▁Van ▁Der ▁Be ek ▁as ▁Daw son ▁Le ery , ▁K atie ▁Hol mes ▁as ▁his ▁best ▁friend ▁and ▁love ▁interest ▁Jo ey ▁Pot ter , ▁Josh ua ▁Jackson ▁as ▁their ▁fellow ▁best ▁friend ▁P ace y ▁W itter , ▁and ▁Mich elle ▁Williams ▁as ▁Jen ▁Lind ley , ▁a ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁trans plant ▁to ▁the ▁fict ional ▁town ▁of ▁Cap es ide , ▁Massachusetts , ▁where ▁the ▁series ▁was ▁set . ▁The ▁show ▁was ▁created ▁by ▁Kevin ▁William son ▁and ▁deb uted ▁on ▁The ▁W B ▁on ▁January ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁It ▁was ▁produced ▁by ▁Columbia ▁Tri Star ▁Television ▁( ren amed ▁Sony ▁Pictures ▁Television ▁before ▁the ▁sixth ▁and ▁final ▁season ) ▁and ▁was ▁fil med ▁in ▁Wil ming ton , ▁North ▁Carolina . ▁ ▁The ▁show ▁placed ▁at ▁No . ▁ 9 0 ▁on ▁Entertainment ▁Week ly ▁" New ▁TV ▁Class ics " ▁list ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁The ▁series ▁ended ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁Cast ▁and ▁characters ▁ ▁Rec urr ing ▁characters ▁and ▁guest ▁stars ▁ ▁Ed ▁Gr ady ▁as ▁Gr amps ▁Ryan ▁( season ▁ 1 ); ▁Jen ' s ▁termin ally ▁sick ▁grand father ▁ ▁Le ann ▁Hun ley ▁as ▁Tam ara ▁Jacob s ▁( season ▁ 1 – 2 ); ▁a ▁teacher ▁at ▁Cap es ide ▁High ▁and ▁P ace y ' s ▁first ▁love ▁interest ▁Mon ica ▁Ke ena ▁as ▁Abb y ▁Morgan ▁( season ▁