Kids grow up too fast. That's clear as Lucy Camden (Beverley Mitchell) gets married tonight on "7th Heaven."
As Rev. Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) and his wife Annie (Catherine Hicks) look at their daughter, memories quickly surface. One clip shows Mitchell during the show's early seasons; young stars also grow up too fast.
Former stars Barry Watson and Jessica Biel, who played older siblings Matt and Mary, return in the episode in which Lucy marries police officer Kevin Kinkirk (George Stults). The episode, which effectively combines a nice sense of humor, warmth and sheer panic, airs tonight at 8 p.m. on Ch. 30.
Watson left the cast and became the series' story editor during his battle with Hodgkin's disease, but the illness is now in remission. Earlier this season, he wrote an episode featuring guest star Phyllis Diller playing the wacky Gabrielle.
"It's so wonderful to see him about," Mitchell said. "Hodgkin's is quite scary."
"He looks great," Collins said of Watson. "He's beaten the cancer."
Also returning is Diller as Gabrielle, and everyone takes that as a bad sign for the wedding; there's the humor.
The panic comes as Kevin's mother (Bo Derek of "10" fame) and his brother Ben (real-life brother Geoff Stults) battle with police officer Roxanne (Rachel Blanchard) and her boyfriend, the Rev. Chandler Hampton (Jeremy London).
While the newer characters fight, Camden family members show how they've matured, Lucy in particular. "Lucy has evolved a lot," said Mitchell, 22.
"She's found out what she wants to be; she has a boyfriend who loves her.
"She's very well-rounded."
Mitchell has done a great job in honestly depicting Lucy's self-doubts and emerging sense of new self-confidence. That's clear in the wedding episode, in which the nervous bride is worried about a storm that might keep Matt, Mary and Kevin's family in Buffalo from attending.
Collins talked about his character's interaction with Lucy.
"I really have a weak spot for Beverley," he said. "It's always real. We bring something out of each other."
In real life, Mitchell, who lives in Los Angeles, remains single and has studied at a university in the city but has found she needs to focus on "7th Heaven."
Mitchell recently starred as hot-rod racer Erica Enders in the Disney Channel's "Right on Track." Mitchell has become friends with Enders, who broke ground for girls and women in drag racing, and said she would like to learn to race for fun.
"7th Heaven," which premiered in 1996, remains The WB's highest-rated program.
"The glory of the show is that parents can watch it with their child and know there will be no sex, no vulgarity and good morals," Mitchell said. "It's a feel-good show. It's a guilty pleasure; no one admits they like it."
Collins praised the show's writing and acting. "People who watch '7th Heaven' see it's not a perfect family, but it's a loving family," he said. "They all have a lot of problems, but they're there for each other."
Mitchell said her favorite episodes deal with issues. She found she could relate to a 1998 episode about a car accident. In real life, her best friend died in a car accident when Mitchell was 16.
The episode dealt with driving safely and dealing with the loss of a friend.
This season has brought some renewed strength in a convincing storyline about whether Eric wanted to continue to be a minister after his bypass surgery.
This week's wedding brings Eric back to his ministry.
Collins said he has liked the storyline.
"After 24 years, he's burned out," Collins said, comparing it to what happens to many people in other professions.
Apparently, it hasn't happened to Collins. He still loves being on the show.
"I've had a blast; I got to be Elvis," said Collins, referring to his character's bypass surgery episode. While under anesthesia, the minister imagined he was performing as the King.