Do You Remember? October Road

Back on March 15, 2007, the ABC prime-time soap opera October Road debuted in the coveted timeslot after Grey’s Anatomy. The series followed Nick Garrett (played by former One Tree Hill star Bryan Greenberg), who returned to his hometown – the fictional Knights Ridge, Massachusetts – 10 years after leaving to go backpacking to Europe. He lived in New York City, where he became a famous author and screenwriter. Experiencing writer’s block, Nick decided to conduct a one-day seminar in his hometown, but once back he had to face the changes and the ghosts from his past.

The following were the series regulars:

Laura Prepon (That 70’s Show) – She played Hannah Jane Daniels, who was Nick’s long-time girlfriend. When Nick returned, he learned she had a 10-year-old child, was dating Nick’s enemy Ray Cataldo and was a veterinary technician.

Warren Christie (Alphas, Chicago Fire and The Resident) – He played Ray “Big Cat” Cataldo – He was a bully to Nick and his friends in high school, but 10 years later he was a successful construction company owner and dating Nick’s former girlfriend.

Geoff Stults (7th Heaven and Enlisted) – He played Nick’s best friend Eddie Thomas Latekka and former high-school football star, who was still upset with Nick for leaving all those years later.

Tom Berenger (Major League and Platoon) – He played Nick’s gruff but caring dad Bob “The Commander” Garrett, who was dating the dean of the English department at the local college and had just been diagnosed with bone marrow cancer.

Rebecca Field (The Client List and Grey’s Anatomy) – She played Janet Edith Meadows, a bartender at the local bar in Knights Ridge and was Hannah’s best friend.

Brad William Henke (Orange Is the New Black) – He played big-hearted and affable Owen Dennis Rowan, who prided himself on being a good husband and father and was one of Nick’s high school friends.

Evan Jones (Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 and Hotel Artemis) – He played David “Ikey” Eichorn, who had an affair with Owen’s wife, dividing their once close-knit group of friends

Jay Paulson (Mad Men and Beyond) – He played Philip “Physical Phil” Farmer – Another friend of Nick’s who had been a shut-in for 6 years prior to Nick’s return to town, he shared a house with Eddie

Slade Pearce – He played Hannah’s 10-year-old son, who believed that his father’s name was Gavin Goddard (but it was much later revealed that Nick was his dad); but he was adjusting to living with his mom’s boyfriend Ray and Ray’s two sons, Jasper and Casper.

Odette Annable [nee Yustman[ (Supergirl and House) – She played Aubrey Diaz, a native of Berkeley, California, who moved to Knights Ridge to attend the local college as part of its graduate writing program.

Lindy Booth (The Librarians) – She played Emily aka “Pizza Girl,” who was Physical Phil’s colorful and energetic girlfriend, who attends the local college and works as a pizza delivery girl, ergo, the only name she was known by until the series finale.

Some of the recurring cast members were:

Elizabeth Bogush (NCIS: Los Angeles and The Young and the Restless)
Penny Johnson Jerald (Castle and The Orville)
Sean Gunn (Gilmore Girls and Guardians of the Galaxy)
Julie Ann Emery (Preacher)
Amy Acker (Person of Interest and The Gifted)

And some of the actors who guest starred on the show included:

Melissa Ponzio (Teen Wolf)
Bella Thorne (Famous in Love)
Blair Redford (The Gifted)
Kevin Weisman (Alias, Scorpion and Runaways)
Reed Diamond (The Purge and Designated Survivor)
Jessica Stroup (90210 and Iron Fist)

The series was created by Andre Nemec, Scott Rosenberg and Josh Appelbaum, who have gone on to executive produce the TV dramas Zoo and Knightfall. The first season of the show only consisted of 6 episodes, airing in March and April of 2007. The show debuted to strong initial ratings, but fell 16% in its second episode. The second season of the show consisted of 13 episodes, airing from November 2007 to March 2008. ABC cancelled the show because of declining ratings. The show’s creators weren’t deterred, though, as they co-wrote a 10-minute series finale, filmed it with the cast and included that short as a special feature on the season 2 DVD set.

It’s a little fuzzy, but here is the trailer for the debut of October Road:

You can actually watch the six episodes of season one on ABC; and watch the 13 episodes of season two here.

Do you remember October Road?

Want to revisit our other “Do You Remember” pieces? You can see them all here.