Our Lives

**Our Lives** is a fictional American television drama series created by Samantha Raymond, Andrew Bennett and Clark Edmonds which aired on September 19, 2006 on the TV Generation network.

The series focuses on the lives of the Watkins-Samuels family, an interracial blended family from the city of Oakridge, Illinois (located in Mount Larkin County, Illinois).

It is one of the highest-rated and most-watched shows on TV Generation among the 18-49 age demographic. As of 2022, it has aired for 17 seasons, making it one of the longest-running television series on the network.

The show is well-known for its diverse cast members and for tackling a number of issues throughout the years such as alcoholism, death, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, adoption, foster care, mental health (including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression & PTSD), domestic violence, child abuse, sexual orientation (including bisexuality), gun violence, police brutality, racism, suicide, sexism, sexual harassment and current events (such as the COVID-19 pandemic).

It has also been well-received by critics and received many awards & nominations, including "Best Drama Series" at the TV Generation Awards.

**Our Lives** aired on Tuesday nights at 8:00 P.M. (7:00 P.M. central) for its first two seasons. In the third season, it was moved to Thursday nights at the same time slot where it has remained and held strong ratings ever since.

It has spawned two spin-offs:

* Denver Bound (which premiered on September 24, 2019)
* Raising Harris (which premiered on September 23, 2021)

## Show background

The series follows the Watkins-Samuels family, an interracial blended family from Oakridge, Illinois which consists of Andrea Watkins-Samuels (a widowed Caucasian mother of one son and five daughters) and Mitch Samuels (a divorced African-American father of fraternal twin sons and three older adoptive children).

Andrea and Mitch were childhood friends who dated each other during their teenage years, but they fell out of touch after breaking up during Mitch's freshman year of college and remarried to different people in later years, starting families of their own.

In 2004, they reunite when Mitch attends the funeral of Andrea's first husband, Jason (who was killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver) with his parents. At the time, Mitch was divorced from his wife, Jasmine, who struggled with alcoholism and later abandoned her family (especially her children).

After the funeral, Mitch helps out Andrea and her children which rekindles their relationship, and they start dating each other again. They got engaged the day before Valentine's Day in 2006 and later moved into a new house together with their children.

The first season followed Andrea and Mitch as they prepare for their wedding and shows their families adjusting to living together, especially Andrea's 12-year-old daughter, Karina, who has a hard time accepting her mother getting remarried at first. In the season finale, Andrea and Mitch get married in May of 2007.

By the third season, the show began focusing on the four teenage children of the Watkins-Samuels family: Connor, Karina, Jake and Darien, who became the breakout characters on the show.

Starting in the fourth season, it also began focusing on the lives of their friends, including Bradley Harris, Sable Simmons, Owen and Dylan Travis, Trevor Kirkland (Karina's boyfriend and later husband), Chantelle and Ashlyn Duncan, and Skylar Timmons (Jake's girlfriend).

As the youngest children of the Watkins-Samuels family (Alyssa, Finley, Savannah and Haylie) and Brendan's stepdaughter, Adrianna began aging throughout the series, the storylines became focused on them as well.

## Cast

* Alicia Nolan as Andrea Watkins-Samuels (née Carson), the wife of Mitch Samuels and the mother of Connor, Karina, Alyssa, Finley, Savannah and Haylie. She works as a hair stylist and the head manager of the Blue Sky Hair Salon (previously owned by her late mother, Kathy Rae). As of the 16th season, she is the owner of the hair salon and the Blue Sky Beauty Supply Store.
* Darryl Barnett as Mitch Samuels, the husband of Andrea Watkins-Samuels; the father of Jake and Darien; and the adoptive father of Bridgette, Brendan and Ryan. He works as a real estate managing broker at Copeland-Bassett Realty in downtown Oakridge, Illinois.
* Danielle Kendrick as Bridgette Harper (née Samuels) [*credited as Danielle Bruno from seasons 1-3*], Mitch's 40-year-old adoptive daughter and Brendan's fraternal twin sister. She works as the head manager at 5th Street Restaurant and is a recovering alcoholic. In the 4th season, she gave birth to her daughter, Celia. In the 14th season, she and Royce become certified as foster parents and took in two teenage girls: Natalia (who later gives birth to her son, Mateo and later is adopted by them) and Eden in the 15th season. In the 16th season, Eden's older sister, Cadence is taken in by the Harpers. Eden and Cadence are offficially adopted in the 17th season.
* Kendall Avery as Dr. Royce Harper, Bridgette's husband. He works as an emergency room physician at Oakridge Memorial Hospital. He and Bridgette have a biological daughter, Celia and three adoptive daughters: Natalia (who has a young son named Mateo) and sisters Eden & Cadence. (*Main cast: season 3-current; recurring co-star: season 2; guest-starring role: season 1*)
* Isaiah Dunne as Brendan Samuels, Mitch's 40-year-old adoptive son and Bridgette's fraternal twin brother. He works as a paramedic for the Oakridge General Hospital ambulance service. He married his wife, Cheyenne in the 4th season on New Year's Eve. He has a stepdaughter, Adrianna (from Cheyenne's previous relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Carter Grier) and two children with her: son Corey and daughter Riley.
* Nicole Harrison-Vaughn as Cheyenne Samuels (née Cantrell) [credited as Nicole Harrison from seasons 1-5], Brendan's wife. She works as a 3rd grade teacher at Clarkson Elementary School in Oakridge, Illinois; previously, she worked as a receptionist at the Blue Sky Hair Salon. She has a daughter, Adrianna (from her previous relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Carter Grier) and two children with Brendan: a son, Corey and a daughter, Riley. (*Main cast: season 2-current; recurring co-star: season 1*)
* Simone Lee as Adrianna Cantrell, Cheyenne's 24-year-old daughter with her ex-boyfriend, Carter Grier. She works as an emergency room nurse at Oakridge General Hospital. *(Main cast: season 11-current; recurring co-star: season 1-10*)
* Trey Moore as Ryan Samuels, Mitch's 38-year-old adoptive son and Bridgette and Brendan's younger brother. He hosted the radio show, "Rush Hour with the Samuels Bros." with his brother, Darien on the 108.5 The Scene radio station located in Oakridge, Illinois and works as a part-time nightclub promoter for the NyteLife nightclub (owned by his friend, Trent). Ryan and Bree eloped in Las Vegas, Nevada in the 7th season. In the 12th season, he and Bree become legal guardians to Bree's niece, Lucy after Bree's sister, Jeanette died of a drug overdose. In the 15th season, Ryan moves to Dallas, Texas with Bree and Lucy after Bree gets a new job as a station manager for a local radio station. (*Main cast: seasons 1-15*)
* Johanna Young as Bree Collins-Samuels, Ryan's wife. She co-hosted a morning radio talk show called "Rise and Shine with Deb and Bree" on the 108.5 The Scene radio station. She and Ryan eloped in Las Vegas in the 7th season. In the 12th season, she and Ryan become legal guardians to her niece, Lucy after her younger sister, Jeanette died of a drug overdose. In the 15th season, she moves to Dallas, Texas with Ryan and Lucy after getting a new job as a station manager for a local radio station. (*Main cast: seasons 5-15; recurring co-star: season 4*)
* Hakeem Warren as Jake Samuels, Mitch's 29-year-old son and Darien's fraternal twin brother. He works as the assistant manager at 5th Street Restaurant. In the 9th season, his son, Elijah (with his girlfriend, Skylar Timmons) is born.
* Breanne Rollins as Skylar Timmons, Jake's girlfriend. She works as a paralegal at her mother's law firm, Alvarez, Milton & Timmons Law Offices. She gave birth to her son, Elijah in the 9th season during her senior year of college. (*Main cast: season 9-current; recurring co-star: seasons 6-8*)
* Bryant Chase as Darien Samuels [*credited as Bryant Chase Williams from seasons 1-6*], Mitch's 29-year-old son and Jake's fraternal twin brother. He currently hosts the radio show, "J and D's Rush Hour" with Ryan's friend, Jerome Robinson. He and Ryan previously co-hosted the radio show, "Rush Hour with the Samuels Bros." before Ryan moved to Fort Worth, Texas in the 15th season. He also works as the resident DJ for the NyteLife nightclub.
* Vincent Kyle as Connor Watkins, Andrea's 29-year-old son. He is a professional ice hockey player for the Mount Larkin Eagles of the American Professional Hockey League. In the 13th season, he marries his girlfriend, Maxine Blair. He and Maxine are currently in the process of adopting a baby girl named Everleigh.
* Gaby Marlow as Maxine Watkins (née Blair), Connor's wife and the cousin of Chantelle and Ashlyn Duncan. She works as a hair stylist at the Blue Sky Hair Salon. She moved from Saint Paul, Minnesota to Oakridge in the 7th season. She married Connor in the 13th season. She and Connor are currently in the process of adopting a baby girl named Everleigh. (*Main cast: season 9-current; recurring co-star: seasons 7-8*)
* Marisa Raye Lopez as Karina Kirkland (née Watkins) [*credited as Marisa Monica Lopez from seasons 1-11*], Andrea's 28-year-old daughter. She works as a dance instructor and studio manager at the K-Stars Dance Studio. She married her boyfriend, Trevor Kirkland in the 9th season during their senior year of college. In the 15th season, she gave birth to her son, Braydon and her twin daughters, Willa and Violet in the 16th season.
* Caleb Harkins as Trevor Kirkland, Karina's husband. He works as the associate head coach for the Mount Larkin University men's club ice hockey team. He married Karina in the 9th season during their senior year of college. He and Karina have three children: son Braydon and twin daughters Willa and Violet. (*Main cast: season 3-current; recurring co-star: seasons 1-2*)
* Soleil Renee Lopez as Alyssa Watkins, Andrea's 26-year-old daughter. She currently works as a 9th and 10th grade English teacher at Thomas Wexler School in Denver, Colorado. (*Main cast: seasons 1-13; recurring guest star: seasons 14-current*)
* Tessa Chadwick as Finley Watkins-Cordova, Andrea's 24-year-old daughter, who works as a hair stylist at Blue Sky Hair Salon. She came out as bisexual in the 11th season. In the 16th season, she married her girlfriend, Lisette Cordova.
* Jolie Ferrera as Lisette Watkins-Cordova, Finley's wife who is a lesbian. She works as a yoga instructor and a water aerobics instructor at the Oakridge Park District Recreation Center. She and Finley get married in the 16th season. (*Main cast: season 15-current; recurring co-star: seasons 11-15*)
* Sierra Myles as Savannah Watkins, Andrea's 20-year-old daughter who is currently in her sophomore year at Mount Larkin University where she plays for the women's club ice hockey team and is majoring in sports management.
* Destiny Morgan Larson as Haylie Watkins, Andrea's 18-year-old daughter who is involved in dance. She also works as a local print model, social media influencer and an assistant dance instructor at the K-Stars Dance Studio.
* Marcus Raye as Bradley Harris, Karina's best friend and Sable's husband. He works as an assistant teacher in Mrs. Paige's preschool class for 3 to 4-year-olds at the Delany Early Learning Center in Oakridge, Illinois and as a recreation counselor for the before & after-school care program for the Oakridge Park District. His mother, Juanita is Mexican and his father, Darnell is African-American. He and Sable have two daughters, Kayla and Tabitha. In the 15th season, he and Sable get married in August over Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (*Main cast: season 3-current; recurring co-star: seasons 1-2*)
* Meaghan Addison as Sable Harris (née Simmons), Karina's best friend and Bradley's wife. She runs an online children's consignment store called TabbyKay Kids. In the 6th season, she became pregnant during her senior year of high school and gives birth to her daughter, Kayla. Her youngest daughter, Tabitha was born prematurely in the 9th season. In the 15th season, she and Bradley got married in August over Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (*Main cast: season 3-current; recurring co-star: seasons 1-2*)
* Austin Reynolds as Owen Travis, Connor's best friend and Dylan's older brother. He is a professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Mount Larkin Eagles of the American Professional Hockey League. In the 14th season, he becomes a father when his girlfriend, Ella Burke gives birth to their daughter, Brynn, who is diagnosed with non-verbal autism in the 16th season. (*Main cast: season 6-current; recurring co-star: seasons 1-5*)
* Aubrey Collins as Ella Burke, Owen's girlfriend. She works as a freelance wedding photographer. In the 14th season, she gives birth to their daughter, Brynn, who is diagnosed with non-verbal autism in the 16th season. (*Main cast: season 15-current; recurring guest-star: season 12; recurring co-star: seasons 13-14*)
* Zachary Pruitt as Dylan Travis, Owen's younger brother, and Connor and Bradley's friend. He currently works as an assistant coach for the Mount Larkin University men's club ice hockey team alongside Trevor. In the 12th season, he and Liv began dating each other. (*Main cast: season 6-current; recurring co-star: seasons 1-5*)
* Cassidy Parnell as Liv Deane, Sable's cousin. She works as a 1st grade teacher at Judson Elementary School in Mount Larkin, Illinois. In the 10th season, she suffered from two broken legs after getting hit by a car, but later recovers from her injuries (although she is left with a slight limp in her right leg). She and Dylan begin dating each other in the 12th season. (*Main cast: season 6-current; recurring co-star: seasons 3-5*)
* Tiffany Quinn as Ashlyn Duncan-Adamson, Jake, Darien, Connor & Karina's friend, and Chantelle's identical twin sister. She runs her own photography business called Photos by Ashlyn and works as a staff photographer for the Mount Larkin Eagles hockey team of the APHL. She is of African-American\Caucasian descent. In the 10th season, Ashlyn comes out as pansexual and begins dating Lexi Barnett in the 13th season. In the 15th season, she and Lexi get married in a courthouse wedding. (*Main cast: season 6-current; recurring co-star: seasons 4-5*)
* Amber Newton as Lexi Adamson, Ashlyn's wife, who is bisexual. She has a young daughter, Tea, who was conceived during a one-night stand. She works as a social media manager for the Mount Larkin Eagles hockey team of the APHL. In the 15th season, she and Ashlyn get married in a courthouse wedding. (*Main cast: season 16-current; recurring guest-star: seasons 12; recurring co-star: seasons 13-15*)
* Tori Quinn as Chantelle Duncan, Darien's girlfriend and Ashlyn's identical twin sister. She works as a part-time contemporary dance instructor at the K-Stars Dance Studio and as the anthem singer for the Mount Larkin Eagles hockey team at their home games. She is of African-American\Caucasian descent. (*Main cast: season 6-current; recurring co-star: seasons 4-5*)