Betas

Last updated

Betas
Betas 2013.png
Genre Comedy
Written by
  • Alan Cohen
  • Alan Freedland
  • Evan Endicott
  • Josh Stoddard
  • Alex Blagg
  • Matt Patterson
  • Alison Bennett
  • Lisa Parsons
  • Ken Cheng
  • Aaron Hilliard
  • Michael Platt
  • Barry Safchik
Directed by Michael Lehmann
Starring
Opening theme"Power Lines" by Telekinesis
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes11 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time26 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Amazon Prime Video
ReleaseApril 19, 2013 (2013-04-19) 
January 17, 2014 (2014-01-17)

Betas [1] is an American television series produced by Amazon Studios. [2] The show stars Joe Dinicol and Karan Soni as "dating app" developers in Silicon Valley who are looking for an investor.

Contents

Amazon offered the first three episodes of Betas for free on November 22, 2013, with each subsequent episode released weekly thereafter. [3] In March 2014, Amazon declined to renew for a second season. [4]

Cast

Series regulars

Recurring characters

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Pilot" Michael Lehmann Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardApril 19, 2013 (2013-04-19)
In Silicon Valley, the right algorithm can make you a success and these four friends think they have some successful code.
2"Kid Charlemagne" Michael Lehmann Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardNovember 22, 2013 (2013-11-22)
With their invitation to join the reputable Accelerator run by George "Murch" Murchison, the boys settle into the city with big dreams. That swagger is soon quelled by the reality of their competition within Velocity; they need momentum and they need it fast. Trey spots an opportunity in tech journalist Jordan Alexis, ignoring both Hobbes' warning of her anti-Midas touch and Lisa's mandate to lay low. Blinded by his own ambition, Trey gives Jordan just the dirty secret she's after, and then must enlist the help of Mikki and the guys to spin the story she weaves into a successful launch of the BRB beta.
3"Waiting for a Girl Like You" Michael Lehmann Alan R. Cohen & Alan FreedlandNovember 22, 2013 (2013-11-22)
Nash's parents visit the guys and demand that Nash go on a blind date with a girl they picked for him. With an investment from Nash's parents at stake, Trey and Lisa must accompany Nash on his date.
4"One on One" Todd Strauss-Schulson Alex Blagg November 29, 2013 (2013-11-29)
In the aftermath of Trey and Lisa's hookup, Trey tries to get some clarity on their relationship while Lisa tries to stand up to The Murch. Meanwhile, Mitchell worries that Murch is going to buy, and ruin, his beloved indie wrestling league.
5"Takin' It to the Streets" Michael Lehmann Matt Patterson, Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardDecember 6, 2013 (2013-12-06)
When BRB is hacked right after the beta launch, Trey and Hobbes get to know each other better as they desperately search the city for their prime suspect, a hacktivist from Hobbes's past. Meanwhile, Mikki takes care of an anxious Mitchell after he runs out of Adderall.
6"Lowdown" Andy Tennant Alison Bennett, Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardDecember 13, 2013 (2013-12-13)
With Demo Day fast approaching, Trey discovers that BRB does not have enough female users to fulfill his vision of a truly social app. Despite pressure from Nash to focus on BRB's strengths, Trey is unwilling to alter his vision. Meanwhile, Hobbes spirals out of control due to a personal crisis, and the team needs to figure out how best to deal with his increasingly volatile behavior.
7"Strange Magic" Jeff Melman Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardDecember 20, 2013 (2013-12-20)
With the team in disarray before Demo Day, Murch sends Trey and the boys to a team-building retreat in the woods. Once there, they quickly reject the retreat's itinerary and go rogue. In the end, their trip yields insights into the future of BRB and brings them closer together, in ways they never expected.
8"Show & Tell" Alex Winter Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardDecember 27, 2013 (2013-12-27)
When BRB receives a lukewarm response from investors at Demo Day, Trey and Nash must choose between conflicting courses of action in order to secure the future of their company. Meanwhile, both Nash and Mitchell are forced to evaluate their personal lives and face some inner truths.
9"Steppin' Out" Lev L. Spiro Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardJanuary 3, 2014 (2014-01-03)
When a scandal puts the Murch on ice, BRB's potential investors begin to pull out. Desperate, Trey must turn to an unlikely source for help, even if it means straining his relationship with Murch. Meanwhile, Mikki's wayward mother drops in unexpectedly, hoping to pick up right where they left off.
10"Blinded by the Light" Michael Lehmann Michael Platt, Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardJanuary 10, 2014 (2014-01-10)
Having turned his back on Murch, Trey arrives in L.A. to run the Silicon Beach investor circuit with Victoria. Back in San Francisco, Mitchell accompanies Nash to Michael Lau's birthday bash, and Hobbes gets closer with Trevor's mom, Joanne.
11"This Is It" Michael Lehmann Evan Endicott & Josh StoddardJanuary 17, 2014 (2014-01-17)
Armed with insider information from Jordan, Trey must decide whether or not to sell BRB. He mends fences with Murch and seeks his advice after the rest of the team votes to take Casper's deal.

Reception

Metacritic gave season 1 an average rating of 69/100 based on reviews from 8 critics. [5] Rotten Tomatoes gave the show a score of 85% based on reviews from 13 critics. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Nurse Jackie</i> 2009 American medical comedy-drama television series

Nurse Jackie is an American medical comedy-drama television series that aired on Showtime from June 8, 2009, to June 28, 2015. Set in New York City, the series follows Jackie Peyton, a drug-addicted emergency department nurse at the fictional All Saints' Hospital.

Girls is an American comedy-drama television series created by and starring Lena Dunham, executive-produced by Judd Apatow. The series depicts four young women living in New York City. The show's premise was drawn from Dunham's own life, as were major aspects of the main character, including financial isolation from her parents, becoming a writer, and making unfortunate decisions. The series is known for its post-feminist commentary and conversation around body politics and female sexual subjecthood.

<i>Alpha House</i> American television series since 2013

Alpha House is an American political satire television series produced by Amazon Studios. The show starred John Goodman, Clark Johnson, Matt Malloy, and Mark Consuelos as four Republican U.S. Senators who share a house in Washington, D.C. It was created by Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau. The show premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 19, 2013.

<i>Mozart in the Jungle</i> American television series

Mozart in the Jungle is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Alex Timbers, and Paul Weitz for the video-on-demand service Amazon Prime Video. It received a production order in March 2014.

<i>Transparent</i> (TV series) American comedy drama television series

Transparent is an American comedy-drama television series created by Joey Soloway for Amazon Studios that debuted on February 6, 2014. The story revolves around a Los Angeles family, the Pfeffermans, and their lives after learning that their parent is a trans woman named Maura. Transparent tells the story of Maura's coming out, as well as her family's personal journeys in discovering their own identities and coming to terms with Maura's identity. Transparent moves away from a solely transition-centred narrative and represents Maura's story in her role as a trans parent, grandparent, professor, partner, ex-spouse, sibling, and as an older person transitioning. Transparent also includes other queer representation in the Pfefferman family. Sarah explores her sexuality and works through relationship dilemmas throughout season one while Ali explores their gender and sexuality. Transparent's first season premiered in full on September 26, 2014, and its second season on December 11, 2015, third season on September 23, 2016, and fourth season on September 21, 2017.

<i>The Affair</i> (TV series) American television drama series

The Affair is an American television drama series created by Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi. The series premiered on Showtime on October 12, 2014. It ran for five seasons, concluding with its final episode on November 3, 2019.

<i>Grace and Frankie</i> American comedy television series (2015–2022)

Grace and Frankie is an American comedy television series created by Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris for Netflix. The series stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as the eponymous Grace Hanson and Frankie Bergstein, two aging women who form an unlikely friendship after their husbands reveal they are in love with each other and plan to get married. Sam Waterston, Martin Sheen, Brooklyn Decker, Ethan Embry, June Diane Raphael, and Baron Vaughn co-star in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karan Soni</span> Indian-American actor and comedian (born 1989)

Karan Soni is an Indian-American actor and comedian. Often appearing in comedic roles, he came to prominence for playing Dopinder in the films Deadpool (2016) and its sequels Deadpool 2 (2018) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), and voicing Pavitr Prabhakar / Spider-Man India in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).

<i>The Carmichael Show</i> American sitcom television series

The Carmichael Show is an American sitcom television series created by Nicholas Stoller, Jerrod Carmichael, Ari Katcher, and Willie Hunter that aired on NBC from August 26, 2015 until August 9, 2017. Starring Carmichael, it follows a fictional version of his family. The multi-camera show is set in Charlotte, North Carolina.

<i>Sneaky Pete</i> American crime drama series (2015–2019)

Sneaky Pete is an American crime drama series created by David Shore and Bryan Cranston. The series follows Marius Josipović, a released convict who adopts the identity of his cellmate, Pete Murphy, to avoid his past life. The series also stars Marin Ireland, Shane McRae, Libe Barer, Michael Drayer, Peter Gerety and Margo Martindale. The pilot debuted on August 7, 2015, and was followed by a full series order that September. Shore left the project in early 2016 and was replaced by Graham Yost, who served as executive producer and showrunner for the remaining nine episodes. The first season premiered in its entirety on January 13, 2017, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. On January 19, 2017, Amazon announced that Sneaky Pete had been renewed for a second season, which was released on March 9, 2018. On July 28, 2018, Amazon announced that the series had been renewed for a third season, which was released on May 10, 2019. On June 4, 2019, Amazon cancelled the series after three seasons.

Patriot is an American comedy-drama television series created by Steven Conrad. It premiered on November 5, 2015, on Amazon Prime Video, with the remaining first-season episodes released on February 23, 2017. It stars Michael Dorman, Kurtwood Smith, Michael Chernus, Kathleen Munroe, Aliette Opheim, Chris Conrad, Terry O'Quinn and Debra Winger. In April 2017, Amazon announced that it had renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on November 9, 2018. In July 2019, Amazon announced that it had no plans for a third season.

<i>Modern Love</i> (TV series) American anthology television series

Modern Love is an American romantic comedy anthology television series developed by John Carney, based on the weekly column of the same name published by The New York Times, that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 18, 2019. In October 2019, the series was renewed for a second season, which was released on August 13, 2021.

<i>Upload</i> (TV series) American science fiction comedy-drama television series

Upload is an American science fiction comedy-drama television series created by Greg Daniels. The series premiered on May 1, 2020, on Amazon Prime Video and was renewed for a second season. The second season premiered on March 11, 2022; it had seven episodes, three fewer than the first. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on October 20, 2023 and consists of eight episodes. In March 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth and final season.

<i>Special</i> (TV series) American comedy streaming television series

Special is an American comedy-drama television series created by Ryan O'Connell for Netflix. Starring Ryan O'Connell, the series is a semi-autobiographical account of his life as a gay man in Los Angeles with cerebral palsy pursuing new friendships, relationships, and self-sufficiency.

<i>Reacher</i> (TV series) American TV series

Reacher is an American action crime television series developed by Nick Santora for Amazon Prime Video. Based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child, it stars Alan Ritchson as the title character, a self-proclaimed hobo and former U.S. Army military policeman with formidable strength, intellect, and abilities. During his travels, Reacher crosses paths with dangerous criminals and is forced to do battle.

<i>The Peripheral</i> (TV series) American science-fiction drama television series

The Peripheral is an American science fiction television series created by Scott B. Smith. Produced by Amazon, it is loosely based on the 2014 book written by William Gibson. Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy serve as executive producers, along with Athena Wickham, Steve Hoban, and Vincenzo Natali. Set roughly 50 years in the future, with new technology that has changed society in subtle ways, a gamer is delivered a connection to an alternate reality as well as a dark future of her own.

<i>The Devils Hour</i> British thriller television series

The Devil's Hour is a British drama thriller television series created by Tom Moran, and executive produced by Steven Moffat through his production company Hartswood Films. The series consists of six episodes, and premiered on 28 October 2022 on Amazon Prime Video. In November 2022, the series was renewed for a second and third season.

<i>With Love</i> (TV series) American romantic comedy television series

With Love is an American romantic comedy television series created by Gloria Calderón Kellett that premiered on Amazon Prime Video on December 17, 2021. In April 2022, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on June 2, 2023. In November 2023, the series was canceled after two seasons.

As We See It is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jason Katims, based on the Israeli series On the Spectrum by Dana Idisis and Yuval Shafferman. The 8-episode series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on January 21, 2022. It was canceled after one season.

References

  1. Hale, Mike (November 20, 2013). "Techies Striving for the Next Big Thing". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. "Betas HD: Season 1: Amazon Video". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  3. Bentley, Jean (November 24, 2013). "Startup Comedy 'Betas' Tries To Be Too Cool With 'Girls'-Type Humor". Mashable.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  4. Spangler, Todd (March 31, 2014). "Amazon Greenlights 6 Series, Including Chris Carter's 'The After,' and Renews 'Alpha House'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  5. "Betas - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  6. "Betas: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2021.