Baby Daddy

Baby Daddy
Genre	Sitcom Romantic comedy
Created by	Dan Berendsen
Starring	Jean-Luc Bilodeau Tahj Mowry Derek Theler Melissa Peterman Chelsea Kane
Composer(s)	Doug DeAngelis
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	89 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Dan Berendsen Michael Lembeck John Ziffren Vince Cheung Ben Montanio Heidi Clements
Producer(s)	Timothy Marx Frank Pines Nancy Cohen Jan Siegelman David Hartle
Location(s)	CBS Studio Center Studio City, California Stage 20
Running time	22 minutes
Production company(s)	Don't Borrow Trouble ABC Family Originals (2012-2016) Freeform Original Productions (2016-Present)
Distributor	Disney–ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original network	Freeform
Original release	June 20, 2012 (2012-06-20) – present
External links
Official website

Baby Daddy is an American sitcom created by Dan Berendsen that premiered on June 20, 2012.^[1] The series follows Ben, a man in his twenties, who gets the surprise of his life when a one-night stand leaves his baby at his doorstep. Ben decides to raise his little girl with the help of his brother, Danny, his two close friends, Riley and Tucker, and his sometimes-overbearing mother, Bonnie.^[2]

Plot Summary

Ben, a twenty-something bachelor, is suddenly a father when his baby daughter Emma is left at his door.

Characters

Main characters

• Benjamin Bon Jovi "Ben" Wheeler^[3] (Jean-Luc Bilodeau): The lead character of the series. He is a young man living the life of a bachelor as a bartender in New York City with his buddy Tucker and his older brother Danny. His life is turned upside down when he comes home one day to find a baby girl left on his doorstep by an ex-girlfriend. The baby turns out to be his daughter Emma. He was a bartender at the Bar on B but now Danny and Ben own the bar together. He used to have feelings for Riley after they danced at a wedding. The two dated two times but their relationship always failed because Ben didn't live up to Riley's expectations.^[4] Eventually it is revealed how strong Danny's feelings are for Riley. Ben initially denies this until Bonnie intervenes and points out that "Danny has loved Riley nearly his whole life" and tries to get the two together.
• Tucker Thurgood Marshall Dobbs^[5] (Tahj Mowry): Ben's best friend and roommate. Tucker is friendly towards everybody as long as they don't eat all of his food.^[6] Ben encouraged Tucker to drop out of law school to pursue a career that he enjoys since he was only trying to be a lawyer because of his strict father. When his father Marshall Dobbs visits, Tucker finally reveals to his dad that he no longer wants to be a lawyer and is working in television because its something he enjoys doing, to which his father at first is furious, but finally accepts.
• Daniel Mellencamp "Danny" Wheeler^[7] (Derek Theler): Ben's older brother, who is a professional hockey player. He was traded to the New York Rangers. His little brother looks up to him, because he has everything a man would want. He has been in love with Riley ever since he was six. Danny and Riley eventually end up together and it is revealed in season five that Riley is pregnant after Danny and Riley become very serious. In Season 4, Danny purchased the bar Ben works at.
• Bonnie N. Walker (née Prapinski; previously Wheeler) (Melissa Peterman): Ben and Danny's mother. She is a happy, outgoing, loud, and dramatic person who has a kind heart and loves her kids and her granddaughter more than anything. She loves to drink, her favorite wine is chardonnay, and she has blonde hair and blue eyes. Bonnie has had an on and off relationship with Brad Walker (Brad the Pad) since season 3. However, Tucker got licensed and presided over Bonnie's marriage to Brad Walker in the elevator of Tucker's building. Their love has been tested several times and they are proven to be meant to be and love each other very much. Bonnie wanted to be a model but had her kids so now she is a realtor. Brad is also a realtor, and he got her a job with the same company that he is an employee at. Bonnie is hilarious and is the comedy of the bunch along with Tucker who she sometimes gets into hilarious situations with. Bonnie is in love with Bon Jovi, so much so that she named her second son "Benjamin Bon Jovi Wheeler". She describes herself as "a beautiful young woman with goals and ambitions."
• Riley Perrin (Chelsea Kane): Ben's close female friend and Danny's best friend since they were little. Riley and Danny are in love now as of season five. They are going to get married because they have a someday which Riley has on a necklace. Riley is pregnant which is revealed on the summer season finale of Baby Daddy season five. It has been said that she was extremely overweight in high school and has since lost 200 pounds. She is highly intelligent. Despite having some difficulty with the LSATs, she did well enough to get accepted into law school.^[8] She has liked Ben ever since they were young but only Danny initially knew, despite Danny secretly liking Riley in the first, second and third seasons. In the episode "Send in the Clowns", it is revealed that her mother was actually the woman she thought was her maternal aunt. In the episode "House of Cards," she mentions a sister, presumably her cousin in reality, whom she "hates".
• Emma Wheeler (Ali Louise and Susanne Allan Hartman in season 1; Mila and Zoey Beske in season 2; Ember and Harper Husak in season 3; Sura and Kayleigh Harris in season 4–present): Ben's daughter and only child, who was left at his doorstep by his ex-girlfriend.

Recurring characters

• Brad Walker (Peter Porte):A handsome real estate agent who is married to Bonnie Wheeler. He is one of the most successful real estate agents in New York City and got Bonnie her job. Bonnie and Brad dated on and off again through season three with he eventually proposing in season four, with her saying yes. In season five, Brad and Bonnie were officially married. He calls her Bon Bon and has a twin brother named Tad who dies in season five. Brad is handsome and cocky however a good person who is perfect for Bonnie.
• Angela Davidson (Mimi Gianopulos): The mother of Emma and the ex-girlfriend of Ben. When her daughter was 3 months old, she abandoned her on Ben's doorstep. She's an aspiring actress who had since moved to California. In Season 5, Angela is revealed to be starring in a TV show called "Cop Girl".
• Ray Wheeler (Greg Grunberg): Ben and Danny's father. He is divorced from Bonnie and doesn't get along with her. He makes amends with Bonnie by finally telling his family that he is in a relationship with a man named Steve (Robert Gant). Bonnie is happy for him, realizing that it's "not her fault" that they got divorced.

Episodes

Development and production

The series was given a green-light on February 2, 2012^[10] and began production on March 28, 2012. On August 17, 2012, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on May 29, 2013.^[11]

On March 22, 2013, ABC Family announced that Baby Daddy was renewed for a third season, two months before the second season premiered.^[12] The third season premiered on January 15, 2014.^[13]

Baby Daddy was renewed for a fourth season on March 17, 2014.^[14] It premiered on October 22, 2014, with the series' first Halloween episode "Strip or Treat".^[15]

On February 27, 2015, the series was renewed for a fifth season.^[16] It premiered on February 3, 2016.^[17]

On June 27, 2016, Freeform renewed the show for a sixth season.^[18]

Broadcast

The series premiered in the United States on June 20, 2012, on ABC Family.^[1]

In New Zealand, the show premiered on TVNZ's TV2 beginning on December 14, 2013.

In Australia, the series airs on Fox8, with season 1 premiering 29 September 2013,^[19] with season 2 returning on 4 May 2014,^[20] and season 3 returning 24 August 2014.^[21]

In the United Kingdom, the series began airing on E4 on February 16, 2015. The second season started on March 2, 2015.^[22] Series 3 aired in April 2015. Series 4 aired in September 2015. Series 5 will premiere 5th September 2016.^[23]

In Israel, the series airs weeknights (two episodes each) since July 2016. In South Africa aired 5 September 2015.

In Italy. the series began airing on Premium Joi, pay channel on the DTT platform Mediaset Premium from 22 February 2013 to 22 March 2013. The second, third, fourth and fifth seasons were broadcast on the streaming platform Mediaset Infinity from 2015 to 2016.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Official website
• Baby Daddy at the Internet Movie Database