The
Parents Television Council (PTC), a conservative media advocacy group, often cited
7th Heaven among the top ten most family-friendly shows. The show was praised for its positive portrayal of a cleric and for promoting honesty, respect for parental authority, and the importance of a strong family and a good education through its story-lines. Reasons given include perceived heavy-handed moralizing, Christian propaganda, and depiction of a caricature of a real family, that is "so clean it is obscene". Some criticize the predictable storytelling of
7th Heaven. Frey describes the basic pattern followed by each episode: "(1) One of the Camden family has a problem and/or secret; (2) some sort of ''
Three's Company''-esque misunderstanding ensues as a result of that problem and/or secret; (3) a confrontation and/or intervention takes place, usually involving a short sermon delivered by one of the Camden parents; and (4) whoever stands at the center of the drama eventually figures out the 'right' thing to do. And 'right' is always another word for 'Christian'; while the show avoids explicit discussions of Jesus and/or faith, Protestant guilt is readily employed as a plot device." According to Frey, "the sappiness and sanctimony of the characters often made the moral lessons impossible to swallow". In this regard, the parents (and eldest son Matt) sometimes depict a sense of ownership over the sexuality of Lucy and Mary by threatening potential romantic interests or negotiating their Lucy and Mary's romantic rights. While the first season had modest success with around 3 million viewers, the later seasons often averaged 5 to 7 million viewers. It holds the record for the WB's most watched hour at 12.5 million viewers, on February 8, 1999; 19 of the WB's 20 most watched hours were from
7th Heaven. On May 8, 2006, it was watched by 7.56 million viewers, the highest rating for the WB since January 2005. When the show moved to the CW, ratings dropped. Possible reasons for the decline include an aired "Countdown to Goodbye" ad campaign for the last six months of the 2005–06 season, which promoted it as the final season ever; though the CW announced the series' unexpected renewal, it didn't promote the new season strongly via billboards, bus stops, magazine or on-air promos. Lastly, the network moved
7th Heaven from its long-established Monday night slot to Sunday nights, causing ratings to drop further. The series had a season average of just 3.3 million on the new network, losing 36% of the previous year's audience. It was the third most watched scripted show on the CW. Overall, it was the seventh most watched show.
Awards and nominations •
Emmy Awards • 1997: Outstanding Art Direction for a Series (Patricia Van Ryker and Mary Ann Good) – Nominated • ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards • 2000: Top TV Series (Dan Foliart) –
Won • 2001: Top TV Series (Dan Foliart) –
Won • Family Television Awards • 1999: Best Drama –
Won • 2002: Best Drama –
Won •
Kids' Choice Awards • 1999: Favorite Television Show – Nominated • 2000: Favorite Animal Star (Happy the dog) – Nominated • 2001: Favorite Television Show – Nominated • 2002: Favorite Television Show – Nominated • 2003: Favorite Television Show – Nominated • TV Guide Awards • 1999: Best Show You're not Watching –
Won • 2000: Favorite TV Pet (Happy the dog) – Nominated •
Teen Choice Awards • 1999: TV Choice Actor (
Barry Watson) – Nominated • 1999: TV Choice Drama – Nominated • 2000: TV Choice Drama – Nominated • 2001: TV Choice Actor (Barry Watson) – Nominated • 2001: TV Choice Drama – Nominated • 2002: TV Choice Drama/Action Adventure –
Won • 2002: TV Choice Actor in Drama (Barry Watson) –
Won • 2002: TV Choice Actress in Drama (
Jessica Biel) – Nominated • 2003: TV Choice Drama/Action Adventure –
Won • 2003: TV Choice Actor in Drama/Action Adventure (
David Gallagher) –
Won • 2003: TV Choice Breakout Star – Male (
George Stults) –
Won • 2003: TV Choice Actress in Drama/Action Adventure (Jessica Biel) – Nominated • 2003: TV Choice Breakout Star – Female (
Ashlee Simpson) – Nominated • 2004: TV Choice Breakout Star – Male (
Tyler Hoechlin) – Nominated • 2004: TV Choice Actor in Drama/Action Adventure (David Gallagher) – Nominated • 2004: TV Choice Drama/Action Adventure – Nominated • 2005: TV Choice Actor in Drama/Action Adventure (Tyler Hoechlin) – Nominated • 2005: TV Choice Actress in Drama/Action Adventure (
Beverley Mitchell) – Nominated • 2005: TV Choice Parental Units (
Stephen Collins and
Catherine Hicks) – Nominated • 2005: TV Choice Drama/Action Adventure – Nominated • 2006: TV Choice Breakout Star – Female (
Haylie Duff) – Nominated • 2006: TV Choice Parental Units (Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks) – Nominated •
Young Artist Awards • 1997: Best Family TV Drama Series –
Won • 1997: Best Performance in a Drama Series – Young Actress (Beverley Mitchell) –
Won • 1997: Best Performance in a Drama Series – Young Actor (David Gallagher) – Nominated • 1997: Best Performance in a TV Comedy/Drama – Supporting Young Actress Age Ten or Under (
Mackenzie Rosman) – Nominated • 1998: Best Family TV Drama Series –
Won (tied with
Promised Land) • 1998: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actress (Beverley Mitchell) –
Won (tied with Sarah Schaub) • 1998: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actor (Bobby Brewer) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress (Danielle Keaton) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress (
Molly Orr) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actor (David Gallagher) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actress (Jessica Biel) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Supporting Young Actress (Mackenzie Rosman) – Nominated • 1999: Best Family TV Drama Series – Nominated • 1999: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actor (Craig Hauer) – Nominated • 1999: Best Performance in a TV Series – Young Ensemble (Beverley Mitchell, Barry Watson, Jessica Biel, David Gallagher, Mackenzie Rosman) – Nominated • 2000: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress (Kaitlin Cullum) –
Won • 2000: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actress (Beverley Mitchell) –
Won • 2000: Best Family TV Series – Drama – Nominated • 2001: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress (Brooke Anne Smith) –
Won • 2001: Best Family TV Drama Series – Nominated • 2001: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress (Jamie Lauren) – Nominated • 2002: Best Family TV Drama Series – Nominated • 2002: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress (
Ashley Edner) – Nominated • 2002: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Leading Young Actor (David Gallagher) – Nominated • 2002: Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Supporting Young Actress (Mackenzie Rosman) – Nominated • 2004: Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Supporting Young Actress (Mackenzie Rosman) –
Won • 2005: Best Family Television Series (Drama) – Nominated • 2005: Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actor (Tyler Hoechlin) – Nominated • 2006: Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Young Actor Age Ten or Younger (Drake Johnston) – Nominated • 2007: Best Family Television Series (Drama) – Nominated • 2007: Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Supporting Young Actress (Mackenzie Rosman) – Nominated • 2007: Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Young Actor Age Ten or Younger (Nikolas Brino and Lorenzo Brino) – Nominated • 2008: Best Performance in a TV Series – Young Actor Ten or Under (Lorenzo Brino) – Nominated • 2008: Best Performance in a TV Series – Young Actor Ten or Under (Nikolas Brino) – Nominated • Young Star Awards • 1997: Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series (David Gallagher) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series (Beverley Mitchell) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series (Jessica Biel) – Nominated • 1998: Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series (David Gallagher) –
Won • 1999: Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series (David Gallagher) – Nominated • 2000: Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Drama TV Series (David Gallagher) – Nominated • 2000: Best Young Ensemble Cast – Television (David Gallagher, Jessica Biel, Beverley Mitchell, Mackenzie Rosman) – Nominated ==Availability==