Asthe 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 100th episode, and originally 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 airing with 157 episodes.
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 its sixth season for an additional 22 episodes. In July 2018, a season 7 is also confirmed for 19 episodes. On July 30, 2019, Disney announced that the seventh season would be final season of the series premiere on April 10, 2020.
Best Friends Forever takes place in Los Angeles involving 6 students Nick David, Sasha Henry, Zack Foster, Cassie Hilliard, Amy Abraham and Chris Taylor becoming good friends as they deal with the growth of their lives with friendship, relationship, future careers and adulthood.
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 three 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 the premiere of Sonny with a Chance.
The show story line is based on Chris Turner, Alex Wilkerson and Duke Johnson they were the three best friends. After graduating 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 title Best Friends, 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 Best Friends Forever. 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 Oakwood, but he does went to Oakwood Elementary, when he first meet Turner and Wilkerson.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 returned 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 1 (5th season total), Disney Channel has renewed the show for season 2 (6th season total) and will be airing 22 episodes. In July 2018, following success of the reviews for later episodes, Disney Channel also renewed a season 3 (7th season total). On February 8, 2019, it was confirmed that season 6 will expand 6 more episodes bringing it's total to 30 episodes and announced the sixth season's airing date on April 12, 2019. On July 2019, Disney confirmed that the third season will be the last season of the series with 22 episodes. It will air only 19 episodes premiering on April 10, 2020, pushing it's total of nearly 14-year episodes total of 157 episodes.
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