Betty (TV series)

Last updated

Betty
Betty logo.jpeg
Genre Teen comedy [1]
Created by Crystal Moselle
Based on
Skate Kitchen
by
  • Crystal Moselle
  • That One Day
  • by Crystal Moselle
Directed byCrystal Moselle
Starring
Music byAska Matsumiya
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Crystal Moselle
  • Lesley Arfin (season 1)
  • Igor Srubshchik
  • Jason Weinberg
  • Alliah Mourad
  • Annie Schmidt
Producers
  • Britta Lundin (season 1)
  • Lizzie Nastro (season 1)
  • Izabella Tzenkova (season 1)
  • Naima Ramos-Chapman
  • Ben Snyder
CinematographyJackson Hunt
Editors
  • Nico Leunen
  • Thomas Pooters
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time29–31 minutes
Production companies
  • A Dreamy Crystal Moselle Sequence...
  • Arfin Material (season 1)
  • Untitled Entertainment
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseMay 1, 2020 (2020-05-01) –
July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)

Betty is an American teen comedy television series created by Crystal Moselle. The series is based on Moselle's 2018 feature film Skate Kitchen , which was in turn based on her 2016 short film That One Day. It includes most of the cast of the original feature film, and focuses on the Gen Z all-girl group's efforts to stand out in New York's predominantly male world of skateboarding. The series premiered on HBO on May 1, 2020. [2] In June 2020, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on June 11, 2021. [3] [4] In August 2021, the series was canceled after two seasons. [5]

Contents

Betty received positive critical reception, and was nominated for a Gotham Award for Shortform Breakthrough Series. [6] [2] [7]

Plot

Betty follows "a tight-knit group of girl skaters and follows their everyday lives as they navigate the male-dominated world of skateboarding. The title comes from the derogatory nickname sometimes thrown at them by men." [8]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 6May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)June 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)
2 6June 11, 2021 (2021-06-11)July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)

Season 1 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Key Party" Crystal Moselle Crystal Moselle & Lesley Arfin May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)0.158 [11]
22"Zen and the Art of Skateboarding"Crystal Moselle Patricia Breen May 8, 2020 (2020-05-08)0.172 [12]
33"Happy Birthday, Tyler"Crystal Moselle Moshe Kasher May 15, 2020 (2020-05-15)0.048 [13]
44"The Tombs"Crystal MoselleBritta LundinMay 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)0.192 [14]
55"Perstephanie"Crystal Moselle Naima Ramos-Chapman & Veronica RodriguezMay 29, 2020 (2020-05-29)0.148 [15]
66"Ladies on Fire"Crystal Moselle Lesley Arfin June 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)0.172 [16]

Season 2 (2021)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
71"Octopussy" Crystal Moselle Moshe Kasher June 11, 2021 (2021-06-11) [a] N/A
82"Blue Is the Warmest Threesome"Crystal MoselleBen SnyderJune 18, 2021 (2021-06-18)N/A
93"Sugar We're Going Down, Swinging"Crystal MoselleWally Baram & Aida Osman June 25, 2021 (2021-06-25)N/A
104"Sweet Tooth"Crystal MoselleCrystal Moselle & Rachelle Vinberg July 2, 2021 (2021-07-02)N/A
115"Good Luck with That"Crystal Moselle Naima Ramos-Chapman July 9, 2021 (2021-07-09)N/A
126"The Let Down"Crystal Moselle Sabaah Folayan July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)N/A

Production

Development

On August 14, 2019, it was reported that HBO had given Betty a series order consisting of six episodes. The series is created, directed, executive produced by Crystal Moselle who also co-wrote and directed Skate Kitchen . The series is a spinoff of the film and features many of the same actors, with some tweaks to various storylines. [8] Lesley Arfin, Igor Srubshchik Jason Weinberg were executive producers alongside Moselle. Production companies involved with the series are Untitled Entertainment, A Dreamy Crystal Moselle Sequence, and Arfin Material. [18]

The series premiered on May 1, 2020. [2] On June 18, 2020, HBO renewed the series for a second season which premiered on June 11, 2021. [3] [4] On August 24, 2021, HBO canceled the series after two seasons. [5]

Casting

Alongside the initial series announcement, it was reported that Rachelle Vinberg, Nina Moran, Moonbear, Dede Lovelace, and Ajani Russell would reprise their roles from Skate Kitchen as series regulars. [18] As with the film, the actors play fictionalized versions of themselves. [8]

Filming

The series was filmed on-location in New York City. [2] The show has no sets. [19]

Reception

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 97% based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 7.15/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Earnest, audacious, and effortlessly cool, Betty captures the spirit of skating and friendship with style." [20] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 based on 14 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [21] Betty was noted by Vogue for depicting the friendships of women, several of them queer or of color, "in a naturalistic way." [22] Ashlie D. Stevens wrote of the series in Salon , ""Betty" isn't fast-paced or bursting with dramatic turns, but therein lies its appeal. This is a show that is about watching a new generation of women empower themselves and the women around them, seemingly in real time." [10] Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times noted while "there is no nudity, that old HBO staple", that a strength of the show is "its main themes are friendship, self-knowledge, identity, equality and freedom...It feels innocent, which is not to say naive. And it is appropriately, almost casually exhilarating." [19]

The New York Times and Time named the first season to end-of-year "best new series" lists. [23] [24]

The second season has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. [25] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [26]

Ratings

Season 1

Viewership and ratings per episode of Betty
No.TitleAir date Rating
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)
1"Key Party"May 1, 20200.030.158 [11]
2"Zen and the Art of Skateboarding"May 8, 20200.030.172 [12]
3"Happy Birthday, Tyler"May 15, 20200.010.048 [13]
4"The Tombs"May 22, 20200.030.192 [14]
5"Perstephanie"May 28, 20200.020.148 [15]
6"Ladies on Fire"June 5, 20200.040.172 [16]


Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
Gotham Independent Film Awards 2020 Breakthrough Series – Short Form Crystal Moselle, Lesley Arfin, Igor Srubshchik and Jason WeinbergNominated [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ This episode was released early on YouTube on June 4, 2021 for free to watch, prior to its premiere on June 11, 2021, on HBO. [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ballers</i> American comedy-drama series

Ballers is an American sports comedy-drama series created by Stephen Levinson that aired for five seasons on HBO from June 21, 2015, to October 13, 2019. It stars Dwayne Johnson as a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career as the financial manager of other NFL players.

<i>Divorce</i> (TV series) American television series

Divorce is an American comedy-drama television series created by Sharon Horgan, set in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church as a middle-aged divorcing couple. The series premiered on HBO on October 9, 2016. The pilot episode was written by Horgan and directed by Jesse Peretz. On November 14, 2016, HBO renewed the show for a second season, which premiered on January 14, 2018. On November 2, 2018, HBO renewed the show for a third season, which was later announced on its premiere date to be the final season.

<i>Room 104</i> American anthology television series

Room 104 is an American anthology television series created by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass, first broadcast on HBO between 2017 and 2020.

Insecure is an American comedy-drama television series created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, and is partially based on Rae's acclaimed web series Awkward Black Girl. The series is about the awkward experiences of a contemporary African-American woman. The series premiered online on September 23, 2016, via HBO Now and HBO Go, before airing weekly on HBO from October 9, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Moselle</span> American filmmaker (born 1980)

Sierra Ditson "Crystal" Moselle is an American filmmaker. Her debut film was The Wolfpack (2015), a documentary on the Angulo brothers. She has also made That One Day (2016) and Skate Kitchen (2018).

<i>Genius</i> (American TV series) 2017 TV series

Genius is an American biographical anthology drama series developed by Noah Pink and Kenneth Biller which premiered on National Geographic. The first season, which aired between April and June 2017, followed the life of Albert Einstein, from his early years, through his time as a patent clerk, and into his later years as a physicist who developed the theory of relativity; the season is based on the 2007 book Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson. The second season, which aired between April and June 2018, followed the life and artistry of Pablo Picasso.

<i>My Brilliant Friend</i> (TV series) 2018 Italian-American television series

My Brilliant Friend is a Neapolitan- and Italian-language coming-of-age drama television series created by Saverio Costanzo for HBO, RAI, and TIMvision. Named after the first of four novels in the Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante, the series is an adaptation of the entire literary work into four seasons. My Brilliant Friend is a co-production between Italian production companies Wildside, Fandango, The Apartment Pictures, Mowe and international film groups Umedia and Fremantle.

<i>The Chi</i> American drama television series

The Chi is an American drama television series created by Lena Waithe about life in a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. It premiered on Showtime on January 7, 2018. In August 2022, the series was renewed for a sixth season. On June 21, 2023, it was announced that the sixth season would consist of 16 episodes split into two parts. Part 1 premiered on August 6, 2023, and part 2 premiered on May 12, 2024. In May 2024, the series was renewed for a seventh season.

<i>The Righteous Gemstones</i> American comedy television series

The Righteous Gemstones is an American comedy-drama television series created by Danny McBride that premiered on August 18, 2019, on HBO. The series follows a famous and dysfunctional family of televangelists. It stars McBride, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, Tony Cavalero, Cassidy Freeman, Gregory Alan Williams, Tim Baltz, and John Goodman. The series has aired three seasons, and was renewed for a fourth in 2023.

<i>Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens</i> American comedy television series

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens is an American television sitcom starring Awkwafina that first aired on January 20, 2020, on Comedy Central. The series was renewed for a second season before the series premiere, and received generally favorable reviews from critics. The second season premiered on August 18, 2021. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a third season; which premiered on April 26, 2023.

<i>Miracle Workers</i> (2019 TV series) American anthology comedy television series

Miracle Workers is an American anthology comedy television series created by Simon Rich for TBS. It is based in part on Rich's writings, with the first season being based on his 2012 novel What in God's Name, while the short story "Revolution" provided the basis for the second season. The series stars an ensemble cast comprising Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Jon Bass, Karan Soni, Sasha Compère, and Lolly Adefope. The show is a co-production between TBS and FX, whose in-house production company FXP is involved.

<i>Breeders</i> (TV series) Comedy television series

Breeders is a dark comedy television series created by Martin Freeman, Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell. The series follows two parents who struggle with parenthood and is partially based on Freeman's own experiences. Freeman plays one of the two leads in the series and is also an executive producer on the show along with Addison and Blackwell.

<i>Industry</i> (TV series) British television drama series

Industry is a television drama series that premiered in 2020. Created by former bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, the show's first season follows a group of young graduates competing for permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London.

How To with John Wilson is an American television comedy docuseries created by filmmaker John Wilson. The series, executive produced by Nathan Fielder, Michael Koman and Clark Reinking, was ordered by HBO. It premiered on October 23, 2020.

<i>Ill Be Gone in the Dark</i> (TV series) American true crime documentary series

I'll Be Gone in the Dark is an American true crime documentary television series directed by Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff, Myles Kane and Josh Koury, revolving around Michelle McNamara as she writes a book about and investigates the Golden State Killer. The original six-part series premiered on June 28, 2020, on HBO, and concluded on August 2, 2020. A special episode premiered on June 21, 2021.

Somebody Somewhere is an American comedy drama television series starring Bridget Everett that was created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen. Set in Manhattan, Kansas, the series follows Sam (Everett) as she returns to her hometown and navigates life after the death of her sister.

<i>Painting with John</i> Television series featuring John Lurie

Painting with John is an American unscripted television series created by musician, painter, and actor John Lurie. Each episode features Lurie painting watercolors and reflecting on life, music, and art. A six-episode first season premiered on HBO and its streaming subsidiary HBO Max on January 22, 2021. In August 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on February 18, 2022. The third season of the series began airing on June 2, 2023. The title alludes to Lurie's earlier show, Fishing with John, from 1991. On August 16, 2023, it was announced the series was canceled.

<i>The Baby</i> (TV series) British horror comedy limited series

The Baby is a British horror comedy television limited series created by Lucy Gaymer and Siân Robins-Grace, which premiered on HBO on 24 April 2022 and Sky Atlantic on 7 July 2022. The series consists of eight episodes.

References

  1. ↑ ""Betty" Debuts May 1 - Based on Crystal Moselle's Critically Acclaimed Feature "Skate Kitchen"". The Futon Critic . April 9, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Petski, Denise (February 25, 2020). "'Betty' Premiere Date & Teaser: 'Skate Kitchen'-Inspired Comedy From Crystal Moselle & Lesley Arfin Hits HBO In Spring – Update". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Thorne, Will (June 18, 2020). "'Betty' Renewed for Season 2 at HBO". Variety. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Petski, Denise (April 28, 2021). "Jean Smart Comedy 'Hacks' & 'Betty' Season 2 Trailers Unveiled By HBO Max, HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Shafer, Ellise (August 24, 2021). "'Betty' Canceled at HBO After Two Seasons (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ Hersko, Tyler (February 25, 2020). "'Betty' First Trailer: Crystal Moselle Turns 'Skate Kitchen' Into New HBO Series". IndieWire . Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  7. ↑ Henderson, Taylor (February 26, 2020). "New Skateboarding HBO Comedy Betty Has Some Major Gay Energy". Pride.com . Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Murray, Iana (May 2020). "Everything You Need to Know About HBO's New Must-See Skate Series". GQ. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Betty Cast & Crew". HBO. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  10. 1 2 Stevens, Ashlie D. (June 7, 2020). "HBO's "Betty" is a sun-soaked celebration of women who find freedom on skateboards". Salon. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (May 4, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.1.2020". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  12. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (May 11, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.8.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  13. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (May 18, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.15.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (May 26, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.22.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (June 1, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.29.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (June 8, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.5.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ HBO [@HBO] (June 4, 2021). "The Betties are back. Watch the season two premiere of #BettyHBO for free at http://itsh.bo/bettys2premiere and start streaming season two June 11 on @hbomax" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021– via Twitter.
  18. 1 2 Otterson, Joe (August 14, 2019). "HBO Orders Female-Led Skateboarding Comedy From Crystal Moselle, Lesley Arfin". Variety. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  19. 1 2 Lloyd, Robert (May 1, 2020). "HBO's 'Betty' is an exhilarating glimpse inside the world of female skateboarders". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Betty: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Betty: Season 1". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  22. ↑ Specter, Emma (May 8, 2020). "HBO's 'Betty' Will Make You Long To Be an NYC Skater Girl". Vogue. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  23. ↑ Soloski, Alexis (November 25, 2020). "Catch Up on These 12 Great 2020 Series This Thanksgiving Weekend". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  24. ↑ Berman, Judy (October 25, 2020). "The 10 Best TV Shows of 2020". Time. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Betty: Season 2 (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Betty: Season 2". Metacritic . Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  27. ↑ Davis, Clayton (November 12, 2020). "Gotham2020: Gotham Awards Nominations: Female Directors Lead Best Feature Category". Variety. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.