Phil of the Future
A 22nd-century family stranded in the present day.
A family from the year 2121 gets stuck in the present after their rented time machine breaks down in this Disney Channel sci-fi comedy. Created by Douglas Tuber and Tim Maile, the show ran for two seasons from 2004 to 2006. Filmed in Los Angeles, it earned nominations from the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, and the Young Artist Awards.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Music
- Runtime
- 22 minutes
- Camera
- Film; Single-camera
- Creator
- Douglas Tuber; Tim Maile
- Starring
- Raviv Ullman
- Amy Bruckner
- Craig Anton
- Lise Simms
- Alyson Michalka
- Company
- 2121 Productions; Brookwell McNamara Entertainment
- Theme music
- John Adair; Steve Hampton
- Opening theme
- "Phil of the Future", performed by Drew Davis Band
Facts from the source article.
Premise
A family from the year 2121 ends up stuck in present-day Pickford, California, after their rented time machine breaks down during a vacation. Lloyd, the father and an engineer, tries to fix the device while the Diffys pretend to be a normal suburban family. Phil and his younger sister Pim attend H.G. Wells Junior/Senior High School, where Phil becomes friends with neighbor Keely Teslow, the only person outside the family who knows the truth. They also hide Curtis, a caveman from the Stone Age who snuck into the time machine. Comedy comes from futuristic items like the Wizard, Skyak, and spray-can food, which often cause trouble as the family tries to stay hidden.
Cast and characters
Ricky Ullman plays Philip "Phil" Diffy, a teenager from 2121 who adjusts to high school and becomes best friends and eventually romantic partners with Keely. Amy Bruckner portrays Pimilla "Pim" Diffy, Phil's mischievous younger sister. Craig Anton plays Lloyd Diffy, the family patriarch and engineer. Lise Simms appears as Barbara "Barb" Diffy, the mother who awkwardly adapts to 21st-century life. Alyson Michalka plays Keely Teslow, Phil's neighbor and the only outsider who knows the Diffys' secret. J. P. Manoux portrays both Curtis, a Cro-Magnon caveman, and Vice Principal Neil Hackett, the series' primary antagonist. Kay Panabaker appears as Debbie Berwick in Season 1. Brenda Song plays Tia Fedichelli in Season 1. Evan Peters portrays Seth Wosmer in Season 1. Spencer Locke plays Candida Scobel in Season 2. Brandon Smith appears as Li'l Danny Dawkins in Season 2. Juliet Holland-Rose plays Olivia "Via" in Season 2. Michael Mitchell portrays Owen in Season 2. Joel Brooks plays Mr. Messerschmitt in Season 2.
Production
Creators Douglas Tuber and Tim Maile, previously writers on Lizzie McGuire, developed the series under the working title The Out-of-Timers, inspired by the Elvis Costello song "Man Out of Time." The year 2121 was chosen after a Disney Channel executive felt the initial idea of 2525 was too far in the future. The series was produced by 2121 Productions, a division of Brookwell McNamara Entertainment. Tuber and Maile served as executive producers, joined by others in each season. Filmed at Occidental Studios in Los Angeles using a single-camera setup without a laugh track, it differed from the multi-camera format used by Disney Channel contemporaries. Lead actor Raviv Ullman, credited as Ricky Ullman, was a high school student in Fairfield, Connecticut, when cast. Aly Michalka, credited as Alyson Michalka, was 13 at the start of filming.
Related media
A DVD titled Gadgets & Gizmos was released on August 16, 2005, containing four episodes. The episode "Christmas Break" appeared as a bonus feature on the Disney Channel Holiday DVD compilation on November 1, 2005. The complete series became available to stream on Disney+ in the United States from the platform's launch on November 12, 2019. A video game for the Game Boy Advance was released on August 22, 2006. Disney Publishing released tie-in books including Stuck in Time, The Great Fake-out, Blast from the Past, and Far-out Phil.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of Phil of the Future are there?
Phil of the Future has 43 episodes across 2 seasons.
When did Phil of the Future first air?
Phil of the Future first aired on 18 June 2004.
When did Phil of the Future end?
Phil of the Future last aired on 19 August 2006.
More in Television Series Set in the 22nd Century
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced