Hart of Dixie Information

Hart of Dixie is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on The CW on September 26, 2011. The series, created by Leila Gerstein, stars Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart who, after her dreams of becoming a heart surgeon fall apart, accepts an offer to work in a small medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama.

Synopsis

See List of Hart of Dixie episodes for more information

Season 1

Fast-talking New Yorker and brand new doctor Zoe Hart has it all figured out"?after graduating top of her class from medical school, she'll follow in her father's footsteps and become a cardio-thoracic surgeon. But when her dreams fall apart, Zoe decides to accept an offer from a stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, to work with him at his small practice in Bluebell, Alabama. Zoe arrives in this small Gulf Coast town only to find that Harley has passed away and left his half of the medical practice to her in his will.

She quickly finds that Southern hospitality isn't always so hospitable"?the other doctor in town, Brick Breeland, is less than pleased to be sharing the practice with this young outsider, and his daughter, Lemon, is a Southern belle whose sweet disposition turns sour when she meets Zoe. Zoe's only allies are the mayor, former football star Lavon Hayes, her bad-boy neighbor Wade Kinsella, and handsome lawyer George Tucker " who just happens to be Lemon's fiance. Zoe is out of her element and ready to pack her bags, but a surprise visit by her snobby New York mother leads to Zoe's decision to stay in Bluebell for a while, discovering small-town life and a side of herself she didn't know was there.

Season 2

The second season opens with Zoe being confused over her conflicting feelings for both George and Wade, who she just slept with. Zoe decides that George is not ready for a relationship and so starts seeing Wade.

Cast

Main cast

• Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart; Zoe aspires to become a heart surgeon like her father. After four years of residency at a New York Hospital, she does not get a fellowship because she needs to get experience first and takes up an offer to move to the South and work in a small medical practice in the town of Bluebell, Alabama. Discovering that her biological father had given her the position, Zoe decides to stay at the practice in order to learn more about him. Despite being hightly intelligent and fast-talking, Zoe often finds herself in trouble through not understanding the prideful Southerners' ways. She has feelings for George, but chooses not to act on them until he is ready. She had a flirty friendship with Wade, but as of Season 2, Zoe is in a monogamous relationship with him.
• Jaime King as Lemon Breeland; The daughter of town doctor Brick Breeland. She was engaged to George Tucker, but had a relationship with Lavon while George was living in New York. Prideful, conservative and somewhat uptight, Lemon begins a deep rivalry with Zoe when they first meet because she feels that Zoe is interfering in her "perfect" life and they often clash, owing to their different ways of thinking.
• Cress Williams as Lavon Hayes; Mayor of Bluebell and a former linebacker for ten years in the NFL; he has a pet alligator named Burt Reynolds. It is revealed in season 1 that Lavon had an intimate relationship with Lemon, who was engaged to George. Lavon develops a close friendship with Zoe and often gives her meaningful advice on the town's traits.
• Wilson Bethel as Wade Kinsella; A bartender, manual laboror and Zoe's neighbor. He first meets Zoe after a party at his house blows an electrical circuit at Zoe's house. He has an eccentric personality. Initially he appears to be a stereotypical and prideful redneck who is fun loving, immature, unambitious, womanizing and sarcastic bartender who doesn't give a damn about anything or anyone. But slowly it is revealed that he has quite a sophisticated persona, who seems to care deeply about the people around him though he always puts his best efforts to hide his feelings. He seems to have fallen deeply in love with Zoe and is willing to make amends to his lifestyle and ambitions for Zoe, yet makes every effort to disguise his feelings for her. Despite being aware of Zoe's feelings toward his friend George, he seems to give Zoe his all without demanding any reciprocation. As of Season 2, he is in a monogamous relationship with Zoe.
• Tim Matheson as Dr. Brick Breeland (recurring role episodes 1"14; regular role episodes 15"present); Lemon's father who is also a doctor and shares of half of the local Bluebell practice with Zoe. He is often very critical of Zoe's medical diagnoses and inexperience of Southern hospitality.
• Scott Porter as George Tucker; George was previously engaged to Lemon. A lawyer, George previously worked at a large law firm in New York before moving back home to Bluebell. He and Zoe frequently bump into each other. George tells Zoe that he is marrying Lemon because she was a wonderful person in high school when he met her. Despite this, he eventually develops feelings for Zoe. After learning of Lemon's affair with Lavon, he kisses Zoe in a New Orleans bar, and then calls off his wedding to Lemon to be with Zoe.

Recurring cast

• McKaley Miller as Rose Hattenbarger; a teenage girl who admires Zoe very much. Due to her intellect, she considers herself an outsider among peers and parents.
• Claudia Lee as Magnolia Breeland; Lemon's teenage sister and Brick's youngest daughter. She is first introduced in the episode "The Undead & The Unsaid" as being very troublesome and wanting attention from her family. She is sometimes rivals with Rose. She shows a softer side by consoling Lemon after George ends their engagement.
• Ross Philips as Tom Long; a nerdy young man who use to have a crush on Zoe but begins dating Wanda.
• Kaitlyn Black as Annabeth Nass; a member of Lemon's southern belles and best friend. She was once good friends with Zoe, but discontinued her friendship after getting a high position in the local southern belles chapter. In season 2 she develops feelings for Lavon, but decides not to pursue a relationship with him because of Lemon.
• Brandi Burkhardt as Crickett; a member of Lemon's southern belles. She is very influenced by Lemon.
• Reginald VelJohnson as Dash DeWitt; the head reporter of the local newspaper.
• Mallory Moye as Wanda; Tom's girlfriend.
• Golden Brooks as Ruby Jeffries; Lavon's ex-girlfriend from high school, who runs against him for mayor. She is good friends with Zoe and a rival of Lemon's. (season 2)
• Deborah S. Craig as Shelley Ng; a waitress at the local restaurant the "Rammer Jammer", where Wade also works. (season 1)
• Eisa Davis as Addy Pickett; the receptionist at the local practice. She often gives Zoe advice. (season 1)
• Nadine Velazquez as Didi Ruano; originally the receptionist at the local practice, she was later replaced by Addie. She then gets a job working as George's secretary. She has had in an on-and-off relationship with Lavon. She is known to be very ditzy and talkative. (season 1)
• Mary Page Keller as Emily Chase
• Wes Brown as Dr. Judson Lyons; Judson is Bluebell's local veterinarian. He has shown much romantic interest in Zoe, despite once sleeping with Gigi, Zoe's best friend from New York. (season 1)

Production

On February 1, 2011, it was announced that The CW had ordered a pilot for Hart of Dixie. On May 17, the network officially picked up Hart of Dixie to series, set to air in fall 2011. The series marks the second time executive producer, Josh Schwartz, and series star, Rachel Bilson, have worked together on television. The first time the duo worked together was on the Fox teen drama The O.C., created by Schwartz. The show's executive producer, Josh Schwartz, compared the show to WB classics such as Felicity, Everwood, and Gilmore Girls.

With the reveal of The CW's fall 2011 schedule, it was announced that Hart of Dixie would air on Monday at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central, following Gossip Girl. It premiered on Monday, September 26, 2011. On October 12, 2011 the series was picked up for a full season, which will consist of twenty-two episodes. Along with pick-up for all other CW dramas, Mark Pedowitz said "We believe in the creative strength of these dramas, and by giving them back nine orders we can give our audience the chance to enjoy complete seasons of all three of them." On May 11, 2012, The CW renewed the show for a second season, which premiered on October 2, 2012.

Casting

On February 8, 2011, TV Line reported that Rachel Bilson was nearing a deal to star in the series. Her role was later confirmed by The CW in a press release. Soon after, Wilson Bethel joined the cast as Wade Kinsella, Zoe's "gorgeous bad-boy" neighbor. Scott Porter was later cast as good-looking lawyer George Tucker, a potential love-interest for Bilson's character.

On May 20, 2011, it was announced that Nancy Travis would not continue with the series due to her commitments with the 20th Century Fox-produced ABC sitcom Last Man Standing. Travis was written out after the first two episodes. Meredith Monroe appeared in one episode as Lemon's estranged mother.JoBeth Williams appeared in two episodes as Candice Hart, the mother of Bilson's character.

Reception

Critical reception

The show has received mixed reviews including a 43 out of 100 from Metacritic.

TVGuide.com described the show as "Southern Exposure" and, in a later review, stated that the actors are better than the "cutesy" material, although Bilson is not convincing as a heart surgeon. Both TVGuide.com and Robert Bianco of USA Today stated that the show is potentially offensive to the South. Bianco also wrote that the show is shallow and far-fetched, with Bilson giving an unconvincing performance, such as acting surprised when calling herself a doctor. Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter stated that the series is predictable and superficial, but "surprisingly touching". Goodman and Brian Lowry of Variety stated that Bilson does not look like a doctor, with Goodman writing that she looked too much "like a high-priced call girl" and Lowry writing that she looked like she belonged in "Barbie's medical dream house."

Writing for The New York Times, critic Neil Genzlinger wrote, "...the premiere, at least, doesn't find a convincing way to balance the clashing strands: the city-mouse disorientation, the medical emergencies, the girlfights, the daddy issues, the young-pretty-and-available stuff." Los Angeles Times reviewer Mary McNamara described the show as, "a stack of familiar scenarios stitched together to form a pretty if not terribly substantial quilt." TVLine described the show as "Everwood-esque". TVLine later said: "Beautifully filmed with warm, cozy tones, the Southern setting utterly envelops the glowing Bilson", adding that Porter's appearance "wins us over and makes you forget that clunky intro" and despite the "rom-coms clichés, the pilot is super-efficient at introducing us to those who will be the key players in Zoe's story, laying the framework for storytelling places to go." Tv Times magazine gave Hart of Dixie its lowest score of 2011"2012: 12 out of 100.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipients and nominees	Outcome
2011	E! Golden Tater Awards	New Fall Show You're Most Excited For	Hart of Dixie

Ratings

Season	Timeslot (ET)	# Ep.	Premiered		Ended		TV season	Rank	Viewers (in millions)
			Date	Premiere viewers (in millions)	Date	Finale viewers (in millions)
1	Monday 9pm	22		1.88		1.60	2011"2012	#182	1.77
2	Tuesday 8pm	22		1.53		TBA	2012"2013	TBA	TBA

International broadcasts

Country	Network(s)	Series premiere	Timeslot
	Glitz*	July 4, 2012	Wednesdays at 9:00pm
	Fox8	January 7, 2012	Mondays at 8:30pm AEDT
	Glitz*	July 4, 2012	Wednesdays at 9:00pm
	CHCH	September 26, 2011	Mondays at 8pm ET
	Kanal 4	May 28, 2012	Mondays at 8pm
	June	December 11, 2012	Tuesdays at 8:40pm
	TV3	May 13, 2012	Sundays at 6:30pm
	HOT3	January 6, 2013	Sundays at 7:30pm
	Mya	May 27, 2012	Sundays at 9:15pm
	Glitz*	July 4, 2012	Wednesdays at 9:00pm
	TV2	August 5, 2012	Sundays 5:30pm
	2nd Avenue	September 29, 2011	Thursdays at 8pm
	M-Net Series	February 10, 2012	Fridays at 8:30pm
	Kanal 5	July 31, 2012	Tuesday at 8pm
Arab World	MBC 4
	Really	April 30, 2012	Mondays at 8pm
	Fox Life	November 18, 2012	Mondays at 9pm
	AXN White		Sundays at 9pm; reruns Thursdays 9pm
	AXN White		Sundays 9.30pm