Hart of Dixie is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on The CW
on September 26, 2011.
The series, created by Leila Gerstein, stars Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart, a New Yorker
who, after her dreams of becoming a heart surgeon fall apart, accepts an offer to work
as a general practitioner in the Gulf Coast town of Bluebell, Alabama.
On April 26, 2013, Hart of Dixie was renewed for a third season.
The show was scheduled to move back to Mondays in the fall for its third season having been
paired with Beauty & the Beast.
The show's third season premiered on October 7, 2013.
On May 8, 2014, the CW renewed the show for its fourth season.
On July 18, 2014, CW president Mark Pedowitz announced that Hart of Dixie would have ten
episodes for its fourth season.
Synopsis
Season 1 Fast-talking New Yorker and brand new doctor
Zoe Hart has it all figured out—after graduating top of her class from medical school, she'll
follow in her father's footsteps and become a cardio-thoracic surgeon.
But when her dreams fall apart, Zoe decides to accept an offer from a stranger, Dr. Harley
Wilkes, to work with him at his small practice in Bluebell, Alabama.
Zoe arrives in this small Gulf Coast town only to find that Harley has passed away and
left his half of the medical practice to her in his will.
She quickly finds that Southern hospitality isn't always so hospitable—the other doctor
in town, Brick Breeland, is less than pleased to be sharing the practice with this young
outsider, and his daughter, Lemon, is a Southern belle whose sweet disposition turns sour when
she meets Zoe.
Zoe's only allies are the mayor, former football star Lavon Hayes, her bad-boy neighbor Wade
Kinsella, and handsome lawyer George Tucker – who just happens to be Lemon's fiancé.
Zoe is out of her element and ready to pack her bags, but a surprise visit by her snobby
New York mother leads to Zoe's decision to stay in Bluebell for a while; she soon discovers
the charm of small-town life and a side of herself she didn't know was there.
Season 2 The second season opens with Zoe being confused
over her conflicting feelings for both George and Wade, with whom she just slept.
Zoe decides that George is not ready for a relationship and tells him to date other people
as she doesn't want to be his rebound.
Following this, Zoe starts a casual relationship with Wade before they both agree to become
an official couple.
Later on in the season Wade has a drunken one night stand causing Zoe to end their relationship.
After spending time mourning this Zoe realises she still has feelings for George who turns
her away as he is now happily in a relationship with Tansy.
In the finale Zoe has a one night stand with Wade, after which Wade declares his love for
her, but she decides to spend the summer in New York to get some distance from her life.
George decides to leave Bluebell and goes on the road with Lily Anne and her band.
Other storylines include Lemon re-entering the dating world and trying to prove herself
as an independent woman without George or her father, Brick's relationship with the
much younger Shelby, Lavon's election battle against Ruby and their subsequent relationship
and George's unexpected relationship with Wade's ex-wife Tansy.
In the final part of the season Lemon and Wade become the co-owners of the Rammer Jammer
and constantly collide over decisions and how to run the bar.
Season 3 After spending the summer in New York, Zoe
makes the decision to return to Bluebell with her new boyfriend Joel although it's clear
she still has unresolved feelings for Wade, a situation which is made more uncomfortable
as Wade and Joel become good friends.
Brick refuses to give Zoe half of the practice back so she must settle for being his employee.
Zoe also reaches out to the family of her late father, Harvey Wilkes.
Although initially turned away she becomes close to her cousin Vivian who, in turn, starts
a relationship with Wade.
By the end of the season both of these relationships have broken down and Zoe declares her love
for Wade.
Wade is cautious to get involved with Zoe again, believing they do not have a future
together after all they've been through.
Zoe vows to prove Wade wrong.
Lemon starts to realize that she wants more from her life than just the Rammer Jammer,
so decides to leave the business and look for something else.
After tension between herself and Cricket she also decides to leave the Belles and re-assess
her life.
She has several short term flings during this time and becomes the owner of Fancies.
Lavon and Annabeth's relationship is tested as Annabeth longs for a stronger commitment.
They must also deal with a house guest in shape of Lavon's cousin Lynly who begins a
relationship with George but after realising there is still a spark between him and his
ex Tansy she leaves Bluebell.
Annabeth begins to want more commitment from Lavon but when he is unable to give it to
her they break up.
During their separation Annabeth begins dating a new man but turns down his proposal when
she realises she still has feelings for Lavon, however at the same time both he and George
are racing to declaring their reignited feelings for Lemon.
Lavon must also deal with rising pressure as neighboring town tries to force a merger
with Bluebell in order to take over and re-build over the area.
Cast and characters Main cast and characters
Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart; Zoe previously aspired to become a heart surgeon like her
father, after four years of residency at a New York Hospital, she is refused a position
at the hospital.
Zoe moves to Bluebell, Alabama after learning her biological father was really a respected
doctor in the small town.
She is left with half his practice and constantly butts heads with the co owner of the practice,
Dr. Brick Breeland.
However she becomes a regular in helping the town through its never ending dilemmas.
She has feelings for George, but chooses not to act on them until he is ready.
She had a flirty friendship with Wade, but in Season 2, Zoe is in a monogamous relationship
with him and is shown to really have fallen for him until she finds out he cheated on
her.
Season 3 explores a new dynamic between both Wade and Zoe and their new partners.
Season 4 will see Zoe pregnant with a baby, which will mirror her portrayers real-life
pregnancy.
Jaime King as Lemon Breeland; The daughter of town doctor Brick Breeland.
She was engaged to George Tucker, but had a relationship with Lavon while George was
living in New York.
Prideful, conservative and somewhat uptight, Lemon begins a deep rivalry with Zoe when
they first meet because she feels that Zoe is interfering in her "perfect" life and they
often clash, owing to their different ways of thinking.
Cress Williams as Lavon Hayes; Mayor of Bluebell and a former linebacker for ten years in the
NFL; he has a pet alligator named Burt Reynolds.
It is revealed in season 1 that Lavon had an intimate relationship with Lemon, who was
engaged to George.
Lavon develops a close friendship with Zoe and often gives her meaningful advice on the
town's traits.
Wilson Bethel as Wade Kinsella; A bartender and Zoe's neighbor.
He has an eccentric personality.
Initially he appears to be a stereotypical and prideful redneck who is fun loving, immature,
unambitious, womanizing and sarcastic bartender who doesn’t care about anyone but himself.
But slowly it is revealed that he seems to care deeply about the people around him.
He falls deeply in love with Zoe and tries to make amends to his lifestyle and ambitions
for her.
For the most of Season 2 he is in a monogamous relationship with Zoe until he is caught cheating
on her.
Tim Matheson as Dr. Bertram "Brick" Breeland; Lemon's father who is also a doctor and shares
half of the local Bluebell practice with Zoe.
He is often very critical of Zoe's medical diagnoses and inexperience of Southern hospitality.
And is portrayed as an antagonist when he attempts to buy out Zoe's share of the business.
Scott Porter as George Tucker; A local lawyer in Bluebell that starts out engaged to Lemon
Breeland but calls off their wedding after learning about Lemon's affair with Lavon combined
with his romantic feelings for Zoe.
Zoe turns him down and George starts to date other women, and ends up with Wade's ex-wife
Tansy in Season 2.
In Season 3, he begins dating Lavon's cousin Lynly.
Kaitlyn Black as Annabeth Nass; a member of the Belles and best friends with Lemon.
In season 2 she develops feelings for Lavon, but decides not to pursue a relationship with
him because of Lemon.
Lemon gives her blessing, so Annabeth and Lavon start dating.
She is also a good friend to Zoe.
Recurring cast and characters Claudia Lee as Magnolia Breeland; Lemon's
teenage sister and Brick's youngest daughter.
She is first introduced in the episode "The Undead & The Unsaid" as being very troublesome
and wanting attention from her family.
She is sometimes rivals with Rose.
She shows a softer side by consoling Lemon after George ends their engagement.
McKaley Miller as Rose Hattenbarger; a local teenage girl who admires Zoe very much.
Due to her intellect, she considers herself an outsider among both her peers and parents.
Mircea Monroe as Tansy Truitt; Wade's ex-wife and George's girlfriend in Season 2.
Ross Philips as Tom Long; a nerdy young man who use to have a crush on Zoe.
He begins dating then later marries Wanda.
Mallory Moye as Wanda Long; Tom's girlfriend turned wife and waitress at the Rammer Jammer.
Josh Cooke as Joel Stephens; a New Yorker who finds himself a fish out of water in Bluebell.
He is Zoe's boyfriend in Season 3.
Brandi Burkhardt as Crickett; a member of the Belles.
Carla Renata as Susie Reginald VelJohnson as Dash DeWitt; the head
reporter of the local newspaper.
Armelia McQueen as Shula Whitaker; a resident of Bluebell known for her odd antics.
Travis Van Winkle as Jonah Breeland; doctor, the nephew of Brick Breeland and cousin to
Lemon and Magnolia Breeland.
Golden Brooks as Ruby Jeffries; Lavon's ex-girlfriend from high school, who runs against him for
mayor.
She is good friends with Zoe and a rival of Lemon's in Season 2.
Laura Bell Bundy as Shelby; Brick's girlfriend turned fiancee and also briefly George's ex-girlfriend
in Season 2.
Lauren Bittner as Vivian Wilkes; Zoe's cousin and Wade's love interest in Season 3.
Barry Watson as Annabeth's love interest.
Ian Anthony Dale as Henry Dalton; a rich and connected doctor introduced in Season 4.
Other characters John Eric Bentley as Bill; the sheriff of
Bluebell.
Matt Lowe as Meatball; Wade's friend and bandmate.
He was in an affair with Lemon in Season 3.
Steven M. Porter as Frank; the owner of the Dixie Stop, a convenience store.
He is also Bluebell's detective.
Peter Mackenzie as Reverend Peter Mayfair; the town reverend.
Christopher Curry as Earl Kinsella; Wade's father.
He is known to the town as "Crazy Earl."
He has had a rough relationship with his son, though he cares about Wade deeply.
JoBeth Williams as Candice Hart; Zoe's mother, who would rather have her move back home to
New York than settle down in Bluebell.
John Marshall Jones as Wally Maynard; the former owner of the Rammer Jammer.
He sells the Rammer Jammer to Wade and Lemon in order to spend more time with his family.
Kim Robillard as Sal Nutter Amy Ferguson as Lily Anne Lonergan; Wade's
ex-girlfriend who is still bitter about their breakup.
As a singer, she has written multiple songs about him.
Karla Mosley as Elodie; a member of the Bluebell Belles.
McKayla Maroney as Tonya; Rose's best friend.
Dawn Didawick as Eugenia Antoinette Robertson as Lynly Hayes; Lavon's
younger cousin who found herself in a relationship with George shortly after coming to town.
She has since left Bluebell in season 3.
Mary Page Keller as Emily Chase; Brick's brief girlfriend in Season 2.
Anne Ramsay as Aunt Winifred Kelen Coleman as Presley; George's short-term
girlfriend in episodes 5 and 6 of Season 2.
Wes Brown as Dr. Judson Lyons; Judson is Bluebell's local veterinarian.
He has shown much romantic interest in Zoe, despite once sleeping with Gigi, Zoe's best
friend from New York in Season 1.
Eisa Davis as Addy Pickett; the receptionist at the local practice.
She often gives Zoe advice in Season 1.
Deborah S. Craig as Shelley Ng; a waitress at the local restaurant the "Rammer Jammer",
where Wade also works in Season 1.
Nadine Velazquez as Didi Ruano; originally the receptionist at the local practice, she
was later replaced by Addie.
She then gets a job working as George's secretary.
She has had in an on-and-off relationship with Lavon.
She is known to be very ditzy and talkative in Season 1.
Rich McDonald as Walt Blodgett Ann Cusack as Annie Hattenbarger, Rose's mother
in episodes 20 and 21 of Season 1.
Maree Cheatham as Bettie Breeland, Brick's mother.
Overbearing and conservative, she often meddles in both Brick and Lemmon's lives for her own
objectives.
Mary Gross as Old Lady #3 in episodes 2 and 3 of Season 1.
Megan Ferguson as Daisy Nicolette Robinson as Tara Jane
Lindsey Van Horn as Amy-Rose Development and production
On February 1, 2011, it was announced that The CW had ordered a pilot for Hart of Dixie.
On May 17, 2011, the network officially picked up Hart of Dixie to series, set to air in
fall 2011.
The series marks the second time executive producer, Josh Schwartz, and series star,
Rachel Bilson, have worked together on television.
The first time the duo worked together was on the Fox teen drama The O.C., created by
Schwartz.
The show's executive producer, Josh Schwartz, compared the show to The WB classics such
as Felicity, Everwood, and Gilmore Girls.
With the reveal of The CW's fall 2011 schedule, it was announced that Hart of Dixie would
air on Monday at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central, following Gossip Girl.
It premiered on Monday, September 26, 2011.
On October 12, 2011 the series was picked up for a full season, which will consist of
twenty-two episodes.
Along with pick-up for all other CW dramas, Mark Pedowitz said "We believe in the creative
strength of these dramas, and by giving them back nine orders we can give our audience
the chance to enjoy complete seasons of all three of them."
On May 11, 2012, The CW renewed the show for a second season, which premiered on October
2, 2012.
The CW renewed the show for a third season on April 26, 2013.
Casting On February 8, 2011, TVLine reported that
Rachel Bilson was nearing a deal to star in the series.
Her role was later confirmed by The CW in a press release.
Soon after, Wilson Bethel joined the cast as Wade Kinsella, Zoe's "gorgeous bad-boy"
neighbor.
Scott Porter was later cast as good-looking lawyer George Tucker, a potential love-interest
for Bilson's character.
On May 20, 2011, it was announced that Nancy Travis would not continue with the series
due to her commitments with the 20th Century Fox-produced ABC sitcom Last Man Standing.
Travis was written out after the first two episodes.
Meredith Monroe appeared in one episode as Lemon's estranged mother.JoBeth Williams appeared
in three episodes as Candice Hart, the mother of Bilson's character.
On July 26, 2013, it was announced that Kaitlyn Black was upgraded to series regular status
for season three.
Reception Critical reception
Hart of Dixie's first season has received mixed reviews, scoring a 43 out of 100 on
the review aggregator Metacritic.
TVGuide.com described the show as "Southern Exposure" and, in a later review, stated that
the actors are better than the "cutesy" material, although Bilson is not convincing as a heart
surgeon.
Both TVGuide.com and Robert Bianco of USA Today stated that the show is potentially
offensive to the South.
Bianco also wrote that the show is shallow and far-fetched, with Bilson giving an unconvincing
performance, such as acting surprised when calling herself a doctor.
Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter stated that the series is predictable and superficial,
but "surprisingly touching".
Goodman and Brian Lowry of Variety stated that Bilson does not look like a doctor, with
Goodman writing that she looked too much "like a high-priced call girl" and Lowry writing
that she looked like she belonged in "Barbie's medical dream house."
Writing for The New York Times, critic Neil Genzlinger wrote, "...the premiere, at least,
doesn’t find a convincing way to balance the clashing strands: the city-mouse disorientation,
the medical emergencies, the girlfights, the daddy issues, the young-pretty-and-available
stuff."
Los Angeles Times reviewer Mary McNamara described the show as, "a stack of familiar scenarios
stitched together to form a pretty if not terribly substantial quilt."
TVLine described the show as "Everwood-esque".
TVLine later said: "Beautifully filmed with warm, cozy tones, the Southern setting utterly
envelops the glowing Bilson", adding that Porter's appearance "wins us over and makes
you forget that clunky intro" and despite the "rom-coms clichés, the pilot is super-efficient
at introducing us to those who will be the key players in Zoe’s story, laying the framework
for storytelling places to go."
Tv Times magazine gave Hart of Dixie its lowest score of 2011–2012: 12 out of 100.
Awards and accolades Ratings
International broadcasts References
External links Official website
Hart of Dixie at the Internet Movie Database Hart of Dixie at TV.com