Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide
 |
| Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | |
|---|---|
| File:Ned'sDeclassified0912.jpg Moze, Ned, and Cookie | |
| Created by | Scott Fellows |
| Starring | Devon Werkheiser Lindsey Shaw Daniel Curtis Lee Daran Norris |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 56 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 22 minutes (11 minutes per segment) (approx. per episode) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nickelodeon |
| Release | September 12, 2004 – June 8, 2007 |
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, sometimes shortened to Ned's Declassified or Ned's, was an American live-action situation comedy on Nickelodeon that debuted in the channel's Sunday night TEENick scheduling block on September 12, 2004 in The United States of America. The series' actual pilot episode aired in September 2003 without many of the current version's main characters. The series finale aired on June 8, 2007. [1]
The visual effects were done by John Allison Inc., supervised by John Allison and Robin Snelson. The show is produced by ApolloProScreen GmbH & Co. Filmproduktion KG in association with Jack Mackie Pictures, its main executive producer and creator is Scott Fellows, the head writer for The Fairly OddParents, which is why in the short titled "Day Dreaming", which aired on February 5, 2005, Cosmo and Wanda appeared. Former The Wonder Years star Fred Savage is one of the show's directors. The other executive producers were Jörg Westerkamp and Bill O'Dowd. Rich Magallanes was the executive in charge of production.
Premise
Nickelodeon's Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide chronicled the wacky adventures of Ned Bigby (Devon Werkheiser) and his best pals Jennifer Mosely played by Lindsey Shaw better known as Moze, and Simon Nelson-Cook AKA Cookie (Daniel Curtis Lee) at James K. Polk Middle School, as "every-kid" Ned shatters the fourth wall to share tips and tricks on navigating middle school or junior high hurdles. Ned's not super cool but he is, however, witty, well-groomed, upbeat and self-aware; moreover, with more than a little help from his two best friends, he's equipped to conquer middle school minefields. From crushing bullies to crushes, from off- the-wall, mean and cool teachers to pop quizzes, elections and detentions, Ned knows that nothing, including middle school, is as bad as it seems, and friendship matters most.
Each 22-minute episode contained two 11-minute shorts, both of which deal with a subject about school life. While the show is exaggerated, Ned is a victim of plenty of ordinary teenage circumstances.
The show and characters have greatly developed from its first season. It is widely regarded that the target age group for the show has shifted to an older audience after the first season, and this can be reflected in the plentitude of relationship related storylines in the second series. Additionally, almost all the first season's episodes were based on 'school problems': backpacks, emergency drills, talent shows etc., but in the second season, a lot more episodes focused on the teenager themselves: your body, asking someone out, shyness etc. In fact, some people believe it has turned from a comedy to a romance/comedy mix, especially after the third season finale.
It should also be noted on more than one occasion, a character other than Ned broke the fourth wall. (Moze, Gordy and even a teacher have done so at least once.)
It can be noted that after the second season the show contained more spontaneous sound effects and more animated/live action moments, making the show more cartoon-like than it was previously.
Locations
The show took place at the fictional James K. Polk Middle School, in California (the flag can be seen in the school's entrance hall). The exterior of the school was filmed at La Mesa Junior High in Santa Clarita, California.[1] The school is named after the 11th President of the United States James K. Polk. The school's colors are yellow and green, which is the constant theme through the school's interior. Additionally, their school teams are named the 'Wolves'. The wolf is homeroom teacher "Mr. Monroe's" favorite animal.
During Season 1, all of the shows action took place at the school, and with the exception of one or two notable occasions, everything happened indoors. However during Season 2, the shows producers decided they wanted more exterior scenes. So more outdoor shots were used, and on certain occasions, off school property all together:
In the "Car Wash" short, it takes place at a local business' parking lot.
In the "Dares" short, the climax of the episode takes place outside the 'Northside Aquatic Warehouse'
In the "Guide to: The Bus & Bad Hair Days" episode, most of the "The Bus" short takes place outside the school, in local neighborhoods. The following short, "Bad Hair Days", partially takes place at the high school next door.
In the "Guide to: Halloween" short, some quick snippets show a local house being trick-or-treated at.
In "Guide to: Social Studies", Cookie had three fantasies that all took place at the SEALTELLE Capital Building.
In "Guide to: Fundraising", Moze was seen going door-to-door trying to sell her last candy bar.
In "Guide to: Parties", the entire episode takes place at Seth's house.
The movie took place in Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California. In the movie the gardens are named "Huffington Gardens and Gallary".
Major characters
Ned is the main character who started the guide. He is usually getting into trouble with his friends. In season 3 he goes out with his dream girl, Suzie Crabgrass, but she moves to Santa Ana and eventually he begins to have feelings for Moze; these feelings shift back to the returning Suzie in the series finale, but at last he chooses Moze in the end. He usually turns to Gordy, the school's janitor, for advice (though it rarely works). Finally, in the season finale Ned admits his feelings for Moze and they are going out.
Jennifer goes by the name of Moze. She is very tall. She was usually trying to break away from Ned and Cookie in the hope of getting a girl best friend in the early part of the show. She eventually became best friends with her worst enemy - Suzie Crabgrass. She begins to have feelings for Ned in season 3. She is now going out with Ned as a result of Ned's Declassified Field Trip. She is a volleyball jock and has set the most school records.
Simon goes by the name of Cookie. He is a computer nerd and is usually in some kind of crisis. He often uses his knowledge with technology to help himself and his friends. He has a motherboard in his locker, his pants double as a printer, and his glasses double as a computer display. In the first few episodes, he was portrayed as a cyborg, but that idea was eventually dropped in the episode "Best Friends". At first Lisa Zemo had a crush on him but was rejected for her large glasses, runny nose, and impulsive nasal spray use. however in the third season she got a new wardrobe, contacts and a new allergy medication, and stopped chasing Cookie around. Cookie was now attracted to Lisa, and they start dating at the end of the series finally.
Gordy is the lazy, 40-year-old janitor at Polk and almost never does his job, although the school is normally not visibly dirty. He is constantly avoiding the vice principal, Vice Principal Crubbs, because Gordy fears of being fired, which happened in Field Trip, but was "un-fired" by Principal Wright. He gives "Manly Advice" to Ned and Cookie which almost never works. When Ned and Loomer, the bully, decided how Loomer should break up with his girlfriend, Suzie, he did, as he said, "what all great men do in in a tough decision. We flip a coin." But the result ended up Suzie liking Loomer even more. His archenemy is a weasel that he consistently fails to capture using one of his many over-elaborate schemes. However, after Ned's Declassified Field Trip, he finally caught the weasel, but didn't kill it, because him and a few other teachers found out that the weasel was a mother and was running to protect her babies, which were shown in Field Trip. It is suggested that Gordy was not very academic when in school. This is suggested several times, one of which being when he gives Ned a list of military schools he attended after he failed all his tests. He also has once said he's been to law school five times. If there is a big mess to clean up, Gordy always gives the excuse "I'll let the night guy get it."
Ned's crush and Moze's archenemy, but later best friend. Ned's dream girl since fourth grade he's always wanted Suzie to be the first girl he kisses (and it was). Suzie dated Billy Loomer in the last episode of season one, and in most of season two, but then broke up, but then dated again, but then broke up shortly after. Suzie liked Ned in the third season, but sometimes gets confused about if Ned likes her because Missy Meany (who had a huge crush on Ned in season three) tricks Ned into making Suzie think that Ned hates her. However in the episode 'Stress', Suzie mentions her dad got a job far away and can't see her that often, and finally in the episode 'Friends Moving', Ned realizes that Suzie has to move because of how far away her dad's job is. She is at her new school for most of season 3, until finally in the penultimate episode of season three, 'When You Like Someone Who is Going out With Someone Else', Suzie's dad got a closer job so she moves back to the school and ironically finds Ned right when he and Moze are just about to confess their love for each other. Then after Ned's Declassified Field Trip she is going out with Billy Loomer for the third time while Ned and Moze decide to finally go out.
Recurring Characters
- Billy Loomer- Polk's bully who has a crush on Moze. But then in Ned's Declassified Field Trip when Jennifer confesses her love to Ned, he goes out with Suzie, who he dated twice previously in season 2.
- Crony - One of Loomer's friends who's in the sewing club, yet never tries to admit it. He's known for his "big hair" and has a crush on Missy Meany.
- Buzz - Another one of Loomer's friends. Doesn't talk except in the "Volunteering" episode.
- Seth Powers (Alex Black) - The clueless, hot, and basketball loving boy of Moze's dreams who suddenly became smart after going out with Evelyn Kwong.
- Coconut Head (Rob Pinkston) - A geeky friend of Ned, Moze, and Cookie. No viewer knows his real name. His nick name is based off his hairdo, which looks like a coconut which his mom gave him.
- Martin Qwerly- Another geeky friend of Ned, Cookie, and Moze. He's extremely optimistic and is always seen talking, usually inanely fast, much to the annoyance of nearby peers. The only known time he hasn't had anything to say was in the "Study Hall" episode where he was too creeped out from Moze's water bag (curing a pinched nerve) to say anything.
- Lisa Zemo- An alergetic who is often seen with an inhaler in the first two seasons. She also had a crush on Cookie in the first two seasons. She returns in season three as an eighth grader with new clothes, allergy medication, and her braces off, which causes many of the boys at the school to fall for her, including Cookie. Because of Cookie's heroics in Ned's Declassified Field Trip, he is currently going out with her.
- Missy Meany- She is the pretty, popular girl in school who takes an interest in Ned during season three. Her nature is cynical (hence her name Meany), so a person can expect to find her causing mayhem, mischief, and turmoil amongst Polk Middle School. After much persisting, Ned agrees to let her kiss him in "Spring Fever".
- Mr. Sweeney- The insane science teacher, who Ned especially hates but in Ned's Declassified Field Trip he saids to Ned when he was in a tree that he would be remembered as one of his worse students and one of his favorite's.
- Mr. Wright- A English teacher at Polk Moze likes the best. He later becomes the principal in Season three.
- Faymen Phorchin - Jennifer's crush and eventually her boyfriend in the third season until he leaves to play pro-soccer. His name is a play on the phrase "fame and fortune".
- Vice Principal Crubbs- The strict Vice-Principal and character spoof of Miami Vice. Crubbs is always keeping an eye on Ned.
- Mr. Monroe - (Played by Jim J. Bullock) Mr. Monroe’s is Ned and Cookie’s Life Science teacher, as well as being in charge of the Sewing Club. He’s extremely effeminate, although no rumors about the character’s sexuality have appeared yet (Bullock however is openly gay in real life). In a slight turn up to his character though, he's also the boys’ extremely skilled basketball coach. The character's name is a reference to the character Bullock played on the 80's sitcom Too Close For Comfort named Monroe Ficus. Bullock's character, along with Gordy, are the only two stars to get the 'Also Starring' moniker on the title sequence. He hasn't appeared in Season 3 so far, and in the "Guide to: School Records" short, Mr. Sweeney teaches homeroom.
Episodes
In other countries
- In Canada, the show airs on Family.
- Nickelodeon's United Kingdom network airs the show at various times.
- France recently acquired the rights to air the show in France (new, blank templates for the tips in the show were created by Jack Marx and Joshua Allison for the foreign airings).
- In Spain and all the Spanish-speaking countries, the shows title is translated to Manual de Sobrevivencia Escolar de Ned, (Ned's School Survival Manual.)
- In Brazil, the show title changed to Manual de Sobrevivência Escolar do Ned (Ned's School Survival Manual) and just the first and second seasons were released. Nickelodeon Brazil airs the show Mondays-Fridays at 9:30-10:00pm.
- In Germany and Austria, it becomes Neds Ultimativer Schulwahnsinn (Ned's Ultimate Madness of School).
- In Italy, it becomes Ned - Scuola di Sopravvivenza (Ned - School of Survival).
- In France it becomes Ned ou comment survivre aux études (Ned or How to Survive School).
- In Israel it airs on Nickelodeon-Israel from Sunday to Thursday. It is called there Madrich Hahisardut Shel Ned (Ned's Survival Guide).
- In Ireland it broadcasts on RTÉ TWO.
Spin-offs and other formats
- At the 2006 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, Devon Werkheiser, along with his co-stars Lindsey Shaw and Daniel Curtis Lee hosted a pre-show item, giving tips on how to prepare to win a Blimp (Nickelodeon's version of an Academy Award), in a spoof of the show.
- Devon Werkheiser, has also hosted the premiere of the Nicktoon The X's with short segments before and after commercial breaks; entitled "Devon's Super Stoopid Secret Spy Guide", another parody of the show.
- Several episodes of the show have been released on VideoNow format. To date, "Guide to: Bathrooms and Project Partners", Guide to: Teachers and Detentions" and "Guide to: Seating and Tryouts" are available.
- To date, the show is only available on Region 4 DVD (Australia, on a 3-disc box set of season 1 with the pilot episode listed as an extra), however one episode "Guide to: Computer Lab and Backpacks" is available on the "Teenick Picks Vol. 1" DVD.
- However, all of Season 1, and all of Season 3 to date, are available to download off iTunes. Plans are being made to add Season 2 as well.
- A book based on the show featuring real tips, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide Book of Top Ten Lists, has been published by Scholastic Press.[2]
Trivia
- Ned and his friends remain in the seventh grade from seasons 1 to 2 and finally graduate to the eighth grade in season 3.
- In the episode "The Last Day", the students, faculty, and staff sing a parody of the song "We Go Together" from the musical Grease.
- In the episode "Making New Friends", Gordy's scar over his eye looks similar to Prince Zuko's from Avatar:The Last Airbender.
- In the episodes "Lunch", "Dodgeball", "Spring Fever", and "Field Trips", flashbacks from the show are shown.
- The following kisses have been made in the series:
- Ned and Moze (six and a half times)
- Moze and Faymen (five times)
- Ned and Missy (three times)
- Ned and Suzie (five times)
- Ned and The Huge Crew (forcibly many times)
- Cookie and Evelyn (three times)
- Coconut Head and The Huge Crew (once)
- Moze and Loomer (once)
- Moze and Coconut Head (twice, but only because Moze was desperately trying to get a cold to avoid a speech and during spin the bottle at Seth Powers's party)
- Ned and The School Nurse (once)
- Moze and Seth Powers (once as Grandma Mosely)
- Moze and Faymen's dog (once, during spin the bottle at Seth Powers's party)
- In the episode "Fundraising," there were Ruffles, Fritos and Doritos in the vending machine.
- In the episode "Project Partners," Ned says Moze's middle name, which is Ann, and also in the "Health" episode, it is written.
- In the episode "Popularity," Cookie and Albert put their names in 7 and 8, which is where Moze and Suzie's names were. However, Missy starts freaking out when she reads the list because she is now ranked 73, althougth she was in 1.
- In the episode "Tests," Ned is seen with a Game Boy Advance SP A red and blue Game Boy Advance SP are also shown in the "Vice Principals" episode.
- Ned is always wearing Converse Chuck Taylor's.
- The series finale called "Field Trip" which aired at 8:00 PM on June 8, 2007 during Ned/Shred weekend with the TV movie starring Devon Werkhieser called "Shredderman Rules" The episode's full name is "Permission Slips, Field Trips, Signs, and Weasels".
- The district high school is called "Michael S. Dukakis High School."
- In the episode "Woodshop", Mr. Chopsaw's saw which is named Christine is a reference to Steven King's Christine.
- In the beginning of the episode "Lunch", the character "One Bite" has an English accent, but in the end where they find a solution to the current problem, One bite has a Chinese accent.
- In the episode "Failing", the lunch lady says that Ned is going to kiss his true love at an upcoming dance, which occurs in the episode "double dates", when Ned kisses Moze.
- In the episode "Notebooks", Ned's notebook shows pictures of the Crimson Chin and Timmy Turner from the television show, Fairly Oddparents.
- In the first season, it is revealed Loomer is cheating on Suzie with Missy. When questioned, he states "because she has a swimming pool". In the third season, when questioned by Moze, its revealed that "she hates to swim", however, in "Seating", Ned explains to Moze that Loomer is scheduled to go swimming with Moze, in exchange for his services in the lunch hall as Ned's "bouncer" for his extra exclusive table.
- In the series finale, when Cookie overhears actual thieves planning to steal the Wild Boy painting, they look similar to some of the people from National Treasure. The guy with long blonde hair is like Ian, and there is even someone holding a cilindrical tube on his shoulder.
- In the series finale, "Field Trip", there is an "alternate" ending where an alien lands in front of Ned and Moze, after their kiss. After that, the entire school chases the alien out of the garden in a Benny Hill type sequence where there is fast music (Sounding much like Yakety Sax) playing.
- In the episode "Notebooks", the guitar riff of the song playing (when everyone is running around) is actually from the song by the Darkness, I Believe In A Thing Called Love.
- Ned (Devon Werkheiser) appears shirtless for the first time ever the history of the show in the series finale, "Field Trip". He is wearing only a grass skirt over boxer-breifs for several scenes, including the one where he asks out Moze.
Series directors
- Joe Menendez
(8 episodes)
(3 episodes)
(3 episodes)
- Jonathan Winfrey
(1 episode, 2006)
- Dan Coffie
(1 episode, 2006)
(1 episode, 2006) [3]
Series writers
(4 episodes,)
- Rick Groel
(4 episodes,)
- Lazar Saric
(4 episodes,)
- Eddie Guzelian
(3 episodes,)
- Frank Berin
(2 episodes,)
External links
- Articles needing cleanup from Jun 2007
- Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from Jun 2007
- Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from Jun 2007
- 2004 television program debuts
- 2007 television program series endings
- 2000s American television series
- 2000s Nickelodeon shows
- Sitcoms
- American children's comedy series
- Family Channel shows
- Television shows set in California