Claudia has a crush on and pursues.
* [[Paige Turco]] as Annie Mott (season 4); a divorced single mother who briefly becomes Bailey's girlfriend.
* Allison Bertolino as Natalie Mott (season 4); Annie's young daughter.
* [[Jessica Lundy]] as Nina Rondstadt (season 4); a zoologist who briefly becomes Charlie's girlfriend.
* [[Tim DeKay]] as Dr. Paul Thomas (seasons 4–5); Kirsten's husband, who then becomes her ex-husband.
* Brenda Wehle as Dr. Stephanie Rabin (seasons 4–5); Charlie's oncologist during his cancer treatments.
* [[Ever Carradine]] as Rosalie (season 4); a garage co-worker with whom Griffin cheats on Julia.
* [[Ross Malinger]] as Jamie Burke (seasons 4–5); Claudia's friend and later love interest, who is the son of a rival restaurant owner.
* [[Scott Bairstow]] as Ned Grayson (seasons 5–6); Julia's boyfriend during her first year at Stanford who later abuses her.
* [[Heather McComb]] as Maggie (season 5); Julia's college roommate who dated Ned before he cheated on her with Julia.
* [[Adam Scott]] as Josh Macon (season 5); one of Julia's friends at college and Julia's crush.
* [[Joanna Garcia]] as Hallie (season 5); a classmate of Claudia's at her New England boarding school.
* [[Lynsey Bartilson]] as Parker Brookes (season 5); a classmate of Claudia's at her New England boarding school.
* Chad Todhunter as Cody (seasons 5–6); Claudia's troubled boyfriend from the band that she joins with Griffin.
* [[Kyle Secor]] as Evan Stilman (season 6); Julia's writing editor with whom she becomes briefly romantically involved.
* [[Maggie Lawson]] as Alexa (season 6); a cheerleader friend of Claudia's.
* [[Andrew Levitas]] as Cameron Welcott (season 6); Alexa's football-player boyfriend who becomes romantically involved with Claudia.
* [[Wilson Cruz]] as Victor (season 6); Daphne's gay friend who works as her daughter's nanny, and later works as Owen's nanny for the Salingers.
* [[Lauren Ambrose]] as Myra Wringler (season 6); a troubled high school student who clashes with Charlie.
* [[Rhona Mitra]] as Holly Marie Beggins (season 6); an English pre-med student who becomes Bailey's girlfriend.
* [[Charles Esten]] as Luke Sheppard (season 6); Daphne's boyfriend who's in the [[U.S. Army]].
* [[Sean Maher]] as Adam Matthews (season 6); an aspiring writer who briefly dates Julia.
* [[Thomas Ian Nicholas]] as Todd Marsh (season 6); Claudia's boyfriend who works as a [[session musician]] and is a fellow violinist.
}}

== Production ==
[[Fox Entertainment Group]] chairman [[Sandy Grushow]] commissioned the show as a possible replacement for ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'', which was then in its fourth season. Grushow stated that "I wanted a show that would possess many of the same values that '90210' had in the beginning. A show about teenagers and for teenagers. I pitched the notion of a group of kids who lost their parents in a tragic accident and therefore were forced to raise themselves."<ref>{{cite news |author=Keck |first=William |date=2000-05-03 |title=It's a Goodbye 'Party' for the Salingers |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-03-ca-25885-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=2018-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224061604/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/may/03/entertainment/ca-25885 |archive-date=December 24, 2012}}</ref>

When [[Christopher Keyser]] and [[Amy Lippman]] came on board to create the show, they disliked the more lighthearted premise the network had come up with, essentially of a bunch of teens without parents left to go wild, which Keyser called a "''[[Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead]]'' kind of thing." They decided to take the show in a more dramatic direction, where the characters have to deal with the serious repercussions of being orphaned and growing up.<ref>{{cite video| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzBkXMXBSg4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/uzBkXMXBSg4| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live| title=ATX Festival Q&A: Party of Five (2013)| author=ATX Festival| publisher=YouTube.com| date=2013-04-19| access-date=2018-08-05}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[Jerry O'Connell]] was initially offered the role of Bailey, but he chose to sign with the series ''[[Sliders (TV series)|Sliders]]'' instead. Scott Wolf auditioned and was cast the very same day, the first of the actors to be cast.<ref name="Tara Aquino">{{cite news |author=Aquino |first=Tara |date=2017-03-22 |title=12 Surprising Facts About 'Party of Five' |publisher=mentalfloss.com |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/93248/12-surprising-facts-about-party-five |access-date=2018-07-31}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
Neve Campbell, who was still living in Canada at the time, auditioned for ''Party of Five'' while she was in Los Angeles interviewing with different talent agencies to represent her. She auditioned along with her then-roommate [[Tara Strong]], and ended up winning the role of Julia and moving to Los Angeles for the show, after it was picked up by Fox for a full series.<ref name="Tara Aquino"/><ref>{{cite video| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_p6iDaJx7s&t=586s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/v_p6iDaJx7s| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live| title=Scream Panel With Neve Campbell Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard| author=Fear Films| publisher=YouTube.com| date=2018-03-20| access-date=2018-07-31}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The show was produced by [[Columbia Pictures Television]] (CPT) and High Productions. CPT would later be folded into [[Columbia TriStar Television|Columbia TriStar Domestic Television]], which soon afterward became [[Sony Pictures Television]].

=== Nielsen ratings ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background-color:#E0E0E0"
! | Season
! | Episodes
! | Timeslot (ET)
! | Season Premiere
! | Season Finale
! | Rank
! | Rating<br />(Households)
! | Viewers<br />(in millions)
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | 1
| style="font-size:13px;text-align:center" |22
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" |Monday 9:00<br/>Wednesday 9:00
| September 12, 1994
| March 15, 1995
! style="text-align:center" |#125<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The TV Ratings Guide: 1994-95 Ratings History |url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/1991/08/1994-95-ratings-history.html |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=The TV Ratings Guide}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" |6.2<ref name=":1" />
|{{n/a}}
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | 2
| style="font-size:13px;text-align:center" |22
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" rowspan="4" | Wednesday 9:00
| September 27, 1995
| March 27, 1996
! style="text-align:center" |#96<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=The TV Ratings Guide: 1995-96 Ratings History |url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/1991/08/1995-96-ratings-history.html |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=The TV Ratings Guide}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" |7.1<ref name=":2" />
|{{n/a}}
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | 3
| style="font-size:13px;text-align:center" |25
| August 21, 1996
| April 2, 1997
! style="text-align:center" |#82<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=The TV Ratings Guide: 1996-97 Ratings History |url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/1991/08/1996-97-ratings-history.html |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=The TV Ratings Guide}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" |7.4<ref name=":3" />
|{{n/a}}
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | 4
| style="font-size:13px;text-align:center" |24
| September 17, 1997
| May 13, 1998
! style="text-align:center" |#56<ref name="9798season">{{cite news|url=https://ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked/ |title=The Final Countdown |publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]] Published in issue #434 May 29, 1998 |access-date=December 2, 2010 |date=May 29, 1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924184101/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C283382%2C00.html |archive-date=September 24, 2010 }}</ref>
|{{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center" |11.5<ref name="9798season" />
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | 5
| style="font-size:13px;text-align:center" |25
| September 16, 1998
| May 19, 1999
! style="text-align:center" |#65<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/1991/08/1998-99-ratings-history.html |title=1998-99 Ratings Guide |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=The TV Ratings Guide}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" |7.2<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/NIELSEN-RANKINGS-FOR-1998-99-2928332.php |title=NIELSEN RANKINGS FOR 1998-99 |date=May 28, 1999 |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=SF Gate}}</ref>
|{{n/a}}
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | 6
| style="font-size:13px;text-align:center" |24
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" | Tuesday 9:00<br/>Wednesday 9:00
| October 5, 1999
| May 3, 2000
! style="text-align:center" |#113<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=The TV Ratings Guide: 1999-2000 Ratings History |url=http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/1991/08/1999-2000-ratings-history.html |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=The TV Ratings Guide}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" |4.3<ref name=":4" />
| style="text-align:center" |6.135<ref name="9900season2">{{cite web |date=May 30, 2002 |title=US – Jahrecharts 1999/2000 |url=http://www.quotenmeter.de/cms/?p1=n&p2=9946&p3= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313023331/http://www.quotenmeter.de/cms/?p1=n&p2=9946&p3= |archive-date=March 13, 2011 |access-date=March 3, 2011 |website=Quotenmeter |language=de}}</ref>
|}

== Episodes ==
{{Main|List of Party of Five episodes{{!}}List of ''Party of Five'' episodes}}
{{:List of Party of Five episodes}}

== Home media ==
On April 27, 1999, [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment|Columbia TriStar Home Video]] released the season 2 episode "The Wedding", the season 3 episode "Intervention", and the season 4 episode "Richer, Poorer, Sickness, and Health" on [[VHS]].<ref name="VHSep31">{{cite book|title=Party of Five: The Wedding (VHS) (1994) |isbn=0767832582 }}</ref><ref name="VHSep64">{{cite book|title=Party of Five: The Intervention (VHS) (1994) |isbn=0767832590 }}</ref><ref name="VHSep77">{{cite book|title=Party of Five: Richer, Poorer, Sickness, and Health (VHS) (1994) |isbn=0767832604 }}</ref>

[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] released all six seasons of ''Party of Five'' on DVD in Region 1 between 2004 and 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2004 |title=Party of Five: The Complete First Season |url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/11070/party-of-five-the-complete-first-season/ |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=DVD Talk}}</ref><ref name="DVDs2r1">{{cite web |title=Party of Five – The Complete Second Season (1994) |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BNXD6O/ |access-date=March 3, 2011 |website=Amazon|date=December 20, 2005 }}</ref><ref name="DVDs1r1">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party/1161 |title=Party of Five – Season 1 announced, including WINNING Cover Art! |last=Lambert |first=David |publisher=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |date=February 23, 2004 |access-date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123150400/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party/1161 |archive-date=November 23, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="DVDs3r1">{{cite news |first=David |last=Lambert |title=Invitation to a Party at Last! 3rd Season Set Coming in March, 3rd Season Arrives 2¼ Years After The 2nd Season! |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-3/8726 |publisher=[[TVShowsOnDVD.com]] |date=January 4, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107083243/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-3/8726 |archive-date=January 7, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-4/18156 |title=Party of Five DVD news: Update about Party of Five – The Complete 4th Season – TVShowsOnDVD.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308211219/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-4/18156 |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-5-Box-Art/18619 |title=Party of Five DVD news: Box Art for Party of Five – The Complete 5th Season – TVShowsOnDVD.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629005818/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-5-Box-Art/18619 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-6/18906 |title=Party of Five DVD news: Box Art for Party of Five – The Complete 6th Season – TVShowsOnDVD.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903050700/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-6/18906 |archive-date=September 3, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In August 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library including ''Party of Five''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-Mill-Creek-Sony-License-Deal/18902 |title=Site News DVD news: Mill Creek Licenses 52 TV Shows from Sony for Low-Cost DVD Release – TVShowsOnDVD.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134321/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-Mill-Creek-Sony-License-Deal/18902 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> They subsequently re-released season 1 on DVD on June 24, 2014, followed by season 2 on January 6, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-1/19718 |title=Party of Five DVD news: Release Date for Party of Five – Season 1 – TVShowsOnDVD.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422201037/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-1/19718 |archive-date=April 22, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-2/20419 |title=Party of Five DVD news: Announcement for Party of Five – The Complete 2nd Season (MCE) – TVShowsOnDVD.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028043633/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-Season-2/20419 |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On January 5, 2016, Mill Creek released a complete series set featuring all six seasons of the series, available together for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-The-Complete-Series/21671 |title=Party of Five DVD news: Announcement for Party of Five – The Complete Series – TVShowsOnDVD.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029010559/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Party-The-Complete-Series/21671 |archive-date=October 29, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Party of Five - The Complete Series |url=https://www.millcreekent.com/products/party-of-five |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=Mill Creek Entertainment |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2016, it was announced that [[Hulu]] had acquired the rights to every episode of the series.<ref name="variety1-9-2016">{{cite web|last=Wagmeister |first=Elizabeth |title=Hulu Inks Multi-Year Licensing Deal with Sony: Acquires 'Dawson's Creek,' 'Party of Five,' More |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/hulu-sony-licensing-deal-library-dawsons-creek-party-of-five-1201675825/ |publisher=Michelle Sobrino |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 9, 2016 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420183501/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/hulu-sony-licensing-deal-library-dawsons-creek-party-of-five-1201675825/ |archive-date=April 20, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2021, it was announced by a Sony representative that the show had been remastered in 4K HDR quality.<ref name="hollywoodreporter1-23-2021">{{cite web|last=Giardina |first=Caroline |title="It's Not Slowing Down": Streaming Fuels Demand for Film and TV Restoration |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/film-tv-restoration-plans-1234972146/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 23, 2021 |access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref> The show's remastered version was made available for streaming in multiple [[Amazon Prime Video|Prime Video]] regions starting in 2022, although only in 1080p quality thus far.<ref name="primevideo10-25-2022">{{cite web|title=All seasons of Party of Five are now streaming - Prime Video |url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=639629297802271 |website=Facebook|date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref><ref name="justwatch">{{cite web|title=Cinco en familia (1994) Título original: Party of Five |url=https://www.justwatch.com/mx/serie/cinco-en-familia |website=Just Watch|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref><ref name="twitter">{{cite web|title=08/01/2023 Cinco en familia - Temporadas 1-6 (1994) |url=https://twitter.com/NovedadesPrime/status/1612016902011764736 |website=Twitter|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! DVD name
! Ep #
! Region 1
! Region 2
! Region 4
! DVD Special Features
|-
| The Complete 1st Season
| align="center" |22
| May 4, 2004<br /> <small>June 24, 2014 (re-release)</small>
| Sept, 25 2006
| May 5, 2006<br /> <small>June 7, 2017 (re-release)</small> 
| Audio Commentary On Selected Episodes.

"Party of Five: A Family Album", 17 minutes of a documentary about the shows first 4 seasons.

9 Behind the Scenes Featurettes with the Cast and Crew

(On Original DVD Release Only)
|-
| The Complete 2nd Season
| align="center" |22
| December 20, 2005<br /> <small>January 6, 2015 (re-release)</small>
| Sept, 3 2007
| February 14, 2007<br /> <small>June 7, 2017 (re-release)</small>
| Audio Commentary On Selected Episodes.

Documentary on the Series Featuring Jennifer Love Hewitt.

(On Original DVD Release Only)
|-
| The Complete 3rd Season
| align="center" |25
| March 25, 2008
| N/A
| June 7, 2017
| Minisodes
|-
| The Complete 4th Season♦
| align="center" |24
| March 5, 2013
| N/A
| June 7, 2017
| None
|-
| The Complete 5th Season♦
| align="center" |25
| July 2, 2013
| N/A
| June 7, 2017
| None
|-
| The Complete 6th and Final Season♦
| align="center" |24
| October 1, 2013
| N/A
| June 7, 2017
| None
|-
| The Complete Series
| align="center" |142
| January 5, 2016
| N/A
| November 1, 2017
| "Party of Five: A Family Album", the complete 44 minute documentary.
|}

♦ - Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release.

== Critical reception ==
For the show's first season, [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported an approval rating of 85% based on 13 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "A sincere family drama full of tear-jerking moments, ''Party of Five'' excels at its authentic depiction of young adult issues."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Party of Five (1994-1995) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/party_of_five/s01 |access-date=January 2, 2023 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref>

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Award
!Year
!Category
!Nominee(s)
!Result
! {{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}}
|-
|[[ALMA Award]]s
|2000
|Emerging Actor in a Drama Series
|[[Wilson Cruz]]
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-08-22 |title=2000 ALMA Awards |url=https://www.hollywood.com/general/2000-alma-awards-57162893 |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Hollywood.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Casting Society of America]]
|1995
|Best Casting for Pilot Episode
|Mary V. Buck and Susan Edelman for "Pilot"
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 Artios Awards |url=https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1995 |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=[[Casting Society of America]] |language=en |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813143532/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1995 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[GLAAD Media Award]]
|2000
|Outstanding TV Individual Episode
|"I'll Show You Mine"
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2000-01-18 |title=GLAAD noms announced |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/glaad-noms-announced-1117760955/ |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|1996
|Outstanding Television Series 
|
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=GLAAD Media Awards - 1996 |website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000286/1996/1/ |access-date=June 26, 2022}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Golden Globe Awards]]
|1997
|Best Television Series - Drama 
|
|{{Nominated}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref name="gg">{{Cite web |title=Party of Five |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/party-five |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=[[Golden Globe Awards]]}}</ref>
|-
|1996
|Best Television Series - Drama 
|
|{{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Humanitas Prize]]
|1998
|60 Minute Category
|[[Christopher Keyser]] and [[Amy Lippman]] for "Before and After"
|{{Nominated}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref name="humanitas">{{Cite web |title=WINNERS |url=https://www.humanitasprize.org/prize-winners |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Humanitas |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|1996
|60 Minute Category
|Christopher Keyser and Amy Lippman for "Thanksgiving" 
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards|Kids' Choice Awards]]
|2000
|Favorite Television Actress
|[[Jennifer Love Hewitt]]
|{{Nominated}}
|
|-
|[[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
|1996
|[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (One-Hour)|Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series]] 
|"The Wedding"
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Party Of Five |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/party-five |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Teen Choice Awards]]
| rowspan="4" |1999
|TV – Choice Actor
|[[Scott Wolf]]
|{{Nominated}}
| rowspan="4" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teen Choice Awards - 1999 |website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000644/1999/1/ |access-date=June 26, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|TV – Choice Actress
|[[Neve Campbell]]
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|TV – Choice Actress
|Jennifer Love Hewitt
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|TV – Choice Drama
|
|{{Nominated}}
|-
|[[Writers Guild of America Awards]]
|1997
|[[Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama|Television: Episodic Drama]]
|[[Mark B. Perry]] for "Falsies"
|{{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1997-02-07 |title=WGA NOMS |url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/wga-noms-1117436475/ |access-date=2022-06-26 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|[[Young Artist Award]]s
|1999
|Best Performance in a TV Drama or Comedy Series - Leading Young Actress
| rowspan="3" |[[Lacey Chabert]]
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 20th Annual Youth in Film Awards |url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms20.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128203408/http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms20.htm |archive-date=November 28, 2016 |access-date=June 26, 2022 |website=Young Artist Awards}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[YoungStar Award]]s
|1998
|Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series
|{{Won}}
|
|-
|1997
|Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series
|{{Won}}
|
|}

==Reboot==
{{Main|Party of Five (2020 TV series){{!}}''Party of Five'' (2020 TV series)}}
In January 2018, [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] ordered a pilot for a reboot of ''Party of Five'', featuring five children who must take care of themselves after their parents are deported back to [[Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/party-of-five-reboot-freeform-1202668286/|title='Party of Five' Reboot Scores Put Pilot Order at Freeform|website=Variety|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref> In April 2020, the reboot was canceled after one season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/party-of-five-reboot-canceled-freeform-one-season-series-1202910922/|title='Party Of Five' Reboot Canceled By Freeform After One Season|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2020-04-17|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
''Party of Five'' is credited with "[moving] televised stories about and targeted at young adults away from the [[Soap opera|soap-opera]] genre and [helping to] make the medium safer for the more realistic teenagers we’d meet later on ''[[Dawson's Creek|Dawson’s Creek]]'', ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'', ''[[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|Friday Night Lights]]'', and ''[[Gilmore Girls]]''."<ref name=":0" />

In 2021, ''Party of Five'' was one of the shows featured in the third episode of season 1 of [[Vice Media]]'s ''[[Dark Side of the 90s]]'' entitled "TV for Teens."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/dark-side-of-the-90s-90210-melrose-place-tv-for-teens.html/|title='Dark Side of the '90s' Exposes '90210,' 'Melrose Place,' and More 'TV for Teens'|last=Topel|first=Fred|date=July 29, 2021|publisher=Showbiz Cheat Sheet|accessdate=September 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-08 |title=Dark Side of the 90s Trailer Teases Vice TV's Newest Docuseries |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/trailers/1181790-dark-side-of-the-90s-trailer-vice-tv-docuseries |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=ComingSoon.net}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* John J. O'Connor. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/17/arts/television-review-trying-to-make-a-house-into-a-home.html "Trying to Make a House a Home"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''. October 17, 1994. p.&nbsp;C16.
* Brenda Scott Royce. ''Party of Five: The Unofficial Companion''. Los Angeles: Renaissance Books, 1998. {{ISBN|978-1-58063-000-9}}. {{oclc|37392928}}.

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|tt0108894|Party of Five}}
*[https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a30447319/party-of-five-original-series-importance/ The Original Party of Five Was a Surprisingly Important Series] in ''Esquire''
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyVsMeSXOjc Clip from pilot episode] 
*[https://www.sonypicturesmuseum.com/collection/845/party-of-five Sony Pictures Museum]
{{GoldenGlobeTVDrama 1990–2009}}
{{Party of Five}}

[[Category:1990s American teen drama television series]]
[[Category:1994 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2000s American teen drama television series]]
[[Category:Best Drama Series Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Serial drama television series]]
[[Category:Fictional quintets]]
[[Category:Television series about children]]
[[Category:Television series about families]]
[[Category:Television series about orphans]]
[[Category:American television series about teenagers]]
[[Category:Television series by Sony Pictures Television]]
[[Category:Television shows set in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Television series about siblings]]
[[Category:Coming-of-age television shows]]
[[Category:Fox Broadcasting Company television dramas]]
[[Category:Television series about dysfunctional families]]