Phil of the Future is an American Situation comedy that originally aired on Disney Channel from June 18, 2004, to August 19, 2006 for a total of two seasons.
The show was syndicated on Disney Channel until September 8, 2008, when Disney removed the show from their line-up. The series returned to US television in February 2009 on Disney Channel's sister station Disney XD. It has aired on Disney XD (UK & Ireland) since the channel's launch in August 2009.
The series was created by Tim Maile and Douglas Tuber and produced by 2121 Productions, a part of Brookwell McNamara Entertainment.
Production
Phil of the Future's working title was The Out of Timers, and was originally intended to star Wilder Shaw.[citation needed] The title theme song for Phil of the Future was written by John Adair and Steve Hampton. It was sung by Loren Ellis and The Drew Davis Band [1], who also sang the theme song of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.
Plot
While on a time travel vacation, teenager Phil Diffy and his seemingly average family from the year 2121 get stranded in present day. While waiting to return home, the Diffys struggle to keep their actual identities secret while Phil and his incorrigible little sister Pim adjust to a new home. Phil finds a trusted friend in neighbour Keely and together they navigate their school campus, grappling with the same thing that teenagers of all time must face — fitting in.
Season synopses
| Season |
Ep # |
First Airdate |
Last Airdate |
| 1 |
21 |
June 18, 2004 |
May 27, 2005 |
| 2 |
22 |
June 25, 2005 |
August 19, 2006 |
The first season of Phil of the Future focused around the Diffy family's attempt to fit into the society of 2004 and to repair the time machine to return to 2121. Vice Principal Neil Hackett attempted to discover that the family is from the future.
The second season of Phil of the Future continued the scenario of the Diffy family stranded in another time period. The season focuses more on Phil and Keely's friendship turning into something more and Pim trying to rule the world.
Characters
Main characters
- Phil Diffy is the main character in the series. He was a 9th (Season 1) / 10th (Season 2) grader at H.G. Wells Junior/Senior High School. He seemed to be the most "in tune" with how things work in this century. Phil frequently had to make up excuses to hide the fact that he was from the future. He's the best friend of Keely Teslow and eventually became her boyfriend. Phil is two years older than Pim.
- Pim Diffy is Phil's younger sister. She is a 7th (Season 1) / 8th (Season 2) grader at H.G. Wells Junior/Senior High. Pim was a mischievous girl who was constantly up to no good and was even prone to megalomania. Pim was especially known for liking to pull pranks on people, mainly on Phil, Debbie Berwick and Vice Principal Hackett. Pim tried to make Phil miserable whenever she can. She hung out with a young boy "Li'l Danny" Dawkins". She also tried to avoid Debbie Berwick and Candida. Repeatedly in the show, she looked for ways to dominate the world, and universe. Even though Pim often caused trouble for Phil, and has a tough attitude, she also cared about her brother but kept it hidden most of the time. Pim is two years younger than Phil.
- Lloyd Diffy is Phil and Pim's goofy dad, who was working on repairing the time machine. He was an engineer in 2121, and loves "older music". He was paranoid about the government (and Vice Principal Hackett) figuring out he and his family are from the future. During the Diffys' stay, Lloyd and Curtis got jobs at the Mantis hardware store. Lloyd is two years older than Barb.
- Barbara "Barb" Diffy (née Speckle) (born 2076), played by Lise Simms
- Barbara Diffy is Phil and Pim's mom. She is very interested in how things work in this century. Unlike other mothers, though, Barbara seems to let her kids figure things out on their own. She loves to cook the old fashioned way, however, her food usually ends up with something being wrong, because in 2121 they spray food out of a can. Before the show premiered, it was said she had an artificial body, but none of the episodes ever proved this. She forced Pim to be friends with Debbie even though Pim hated Debbie. Her maiden name is revealed in "Not So Great-Great-Grandpa". Barb is two years younger than Lloyd.
- Keely Teslow is Phil's best friend and eventually his girlfriend. She is the only person who knows Phil and his family are from the future. Keely Teslow is an energetic and bubbly girl who aspires to be a reporter. She starts to harbor romantic feelings for Phil during Season 2. She sometimes uses Phil's gadgets as a shortcut for schoolwork. She is notable on the show for her numerous hairstyles and colorful clothes. In the later episodes of the show, she hosts her own daily news program on the school's closed circuit broadcasting system. In the episode "The Giggle", she gets to look ahead at her own future and learns that she does, in fact, become a successful news reporter. It is also noted that she is wearing a wedding ring, but refuses to see who it is. In the final episode she and Phil finally reveal their feelings for each other and start dating after being voted Cutest Couple.
- Curtis the "pet" Caveman (born circa 30,000 B.C.), played by J. P. Manoux
- Curtis is a Caveman (Cro-Magnon, as mentioned in Dinner Time) who stowed away in the Diffy's time machine when they went back to visit the Stone Age. The Diffys struggle to make Curtis seem like a normal person, and often pretend he is Phil's uncle. Throughout the episodes, he learns more English.
- Vice Principal Neil Hackett (born 1969), played by J. P. Manoux
- Vice Principal Hackett is the Vice Principal at Phil, Keely and Pim's school, H.G. Wells Junior/Senior High School. In the school, he is Phil's teacher in science and Pim's teacher in history. He is often found snooping around the Diffys' house as he tries to figure out where they are really from, though he believes that they are aliens.
Recurring characters
- Debbie is the complete opposite of Pim and she has a very happy attitude towards life. She hardly ever gets mad and is very nice. Debbie also considers Pim to be her best friend. Because of this Pim likes to take advantage of Debbie's good-natured personality. She doesn't like raisins or chihuahuas or naughty nibblers. She lives with her grandma and her curfew is 6:00 pm. Debbie also teaches a yoga class. Her other friends are Neckbrace Lana and Silent Maya. Debbie used to date Bradley until Pim broke them up by changing Debbie's personality but Debbie went back to normal. Debbie enjoys singing and is in the school band. It was revealed that she can hold a note for a very long time. She is written out of the show in season 2. It was revealed in the Halloween special that she was an evil "happy" cyborg from the future that could only do good and was always happy, who was later destroyed by Phil. She melted.
- Seth Wassmer (played by Evan Peters) is the nerdy friend of Phil, Keely and Tia during Season 1. He isn't seen or mentioned in season 2 and is replaced by Owen.
- Keely's best friend during the Season 1. She is pretty, popular and friendly. She is friendly and described as the girl next door by Phil. She moved away in season 2 and was replaced by Via.
- Via (played by Juliet Holland-Rose)
- Via is a girl from England, transferred because her father's in the military. She became friends with Keely after Tia moved. In the episode "Get Ready to Go-Go," Phil went to a Sadie Hawkins dance with her, after a near-miss in returning to the future ruined his plans to go with Keely. Her name is short for Olivia.
- Owen (played by Michael Mitchell)
- Phil's friend in Season 2. He replaced Seth. He is not that smart and is laid-back, also constantly trying to hit on girls (though he never succeeds).
- Pim's teacher in Season 2 although she was a 2nd grade teacher in Season 1.
- Pim's rival of season 1. He is made fun of his short height (constantly being called a munchkin by Pim). He dated Debbie but Pim broke them up and he became infatuated with Pim.
- He has a crush on Pim in season 2 and always gets involved with her antics. Pim does not seem to show affection for him, with the exception of when they danced at the dance in the episode Get Ready To Go-Go.
- Neckbrace Lana (played by Carlie Westerman)
- The "mean" girl in season 2 that excludes Pim and insults her. She is referred to as one of the "fashion zombies" by Pim.
- A crush of Keely's in the episode "Your Cheatin' Heart" and was in the show most of season 1. Phil seems to dislikes him and sometimes cracks jokes about him.
Mythology
Gadgets used in the series
- DNA Scrambler - Manipulates the DNA of the person it is used on
- Dress-Me Hoop - Used to automatically dress a person when he or she goes through it
- Holographic Tracking Sensor - Can be used to track a subject
- I Want Straight Hair - Makes frizzy, messy hair instantly neat and straight
- Insta Morph - Morphs the appearance of the subject into that of another. (As seen in Not-So-Great Great Great Grandpa, Stuck in the Meddle With You, Your Cheatin' Heart, and Dinner Time).
- Invisi-Spray - Used to make someone invisible. (As seen in Double Trouble).
- Laser Squash - A futuristic version of handball. (As seen in Unification Day and It's a Wonder-Phil Life.)
- New-Ager - Can make objects look and/or act older or younger (Such as people or plants) (As seen in Age Before Beauty and Maybe-Sitting)
- Omnimatic Grabifiers - Works as a laser operated gripping device, used for climbing.
- Penny Missile - Springing clip
- Replicator - Replicates (or clones) the subject.
- Skyak - A futuristic flying vehicle, which resembles a jet-ski (as seen in Phillin' In, You Say Toe-Mato, Dinner Time, and Tia, Via, and Me... Uh).
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- Spray Food Cans - Spray cans that make any kind of food with a foam-like spray (as seen in Unification Day and Future Tutor).
- The Giggle - A futuristic version of the internet that can view the future up to the year 2121. According to Phil, it replaced the thing that replaced the thing that killed the current (2008) internet in the Pay-Per-View Battle Royale. It is portrayed as a version of Google.
- Time Machine - A vehicle for traveling through time. Has the external appearance of an early 21st century motorhome, but a futuristic internal appearance (as seen in the episodes Back to the Future (Not The Movie), Future Tutor, and Corner Pocket).
- Virtu-Goggles - Strap-on goggles that lets people view and experience a virtual reality world. (Only seen in Virtu-Date)
- Wizard - Can do many things; does not work properly around pudding.
- Cine-Specs - Used to view futuristic movies on. Looks like regular sunglasses.
- Food 5000 Yummilizer - Can create any kind of food on voice command. (As seen in Dinner Time).
- After Burner - An upgrade for the Skyak.
- Androider - An attachment for the Wizard which gives a person the muscles of an android.
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- Nose Lock - Lock simmilar to a fingerprint lock, it will only open if the users puts the proper nose in the lock.
Merchandise
DVD releases
Gadgets & Gizmos
(Released August 16, 2005)[1]
Episodes:
- My Way
- Age Before Beauty
- Double Trouble
- Team Diffy (un-aired episode)
Disney Channel Holiday
(Released November 1, 2005)[2]
Episodes:
- Christmas Break (as an extra)
Video game
Phil has a new adventure in his video game Phil of the Future, which is marketed by Buena Vista Games. Pim uses a cloning machine to create Blahs, mischievous and trouble-making pets from the future, and it is up to Phil to prevent the attacks. Players must overcome numerous obstacles and challenges to help Phil capture the Blahs and save the day. Players can play as Phil, Curtis, or Keely.
Reception
Syndication
The show currently airs on Disney XD, Disney Channel UK, Disney Channel India, Disney Channel Poland, Disney Channel Australia, Disney Channel Turkey, Disney Channel South Africa, Disney Channel Middle East, Jetix Latin America, Arutz HaYeladim in Israel and Canada's Family Channel.
After the series ended, it aired on the Disney Channel close to midnight, usually around 12:30, before being removed on September 8, 2008, and replaced by Cory in the House. Old episodes of Phil Of The Future can still be seen on Disney Channel UK, Monday-Friday at 12.45pm and 1.10pm, and, since February 2009, on Disney XD at various times during the week.[3]
Phil of the Future can now be watched on Jetix (UK & Ireland) as of June 2009, on weekdays at 8am, 5:30pm and 7.30pm.
References
External links
