Greek
Promotional Poster
Created by	Patrick Sean Smith
Starring	Clark Duke Tiffany Dupont (Seasons 1–2) Scott Michael Foster Seasons 1–3) Spencer Grammer Seasons 1–3) Paul James Jake McDorman (Seasons 1–3) Amber Stevens (Seasons 1–3) Dilshad Vadsaria Jacob Zachar
Opening theme	"Our Time Now" (played on commercials, not during credits)
Composer	John Swihart
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	64 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Lloyd Segan Shawn Piller
Running time	43 mins approx.
Original release
Network	ABC Family
Release	July 9, 2007 – present

Greek (promoted in faux-Greek alphabet as GRΣΣK) is an American dramedy television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University (CRU) who participate in the school's Greek system. The show's plots often take place within the confines of the fictional fraternities, Kappa Tau Gamma (ΚΤΓ) and Omega Chi Delta (ΩΧΔ), or the fictional sorority, Zeta Beta Zeta (ΖΒZ). Throughout the course of the series, other non-Greek characters and situations are introduced, but they all tie into larger relationships with the Greeks.

On February 19, 2010, it was announced that Greek had been renewed for a fourth and final season,^[2][3] which will premiere on January 3, 2011.^[4]

In April 2007, ABC Family announced plans to begin airing Greek in July of that summer. The series premiered on July 9, 2007.^[5] The show depicts a school similar to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio which also has a large greek community. Show creator Patrick Sean Smith began the show as a spec script of a show that he "really wanted to see," noticing a lack of shows in an hour-long format following a comedic take on college life. Citing "shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Ugly Betty" that "were pushing the envelope comedically in [sic] one-hour format," Smith saw the idea working for a younger set.^[6] Greek became an example of ABC Family's desire to change their image to appeal to the emerging generation of viewers. The show's content is not traditionally considered "family friendly" due to its depiction of sex and drinking. The producers and the television network believe the friendships, which substitute for family during college, achieve the network's motto: A New Kind of Family.^[7] At the heart of the series is the sibling relationship between Casey and Rusty. The producers recognize that while it is a show about families, it is not necessarily for families, believing it is important that the authenticity of college life be portrayed, which includes the mature elements of that lifestyle. Even still, they work at making sure their depictions aren't gratuitous.^[8]

Filmed primarily in Los Angeles, the show is also filmed on location at the UCLA campus in the Westwood district of Los Angeles. Many campus scenes have also been shot at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California, outside of Los Angeles. They've also filmed at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina,^[9] and used aerial footage of Stanford University. The exterior and some interior shots were filmed in the historic West Adams District within Los Angeles. The house used in the pilot to establish the ZBZ residence is the same house used in the reality series Beauty and the Geek.^[8]

The first season was halted in September 2007 due to the Writers Guild of America strike and returned March 24, 2008, to a triple digit increase in ratings over the pilot's premiere.^[10] On May 1, 2008, ABC Family renewed Greek for a second season, premiering August 26, 2008. The series was moved from the Tuesday lineup to Monday nights.^[11] Twelve more episodes were ordered for late spring 2009 and aired beginning March 30. On January 31, 2009, it was announced that Greek would return for a third season, premiering on August 31, 2009.^[12] The midseason premiere of Greek was Monday, Jan. 25, at 10/9c.^[13]

The show airs in the US on ABC Family on Mondays, encores ran the following Friday during its First Chapter.^[14] The show originally aired on BBC Three in the UK but now airs on BBC Two, pay-TV FOX8 in Australia, TV2 in New Zealand, MuchMusic in Canada, Virgin 17 in France, Universal Channel in Brazil, pay-TV network FOX and Pro7 in Germany, and on MTV Italia, MTV Greece and MTV Russia in Italy, Greece and Russia, respectively. In Egypt and Lebanon, it airs on FOX Series. In Sweden, it airs on Kanal 5 and in Denmark on Kanal 4. In the Republic of Ireland it airs on RTE2. It will begin airing on RTL 5 in the Netherlands. In Slovenia, it airs on Kanal A. In South Africa it airs on VUZU, (DSTV Channel 123)

On February 19, 2010, it was reported that the show had been renewed for a fourth, ten-episode season.^[2][3] Then, on March 13, 2010, creator Sean Smith announced his plans to end the series after the fourth season, saying, "We plan to end, that's the plan. We're all looking at this as an opportunity to come back, wrap up the show, and end strong. ABC Family could have ended it, but they gave us this opportunity and I don't want to squander it."^[15] On July 29, 2010, it was confirmed that the fourth and final season of Greek will be airing in January 2011.

The following is a list of fraternities and sororities featured in more than one episode.

The following is a list of fraternities and sororities mentioned or shown in at least one episode. It is unknown whether they are fraternities or sororities.

The pilot episode premiered on Monday, July 9, 2007 in the US on ABC Family.

Rusty Cartwright (Jacob Zachar) is a freshman at Cyprus-Rhodes University, and in an effort to shed his nerdy image, he pledges Greek. His older sister, Casey (Spencer Grammer), is an active member of the Zeta Beta Zeta sorority, and is dating Evan Chambers (Jake McDorman), an active member of the Omega Chi Delta fraternity. Evan offers Rusty a spot in Omega Chi but gets declined after Evan gets spotted cheating on Casey with Rebecca Logan (Dilshad Vadsaria). Rusty later accepts an invitation for Kappa Tau by Cappie (Scott Michael Foster), Casey's ex-boyfriend, much to Casey's concern. Additionally, Rusty's straight-edged roommate, Dale (Clark Duke), is concerned for Rusty's involvement with the Greeks, but later accepts Rusty's new lifestyle, even befriending Rusty's gay friend Calvin (Paul James), an Omega Chi pledge who gets accidentally outed by Ashleigh (Amber Stevens). The biggest scandal for the Greeks erupts after Rusty's new girlfriend, Jen K (Jessica Rose), a Zeta Beta Zeta pledge, is outed for writing a newspaper article based on the secrets of the Greeks and getting them in trouble and forcing Dean Bowman to lay down strict rules on the Greeks. Since the article centers on the Zeta Beta Zeta sorority, the National Board for ZBZ forces Frannie to step down as president and have Casey take her place.

After being ousted as ZBZ president by Nationals, Frannie decides to set up her own sorority, Iota Kappa Iota (Nicknamed The IKAP's by the house, and the ICKY's by all the other houses). Bankrolled by her new boyfriend Evan Chamber's trust fund she sets about convincing a small number of ZBZ sisters to defect. New ZBZ president Ashleigh assumes her full duties taking over from interim president Casey, however Casey remains a prominent figure in the house, taking charge of this years pledges. At the Kappa Tau house, Rusty is looking forward to being an active after a year of hazing and serving the brothers, only to find he is still treated the same as a 'Post-pledge' until the freshman arrive on campus. During Rush, Rusty takes a liking to Calvin's former high school friend Andy (Jesse McCartney) and petitions hard to convince him to join the Kappa Tau house over the Omega Kai house. Rusty and Dale take an Art History elective, and Rusty falls (Literally) for free spirit Jordan (Johanna Braddy). Jordan attends a Kappa Tau party on invite from Rusty, during which she makes out with Andy. Rusty's situation is then made worse when Andy joins Kappa Tau, and Cappie makes Rusty his big brother in the house. Casey struggles with her feelings for Cappie whilst dating Max (Michael Rady), forcing Casey and Cappie to argue and agree to not be friends anymore, however Cappie comes to her aid when the ZBZ homecoming float breaks down and the two make up. Rusty, unable to hide his feelings for Jordan, kisses her and later admits this to Andy, who leaves the Kappa Tau house because of this. The betrayal of Rusty to his younger brother infuriates Cappie, who likens the situation to when Evan stole Casey from him, however when Cappie and Evan start reminiscing and become friends, Cappie also forgives Rusty. Jordan chooses Rusty over Andy, and the Iota Kappa Iota house is disbanded by Frannie after she breaks up with Evan and graduates from CRU. Unable to bury her feelings for Cappie, Casey breaks up with Max only for Cappie to reject her.

Rebecca confesses that she shared a kiss with Fischer, and Ashleigh refuses to accept the apology from both parties. Casey's break up with Max was difficult, but she put her energy into her participation in Pan Hellenic. Meanwhile, Rusty struggles to keep up his GPA while still in Kappa Tau activities, and Cappie enlists himself as help. Calvin and Grant quietly begin a relationship, and Evan helps them keep it a secret from the rest of Omega Chi. Rusty and Jordan take their relationship to the next level, but due to a once in a lifetime opportunity Jordan moves to New York, and the two split up. Cappie and Evan's friendship is discovered by Casey and the three are friends again. When Thanksgiving rolls around Cappie and Casey share a special moment and get back together. Dale and Rusty begin to fight when they are put up for the same academic grant. Cappie and Evan make a deal to unite their houses against Officer Huck, but Evan betrays Cappie and three Kappa Tau brothers are expelled. The Gamma Psi house burns down, and the ZBZ house is to blame, in the final episode Cappie breaks up with Casey for not having enough faith in them.

According to Amber Stevens, season four of Greek will flash forward in the future to a point sometime after Casey, Ashleigh, Evan, and the other Greek "seniors" have graduated. On July 29, 2010, it was confirmed that the fourth and final season will begin airing in January 2011. ^{[citation needed]}

• The Plain White T's "Our Time Now" played during commercials advertising Greek during the show’s first chapter promotional run. The band has appeared in numerous Greek episodes, making their debut in the season one episode, "The Rusty Nail". They appeared in subsequent episodes "Friday Night Frights", "A New Normal", and "See You Next Time Sisters".^[25] The show sometimes features members of the band as KT brothers, such as in the episode "The Great Cappie". The Chapter Two DVD features a video for the band’s song, "Natural Disaster", which features Tiffany Dupont.

• The Dollyrots appeared in the season one episode, "Multiple Choice", playing "Because I’m Awesome".^[25]

• Marié Digby performs "Better Off Alone" in the penultimate season one episode, "Barely Legal".^[25]
• American Bang performs two songs in the season one finale, "Spring Broke": "Wild and Young", and "Move to the Music".^[25]

• The War Tapes are the featured band during the season two finale, "At World’s End", "Always Falling", and "Dreaming of You".^[26]

• Alpha Rev appeared in the season preview performing Phoenix Burn.^[27]

• Zach Selwyn wrote a rap song to promote the third season of "Greek" in 2009, and shot a music video with the cast of the show.^[28]

• Temper Trap with the song "Sweet Disposition" on the last Episode(22) of the second season.

Greek has received a score of 62 out of 100 from review aggregator Metacritic.^[29] In a review released soon after the premiere of the show, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called the show "light-hearted fun" and "authentic" while the New York Times claimed that Greek "captures the spirit of the hedge-fund age like nothing else."^[30][31] Other critics did not find the drama as authentic, with Elizabeth Fox of the Philadelphia Inquirer criticizing the show's predictability and lack of originality as another "teenage soap opera."^[32] Other reviews were middling, calling the writing of the show acceptable and praising the strength of the cast.^[33]

Members of the real life Greek community have claimed that Greek's depiction of fraternity and sorority life is stereotypical.^[34] USC banned the show from filming on their campus, in reaction to the promotional poster featuring the Greek logo over a red cup, since the cup is often used to symbolize alcoholic consumption during parties. However, upon viewing the pilot episode they held off on sending a letter to ABC Family, complaining about the depiction of the Greek System, when they realized there was more to the show than just parties.^{[35][dead link]} Others recognize it as a hyperbolic representation of "tamer, more modest" Greek life.^[36]

The show has been noted by LGBT activists for the character of Calvin, a gay fraternity brother, who struggles with the stereotyping and homophobia that coming out of the closet entails. Critics have praised the character's "three dimensionality."^[6][37]

In 2008 GLAAD nominated Greek for an Outstanding Drama Series award, and in 2009 they nominated the show in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. Actor Paul James was nominated for a 2009 Image Award as Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.^[38] In 2010, it was again nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding Comedy Series" during the 21st GLAAD Media Awards.^[39]

The viewership for Greek's pilot episode was 1.1 million,^[40] and Chapter 2 ended with 1.3 million viewers.^[41]

Chapter 3 saw a ratings spike, premiering to 1.6 million viewers, a 78% increase, doubling and tripling their ratings in all demographics, marked a network high for male viewers, and was the 2nd most watched cable show with females age 12–34. Greek also appeared on the list of top ten downloads on iTunes.^[8][10] Chapter 4 premiered much lower, with 0.99 million viewers,^[42] and ended with 0.745 million.^[41]

The third season premiere (Chapter 5) had a total of 1.21 million viewers, down almost 2 million from its lead in, The Secret Life of the American Teenager.^[43] The second episode pulled in 1.31 million viewers.^[44] Ratings dropped dramatically from there, with the Chapter 5 finale, or the season 3 mid-season finale, attracting only 0.660 million viewers.^[45] Chapter 6 premiered on January 25, 2010, in a new 10 pm time slot, to 1.03 million viewers.^[46] This was a drop of almost 1.27 million from the show's lead in, Make It or Break It. Season 3 (Chapter 6) completed with the finale drawing in 0.705 million viewers.^[47]

In 2007, ABC Family created a website www.virtualrush.com that was to be used in conjunction with the Greek television series. The site was maintained during the first two seasons, in which the users of the site competed in a wide variety of contests in order to become an extra on the show. During the first season of the contest, a five part online reality series called Rush*d^[48] followed the six finalists that were selected by ABC Family staff from their hometowns and college campuses to Los Angeles.

The Finalists:

• Chrissy Celotto – Van Wilder
• Luke Martin – IvoryRockstar
• Nate McGee – NJMCGEE
• Jay Stephens – ChiKappaDelta
• Jenna Walsh – Jenziebabe
• Laura Wise – Whitecup

In the fifth episode of Rush'd, Laura Wise was announced the winner of the contest.

In season two of Virtual Rush, Tom Kruszewski – Puckstopper35, was announced as the winner of the second and final contest. Following the second season the website was rendered inert.

In the United Kingdom, episodes are followed by special behind-the-scenes features entitled Greek Uncovered, which can be found on the BBC iPlayer and on BBC Three.^[49] In the Australian iTunes store, each week, a new episode (to Australia) will appear, after it is aired on FOX8.

• Official website
• Template:Myspace
• Greek at IMDb
• Greek Uncovered at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com show
• Greek Speak Podcast