DAWSON’S CREEK
Premiere Date: January 20, 1998
Finale Date: May 14, 2003
Created By: Kevin Williamson
Overview: The saga of Dawson (an aspiring filmmaker), Pacey (his quippy pal), Jen (a New York City expat) and Joey (Dawson’s tomboy BFF) was set in Capeside, MA, and followed the group through high school into college, was a hit with younger viewers and helped put its parent network, The WB, on the map.
We Knew Them When: Daytime alumni in the cast included James Van Der Beek (Dawson; ex-stephen, ATWT), John Wesley Shipp (Mitch; ex-kelly, GL et al), Kerr Smith (Jack; ex-ryder, ATWT), Dylan Neal (Doug; exdylan, B&B), Jensen Ackles (C.J.; ex-eric, DAYS) and Roger Howarth (Franco, GH), who played Professor Hetson. Obba Babatundé (Principal Green; B&B’S Julius) and Leann Hunley (Tamara; ex-anna, DAYS) were among the actors with soap credits who played short-term roles.
Just Getting Started: The show’s four main stars — Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes (Joey), Joshua Jackson (Pacey) and Michelle Williams (Jen) — went on to considerable POSTCREEK success; Jackson currently stars on Showtime’s THE AFFAIR and Michelle Williams has earned four Oscar nominations for her film work. Busy Philipps (Audrey) is getting her own talk show on E! this month, while Chad Michael Murray (ONE
TREE HILL), Michael Pitt (BOARDWALK EMPIRE), Scott Foley (SCANDAL), Oliver Hudson (SPLITTING UP TOGETHER) and Jennifer Morrison (HOUSE) also cut their teeth in Capeside.
From Night To Day: Actors who popped up on the CREEK before launching their daytime careers include Greg Rikaart (David; Leo, DAYS), Melissa Claire Egan (Ilyse; exchelsea, Y&R, et al), John Driscoll (Blossom; ex-coop, GL, et al), Aubrey Dollar (Marcy; ex-marina, GL) and Carolyn Hennesy (Mrs. Valentine; Diane, GH).
We Had It Covered: The Jen/dawson/joey triangle was featured on Digest’s 2/16/99 cover.
First Things First: Kerr Smith’s Jack shared a passionate same-sex kiss with Adam Kaufman’s Ethan on May 24, 2000, a first for broadcast television.
Swoon Worthy: The long-running Dawson/ Joey/pacey triangle divided fans and was its signature romantic storyline.
Spin Cycle: While not a bona fide spinoff, the show introduced the character of Will Krudski, played by Rodney Scott, for a three-episode run in advance of the premiere of the show he would be a full-time part of, YOUNG AMERICANS, which ran during the summer of 2000.
Grand Finale: The show’s last episode fast-forwarded five years into the future, when the gang reconvenes in Capeside for Dawson’s mom’s wedding. Single mom Jen passes away, and Jack and Doug (Pacey’s brother), now a couple, commit to raising her daughter. Joey dumps her New York City boyfriend for Pacey, and Dawson
(who now produces a semiautobiographical series, THE CREEK) gets a call from his idol, Steven Spielberg.