Best Friends Forever

Best Friends Forever is a American coming-of-age teen sitcom, airing from October 13, 2006 until April 15, 2011 on Disney Channel, and restarted it's run on Disney Channel on May 25, 2018 with new episodes. Josh Hutcherson, Keke Palmer, Dylan Patton, Dakota Fanning and Alyson Stoner and Jason Dolley stars as the main characters, but Dolley becomes recurring in the show's fourth season (final season during original run). The show also has two theatrical film adaptations, Best Friends Forever: The Movie and Best Friends Reunion.

As the series ended its original run, it matched the record from That's So Raven as the longest-running Disney Channel Original Series to date, which were later broken on October 14, 2011 by Wizards of Waverly Place with 106 episodes (currently 106 episodes in total after four seasons as of January 2012). The series finale of the original run scored the most view episode for a Disney Channel series finale earning 18.1 million. In 2018, Best Friends Reunion surpassed Wizards of Waverly Place as the longest running television series on Disney Channel.

In 2017, it was announced that a new film adaptation is in the works as a reunion film to the television series, scheduling for a theatrical release in 2018. The film is entitled Best Friends Reunion, and is released on March 30, 2018. Following the success of the film, at the film's world premiere, director Duke Johnson brought the idea on bringing back Best Friends Forever to production for a revision fifth season as Disney Channel approves the decision for a 2018-2019 season. It set a new record as the longest running television series on Disney Channel as well as the first television series ever on Disney Channel to have more than four seasons. Following the success of the first episode and very positive reviews of the fifth season, Disney Channel renewed the show for it's sixth season for an additional 22 episodes.

Synopsis
Best Friends Forever takes place in Los Angeles involving 6 group of friends Nick David, Sasha Henry, Zack Foster, Cassie Hilliard, Amy Abraham and Chris Taylor dealing with their relationship and other problems in their lives.

Plot
In season 1, childhood friends Nick, Chris and Sasha begin eighth grade in middle school where they first met Zack, Cassie and Amy. Secretly since they first met in elementary school, Sasha has a huge crush on Nick, but gets furious after realizing that Nick falls for Amy. It first started out that Sasha admits her secret to Nick, he is flattered at first, but says he's in love with Amy. Sasha and Amy become enemies, but later confirmed that Nick and Amy should just be friends, the two later become good friends.

Later on the season, Nick's best friend Chris than had a crush on Amy, though she also have feelings back to him, but things did not go well after learning that he has feelings for another girl, where Amy admits wanting to date Nick again, and started dating in a few episodes. Things did not go too well as Amy realizes that they should just be friends, though Nick denies. Amy cheats on him with Chris, after he broke up with his girlfriend to love Amy. After hearing about it, Nick and Amy got into an argument and ended their friendship. In episode 20, after being trapped, they emotionally rekindle and just remain friends. As a result, Amy begin dating Chris, and Nick later had feelings for Sasha and the two also began dating. Until the season finale, Amy and Chris broke up after he forgets about their anniversary and briefly dates Ben, which Cassie and Zack disapproves. After many attempts, Amy and Ben finally broke up and she got back together with Chris again.

In season 2, Nick, Sasha, Zack, Cassie, Amy and Chris begin their freshmen year in high school together. They introduced to handsome high school student Bradley, which Sasha, Cassie and Amy all have a crush on. In this season, their relationship is much more stronger and intense as it is from the first season. Things are not looking too well for Amy and Chris for a few episodes, while Nick, Sasha, Zack and Cassie were all worried on what is going on. After mistakenly kissed school bully Brat, Chris broke up with her. They did got back together later on, but he is seen to be dating Amy and Cassie's enemy Maria cheating on Amy. He kept a secret for a couple of episodes until Cassie and Zack discovers it while at the movies, even though they thought it would be Nick cheating on Sasha for Maria. He admits that he trusts Maria than Amy.

As they told Amy, she did not believe them at first. When she found out they kissed, Amy told Chris to never come near her again. As he continues to be together with Maria, he accidentally calls her Amy, which results that his mind still belongs to Amy and realizes that he made a huge mistake and breaks up with Maria and gets back together with Amy. Cassie and Zack's relationship remains strong as well as Nick and Sasha's relationship.

In season 3, Nick, Sasha, Zack, Cassie, Amy and Chris all are close to finishing up their year in high school in their sophomore and junior year. Throughout the entire season, their friendship and romantic relationship took a long turn. Zack and Amy both got jobs, but got fired and quit, respectively. Sasha is making her big move on making her musical debut. She also led to her acting debut, but things didn't seem to go to well. Since Sasha has now become a celebrity, it cause a rock hard turn with her relationship with Nick, but the two make it through it. Amy and Chris' relationship is fading, after founding out that he is moving after his parents were divorced and he is moving with his mother. Though, Chris promises her that they would stay together. Cassie and Zack had on-and-off again relationship this season. At the end of the season, the students are moving into a new school building known to be as the school for grades seventh to twelve graders.

In season 4, Nick, Sasha, Zack, Cassie and Amy finished up their school year at the new school, while Chris moved out of the country. Sasha's two childhood friends Rebecca and Crystal also signed up for their musical career. The three girls combined as their first girl group "The Sasha Sisters".

Her career took a turn briefly after making fun on YouTube star Lucas Cruikshank, also took a brief turn for Rebecca and Crystal as well. Also, fans are sending nasty rumors to Sasha saying that she is cheating on Nick with Lucas. The two tried to lie to social media saying that the two split, and tried to get Lucas back to YouTube. As things didn't go to well, Sasha arrives on a show for a interview. She gave a kiss to Lucas, making the world see the truth, in which Nick broke up with her. Lucas later decides to go back to YouTube after realizing how hurt and betrayed Sasha is feeling. Sasha later continues her musical career alongside Rebecca and Crystal, and fans now love her again.

Chris arrives home to see Amy, but Cassie and Zack discovers Chris with another girl cheating on Amy. While inviting them to Zack's house for a hang out, Chris admits the truth to Amy and the two broke up for good. She later begin dating a handsome high school graduate Bradley. They later broke up until close to the series finale. Chris tries to win back getting together with Amy until close to the final episode of the show.

As graduation arrives, Nick and Sasha are set to attend college together, as Sasha plans to put her musical career on hold to focus on her college year. After promoting their first album, Sasha has gotten a call that they are booking her to go on her first tour, causing Sasha to change the plans on attending college with Nick. Upset at first, but later understands and decides to let her do her thing. But Sasha changes her mind and finally decided to go to college with Nick, putting her musical career on hold.

In season 5, it's been eight years since they graduated from college and now living adult lives. Nick and Sasha, Zack and Cassie, and Amy and Chris are still going strong together. However, Nick and Sasha have divorced and Chris and Amy also have divorced, but all manages to keep their friendship strong. As Cassie lets Sasha and Amy share at Cassie's place, though she is still dating Zack, but not living together to have their girls time. And Zack lets Nick and Chris share their place over Zack's place. As their lives single lives now, they also will be facing difficult decisions in their as well as dealing with issues in their lives.

Background
Josh Hutcherson (Nick), Keke Palmer (Sasha), Dylan Patton (Zack), Dakota Fanning (Cassie) and Alyson Stoner (Amy) remain as the main characters throughout the entire show. Although, Jason Dolley (Chris) is the main character until season 4 when he has to withdraw from the show for being a main character to recurring because he was working on another project, Good Luck Charlie. His character Chris is written to be homeschooled and away on tour. Justin Gaston became Dolley's replacement playing as Bradley Johnson, who was a main character from seasons 2 and 3.

For the first thre seasons, the show was shot in standard definition. Until the fourth season, the series was shot in high definition, making it the first season of the show to do so, following the HD success for te premiere of Sonny with a Chance.

Development
The show storyline is based on Chris Turner, Alex Wilkerson and Duke Johnson they were the three best friends. After gradulating and finishing college in 1987, they plan to start make the show that starts feature the life of children whom grows up and starts become a family, and so as they. In May 1987, Duke Johnson moved to Georgia to attend college, and than by the time he finished in 1992, he moved back to LA to go back with his family and friends. In May 1998, Johnson planning onto making a TV show that it was to be the first time to be seen for children, within they couldn't starts seen live action sitcom including laughing tracks. For the meantime, Chris Turner and Alex Wilkerson, the writers of all shows, were working real hard making all episodes by themselves. Duke Johnson is planning to make this show, which the start planning onto Santa's North Pole Elementary, but he really thinks that is not part of his plan. Meanwhile, he starts planning to make a title of Magic School Elementary, but still not part of his plan at this time, not planning to make a fantasy sitcom, he'll be making a personal life sitcom. Meanwhile, he titled North Pole Elementary, which that'll be an idea. In the meantime, Turner and Wilkerson were also planning to does that when they past by with Duke Johnson, and heard them what they said that they are going to make North Pole Elementary. Johnson and Turner and Wilkerson were met to be upset, that Johnson might not going to make the show, but have an idea. The three decide that they'll make the show together. They'll planning to make this show that talks about their lives into relationship and taking some sort of adventures in history, and school attendances. Johnson is directing the TV show, Turner and Wilkerson became writers for the show. The start planning to filmed that show which Turner and Wilkerson used to attend to North Pole Elementary, and they moved to Oakwood City School, but North Pole doesn't live near Oakwood in LA. The start writing the first six main characters, the kids who nearly became friends by the time they begin Elementary school. Johnson didn't actually goes to North Pole Elementary, but he does went to Oakwood Elementary, when he first meet Turner and Wilkerson.

Filming
Filming for the first season began in July 2005 and wrapped until May 14, 2006. The show debuted on Disney Channel on October 13, 2006 to August 24, 2007. Filming for season 2 began in May 2006 and wrapped in November 2006. The second season aired on August 31, 2007 and ended on October 24, 2008.

The show's third season is now airing, starting with the first 30 episodes, making it the longest running season into the series, with filming starting on August, 2008, and they were done filming as of August 2009, beginning on June, 2008. They took a five-month break to focus on filming its film adaptation, Best Friends Forever: The Movie. Filming took place from April 2009 to July 2009. After they finished filming, they rescumed filming season 3 a month later after finishing up the film adaptaion before it was finally completed in November, 2009. The season premiered on January 16, 2009 and ended on May 14, 2010.

The fourth and final season for Best Friends Forever, begin filming on April 2010, for airing into July 2010. Filming for the show wrapped in June 2010 after five years of filming. The season premiered on November 19, 2010 and ended on April 15, 2011. They were the first in the series to be filmed in high definition.

Theme
A theme song of the show was titled "Friends Forver", song singed by Puffy AmiYumi, as well written by creators of the characters, Turner and Wilkerson. The cast member's name can be featured in the opening credits including Josh Hutcherson, Keke Palmer, Dylan Patton, Dakota Fanning, Alyson Stoner and Jason Dolley. The ending scene are included with some scenes taking place inside the show.

Dolley's name is seen in the first three seasons, before being removed from its fourth season due to depaturing from being main characters when filming another show. Justin Gaston was added as main character in the fourth season after Dolley's depature. Dolley's name was featured as one of the special guess stars. The opening theme song scenes makes dramatic changes throughout the entire show. Seasons 1 and 2 features a scene taking place at school, season 3 has a different tone taking place in Hollywood. Season 1 and 2 ends with the main characters taking a picture together. Season 3 changed with the characters posing. And season 4 shows the brand new high school and the scene ends with the characters (except for Gaston's character Bradley) wearing their graduation gowns while taking a picture. Bradley did not appear in that scene because the character has since already graduated from the last season. Chris, in which Dolley also did not appear in the scene, did graduate high school alongside his friends.

The character being in a middle also make some changes. Nick (Josh Hutcherson) can be seen in the middle for the first three seasons. However in season 4, Sasha (Keke Palmer) was placed in the middle as she can be seen holding a microphone. Bradley was the supporting character who first appears in season 2. He remains as the main character in season 4, but not seen wearing graduation gown because he has already graduated high school from season 3.

Soundtracks
The show also includes the release of the albums.
 * Best Friends Forever
 * Best Friends Forever: The Movie
 * The Sasha Sisters

Series finale
The one hour series finale was aired on April 15, 2011. The episode brought in an stunning 17 million viewers, which made it the most watched Disney Channel episode of all-time. Not only that it was the most watched Disney Channel series finale, but was also the most watched Best Friends Forever episode ever surprising three-part crossover "Sasha Goes on Talent", with Sonny with a Chance and The Suite Life on Deck.

Unaired episode premiere
On July 13, 2012, Disney announces that the unaired episode from season 2 will finally air on Disney Channel that has never been seen before. It has been aired since the second season ended on October 24, 2008. The show, however, will not return for its fifth season. Bringing in 16.2 million, it became the second most aired Best Friends Forever episode behind only the series finale, which made 17 million.

Revival
At the world premiere of Best Friends Reunion, Duke Johnson confirmed that a revival in the works, scheduling for a summer 2018 premiere. It will see the characters reuniting after they all graduated from collage, now lives normal adult lives. This will set a new record for being the longest running TV show on Disney Channel surpassing Wizards of Waverly Place, and for the first time for a TV show to air five seasons.

Following the success of Best Friends Reunion, Disney Channel confirms to bring back Best Friends Forever to television for a new season with the same cast, as well as new cast members. Dylan Patton, who didn't reprise his role as Zack in Best Friends Reunion (portrayed by Chandler Massey) confirmed he will be returning as Zack Foster. Filming is scheduled to began filming on April 13, 2018, and is scheduled to film 10 episodes. Disney Channel confirmed its premiere date on May 25, 2018. It added 2 more episodes in April 2018 for a total of 12, and later 6 more for a total of 18 episodes.

Following the success of the first episode of season 5, Disney Channel has renewed the show for season 6 and will be airing 22 episodes. In June 2018, it was confirmed that the season will also have a crossover with Raven's Home.

Episodes

 * ''Main article: List of Best Friends Forever episodes

Main characters

 * Main article: List of Best Friends Forever main characters


 * Josh Hutcerson as Nick David
 * Keke Palmer as Sasha Henry
 * Dylan Patton as Zack Foster
 * Dakota Fanning as Cassie Hilliard
 * Alyson Stoner as Amy Abraham
 * Jason Dolley as Chris Taylor (season 1-3, main; season 4, recurring)
 * Justin Gaston as Bradley Johnson (season 2-3, recurring; season 4, main)

Recurring

 * Main article: List of Best Friends Forever characters


 * Shanica Knowles as Rebecca Adams
 * Paige Hurd as Crystal Jones
 * Taylor Lautner as Ben Brown
 * Taylor Horn as Maria Anderson
 * Emma Lockhart as Emily Barnes
 * Courtney Jines as Jennifer Dawson
 * Calum Worthy as Fred Walker
 * Mitchel Musso as Duncan Harris
 * Weston Coppola Cage as Brat Morrison
 * Justin Kelly as Marben Hilson
 * Matthew Morrison as Mario Kaz
 * Jennifer Aniston as Sally Hilliard
 * Amanda Peet as Elise Hilliard
 * Cameron Boyce as Bryan Abraham
 * Debra Messing as Joan Abraham

Reality guess stars

 * Main article: List of Best Friends Forever characters


 * David Archuleta
 * Miley Cyrus
 * Jamie Lynn Spears
 * Justin Timberlake
 * Jonas Brothers (Joe, Kevin and Nick)
 * Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool and Mike Dirnt)

Casting
Josh Hutcherson, Mitchel Musso and Jason Dolley were be audience to each one to play as Nick David. When finding one, Musso and Dolley seems that they start being dropped out for casting as Nick, both would start to have longer hairs, till Hutcherson has lead onto the role as Nick, for he has a little bit long hair to play as Nick. Until Dolley plays Chris Taylor for the show while Musso will be playing as Nick's childhood friend Duncan Harris into the upcoming Best Friends Forever: The Movie, which is slanted for release of July 2010.

Keke Palmer has been audience to portayal as the character, until she don't think that the plan would work, and she has dropped out, the producers says that will be true. They were searching for anyone else playing Sasha. When find Shanica Knowles, but seems too old to play as Sasha, but she does play as Sasha's older BFF, Becky Adams. And it goes on again with Parker McKenna Posey, till she has caught the role as Kady Kyle, the daughter of Michael and Janet Kyle for My Wife and Kids, and couldn't find anyone to play as Sasha, when they decided to delete the character. Meanwhile, the producers were planning to let Palmer to play as Sasha, and they start to added the character for the show. Dylan Patton plays as Zack Peck.

Taylor Lautner played Andy Brown, Amy's ex-boyfriend from The School Escape and appeared into nearly 3 seasons. Originally, scheduling him to appear into the film, display not returning, when instead onto working onto the Twilight film adaptations, but the producers have removed the character for the movie. Lautner changes his mind, saying he will return into some episode for the show, but not yet.

Dakota Fanning originally plays Amy Abraham, but caught Cassie Hilliard. Taylor Momsen is originally going to play as Cassie, just right before, but Dakota Fanning has already signed up to play as the character, but wanting to play as Amy Abraham for the show, till Alyson Stoner has already got the role, and Fanning accected the role of Cassie Hilliard. Stoner has been audienced to portrayed as the role of that character, just as before Dakota Fanning is going to play as her, when she got the role as Cassie Hilliard.

Jason Dolley has audience to play as Chris Taylor for the show. But Dolley, Josh Hutcherson and Mitchel Musso were be audience to each one to play as Nick David. When finding one, Musso and Dolley seems that they start being dropped out for casting as Nick, both would start to have longer hairs, till Hutcherson has lead onto the role as Nick, for he has a little bit long hair to play as Nick. Until Dolley returns to play Chris Taylor for the show while Musso will be playing as Nick's childhood friend Duncan Harris into movie, which is slanted for release of July 2010. Season 2 marks the first of appearance Justin Gaston as Bradley Johnson. Courtney Jines portrayed as Jennifer Dawson, appearing into 10 episodes of season 2. Mitchel Musso will be appearing as Duncan Harris, Nick's childhood friend. Green Day will make their appearance for the movie. Dakota Fanning reprise her role as Cassie Hilliard. She is also working on filming her newest movie Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush, which she can have time to get a break from filming the film, in order to her to continue on filming her TV series. As well as Keke Palmer, she also can have time to take a break from filming her other TV series True Jackson, VP, and reprises her role as Sasha Henry. Also to Alyson Stoner, also reprise her role as Amy Abraham. Dylan Patton stated he will not return as Zack Peck, but the producers plan states they won't let anyone else to play Zack. Patton heards the report than changes his mind and reprise his role on last time. Jason Dolley also reprise his role as Chris Taylor, but will not be part as the main character, due to filming Good Luck Charlie, as he will be instead be part as a recurring cast. It was reported that Justin Gaston will only be appearing into two episodes as Bradley Johnson is an crossover and a series finale.

Best Friends Forever: The Movie
Best Friends Forever: The Movie is a first feature length film into the series, was released in theaters on April 9, 2010. The film has mixed reviews and opened at #1 at the box office grossing $32 million. It's total is $80 million, and a worldwide total is $165 million, making it a financial success.

Best Friends Reunion
Disney confirmed that a reunion film is in the works, scheduling for a theatrical 2018 release. It will see the characters reuniting after they all graduated from collage, now lives normal adult lives.

The original cast; Hutcherson (Nick), Palmer (Sasha), Patton (Zack), Fanning (Cassie), Stoner (Amy) and Dolley (Chris) are all expected to reprise their roles. Patton is chosen not to reprise his role as Zack, as he is replaced by Chandler Massey for the role.

The film's given title is Best Friends Reunion. The film was released on March 30, 2018. The film features special guess stars Colleen Ballinger, Glozell, Joey Graceffa, Lilly Singh, Tyler Oakley and Liza Koshey and also features Emma Watson as well.

Reaction
The show debuts on Disney Channel on October 13, 2006, with the beginning of the series "Pilot", ranking 8.5 million, making it the ranking-television on Disney Channel. For the meantime in season 3, it ranks 7.2 million, making it the highest viewers only with "The School Escape", including on that channel in history. It became the most successful original series on Disney Channel. However on December 2009, the record was broken by "How the Bullies Stole Christmas" with 10.5 million featuring special guess of Jonas Brothers. It all ended by it's series finale with 18.1 million. The series returned with the episode that was neven before, True Love Hurts, the original season 2 finale, airing on July 13, 2012 bringing in 16.2 million. The series finale was the highest rated episode in the TV series, while the episode "Marriage on Vacation" was the lowest rated episode in the series earning 2.2 million viewers.

DVD release

 * Main article: Best Friends Forever DVDs