Superstore (TV series)
| Superstore | |
|---|---|
_Title.png) | |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by | Justin Spitzer |
| Starring | |
| Composer(s) | Mateo Messina |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 11 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Justin Spitzer Ruben Fleischer David Bernad Gabe Miller Jonathan Green |
| Producer(s) |
America Ferrera Harry J. Lange Jr. Eric Ledgin Sierra Teller Ornelas |
| Editor(s) |
Mark Sadlek (pilot) Steven Lang James Renfroe |
| Cinematography |
Damián Acevedo (pilot) Jay Hunter |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Spitzer Holding Company The District Universal Television |
| Distributor | NBCUniversal Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Picture format | 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
| Original release | November 30, 2015 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Superstore is an American single-camera sitcom television series that premiered on NBC on November 30, 2015.[1] The series was created by Justin Spitzer, who also serves as an executive producer.[2] Starring America Ferrera (who also serves as a producer) and Ben Feldman, Superstore follows a group of employees working at a fictional big-box store called "Cloud 9" set in St. Louis, Missouri. The ensemble and supporting cast features Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nico Santos, Nichole Bloom and Mark McKinney.
On February 23, 2016, the series was renewed for a second season by NBC.[3]
Cast and characters
Main
- America Ferrera as Amy Dubanowski, a Cloud 9 employee of ten years who worked as an associate, then floor supervisor, then assistant manager, and very briefly store manager before being fired in the season one finale. At age 19, she married her high school sweetheart, with whom she has a daughter, Emma. Amy immediately clashes with new associate Jonah, as he strives for change and has a sometimes pretentious attitude that annoys her. In order to keep strangers from calling her by her name, Amy wears a new name on her name tag in each episode (though she wears her real name on the 11th episode of season 1). She is promoted to assistant manager in the episode "Demotion".
- Ben Feldman as Jonah, Cloud 9's newest associate. Jonah makes a terrible impression on his first day and immediately clashes with Amy, but their relationship has since improved somewhat. Jonah, who is from a well-to-do background, came to Cloud 9 because he flunked out of business school in Chicago and ran up debt. He was driving aimlessly until he stopped at a Cloud 9 in St. Louis and saw the "help wanted" sign.
- Lauren Ash as Dina, Cloud 9's assistant store manager, who is extremely connected to her pet birds, but out of touch with other people. Her by-the-book management style often clashes with employees, and even her boss Glenn when he espouses his religious beliefs in the workplace. In "Demotion", Dina takes a voluntary demotion to associate to pursue Jonah romantically, after Jonah claims the reason he resists her romantic advances is because she is his supervisor. After her coworkers stage a walkout in the episode "Labor", Dina becomes store manager.
- Colton Dunn as Garrett, a Cloud 9 associate who is paralyzed from the waist down. He is often heard making announcements over the store PA system. He enjoys pulling pranks on his fellow coworkers and even customers, usually out of boredom.
- Nico Santos as Mateo Fernando Aquino Liwanag, a Cloud 9 associate. He is an ambitious new hire who wants to climb the ladder at Cloud 9 as quickly as possible. He immediately begins a rivalry with fellow new hire Jonah by pointing out his mistakes. He came out as gay to Glenn in the episode "Wedding Day Sale."
- Nichole Bloom as Cheyenne Tyler Lee, a Cloud 9 associate who is pregnant at the start of the series. Cheyenne is 17 years old, a high school student, and engaged to her boyfriend, Bo. She delivers a baby girl named Harmonica in the episode "Labor".
- Mark McKinney as Glenn Sturgis, Cloud 9's store manager. Glenn is socially awkward and constantly positive, and he clashes with Dina when he brings his religious beliefs into the workplace. Glenn and his wife have no children of their own, but they are foster parents. It is revealed that his family owned a hardware store before Cloud 9 took their business.
Recurring
- Johnny Pemberton as Bo Derek Thompson, Cheyenne's wannabe-rapper fiancee and her baby's father.
- Kaliko Kauahi as Sandra, a Cloud 9 employee who brings up legitimate concerns during staff meetings but is often ignored. In "Labor," she revealed that she is a midwife.
- Sean Whalen as Sal, a creepy, older Cloud 9 employee. It is implied that he harasses Sandra sexually, making comments about her breasts both at work and at her home.
- Josh Lawson as Tate, a Cloud 9 pharmacist who is often rude, panicky, sarcastic and brags about himself. He often passes his job onto other employees whenever he can.
- Linda Porter as Myrtle, an old Cloud 9 employee who is often quite confused and forgetful.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 11 | November 30, 2015 | February 22, 2016 | |
Production
Development and filming
The series was one of three pilots picked up by NBC on January 14, 2015, along with the sitcom Crowded; both were green lighted to series status the same day (May 7, 2015).[4] The series was the first project for Ruben Fleischer's newly formed company The District as part of a two-year deal with Universal, as he directed the pilot episode.[5]
The first season consisted of eleven episodes, after the episode order was reduced from thirteen on October 19, 2015.[6]
Casting
Lauren Ash was the first to be cast in February, 2015,[7] followed by Colton Dunn, Mark McKinney, Nico Santos,[8] Nichole Bloom,[9] and Ben Feldman in March.[10]
On March 16, 2015, America Ferrera was added to the cast, and was to add co-production duties as well. Ferrera had garnered multiple offers for the past few pilot seasons and declined everything until then.[11]
Reception
Ratings
The series debuted as a "preview" on November 30, 2015 following an episode of The Voice with 7 million viewers making the second highest new comedy behind Life in Pieces.[12] The series then moved to its regular Monday at 8:00 pm timeslot on January 4, 2016 with more than 6 million viewers making the highest rated comedy that did not have The Voice as a lead-in since The Michael J. Fox Show back in September 2013.[1][13]
| Season | Time slot (ET/PT) | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale | TV season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Viewers (in millions) |
Date | Viewers (in millions) | ||||||
| 1 | Monday 10:00 pm (Episode 1) Monday 10:30 pm (Episode 2) Monday 9:00 pm (Episode 3) Monday 8:00 pm (Episodes 4-11) |
11 | November 30, 2015 | 7.21[12] | February 22, 2016 | 4.68[14] | 2015–16 | TBA | TBA |
Critical reception
Early reviews for the series were mixed. According to Metacritic, Superstore currently holds a score of 57 out of 100, indicating "mixed to average reviews" based on 21 critics.[15] On another review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 54% with a "Rotten" rating, based on 24 critics, with an average rating of 4.4/10. The general consensus is: "Superstore's talented cast and obvious potential are slightly overshadowed by a tonally jumbled presentation and thin, formulaic writing."[16] As the first season went along, however, reviews started to get more positive. Following the finale "Labor", the Los Angeles Times called it one of TV's best new comedies."[17] Pilot Viruet of The A.V. Club wrote that the "first season ... got better and more confident as it moved on", and that the first season finale "is a nice little cap to a nice little sitcom that could’ve used a little more attention."[18]
References
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (November 2, 2015). "'Superstore' and 'Telenovela' get post-'Voice' launches before regular premieres". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Development Update: Thursday, May 7 - Comedies "Crowded," "Superstore" Heading to Series at NBC". May 7, 2015.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (February 23, 2016). "'Superstore' renewed for Season 2 at NBC". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 14, 2015). "NBC Picks Up 3 Comedy Pilots From Universal TV". Deadline.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ Fleming, Mike, Jr. (January 28, 2015). "CAA Signs Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer". Deadline.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-reduces-episode-counts-comedies-832985
- ↑ "Lauren Ash Joins NBC Pilot ‘Superstore’; Christine Ko In CBS’ ‘The Half Of It’". Deadline.com. February 20, 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (March 2, 2015). "Colton Dunn, Mark McKinney & Nico Santos Join NBC Pilot ‘Superstore’". Deadline.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (March 12, 2015). "NBC Pilots ‘Heart Matters’, ‘Take It From Us’, ‘Superstore’ Add To Casts"". Deadline.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 13, 2015). "Ben Feldman To Topline NBC Comedy Pilot ‘Superstore’". Deadline.
- ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (March 16, 2015). "America Ferrera to Star in NBC Comedy 'Superstore'". The Hollywood Reporter.
- 1 2 Porter, Rick (December 2, 2015). "Monday final ratings: ‘Superstore’ adjusts down but still solid, ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
- ↑ "'Superstore' Premiere Ratings for NBC; ABC's 'Bachelor' Strong". Variety. January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (February 23, 2016). "Monday final ratings: 'Bachelor' adjusts up, 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' adjusts down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Superstore - Season Reviews - Metacritic". December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Superstore - Season Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes". December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
- ↑ Hill, Libby (February 22, 2016). "'Superstore' Heads into It's Final as One of TV's Best New Comedies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ↑ Viruet, Pilot (February 22, 2016). "'Labor'". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved February 23, 2016.