| Blindspotting | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy drama |
| Created by | Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs |
| Based on | Blindspotting |
| Starring |
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| Music by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Tarin Anderson |
| Editors |
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| Running time | 30–34 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Starz |
| Release | June 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.
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]
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,[5] 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.[6]
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 8 | June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13) | August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08) | |
| 2 | 8 | April 14, 2023 (2023-04-14) | May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26) | |
| No. overall | No.in season | Title [8] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Ordeal" | Seith Mann | Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs | June 13, 2021 (2021-06-13)[a] | N/A |
| 2 | 2 | "Smashley Rose" | Seith Mann | Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs | June 20, 2021 (2021-06-20)[a] | N/A |
| 3 | 3 | "The Rule of Three" | Aurora Guerrero | Priscila Garcia-Jacquier | June 27, 2021 (2021-06-27) | N/A |
| 4 | 4 | "The Four Hustlateers" | Aurora Guerrero | Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs | July 4, 2021 (2021-07-04) | N/A |
| 5 | 5 | "Beaches Be Trippin" | Erin Feeley | Alanna Brown | July 18, 2021 (2021-07-18) | N/A |
| 6 | 6 | "Ghost Dad" | Pete Chatmon | Nijla Mu'min | July 25, 2021 (2021-07-25) | 0.088[10] |
| 7 | 7 | "Seannie Darko" | Angela Barnes | Benjamin Earl Turner | August 1, 2021 (2021-08-01) | N/A |
| 8 | 8 | "Bride or Die" | Rafael Casal | Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs | August 8, 2021 (2021-08-08) | 0.066[11] |
| No. overall | No.in season | Title [8] | Directed by | Written by | Original air date [8] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" | Rafael Casal | Brittany Miller | April 14, 2023 (2023-04-14) | N/A |
| 10 | 2 | "Life Is Too Short" | Rafael Casal | Benjamin Earl Turner | April 14, 2023 (2023-04-14) | N/A |
| 11 | 3 | "N*ggaz and Jesus" | Jess Wu Calder | Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs | April 21, 2023 (2023-04-21) | N/A |
| 12 | 4 | "By Hook or by Crook" | Jess Wu Calder | Sarah LaBrie | April 28, 2023 (2023-04-28) | N/A |
| 13 | 5 | "Karate Kiss" | Blackhorse Lowe | Obehi Janice | May 5, 2023 (2023-05-05) | 0.064[12] |
| 14 | 6 | "The Good, the Bad, and the Thizzly" | Rafael Casal | Sanjay Shah | May 12, 2023 (2023-05-12) | N/A |
| 15 | 7 | "Meatfest" | Darrell Woodard | Nyesha Littlejohn & Susan Park | May 19, 2023 (2023-05-19) | N/A |
| 16 | 8 | "Return to Ithaca" | Rafael Casal | Rafael Casal & Daveed Diggs | May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26) | 0.093[13] |
In September 2020, it was announced that Starz had ordered a spin-off series of BlindspottingbyCarlos 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.[14] Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Lionsgate Television, Snoot Entertainment, and Barnyard Projects.[15] 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.[16][17]
Principal photography for the series began in December 2020.[17][18] Production for the first season took place in March 2021 in West Oakland, Oakland, California.[19]
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. He ultimately came to regret not making an appearance. Diggs and Casal both expressed interest in bringing back Collin for a potential second season.[20]
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 were set to guest star for the second season.[7] Production for the series' sophomore season wrapped on April 28, 2022.[21]
It was announced on January 11, 2023 that Starz would 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.[22]
On September 25, 2023, Starz canceled the series after two seasons.[4]
Show creators Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs recruited fellow schoolmate Ambrose Akinmusire and Blindspotting film composer Michael Yezerski to compose the score for the 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, Akinmusire and Yezerski describe the experience as "a very rare opportunity for the score to just become the driving language of a piece of dramatic television content."[23]
| Album | Year | Composed by | Featured Artists | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blindspotting (Music from the STARZ Original Series, Season 1) | 2021 | Ambrose Akinmusire | Jasmine Cephas Jones
Benjamin Earl Turner |
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| Blindspotting (Music from the STARZ Original Series, Season 2) | 2023 | Ambrose Akinmusire | Jasmine Cephas Jones
Benjamin Earl Turner |
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The series had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2021.[9][24] It premiered on Starz on June 13, 2021.[25] The second season premiered on April 14, 2023.[3]
OnRotten 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."[26]OnMetacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[27]
The second season has a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 5 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10.[28]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Women's Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | Jasmine Cephas Jones | Nominated | [29] |
| Outstanding Comedy Series | Blindspotting | ||||
| Geneva International Film Festival | Best International TV Series | Blindspotting | Nominated | [30] | |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Music Supervision - TV Show/Limited Series | Blindspotting (supervision by Jonathan McHugh) |
Nominated | [31] | |
| Gotham Awards | Breakthrough Series – Short Format | Blindspotting | Nominated | [32] | |
| Clio Awards | Press/Influencer Kits & Collateral | Blindspotting (created by A Very Good Job) |
Won | [33] | |
| Film Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series | Jasmine Cephas Jones | Nominated | [34] | |
| Best New Scripted Series | Blindspotting | ||||
| 2022 | Guild of Music Supervisors Awards | Best Music Supervision - Television Comedy or Musical | Blindspotting, Season 1 (supervision by Jonathan McHugh) |
Nominated | [35] |
| NAMIC Vision Awards | Best Performance – Comedy | Jasmine Cephas Jones | Nominated | [36] | |
| Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy | Jasmine Cephas Jones | Nominated | [37] | |
| 2023 | SXSW Audience Awards | TV Spotlight Audience Award | Blindspotting - Season 2 | Won | [38] |
| Television Academy Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Choreography For Scripted Programming | The History / San Quentin Blues (Choreography by Jon Boogz) |
Won | [39] |
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