Joan of Arcadia is an American television fantasy/family drama, which aired on Fridays, 8-9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS from September 262003 until April 222005. It is shown in syndication with episodes airing in high definition on HDNet.
On initial release, the show was a favorite with critics and won the prestigious Humanitas Prize, the People's Choice Award, as well as being one of the few television shows to be nominated for an Emmy Award in the first season, for Best Dramatic Series. The title alludes to Joan of Arc while Arcadia is a fictional city in Maryland.
Millions of people speak to God. What if God spoke back? Life just got a hell of a lot more confusing for teenage Joan Girardi, who already deals with feeling out of place in her family : her police chief father, her somewhat overbearing mother, her geeky younger brother and former football star older brother, now paralyzed. They'd never believe her if she told them that God is talking to her. Does Joan have a higher purpose on earth, or are these strange conversations just in her head? Written by Ted Weiland
The Girardis have moved to the small town of Arcadia from the big city after patriarch Will gets a job as chief of police. Middle child Joan isn't happy, and her family, consisting of science nerd Luke, paralyzed former jock Kevin, and their perpetually flustered mother Helen, isn't helping. Then, Joan finds herself speaking to God, in the form of various people who give her assignments to help those around her. As her friendship with the zoned out avant garde sculptor Adam Rove and androgynous rebel Grace develops, Joan keeps following God's assignments, never sure if she's really just going crazy. Written by rmlohner
