State of Grace (TV series)

The show is centered on two 12-year-old girls from very different backgrounds, Hannah and Grace, who are best friends. Hannah is from a middle class Jewish family and lives with her parents, her grandmother, and her uncle. Her parents are the owners of a furniture factory in the fictitious town of Ashmore, North Carolina, to where they have recently moved from Chicago. Grace is from a wealthy Catholic family and lives with her mother, a socialite. Typically, they are depicted as more intelligent, thoughtful, funny, and rebellious than other children of their age. Set in 1965, the show was compared by some to another look-back-through-the-years show, The Wonder Years. Fred Savage, the star of the hit ABC series, appeared in the series' final episode. The theme song is the original version of "Do You Believe in Magic" by The Lovin' Spoonful. The show was taped at Ren-Mar Studios stage 4. ==Cast and characters==

Main • Dinah Manoff: Evelyn Rayburn, Hannah's mother • Michael Mantell: David Rayburn, Hannah's father • Alia Shawkat: 12-year-old Jewish-American girl Hannah Rayburn • Erica Yohn: Grandma Ida, Hannah's grandmother • Jason Blicker: Uncle Heschie, Hannah's uncle • Faye Grant: Tattie McKee, Grace's mother • Mae Whitman: 12-year-old Emma 'Grace' McKee, Hannah's best friend • Frances McDormand: Narrator, voice of adult Hannah Guest stars • Bryan Neal: Walker Adams, Grace's older half-brother • Bonnie Bailey-Reed: Shirley, the Rayburns' receptionist • Carl M. Craig: Greer, the McKees' chauffeur • Patricia Forte: Cookie, the McKees' maid • Tom Verica: Tommy Austin, Tattie's fiancé • Adrian Neil: Nigel Grenville III, Tattie's friend Cast collaborations The two main actresses, Shawkat and Whitman, went on to co-star on Fox's Arrested Development. Shawkat was in the main cast and Whitman was a recurring guest star in season two and the beginning of season three 2004–2005. Shawkat played Maeby Funke on the show, while Whitman played Ann Veal, the girlfriend of Maeby's cousin George Michael Bluth who was portrayed by Michael Cera. Shawkat, Manoff and Mantell would later have roles in the film Bart Got a Room. ==Episodes==

Season 1 (2001) Season 2 (2002) ==Awards and nominations==

The series was created by Brenda Lilly and Hollis Rich and was recipient of many awards including The Parents Television Council, the Humanitas Award, and a Jewish Image Award. Shawkat and Whitman were both nominated for the Young Artist Award for the Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Leading Young Actress in 2002. ==References==