Summerland

FIRST SEASON:

June 1, 2004 - Pilot/And so the Day Begins
The last thing on Ava Gregory's (Lori Loughlin, Full House) mind was settling down and starting a family. As an ambitious woman with a close-knit circle of friends, a great house in a beautiful California beach town and a growing career as a fashion designer, her life was in full swing. But everything changed the day she learned that her sister and brother-in-law were killed in an accident, leaving Ava to raise their three children, 16-year-old Bradin (Jesse McCartney, All My Children), 13-year-old Nikki (Kay Panabaker) and 9-year-old Derrick (Nick Benson). Ava and her three best friends - Johnny (Shawn Christian), Jay (Ryan Kwanten) and Susannah (Merrin Dungey, Alias) - all pitch in to help Ava provide the ultimate surrogate family for her sister's children.
+Taylor Cole also stars. Ian Toynton directed the episode written by Stephen Tolkin with material from an earlier draft by Stephen Tolkin and Brad Isaacs.

June 8, 2004 - Fireworks
Ava (Lori Loughlin) falls for Kyle (guest star C. Thomas Howell, The Outsiders), a recently divorced man, but their dating life becomes complicated when she learns that he is the father of Nikki's (Kay Panabaker) new crush Cameron (guest star Zac Efron). Meanwhile, Bradin's (Jesse McCartney) efforts to protect Erika (Taylor Cole) from a guy (guest star Riley Smith, New York Minute) with questionable intention don't go as smoothly as possible.
+Shawn Christian, Merrin Dungey, Ryan Kwanten and Nick Benson also star. Harry Winer directed the episode written by Jon Cowan & Robert Rovner.

June 15, 2004 - Into My Life
Bradin (Jesse McCartney) falls for a rich party girl Sarah (Guest star Sara Paxon, Greetings from Tuscon). Ava (Lori Loughlin) finds herself in a tough predicament when she discovers a joint in Bradin's jeans. Meanwhile, Johnny's (Shawn Christian) promises to help Derrick (Nick Benson) with his baseball practice go unfulfilled when his work at the realty office consumes all of his time. +Merrin Dungey, Ryan Kwanten, Taylor Cole and Kay Panabaker also star. The episode was directed by Matt Shakman and written by Katie Botel.

June 22, 2004 - The grass is greener than you think
At the roommate's annual summer luau party, relationships are started, rekindled and ended. Ava (Lori Loughlin) learns a terrible secret about why Johnny (Shawn Christian) broke up with her years ago; Susannah (Merrin Dungey) pretends to be involved with Jay (Ryan Kwanten) to ward off advances from her ex-boyfriend (guest star James Black); and Nikki (Kay Panabaker) believes she must seduce Cameron (guest star Zac Efron) in order to keep him interested in her and away from his ex-girlfriend, Amber. (guest star Shelley Buckner).
+Jesse McCartney, Taylor Cole and Nick Benson also star. Peter O'Fallon directed the episode written by Denitria Harris Lawrence.

June 29, 2004 - Big Waves
Jay (Ryan Kwanten) is devastated that an old knee injury is keeping him from competing in a local surfing competition, but Erika (Taylor Cole) has plans of her own to get him in the event. Meanwhile, feeling overwhelmed by the disarray in the house, Ava (Lori Loughlin) asks Johnny (Shawn Christian) and Susannah (Merrin Dungey) to help her organize things but no one can agree on how much structure is really needed.
+Kay Panabaker and Nick Benson also star. The episode was written by Craig Machen and directed by David Petrarca.

July 6, 2004 - Heat Wave
Ava (Lori Loughlin) has to do some damage control when Derrick's (Nick Benson) friend finds a naked picture of Ava and takes it home. Bradin (Jesse McCartney) goes to Jay (Ryan Kwanten) and Johnny (Shawn Christian) for advice when he considers having sex for the first time with Sarah (guest star Sara Paxton). The next night, Bradin feels hurt and confused when he spots Sarah on a date with another guy. Meanwhile, Nikki's (Kay Panabaker) possessive behavior puts a strain on her relationship with Cameron (guest star Zac Efron).
+Merrin Dungey also stars. Timothy Busfield directed the episode written by Gay Walch.

July 13, 2004 - Secrets
Ava (Lori Loughlin) becomes increasingly worried about Bradin's (Jesse McCartney) relationship with his wild girlfriend Sarah (guest star Sara Paxton) and even Bradin contemplates breaking up with her, but finds it harder to do than he expected. Meanwhile, Derrick (Nick Benson) misinterprets a friendly embrace between Susannah (Merrin Dungey) and Johnny (Shawn Christian) on a camping trip.
+Ryan Kwanten and Taylor Cole also star. Harry Winer directed the episode written by Jon Cowan & Robert Rovner.

July 20, 2004 - Skipping School
Ava (Lori Loughlin) thinks that it may be in Nikki's (Kay Panabaker) best interest to skip her last year of junior high and go straight to high school, but Nikki has a different opinion. Bradin (Jesse McCartney) is invited by Sarah (guest star Sara Paxton) to run away with her to Mexico, but he discovers that she's actually attempting to get out of going away to a strict boarding school. Erika's (Taylor Cole) estranged mother (guest star Rosanna Arquette, Pulp Fiction) shows up unannounced and attempts to get Erika to leave Jay (Ryan Kwanten) and Playa Linda to come home to live with her.
+Shawn Christian, Merrin Dungey and Nick Benson also star. Steve Miner directed the episode written by Graham Yost.

July 27, 2004 - Kicking and Screaming
When Ava (Lori Loughlin) and Johnny (Shawn Christian) chaperone Derrick (Nick Benson) and his friend Martha (guest star Abigail Mavity) at the movies, they find themselves enjoying the date a little more than they expected. Meanwhile, Jay (Ryan Kwanten) invites Erika (Taylor Cole) to move in with him, and Susannah (Merrin Dungey) contemplates leaving her partnership with Ava to work for a high-end French designer.
+Jesse McCartney and Kay Panabaker also star. The episode was written by Denitria Harris-Lawrence and directed by Peter O'Fallen

August 3, 2004 - Life in a Fishbowl
Johnny (Shawn Christian) realizes his true feelings for Ava (Lori Loughlin) when he observes her having a great time on a date with Nikki's (Kay Panabaker) school principal, Dr. O'Keefe (guest star Jay Harrington). Meanwhile, Bradin (Jesse McCartney) considers taking his friendship with Callie (guest star Danielle Savre) to the next level, but is confused when Sarah (guest star Sara Paxton) returns to town.
+Merrin Dungey, Ryan Kwanten, Taylor Cole and Nick Benson also star. The episode was written by Stephen Tolkin and directed by Jeff Bleckner.

Without her partner Susannah (Merrin Dungey), Ava (Lori Loughlin) has a hard time finding the self-assurance to run a successful fashion business and likewise, finds it difficult to muster the confidence to take her relationship with Simon (guest star Jay Harrington) to the next level. Meanwhile, Jay (Ryan Kwanen) helps Bradin (Jesse McCartney) with his surfing techniques to help him get on the Playa Linda High Surf Team.

As the summer nears its end, everyone is left reconsidering the relationships they're in. Ava (Lori Loughlin) feels overwhelmed by Simon's (guest star Jay Harrington) desire for a serious relationship while she still has feelings for Johnny (Shawn Christian); Bradin (Jesse McCartney) becomes confused with Callie's (guest star Danielle Savre) hot-and-cold actions; Jay (Ryan Kwanten) wonders if having Erika (Taylor Cole) move in with him is such a good idea when she redecorates his place; Susannah (Merrin Dungey) considers quitting her new job; and Nikki (Kay Panabaker) suffers as she remembers the death of her parents.