Summary

One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's Inside Media events. Held at the Paley Center in Los Angeles, this seminar celebrates "Dawson's Creek," a series about the romantic exploits of Dawson Leery and his friends in coastal Massachusetts. The evening begins as Rebecca Faez (director of external relations at The Paley Center in Los Angeles) tells how the seminal teen show became a "landmark television drama" over its six seasons. Then, she introduces Marc Rashba (marketing vice president, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) who talks about the recently released DVD set containing the complete series. Faez then introduces the evening's moderator, Will Keck (senior editor, TV Guide). He introduces the pilot episode of "Dawson's Creek," which is screened in its entirety.

Afterward, Keck introduces the panelists: executive producer/creator Kevin Williamson; executive producer Paul Stupin; and cast members James Van Der Beek (Dawson Leery); Meredith Monroe (Andie McPhee); and Busy Philipps (Audrey Liddell).

Panelists touch on such topics as: the difficulty of casting Dawson; Van Der Beek's "major hair dramas"; the elaborate process of finding the show's three other principals: Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) and Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams); TV industry changes observed by Williamson between executive-producing "Dawson's Creek" in 1998 and his current work on "The Vampire Diaries"; if the innocent relationship between Dawson and Joey now seems dated; a recollection by audience member -- and "Dawson's Creek" co-star -- Monica Keena about the drowning death of her character, Abby Morgan; why so many parental figures were killed off during the show's run; the advantages of filming scripts in Wilmington, N.C.; what it was like for Monroe and Philipps to join the show after it had become an established hit; why Holmes "terrified" both Monroe and Philipps; how Williams "snuck in" gay character Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith) as a principal in the second season; Van Der Beek and Philipps comparing notes on having "made out" with "Vampire Diaries" star and "good kisser" Ian Somerhalder; how Williamson decided whether Joey would end up with Dawson or Pacey in the series finale; which storylines made cast members cry; and why Williamson never wants to see a "Dawson's Creek" reunion show.

Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: why so many of the actors chose "darker roles" after the series ended; how many elements of the show were autobiographical for Williamson; if the cast and crew members stayed in touch; favorite episodes; the list of famous "Dawson" alumni; Steven Spielberg's reaction to having been written into scripts as Dawson's idol; if fans were happy with the show's finale; and cast members having encountered ghosts in Wilmington's bed-and-breakfasts.

(This tape includes the "Dawson's Creek: Pilot" episode (T:68901). This is part of the Paley Center's collection and may be viewed separately.)