Joan of Arcadia

Joan of Arcadia is an American fantasy family drama created by Barbara Hall that aired on CBS for two seasons, from September 2003 to April 2005, totaling 45 episodes. Set in the fictional town of Arcadia, Maryland, the series follows teenager Joan Girardi, an ordinary high school student whose life changes when God begins appearing to her in the guise of different people, from fellow students to strangers. Each encounter comes with an assignment, and although the tasks often seem trivial or confusing, they tend to produce unexpected ripples in the lives of those around her. The title is a play on Joan of Arc, the French heroine who heard a divine calling. Amber Tamblyn stars as Joan, alongside Joe Mantegna and Mary Steenburgen as her parents. The show earned critical praise, a People's Choice Award, and a first-season Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, but declining ratings in its second year led CBS to cancel it in May 2005.