Blindspotting (TV series)

Last updated
Blindspotting
Blindspotting title.png
Genre Comedy drama
Created by Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs
Based on Blindspotting
Starring
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Jasmine Cephas Jones
  • Chrisann Verges
  • Michele Greco
CinematographyTarin Anderson
Editors
  • Craig Hayes
  • Varun Viswanath
  • S. Robyn Wilson
  • Chris Chandler
  • Trevor Penna
  • Paul Ero Jr.
Running time30–34 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Starz
ReleaseJune 13, 2021 (2021-06-13) 
May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26)

Blindspotting is an American comedy-drama television series and a spin-off sequel of the 2018 film of the same name. Set six months after the events of the film, the series follows Ashley after Miles, her boyfriend and father of their son, is suddenly incarcerated, forcing her to move in with Miles' mother and half-sister. It co-stars Jaylen Barron, Candace Nicholas-Lippman, Benjamin Earl Turner, and Atticus Woodward.

Contents

The series was created and executive produced by Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, writers, producers and lead stars of the original film, with Casal also acting as showrunner. Keith Calder, a producer on the original film, is also an executive producer, as well as actress Jasmine Cephas Jones. It premiered on June 13, 2021 on Starz. [1] In October 2021, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on April 14, 2023. [2] [3] In September 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons. [4]

Plot

Six months after the events in the film of the same name, Miles, Ashley's partner of 12 years and father of their son, is suddenly incarcerated, and the situation leaves her to navigate a chaotic and humorous existential crisis when she and her son Sean are forced to move in with Miles' mother and half-sister.

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest stars

Episodes

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1 8June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13)August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)
2 8April 14, 2023 (2023-04-14)May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26)

Season 1 (2021)

No.Title [6] Directed byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"The Ordeal" Seith Mann Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13) [lower-alpha 1] N/A
2"Smashley Rose"Seith MannRafael Casal & Daveed DiggsJune 20, 2021 (2021-06-20) [lower-alpha 1] N/A
3"The Rule of Three" Aurora Guerrero Priscila Garcia-JacquierJune 27, 2021 (2021-06-27)N/A
4"The Four Hustlateers"Aurora GuerreroRafael Casal & Daveed DiggsJuly 4, 2021 (2021-07-04)N/A
5"Beaches Be Trippin"Erin FeeleyAlanna BrownJuly 18, 2021 (2021-07-18)N/A
6"Ghost Dad" Pete Chatmon Nijla Mu'minJuly 25, 2021 (2021-07-25)0.088 [8]
7"Seannie Darko"Angela BarnesBenjamin Earl TurnerAugust 1, 2021 (2021-08-01)N/A
8"Bride or Die"Rafael CasalRafael Casal & Daveed DiggsAugust 8, 2021 (2021-08-08)0.066 [9]

Season 2 (2023)

No.
overall
No. in
season
Title [6] Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [6] U.S. viewers
(millions)
91"Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" Rafael Casal Brittany MillerApril 14, 2023 (2023-04-14)N/A
102"Life Is Too Short"Rafael CasalBenjamin Earl TurnerApril 14, 2023 (2023-04-14)N/A
113"N*ggaz and Jesus"Jess Wu CalderRafael Casal & Daveed Diggs April 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)N/A
124"By Hook or by Crook"Jess Wu CalderSarah LaBrieApril 28, 2023 (2023-04-28)N/A
135"Karate Kiss"Blackhorse LoweObehi JaniceMay 5, 2023 (2023-05-05)0.064 [10]
146"The Good, the Bad, and the Thizzly"Rafael CasalSanjay ShahMay 12, 2023 (2023-05-12)N/A
157"Meatfest"Darrell WoodardNyesha Littlejohn & Susan ParkMay 19, 2023 (2023-05-19)N/A
168"Return to Ithaca"Rafael CasalRafael Casal & Daveed DiggsMay 26, 2023 (2023-05-26)0.093 [11]

Production

Development

In September 2020, it was announced that Starz had ordered a spin-off series of Blindspotting by Carlos López Estrada, with Jasmine Cephas Jones set to star and produce, with Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal serving as executive producers and writers on the series. [12] Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Lionsgate Television, Snoot Entertainment, and Barnyard Projects. [13] In December 2020, Benjamin Earl Turner, Atticus Woodward, Jaylen Barron, Candace Nicholas-Lippman and Helen Hunt joined the cast in starring roles, with Rafael Casal and Justin Chu Cary set to appear in recurring capacity. [14] [15]

Principal photography for the series began in December 2020. [15] [16] Production for the first season took place in March 2021 in West Oakland, Oakland, California. [17]

Diggs does not reprise his film role as Collin in the first season beyond a voice cameo in the finale, despite co-creating the show. Casal hoped to include Collin during the planning stages but Diggs wished for the season to focus on Ashley, though he ultimately came to regret not making an appearance. Diggs and Casal have both expressed interest in bringing back Collin for a potential second season. [18]

On October 14, 2021, Starz renewed the series for a second season. [2] On April 14, 2022, LeVar Burton, Katlynn Simone Smith, Tamera Tomakili, and Tim Chantarangsu were cast in recurring roles while E-40, P-Lo and Too $hort are set to guest star for the second season. [5] Production for the series' sophomore season wrapped on April 28, 2022. [19]

It was announced on January 11, 2023 that STARZ is set to premiere a number of episodes of their sophomore season at the 2023 SXSW Festival held in Austin, Texas in March under the TV Spotlight category. [20]

On September 25, 2023, Starz canceled the series after two seasons. [4]

Music

Blindspotting creators Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs had recruited fellow schoolmate Ambrose Akinmusire and Blindspotting (film) composer Michael Yezerski to compose the score for the television series. Akinmusire and Yezerski have created score to accompany Spoken Word, Verse, Dance, and various other types of scenes demonstrated throughout the series. In a Variety article between the two musicians, they describe the experience as "a very rare opportunity for the score to just become the driving language of a piece of dramatic television content." [21]

Soundtrack

AlbumYearComposed byFeatured ArtistsDetails
Blindspotting (Music from the STARZ Original Series, Season 1)2021 Ambrose Akinmusire

Michael Yezerski

Jasmine Cephas Jones

Rafael Casal

Benjamin Earl Turner

  • Release date: September 17, 2021
  • Label: Lions Gate Entertainment Inc
  • Formats: Streaming
Blindspotting (Music from the STARZ Original Series, Season 2)2023 Ambrose Akinmusire

Michael Yezerski

Jasmine Cephas Jones

Rafael Casal

Benjamin Earl Turner

Helen Hunt

  • Release date: May 26, 2023
  • Label: Lions Gate Entertainment Inc
  • Formats: Streaming

Release

The series had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2021. [7] [22] It premiered on Starz on June 13, 2021. [23] The second season premiered on April 14, 2023. [3]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 100% based on 25 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The rare adaptation that exceeds its source material, Blindspotting deftly takes on complicated social constructs with comedic flair, crafting a show that's as funny as it is poignant while giving its incredible ensemble—led by the captivating Jasmine Cephas Jones—plenty of room to shine." [24] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [25]

The second season has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 5 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. [26]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2021 Women's Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Jasmine Cephas Jones Nominated [27]
Outstanding Comedy SeriesBlindspotting
Geneva International Film Festival Best International TV SeriesBlindspottingNominated [28]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Music Supervision - TV Show/Limited Series Blindspotting
(supervision by Jonathan McHugh)
Nominated [29]
Gotham Awards Breakthrough Series – Short Format BlindspottingNominated [30]
Clio Awards Press/Influencer Kits & CollateralBlindspotting
(created by A Very Good Job)
Won [31]
Film Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series Jasmine Cephas Jones Nominated [32]
Best New Scripted SeriesBlindspotting
2022 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Best Music Supervision - Television Comedy or MusicalBlindspotting, Season 1
(supervision by Jonathan McHugh)
Nominated [33]
NAMIC Vision AwardsBest Performance – Comedy Jasmine Cephas Jones Nominated [34]
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy Jasmine Cephas Jones Nominated [35]
2023 SXSW Audience AwardsTV Spotlight Audience AwardBlindspotting - Season 2Won [36]
Television Academy Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Choreography For Scripted ProgrammingThe History / San Quentin Blues
(Choreography by Jon Boogz)
Won [37]

Notes

  1. 1 2 This episode premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2021, ahead of its weekly Starz premieres. [7]

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References

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