This was a Saturday morning show that came on right after Saved By the Bell. I didn't like it as much, but found myself watching every ep.

I especially loved the ep with Tiffany and Jake where Tiffany worked in the shop. She thought the boys told her the lefty loosey/righty tighty thing because she was a girl, but it turned out it was how they (and I) learned!

Thoughts?

There actually was a California Dreams thread around here awhile back that thrived and had many conversations about the Jenny and Matt seasons vs. the Jake and Lorena seasons. You might want to search through all the threads and see if it's still around somewhere.

I thought I did, but thanks for the heads up, I'll post a link if this is a dupe thread.

I checked and didn't see one, I'm tried two more searches, maybe it got purged?

I totally loved this show. I liked all the seasons, but I did prefer the seasons with Mark, as he was my fave character and all.

My favorite episode was the one where Tony got a blank fortune is his fortune cookie. Boo Shing! haha.

I wish some channel would show reruns. It could come on TBS in a block with Saved by the Bell. Does anyone know if there are any DVDs of the series out yet?

I have the soundtrack to this show. Sesly, I do.

I loved CD, watched it every Saturday along with SBTB. Don't think I had a fave character, they were all decent. I remember Jake quitting smoking because his uncle (?) died of lung cancer.

What I remember about Jake was how he was Fonzie 2.0. I found his relationships with Kelly and Lorena to be a bit skeevy. Just like with the Fonz, I didn't believe for a second that he was any where near the age range of a high schooler.

The quality of the shows got better after Jenny left imo. I thought she was a mean spirited bitch.

I like Jake and Lorena Costa (I loved the way she said her name) better than him and Tiffany. She was too squeeky clean I wanted her with Mark.

Sam and Tony were really cool and I absolutley adored Sly.

That's hilarious because it's so true! He was so greasy which was so cool then! I've completely forgotten about a lot of the characters (except for Sly because I thought he was in Newsies as one of the Delancy brudders, but I was wrong).

I really need to get some screencaps of this to fuel my memory.

I liked Jake & Lorena better than Jake & Tiffany too. I shipped Tiffany with Matt. Tiff & Sly or Tiff & Mark would've been cute though. Sam & Tony were great together of course.

Another episode I really liked is the modeling one. Sam is so obsessed with Sampson. Didn't one of the American Gladiators play him? Nitro?

The show did get better after Jenny left. She was the one character I didn't like.

Did anyone else hate the fact that Sly and Lorena were together at the end? I was already annoyed that Jake got back together with Tiffany, then they put Sly and Lorena together, which just really got on my nerves at the time.

Oh yes, please! Specifically the episode where Sly gets duped by a modeling agent and he stands around the last half of the episode in a bathing suit (*drool*)

I miss this show. I even liked some of the songs (mostly the cheesy, slow ones).

I actually have most of the songs on mp3 as sad as that is.

I just wanted to be Lorena. Huge house where my parents were never home, tons of cash, hot boyfriend, etc. What 16 year old lives like that?

I totally hated Sly and Lorena together. Sly was much better with Tiffany or Nikki Cox.

Least favorite character? Sam by a mile.

The poor man's Saved By the Bell! I loved this show. I was so into Jake and Lorena.

I couldn't stand Jenny, and I totally forgot Nikki Cox was on there! Yeah, they need some reruns or something.

What's hilarious is that though I barely remember much about the show, I know each and every single note and word to the theme song! Ahh memory.

Ooooh ooooh ooooh
He's phat! (He's large!)
He's the king! (He's so funk-ay!)
Ohhh yeah
He's the next big thing!

I miss this show too! I don't remember too much about it, other than the theme song and the one I just quoted (which I so wish I had in mp3). I know I have one of the CD teen novels around in a box somewhere, that I ordered from a book club in the 5th grade.

I seriously thought that she was blind in real life after I saw that episode.

That is actually one of the only ones I don't have because it wasn't on the soundtrack. Only the Matt and Jenny years made the soundtrack I think. That and Jake's "Too Much To Dream" song that was stolen by like Neil Young or whoever.

I loved it when the group was in a park, I believe, trying to find some treasure or something like that and Sly's running around thinking "Gotta find the money! Gotta find the money!" That was completely hee!-larious to me.

Ah... Good times, back then. Good times... Except the songs. I caught an episode a while ago and remember thinking "This was a pretty decent show. Cheesy as hell songs though."

Don't wake me uuuuup, don't wake me up if I'm dreaming. California dreams, just let me lay here in the sun, before my dream is done...

Aww, I loved this show. I loved it so much more than Saved By The Bell, because the songs, I thought at the time, were the best. My sister and I were always looking for the soundtrack, but we never found it. We finally gave up and accepted they never made one. Damn! If we would've known.

Sam could be annoying at times, but for the most part I loved her. Still, I couldn't understand what kind of foreign exchange program would let you stay in the US for 4 years even after the family you lived with disappeared. Nor do I understand why her family named her 'Samantha' when she was born and raised in China. But why am I expecting realism out of this? I loved every time she talked about her uncle Chi-Chi (is that what he was called? Chit-Chit?).

Speaking of Sam: eat a sandwich, Sam! That girl was unnaturally skinny. And the camera adds ten pounds. I don't even wanna know what she looked like in real life. I remember she was wearing a leotard once and it was actually too big for her. A leotard!

I remember Jenny, too. She was pretty much the Brenda Walsh of CD. I honestly didn't miss her when she left.

Kill me, right now, but I was so into Jake/Tiffany back then it was sick. But I do remember thinking the episode where they got back together was lame. Not the whole thing per se (because Sly and Tony wearing tutus? Hilarious), but when they go walk on the beach, it was just so rushed and totally came out of nowhere. I think back then the audience was really pushing for them to get back together and the writers just gave in. But they didn't even end up together in the end, so it was like a total contradiction (ah, 43 year old teenagers).

I thought it was weird how Tiffany always came from the beach every time she walked into Sharkey's and yet her hair was always blow dried and she was never wet. Ah, the memories.

This website was updated two days ago. Yikes! It lives!

Oh my goodness, thanks for the link, who knew?

That's exactly it. The show sucks, I knew it then and I know it now, but I still watched and watched and probably would still watch right now. Heh. It's a black hole.

I HATEDthe Garrisons [that was Matt and Jenny's last name, right?]. All of them, especially the little brother. The show was so muh better without them all. I had a hge crush on Jake and I too, wanted to be Lorena. Sly was hilarious and I also thought he was hot.

Whooooo, a Dreams thread!

I loved this show for ages since it was still on TNBC. I may be in the minority, but I loved Jake and Tiffani together, and wasn't much a fan of Lorena, nor Sly whom I got bored of real easily. I liked everyone else however.



It always bugged me that she was an exchange student who spoke flawless english. But hey, plot contrivance I guess.

I was very imperessed with the cast, seeing how they sung their own songs and some their own instruments. Everyone's voice impressed me with the exception of Sam's. I thought she was a horrible replacement for Jenny, whom I thought had the strongest voice out of anyone in the history of the band. It sucks that none of them has gone onto bigger things since CD.

Out of curiousity, what's everyone's favorite song from the show? I personally love "This Time" and seemed to like most of the songs. Stop looking at me like that.

Aw, this show rocked. It was Saved By The Bell with a band hook, which totally sold me, because the regular teen schtick on SBTB got really old really fast for me.

I think I'm probably the lamest fan here, because my favorite Dream was always Mark Winkle. Him and Sly both doing "Gotta find the money! Gotta find the money!" in the treasure hunt episode is one of my favorite moments. And I have to give props to Jenny because she had the most awesome voice; the theme song just was not the same with Sam doing Jenny's part.

I'm lucky enough to have the soundtrack; my favorites off there are "This Time", "Castles On Quicksand", "Let Me Be The One", and "If You Only Knew". My all-time favorite, though, is "Take It Higher" because, well, Mark. See above. "Someone To Hold On To", "Must Be Love", and "Anytime" are also greats.

You know, there was a time when I could sing every song off this show? I'm sad.

Eek! There's a music download site! "_"

Aw, there's actually love for the Tony "He's phat..he's the king" song! I thought I was the only one who remembered (and loved!) that song!

I'll be damned if I can't remember a single lyric to a single song.

The only episodes I remember is when Sam made and marketed her grandmother's tea. And something with Sly and blind Nikki Cox. Oh and Sly buying a swimming suit and telling Lorena he made and designed it so she'd like him.

I remember there being a "hottest guy" type contest at Sharkey's that had Tony in a tux, Jake in his leather jacket and Sly in nothing but a bathing suit. And he was hot!

The only other episode I really remember involved Tiffany's steroid abuse that was resolved within 20 minutes. Apparently the volleyball team tryouts had made her so excited, so excited and so scared.

My favorite Dreams song. Ahem.

[removes dignity]
Mama says he's the guy (he's the guy)
Who'll break your heart and make you cry (make you cry)
Mama says love is blind
That's what Mama says
[/salvages last iota of dignity]

I don't know why, but I loved that song.

18matt

That is my favorite song too. My other favorite would some song Tiffani sings something about Heart Don't Lie or something. I loved both of those songs. I am also glad that I am not alone in my appreciation (horror) of loving this cheesy-ass show.

"I'm the next big thing..."

I tell you, this was when I realized I was into guys. I mean, I'd had crushes on little boys when I was a little girl, but I was (innocently-ish) attracted to that body. Wow. I was (am) such a dork. What happened to Michael Cade?

And I always liked "It's Gonna Be Rain". Yeah, I'm that cheesy.

"It's Gonna Be Rain" was a cool song. My fave Dreams song is "Love is Not Like This."

I was listening to "This Time" and Heidi Lenhart really has a pretty voice. IMO, the best of all the girls.

Wow, people actually liked the songs? I just liked to mock them. I can't think of a single good one, but maybe I'm just forgetting. It's interesting that none of these people ever really went on to do anything else.

Liked the songs? I can still sing the songs. I even found a site somewhere full of the lyrics I didn't remember.

That is soooo sad.

I also loooooved Micheal Cade. Why? I don't really know, but it's seems I grew up to have a weak spot for guys eerily similar to Sly Winkle.

That is so much sadder.



I'll put my dignity on the shelf next to yours, because I also loved that song. My other favorite went a little somethin like this:

Tiiiiiiil the end, (til the end)
We'll be friends until the end.

I think tony sang lead on that one ( I loved hin too, hehe)

Loved this show. I really didn't dislike anyone in the cast too much. Thought Sly could be an annoying ass at times, but god had a good body as evidenced by the bathing suit parade scene.

And don't hate me, but I loved Jake and Tiffani. I liked Lorena better with Sly, or even Mark. Tony and Sam were awesome too, because ya know, he's the next big thing.

This show should be on TBS or something. Some shows (like Fresh Prince) are on 5 million channels at once, why can't CD be on?

I hate "Next Big Thing". The song just irritated the hell out of me.

Reading this thread brought back a lot of memories! I remember I used to watch this show every afternoon when I got home from school because it came on after SbtB. I agree that the early years of Matt/Jenny were pretty lame, it just felt way too much like they were trying to be the funny, musical version of 90210.

Great story: When I was in high school we had to watch a video one day on how to prepare to take the PSATs. Who hosted this great PSAT video? None other than Lorena Costa herself!

I loved this show. I also thought Peter Engel used the Saved by the bell Max and used it on this show and his other shows too.
And Kelly Packard is hot.

Edited for bold.

Awwwwwwww... I loved this show. I always did wonder why they didn't show this on TBS & such. I used to watch it when SBTB went off & even now when SBTB is still on TBS, CD is no where in sight -- it was cheesy sometimes but I enjoyed it!

I also agree with many people about the Garrisons, didn't like them one bit. I didn't think they fell in good with everyone else.

My fave song they did was the one in the episode where Sam & Tony were thinking about marriage because Sam would have to move back to Hong Kong when high school was over & the whole gang discouraged them to, saying it would be a big mistake.

The song was "What Would I Do [Without You]"

(Candy and flowers)
For my Valentine
(Minutes and hours)
You stay on my mind
(Romance and love songs)
I'm down on my knees
(Promise me you'll belong)
Oh to only me

But that's just a start
What I'm trying to say
I'd give you my heart
But it's yours anyway

What was the catchprase of Sly and Tony when they had that Wayne's World type show?

The Goo Ga Moo Guys was the name of their show but I don't recall any particular catchphrase except for them alternating syllables while saying "Goo Ga Moo".

Anyone remember the episode where they have to research their family histories? Tony(?) lies about being the descendent of a king and is named homecoming king for life.

I can't believe I remember that.

Totally do! I have the perfect picture of Tony in the regal garb and everyone treating him like he was the shit. REminds me of when Zack on Saved by the Bell pretended to be descended from a Native American chief and it turns out he really was.

It's funny because wasn't Matt supposed to be the hunk at first? I remember an episode where this clumsy girl had a huge crush on him, and he used her to win some contest. Then I guess Jake replaced him as the hunk. I liked Matt the dork better anyways, and always smiled a little when he said: Oww Maaan...

I also remember the first episode Sam was in and the guys made a bet about who would be the first one to kiss her....kiss her? UUuuhhh, naughty, hot stuff!

The episode I remember most was when Sly is staying with Matt and his dad. It also had Sly almost winning Sam's heart, but he pulls some stupid crap and screws everything up with her by the end of the episode. I'm having trouble remembering the exact details.

Man, I LOVED this show. So much. I'm a SBTB fan, don't get me wrong, but this show was so unbelievably special to me, probably because I was such a huge music fan between 6-11 years old.

I own the soundtrack as a well and also have mp3s of the album versions of songs from later season (apparently, a special CD was put together for cast and crew and it later found its way online), and so that's very cool. "Tell Her I'll Be Waiting," one of the ones that Mark sang at the ski lodge, is very sweet and catchy.

Also, as a ten year old, I helped write the season six fanfic that was on Rick's California Dreams website, the site that was the site for a while. The website is here: CD Fanfics. I don't post that so you can read my stuff but so that you can read the episode arcs of the season six fanfics as well as some other really good stuff. The best was by the webmaster Rick. He wrote one called Music Appreciation. Yeah, it'll really take you back.

Looking at some of these old posts, people complained that the show wasn't on TBS, but no one mentioned the fact that it was on TBS for a long time. It was also on WGN. Then it was picked up in syndication by various other local outlets. And I think that PAX network picked up episodes for a few months.

I've got a nice amount of episodes on video, including the last episode, which was one of the most depressing finales I can remember. Very well made, I thought, especially for a teen show like this, but very, very sad.

What happened in the last episode? I never got to see the later ones, because they stopped showing them here.

The last episode was called "The Last Gig" I believe.

It opens up at the end of summer and all the cast exposits where they're going to school (Tiff to Hawaii, Sam to Oxford, Tony somewhere for acting I think, Mark to Juliard, Sly and Lorean to Pacific University, and Jake's staying around). Tony's crying like crazy because he can't stand to leave. He keeps trying to take things from Sharkey's.

The band has a gig at the pier and Jake pretty much owns it, so a record producer, Brett Dewey (a reference to producer Brett Dewey), shows interest. He's so excited that the Dreams finally have a break, but Brett tells him he just wants Jake. So Jake says he won't do it unless the band all signs. The band is skeptical and has a vision of what their future and decide that they don't want to be in the band. When they go to tell Jake, he interrupts with news that Dewey wants the whole group. Jake's crushed to learn the truth.

Jake and Tiffani break up after a nice moment where Tiffani helps him understand why everyone wants to move on. They know that their relationship won't work.

It moves on to the last gig, also at the pier (the band had been banned from Sharkey's earlier in the season, I believe, so that's why they played at the pier instead of the logical Sharkey's). The gig is awesome and they play a nice song called, "So Glad I Was There."

After the song, they have a huge group hug and say goodbye individually. It ends with Sly and Jake alone and they hug and essentially say they love each other (it's a subtle, guy thing). Sly walks off and Jake stands there looking around.

A transcript can be found here: http://www.thenandnow.net/cd/transcripts/thelastgig.txt

Why did Matt leave? I never saw the episode where Matt left, just the episode where Sly's cousin shows up and takes Matt's place. It made me sad, I really liked Matt. I always liked the song Everybody's Got Someone But Me because I was a sentimental 12-year old.

If I have heard correctly, Brent Gore, the actor who played Matt, was upset over his character's development, so he left the show. On the show, Matt was written out as having moved away. There was no send-off episode for him.

His character's development? On TNBC? Geez.

Thanks for the recap Drew T.! Man, I see I missed quite a lot, I always saw this as a fun cheesy show with a very cheap set. I saw some of the later episodes on a foreign channel, and it seems like the set and the characters changed a lot. and I liked Matt, but agree that they didn't give him much to work with considering that it seems like he was supposed to be kind of the male lead and hunk at first.